The 76ers have put in a bid to host the '98 NBA All-Star
Game, according to Phil Jasner of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.
76ers Business Manager Gerry Ryan has been in contact with the
NBA about the availability of the CoreStates Center, which is
scheduled to open for '96-97.  Ryan:  "I can't say what our
chances out, but I think we already have most of the pieces
they're looking for."  Philadelphia has hosted the All-Star Game
three times -- in '60, '70, and '76 (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS,
2/28).

     Comments by Rockies Owner Jerry McMorris that a settlement
could be possible this week set off a number of optimistic news
reports, despite the fact that the two sides have yet to discuss
specifics of a possible luxury tax.
     EVER THE OPTIMIST:  McMorris:  "If we make good progress
(Wednesday), there possibly could be a settlement (Wednesday).
We're on the threshold, but I don't want to infer that we're
close.  Is it likely?  Probably not."  Acting MLB Commissioner
Bud Selig:  "There is a different feeling.  The posturing is all
gone.  We're down to issues and we're down to them in a civilized
manner" (Tracy Ringolsby, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/1).  In
Baltimore, Peter Schmuck does note that McMorris "is known to be
the most upbeat and optimistic member of either bargaining unit.
He has foreseen the end of this dispute before, only to be
disappointed" (Baltimore SUN, 3/1).
     OTHER VIEWS:  In L.A., Ross Newhan cites another management
negotiator:  "It could happen this week or it could carry into
the weekend or early next week."  But MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr was
not as quick to predict a settlement:  "I think people should be
encouraged to the point the process is ongoing and people are
paying attention to the calendar.  I would be hesitant to go
beyond that" (L.A. TIMES, 3/1).  Another management source, who
believes a settlement will come by early next week, added:  "Don
[Fehr] is getting some advice from senior players he hasn't
gotten before" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 3/1).  More from
Fehr: "I don't want to suggest that everybody is lovey-dovey, far
from it" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 2/28).
     WHERE ARE THEY?  CNN's Mark Morgan:  "The talks will
reconvene Wednesday morning at 11:30 EST.  The equation, once
again, will include small groups, with the hope that more
progress can be made" ("Sports Tonight," CNN, 2/28). Ringolsby's
take on Tuesday's talks:  "There were no discussions of actual
numbers but owners did show a willingness to refine the
distribution of money raised from a salary tax. ... There were
also indications that the union is willing to drop its opposition
to the revenue-sharing plan adopted 13 months ago" (ROCKY
MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/1).  "The sides will discuss specific numbers
today" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 3/1).  While Special Mediator
William Usery proposed a system earlier that would tax teams at a
rate of 50% on all spending above a $40M threshold, several
sources close to the talks "insist" that the tax will end up at
about 25% (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 3/1).
     WATCHING, AND WAITING:  Jim McDowell, brother and agent of
Yankee pitcher Jack McDowell:  "After the fallout over what Len
Dykstra said, some players are a little hesitant to talk.  That
might change if there's no progress this week" (Jeff Bradley,
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1).
     MAJOR-LEAGUE PRESSURE:  ESPN's Gary Miller reported that
union members "did hint" at a meeting with minor-leaguers that
they would help them -- "not only with their transporation back
and forth to camp if they leave, but also with meal money and
expenses."  Marlins minor-leaguer John Massarelli, after meeting
with MLBPA members last night:  "For Cecil Fielder to tell me he
knows where I come from, you know, it doesn't hold a lot of water
to me.   Because to me, $700 a week is a lot of money."  Expos GM
Kevin Malone:  "We don't hear the union promising to take care of
these guys if they do lose their job" ("SportsCenter," 2/28).
Expos minor-leaguer Tom Thobe, on the meeting:  "There was no
pressure.  It is each person's decision what they want to do"
("Sports Tonight," CNN, 2/28).

