Walt Disney Co.'s move into sports is the focus of an
extensive piece in this morning's USA TODAY.  Disney "is poised
for an increasingly prominent role in sports," especially in the
youth and adult markets.  In addition to owning the Ducks, the
AAU will move into new headquarters at Disney World this year; A
motor track will be built to host an Indycar race in '96; A $100M
sports complex, which will include a 7,500-seat baseball stadium,
will be ready in '97. Disney World VP/Sports Reggie Williams, a
former Bengal: "We want to be the place where champions are
crowned and the losers get to go to Walt Disney World" (USA
TODAY, 2/9).

     The first annual Franklin National Bank Classic will feature
basketball teams from the Universities of Maryland,
Massachusetts, George Washington, and Florida competing at USAir
Arena on December 2-3, 1995.  Proceeds from the Bank Classic will
benefit the Children's Charities Foundation (Children's
Charities).  Organizers of the "high-caliber tournament" hope to
give at least $500,000 to the Foundation.  Tournament organizers
also said USAir Arena has signed a 3-year deal for the
tournament, with George Washington and Maryland "having rights of
refusal" in '96 and '97 (Karen Goldberg, WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/9).

     A federal jury in St. Louis began Wednesday trying to sort
out "the icy claims" of Anheuser-Busch and Labatt Breweries.
Labatt claims A-B "toyed with it over a licensing agreement to
produce ice beer while working secretly to roll out its own
version." A-B says Labatt "used to deceptive advertising"
claiming Labatt was the inventor of ice beers.  A-B is seeking
$13.5M in damages from Labatt;  Labatt wants a jury to award
itself $61M, "representing what it says is triple the amount of
money it lost as a result of A-B's introduction of its own ice
beers" (Tim Bryant, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/9).  Labatt is
currently "locked in a string of other legal battles in various
North American courts over ice beer" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/9).

     Cracker Jack announced that it will go on-line on the World
Wide Web to establish an Internet address for baseball fans to
express their opinions on the baseball dispute
(Borden)....Following SportsTown's bankruptcy announcement, the
sporting goods chain announced the closing of six stores, two in
Atlanta and four in Texas (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/9).... Mike
Eruzione, captain of the '80 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, announced
the formation of "Miracle On Ice Enterprises Inc."  The company
will organize appearances and events throughout the year and has
licencing agreements to produce a trading card set and pre-paid
phone cards (Miracle On Ice)....The Seiniger Advertising Group of
Beverly Hills has been chosen to create a "comprehensive image
program" for Prime Sports West (Prime).

     NFL officials are reviewing Deion Sanders' deal with Sega of
America that pays the all-pro cornerback more money if he stays
with the 49ers.  Sanders, who will help develop a new football
game and serve as a spokesperson for Sega,  stands to earn up to
$2.5M if he stays with the  49ers, but will earn just over $1M if
he goes to another team.  NFL Dir of Communications Greg Aiello
said the NFL Management Council discussed the issue last week at
the Pro Bowl and "will continue to investigate."  People around
the league have questioned the "propriety" of the arrangement.
If the 49ers had a role, they could be fined as much as $2M.  NFL
rules prohibit undisclosed deals between players and teams or
team affiliates.  Aiello: "Based on what's been reported, it
could raise some serious questions about third-party involvement"
(Darren Sabedra, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/9).