MLBPA General Counsel Gene Orza confirmed yesterday that the
union has asked the Department of Labor to certify the strike, "a
step that would prompt the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, under Federal regulation, to deny visas to foreign
players seeking to play baseball in the United States."  INS
officer John Brown: "We can't approve any petitions for baseball
players coming to perform at locations where the strike is
ongoing."  In other words, the regulation "prohibits foreign
nationals from being used as replacement workers during a
strike."  Management has not "publicly registered a challenge to
the union's effort to block visas."  The owners will submit a
position statement to the Labor Department next week (Murray
Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 12/2).  Red Sox VP Dick Bresciani "conceded
that plans are being made to roll back prices" if replacement
players are used (Dan Shaughnessy, BOSTON GLOBE, 12/2).  At Bobby
Bonilla's charity event, star players reaffirmed their stance
that they would not cross the picket line.  They agreed "the
damage caused by one superstar crossing the line would far
supersede the danger of a dozen or so minor league" players
coming in (Jennifer Frey, N.Y. TIMES, 12/2).
     LATIN PLAYERS:  In New York, Murray Chass hints that the
owners think some Latin MLB players "will defect from the union
in wholesale numbers and report to spring training when camps
open."  But Rafael Palmeiro said that was "ridiculous" and
"racist":  "Let me tell you, if anybody crosses that line, it's
not going to be a Latin player."  One club exec explained the
owners' thinking in including Latin players in their spring
training plans, saying that most Latin players "come from poor
families" and send part of their salaries home.  But the exec
agreed with Palmeiro that that thinking is "racist" (N.Y. TIMES,
12/2).
     OWNERS OPTIMISTIC?  Red Sox CEO John Harrington:
"Hopefully, it could be done next week, but it would take a
tremendous effort -- and we're going to do that over an intense
period of time over five or six days.  But it is so complex that
my projection is that it will take us into the next month of
January.  But I'm very optimistic and hopeful that it will be
done before the start of spring training" ("SportsCenter," ESPN,
12/1).
     THE UNION PROPOSAL:  Special mediator William Usery is
considering attending the union's 3-day executive board meeting
that starts Monday in Atlanta (TORONTO SUN, 12/2).  In New York,
George Vecsey praises Usery's work: "He's the best chance
baseball has" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/2).

     NHL owners and players resumed negotiations in Chicago
yesterday, with one insider describing the session as "good, not
great."  In this morning's Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, the CANADIAN
PRESS' Alan Adams reports on the state of talks on the top issues
at hand.  ROOKIE CAP:  The NHLPA dropped its ceiling for entry-
level salary restrictions from $1.5M to $1.25M.  The owners are
still in the neighborhood of $700,000.  ARBITRATION:  The NHL
wants to retain its proposal to make an arbitrator's decision
non-binding.  But the league did propose that a maximum of two
players be allowed to "walk away" -- become unrestricted free
agents if the team decides not to pay the salary determined by an
arbitrator.  The NHLPA wants arbitration to remain binding.  The
two sides have reportedly agreed that an unrestricted free
agent's salary cannot be used for comparison purposes in an
arbitration case.  FREE AGENCY:  Both sides have agreed to
unrestricted free agency at age 28, and the union is said to have
agreed to the NHL's "franchise player" proposal.  The owners want
each team's franchise player to be the highest paid player on the
team, while the union proposes that franchise players receive the
average of the top salaried players of each of the 26 teams --
about $3M a season.  LUXURY TAX:  The owners' tax plan was not on
the table yesterday (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/2).  In New York,
Richard Sandomir reports that the owners' caps for rookies are
$700,000 for 1st round picks, $400,000 for 2nd, and $250,000 for
3rd.  On free agency, Sandomir reports the league wants to raise
the age-limit on unrestricted free agency to 31 (N.Y. TIMES,
12/2).  The union is also believed to be negotiating for
"increased benefits and a share of NHL licensing revenues, as
well as an increase in playoff award money" (Larry Brooks, N.Y.
POST, 12/2).
     WHAT TO EXPECT:  In Toronto, Bob McKenzie writes, "The NHL
expects entry-level restrictions, modified arbitration and
elimination of Group One free agency from the players simply
because it believes that's what's required to help put the
league's economic house in order.  Now, the NHL is prepared to
trade unrestricted free agency for a tax.  The NHLPA isn't
biting, though it still wants and expects the new world of free
agency.  The crystal ball, fuzzy as it may be, suggests if the
improvements in free agency are less liberal -- say unrestricted
status at age 30 with or without a franchise-player clause -- the
impetus for the tax will be significantly reduced or eliminated"
(TORONTO STAR, 12/2).
     TAX PLAN ON ICE?  ESPN's Al Morganti reported the owners
"are willing to back off" of the luxury tax, saying he believes
they are unwilling to risk the a season "by forcing this luxury
tax down [the players'] throat"   ("SportsCenter," 12/1).  In New
York, Larry Brooks also reports that support for the tax has
"dwindled" among the NHL Board of Governors.  "But the league was
believed to be supporting a relatively benign tax in the rate of
5-to-10 percent on free agent signings" (N.Y. POST, 12/2).  But
in Boston, Stephen Harris reports that a "hard-line faction" of
about 10 teams (Bruins, Blackhawks, Canadiens, Panthers, Devils,
Canucks among others) have decided that the players' concessions
are insufficient and that the luxury tax should be brought back
to the table (BOSTON HERALD, 12/2).
     ALL-STARS LOSE:  Keith Olbermann, on Team Gretzky losing to
the IHL Vipers:  "If this is how they're going to settle the
lockout, the owners won" ("SportsCenter," 12/1).  Wayne Gretzky
wouldn't name names, but complained about efforts to "sabotage"
the team's tour.  Gretzky:  "CBC and ESPN have been kind enough
to step up to the plate and not worry about the pressure. ... But
I guess people aren't tired of watching bowling and pool on TV
yet" (Mark Everson, N.Y. POST, 12/1).  Team Gretzky sported Coca-
Cola decals on their helmets, and L.A. Gear patches on their
NHLPA jerseys (THE DAILY).  Mike Barnett, agent to Gretzky and
Brett Hull, promised an expanded exhibition schedule if the
season is canceled:  "It would be of grandiose proportions,
managed by the players, on a world basis in scope" (Dave
Luecking, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/2).  CBC confirms that
Molson will be a "full sponsor" of the two telecasts of Team
Gretzky on December 3 & 10 (Ken McKee, TORONTO STAR, 12/2).

