The N.Y. POST's Phil Mushnick writes that "people at
Phoenix/MLB Productions are reeling over the sudden death of
JULIE KRUG-SMITH, the company's extremely popular and competent
head of footage distribution." The cause of her death has not
been determined (N.Y. POST, 1/16)....CHARLES BARKLEY was on the
"Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Friday. Barkley on running for
governor in Alabama: "I'm going to win. I'm not just running"
(NBC, 1/13).....MAGIC JOHNSON will begin building movie theaters
in minority neighborhoods. The first Magic Johnson Theater is
due by late May in L.A.'s Baldwin Hills area (USA TODAY,
1/16)....Supermodel VENDELA will be making an appearance at the
annual Nat'l Association of TV Programming Execs convention in
the Raycom booth. Raycom is syndicating the Sports Illustrated
Swimsuit Special: Class of '95 which is hosted by Vendela
(Raycom)....Former Braves pitcher PHIL NIEKRO has signed on for
another year as manager of the Silver Bullets, the women's pro
baseball team (Silver Bullets)....The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' O'Hare &
Roura report on rumors that MCA-Universal is "eager" to buy the
Lightning and move the franchise to Orlando. The deal would have
WAYNE GRETZKY move to the Lightning (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/17).