     ATLANTA -- BORBONS ON THE ROCKS?  While Pedro Borbon Sr.
announced his intent to be a replacement player for the Reds, his
son Pedro Jr., who is in the Braves' organization, remained on
strike.  Pedro Jr. on his father's comeback:  "Shoot, if George
Foreman can make a comeback, so can my dad."....Around 125 minor
leaguers met with MLBPA General Council Gene Orza Tuesday night
at the Palm Beach Airport Hilton, "many of them from the Braves'
organization (I.J. Rosenberg, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/1).
     BALTIMORE -- 11 OF 12 WON'T PLAY:  Eleven of the O's 12
exhibition opponents informed the team by fax yesterday that they
would not play the Orioles this spring unless the team changes
its policy of not fielding replacement players by 2pm EST today.
The Rockies, who are scheduled to come to Camden Yards on April
2, were the only team not to respond. If there is no settlement
this week, owners are expected to take a formal vote on
replacement players next week at their meeting in Palm Beach.
"Then at some point during the spring, the league likely will
announce sanctions against Angelos for failing to prepare a team
for the regular season.  Angelos almost certainly would respond
with a lawsuit."  A.L. President Gene Budig declined comment on
the issue (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 3/1).  AL VP of Admin. &
Media Affairs Phyllis Merhige said the teams have the right to
cancel games and won't be penalized (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 3/1).
     CINCINNATI -- SCHOTT IN THE DARK?  CINCINNATI POST columnist
Joe Posnanski pans Reds GM Jim Bowden for his "joke" in signing
Pedro Borbon, calling the move Bowden's "own fraternity prank":
"You see, [Marge] Schott seemed to believe this was a serious
signing.  Apparently Bowden, that wacky, nutty jokester, failed
to let her in on the joke, failed even to mention to her that
Borbon is a blob who is a longshot to pass his physical"
(CINCINNATI POST, 3/1). TORONTO STAR columnist Richard Griffin
writes of the Borbon signing, "Yesterday, there were 27 other
owners slapping their foreheads in unison wondering, 'What hath
Schott wrought?'" (TORONTO STAR, 3/1).
     CLEVELAND -- GOOD SEATS STILL AVAILABLE:  The Indians
announced that ticket sales for Opening Day at Jacobs Field hit
35,000 and that tickets remain for all 82 regular season games
(Indians).
     DETROIT -- PUT BUS IN DRIVE, EGOS IN CHECK:  Around 30
Tigers are expected to make the 132-mile trip from Lakeland to
Vero Beach for the team's first spring game.  Tigers GM Joe Klein
will not divulge how many minor-leaguers will make the trip, as
opposed to replacement players.  FREE PRESS columnist Charlie
Vincent reports sending all replacements would, "in Klein's
eyes," mean acquiescing to Don Fehr.  Klein on Monday: "No one
who needs written instructions how to put on a jockstrap is going
to tell me how to run this franchise" (DETROIT FREE-PRESS, 2/28).
     MILWAUKEE -- CAMP CHAOS?  Brewers Exec VP of Baseball Ops
Sal Bando on the current spring training situation:  "Right now,
we have all our feet planted firmly in midair."  Spring training
is also being characterized as "resting comfortably somewhere
between complete chaos and total uncertainty" (Michael Bauman,
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, 2/28).
     MINNESOTA -- WHO'S ON FIRST?  The Twins have received
commitments from "more than 20" minor-leaguers to play in spring
games, according to an informal survey in today's STAR-TRIBUNE.
Twins GM Terry Ryan said they have received commitments from
"about half" of the 50 players they have asked (Jim Souhan,
Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 3/1).
     MONTREAL -- ALOU TO STAY:  Manager Felipe Alou said he will
manage the Expos this year if the strike lasts into the regular
season.  Alou, who said baseball "hasn't seen any more Sparkys,"
referring to Sparky Anderson's refusal to manage replacements:
"I have a contract and I have responsibilities that I can't walk
away from.  To me, this is a matter of conscience" (TORONTO STAR,
3/1).
     NEW YORK -- WILPON THE DIPLOMAT:  Mets owner Fred Wilpon
said yesterday he is "willing to compromise" and is a "moderate
in wanting to see the game played again."  Wilpon defended
ownership, but said "he was dragged into accepting replacement
baseball" (Jennifer Frey, N.Y. TIMES, 3/1).  Dick Kraft, who
resigned from the Yankees under public pressure last spring for
reportedly "likening kids who hung and swung from rims on
basketball courts across the street from Yankee Stadium to
'monkeys,'" was back at the Yankee offices yesterday.  Yankees
spokesperson Arthur Richman said Kraft would not be on the Yankee
payroll, but be paid as a personal employee of George
Steinbrenner (Joel Sherman, N.Y. POST, 3/1).... Beginning March
15, the Yankees will cut front office salaries by 10% (MIAMI
HERALD, 3/1).
     PITTSBURGH -- LEYLAND SPEAKS OUT:  Pirates Manager Jim
Leyland on having to work with replacement players:  "When you
work for somebody, when you have a boss, you do what they say or
you quit.  I'm not going to quit, so I'll do what I'm told" (Bob
Smizik, PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE, 3/1).
     ST. LOUIS -- BETTER THAN HITCHHIKING:  Minor league reliever
Gary Buckels, who attended a Monday night meeting with players
General Council Gene Orza said the union may help minor leaguers
who are sent home for refusing to play with replacement players:
"The union said something about financial aid, paying the way
back, but they said it was still in the working stages.  It
sounds kind of vague" (Rick Hummel, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH,
3/1).

     The fate of Major League Baseball expansion is expected to
be decided next week as owners are scheduled to meet in Palm
Beach, FL, beginning Tuesday.  During the three-day meetings, the
expansion committee "plans to recommend" that two clubs be added
for the '98 season and two more teams, "perhaps in 2000."
Baseball sources say the owners' decision to award Phoenix and
Tampa-St. Petersburg "is all but final."  The Northern VA group
hoping for a team has asked that if the area isn't part of the
first round of expansion, they be considered for the second round
(Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 3/1).  Despite reports in the Tampa
Bay area earlier this week that expansion may be delayed, hopeful
Tampa-St. Pete owner Vince Naimoli and St. Pete City
Administrator Rick Dodge said they "still expect owners to
approve expansion and award teams to Tampa Bay and Phoenix next
week" (Marc Topkin, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/1).   ENTERTAINING TO
IMPRESS:  MLB officials will be visiting Orlando and Northern VA
this week to assess the possibilities for getting a team.  The
group arrived in Orlando last night and will be entertained by
Norton Herrick, the FL-based developer who is heading Orlando's
bid.  They then fly to Northern VA today where they will meet
with Bill Collins, the the telecommunications exec who heads
Virginia Baseball Inc., the more favored of the two Northern VA
groups (Dan Tracy, ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/28).

     The Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) softball league
named Mitzi Swentzell President and CEO.  The league will begin
its exhibition tour in June '95 and will launch league play in
'96.  Swentzell was Exec VP for the Nuggets, and worked for Jacor
Communications in Denver, where she did marketing for the
Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, and Univ. of Colorado football and
basketball.  John Cowles, former league President, will become
Chairman of the Board and shift his attention to long-term
strategy, board development and fundraising.  Selection of WPF's
initial six team markets will be announced this summer (WPF).