Long-discussed plans for a Tournament Players Club in
Atlanta could be finalized as early as this summer, according to
PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem.  If the TPC were constructed, it
could eventually be a new site for the BellSouth Classic which
has been played at Atlanta Country Club since its inception in
1967.  Finchem:  "We're looking at two different sites now.  If
we get the deal done this year, we might be able to play in '97,
but more likely in '98" (Glenn Sheeley, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
1/6).

     The MLBPA, in a letter to management attorney Chuck
O'Connor, said "that all unsigned players are entitled to
unrestricted free agency because owners improperly changed work
conditions and contract language when they implemented the
salary-cap system on December 23."  The union's case could affect
835 players.  MLBPA General Counsel Gene Orza:  "We'll pursue
this in court, in arbitration or any venue the owners desire."
O'Connor dismissed it as another anti-cap ploy:  "It's designed
to shake up the clubs, but it's something we anticipated.  We
probably will use the letter as further evidence of the union's
refusal to bargain collectively" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 1/6).
"The two sides remained focused on litigating rather than
negotiating" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 1/6). O'Connor said
arbitrator George Nicolau will not hear the dispute:  "The
grievance procedure is a creature of the contract.  We don't have
a contract so we don't have a grievance procedure. ... It will
wind up at the NLRB" (Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 1/6).
     WASHINGTON WATCH:  White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta
said that President Clinton is "very concerned" about the lack of
progress in the dispute and that he plans to use "whatever kind
of influence he can bring" to find a solution.  Labor Secretary
Robert Reich, who met with Orza and MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr on
Wednesday, holds a similar meeting with acting Commissioner Bud
Selig, Rockies Chair Jerry McMorris and Red Sox CEO John
Harrington next week.  While Former President Jimmy Carter
offered his services as a mediator, the Clinton Administration,
which appointed special mediator William Usery in mid-October,
plans to stick with Usery (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 1/6).  Of
all the legislation offered during the opening days of the 104th
Congress aimed at repealing baseball's antitrust exemption, USA
TODAY's Hal Bodley writes that Rep. Pat Williams' (D-MT) bill has
the "best shot."  The Williams bill would subject both sides to
binding arbitration if there is no deal by February 1.  Fehr:  "I
don't know that one-year binding arbitration would be something
we would not consider" (USA TODAY, 1/6).  There is the
possibility that the deadline on Williams' bill could be pushed
back from February 1.

