BOSTON PASSES ON BIDDING FOR '98 NBA ALL-STAR GAME

     The Celtics "put up an air ball when the 1998 NBA All-Star
Game was on the line," but the team is looking for another chance
to host the game, reports Will McDonough of the BOSTON GLOBE.
The deadline for bids was February 3, and since the Celtics
failed to do so, they are now "out of the running."  While
Celtics VP/Special Events Stu Layne said the Celtics would like
the game in Boston at some point, "it is still not a great deal
for the city."  Layne:  "It would be very expensive and take up a
lot of time [for Celtics employees].  And also, it could cause
some real problems with our own ticket-holders and game sponsors.
The league takes the game over."  New Boston Garden Corp.
President Larry Moulter "wants the Celtics to push harder the
next time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/18).  In Chicago, Sam Smith writes it
will be "a while" before the United Center hosts the NBA All-Star
Game.  Bulls VP Marketing & Broadcasting Steve Schanwald:  "We'll
probably apply again around the turn of the century" (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 2/20).