ANGELS GETTING CLOSE ON NEW STADIUM

     Angels President Richard Brown met with Anaheim City Manager
Jim Ruth and Stadium Manager Greg Smith this week and "reported
progress and optimism" towards an agreement on a new stadium.
Brown:  "It's never a done deal until it's done.  The fat lady
hasn't sung yet.  But during negotiations (Thursday) I think she
was heard gargling."  Ruth also said after the meetings that "he
would be surprised if an agreement isn't reached within two
weeks."  Meanwhile, the Rams, who previously controlled the
boxes, gave the Angels "approval" to start selling the luxury
boxes at Anaheim Stadium.  Brown reports that sales of the boxes
"should pick up after an agreement is reached on a new stadium"
(Jeff Miller, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/3).