     The NHL Board of Governors is "set to kill the players'
latest contract proposal at their emergency meeting in new York
tomorrow," according to Paul Hunter in this morning's TORONTO
STAR.  "But that doesn't necessarily mean the season will die
with it.  There is growing conjecture the owners, after
announcing unanimous rejection of the union's proposal, will
counter with a 'final' offer of their own" (TORONTO STAR, 1/6).
ESPN's Bob Ley:  "Free agency at age 30 could be the deal-
breaker" ("SportsCenter," 1/5).  In Vancouver, Tony Gallagher
writes that the "current feeling" is that the NHL will offer two
counter-proposals:  one with a tax, and one without.  On the free
agency age issue, Gallagher adds that if the players were to go
to 31, "there is a much greater likelihood of acceptance, and you
can almost write Saturday's anticipated counter-proposal on that
right now."  The owners also want a clause to reopen the five-
year deal if salaries don't go down after two years.  That should
be included in the no-tax counter-proposal (Vancouver PROVINCE,
1/6).  In Washington, Dave Fay floats other scenarios, including:
private talks today; more negotiations next week; a counter-
proposal to the union even before Saturday's vote (WASHINGTON
TIMES, 1/6).  One NHL Governor told the L.A. TIMES:  "Monday
night is the absolute deadline" (Helene Elliott, L.A. TIMES,
1/6).
     OWNERS SURVEY:  The TORONTO SUN polled NHL owners an found
that opposition to the players' plan is running 20-6.  FOR:
Kings, Islanders, Rangers, Penguins, Blues, Maple Leafs.
AGAINST:  Ducks, Bruins, Sabres, Flames, Blackhawks, Stars, Red
Wings, Oilers, Panthers, Whalers, Canadiens, Devils, Senators,
Flyers, Nordiques, Sharks, Lightning, Canucks, Capitals, Jets
(Lance Hornby, TORONTO SUN, 1/6).
     MANAGEMENT REAX:  Bruins President & GM Harry Sinden sees
the vote as "sink or swim":  "If in a moment of brain-deadness we
do accept their offer, the season swims.  But if it's rejected,
as I believe it will be, then I think the season's over" (Kevin
Paul Dupont, BOSTON GLOBE, 1/6).  Lightning Governor David
LeFevre:  "In fairness to the fans, we have to end the
negotiating process.  Even if that means losing the season" (ST.
PETE TIMES, 1/6).  While Devils Owner John McMullen called the
NHLPA offer a "disappointing document," Sabres Exec VP Gary
Meehan noted that they have made "significant movement" and
called it a "good framework" for further talks (Joe Lapointe,
N.Y. TIMES, 1/6).  Capitals GM David Poile:  "The present system
is better than what's on the table now" (Len Hochberg, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/6).  Whalers Owner Peter Karmanos:  "I'll tell you my
vote:  See you around" (Viv Bernstein, DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/6).
     WHAT'S FACING THE COMMISSIONER?  At least one Governor feels
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "will avoid putting his stamp of
approval on the deal immediately, which could put his own job at
risk if it is narrowly approved.  Rather, Bettman will present
the offer in a neutral fashion, and gauge the support it has"
(David Shoalts, Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/6).  In Toronto, Scott
Morrison writes, "The owners had best be prepared tomorrow to
assemble a palatable    counterproposal, one that offers a viable
alternative for the players.  And that is the daunting task
facing Bettman, the true test to his leadership and his ability
to make a deal" (TORONTO SUN, 1/6).  In New York, Larry Brooks
writes that the NHLPA gave Bettman a "slingshot" to fight off "an
army of Board militants."  One moderate Governor:  "I don't
understand what the players did this week.  They're daring us to
shut them down" (N.Y. POST, 1/6).
     BLIND OPTIMISM?  Two agents expressed their opinion that the
players' offer should be enough for the owners.  Don Meehan:  "I
believe those three things [changes in arbitration, $900,000
rookie cap and elimination of Group I free agency] alone will
bring about a major change in the marketplace -- what was wished
for.  And I haven't found a single general manager who disagrees"
(Jim Proudfoot, TORONTO STAR, 1/6).  Neil Abbott:  "I think it's
already done, and it'll just be a little media show (tomorrow).
The owners have already talked and they're happy as pigs in
bleep" (Stephen Harris, BOSTON HERALD, 1/6).
     REALITY BITES:  The NHLPA's marketing committee spent
yesterday "rounding up sponsors for a proposed players' league
which could start as early as February" (Dave Fuller,  TORONTO
SUN, 1/6).

     According to former Congressman Tom McMillen, one of the
organizers of the proposed United Baseball League, a commitment
from RFK Stadium is the only obstacle keeping DC from gaining a
UBL franchise.  McMillen, who has been busy trying to assemble a
group of investors that would own a DC entry, says the "holdup"
is that RFK has an "informal, exclusive agreement with the two
groups seeking a [MLB] expansion franchise in Northern VA."
Those agreements expire this month (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST,
1/6).

     MLB has rejected the latest contract proposal from the MLB
Umpires Union.  The union proposal calls for "a pay hike from the
current range of $60,000-$175,000 to $100,000-$320,000 and a
doubling of all post-season pay pool."  NL President Len Coleman
said "there is no appetite for those numbers."  MLB has locked
out its umps, who will not be paid without a deal.  The league
submitted a counter-proposal on Wednesday which was "not well
received" after the union had declined a no-strike, no-lockout
deal that would "roll over the existing contract" until a
settlement.  Speculation is that if no deal is reached, MLB may
look to replacement umpires (Rod Beaton, USA TODAY, 1/6).