     George Mitchell's appointment as President Clinton's special
adviser on economic development in Ireland "may be a temporary
job" but it appears that he is "no longer in line to be baseball
commissioner.  Mitchell has indicated to friends that he and
owners have "drifted apart and they will have to begin another
search process."  Asked if former Democratic National Chair Paul
Kirk would be considered for the position, one owner said that if
a labor agreement is made, the search process will start over,
possibly with the players involved in the search process (Peter
Gammons, BOSTON GLOBE, 12/2).  Mitchell assumes the position on
January 10, 1995 (White House).

     Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, a Canadian citizen, "reiterated"
to the CANADIAN PRESS yesterday what he had said more than a year
ago -- that Toronto "could very well, before the turn of the
century, have a relocation" of an existing NFL team.  It is very
likely that exhibition games in '95 and '96 will be played at the
SkyDome as part of the American Bowl series (Ken McKee, TORONTO
STAR, 12/2).  Bowlen also noted that Vancouver and Montreal are
also possible sites for NFL franchises "seeking more viable
markets and modern facilities" (CP/VANCOUVER SUN, 12/2).
     BILLS GAMES IN TORONTO?  Sources confirmed that NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue recently asked Bills Owner Ralph
Wilson to consider moving one or more league games to the SkyDome
at some unspecified date.  But the prospect of Bills games in
Toronto appears "unlikely," even after the Bills' current stadium
lease expires in August 1998.  Scott Brown, spokesperson for Erie
County Executive Dennis Gorski, said that the county intends to
include the "performance clause" requiring the Bills play all
league and playoff games in Rich Stadium in any new lease.  Brown
also noted that a $23M update of Rich Stadium has already begun.
Fourteen new luxury boxes are being added.  Part of the funding
is a state loan ($8M), and the county would like that to be
converted into a grant from the public coffers.  Some $1.5M has
already been granted (Ken McKee, TORONTO STAR, 12/2).  According
to CNBC's Sue Herera, Wilson said he would not oppose NFL
expansion into Toronto (CNBC, 12/1).

     PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem reported that after a
phone conversation with Greg Norman, one of the organizers of the
World Golf Tour, and said that Norman "indicated that he would
not support any venture that would damage the PGA Tour, our
tournaments or their sponsors."  Finchem, in a statement:  "It
was a cordial conversation in which we both agreed that a
confrontation would not be in the best interests of the game of
golf.  I appreciate Greg's reevaluation of this situation.  I
also was pleased that he was receptive to providing us and other
golf organizations around the world with this input as we
consider the future development of increased international
competition" (PGA Tour).  Terry Kelley, the World Golf Tour's Dir
of Communications, said Finchem's words "sounded suspicious.  We
were under the impression that it was a courtesy call.  Norman
would have called us if he was re-evaluating his support" (Steve
Hershey, USA TODAY, 12/2).