In response to recent allegations concerning Joe Montana's
involvemtn in the federal probe of the memorabilia industry,
Montana's agent, Peter Johnson of IMG, issued a statement
yesterday saying that the N.Y. DAILY NEWS story regarding Montana
was wrong.  Johnson:  "Joe Montana has always reported all income
from private signings to the Internal Revenue Service, and,
therefore, paid taxes on fees he received.  He has participated
in private signings in the past, including the 1991 signing
organized by Michael Bertolini.  Joe has been under contract to
Upper Deck Authenticated for several years, and they hold Joe's
exclusive rights for signed memorabilia.  Joe's only dilemma is
how certain reporters and publications can report erroneous
stories and not be held accountable for their actions" (IMG).

     EDWARD J. DeBARTOLO, former owner of the Pittsburgh
Penguins, died yesterday at age 85 (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 12/20).
....After 94 career titles and $20.5M in career earnings IVAN
LENDL is expected to announce his retirement from tennis today
(TORONTO SUN, 12/20).... MICHAEL KASSA  was promoted to Raycom's
Director of Event Sales (Raycom).   76ers guard DANA BARROS is
getting high grades for his rap track "Check It" on the NBA star-
studded CD entitled "B'ball's Best Kept Secret."  Barros' song is
getting airplay on FM stations (BOSTON HERALD, 12/18)....From
this week's ELECTRONIC MEDIA: BARRY RONA was named Assistant
General Counsel for ESPN, Hong Kong.  Rona was Legal Counsel and
Managing Director for Beinstock Sports in New York....JIM
BURGOYNE was named Manager of Production and Programming at
SportsChannel New England.  He was Coordinating Producer....JACK
PETER goes to Director of Production for the PGA Tour
Productions. He comes from The Post Group at Disney-MGM....KEN
REISOR was named General Sales Manager at Prime Sports Radio in
Texas.  He was at KVIL-FM in Dallas (ELECTRONIC MEDIA, 12/19
issue).