BASEBALL NO CLOSER TO DEAL WITH UMPS

     Robert Kheel, lead negotiator for MLB in its labor dispute
with locked out umpires, said there must be a settlement within
"the next couple days" for the umpires to be ready for Opening
Day.  The MLBUA delivered a new proposal on Monday, but Kheel
said there were no talks yesterday.  Kheel:  "We're substantially
apart still" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 4/19).  MLBUA General
Counsel Richie Phillips made an offer that the umpires would
return to work if the owners agreed to continue negotiations
until a new CBA is reached.  Phillips "said he has been assured
there will be support from players and that President Clinton
will not cross picket lines to throw out the first pitch opening
day."  But White House spokesperson Ginny Terzano said no
decision has been made.  MLB spokesperson Rich Levin:  "As far as
I know, the president has not been invited to attend any of the
openers" (Hal Bodley, USA TODAY, 4/19).
     FEHR SOFTENS COLLUSION TALK:  MLBPA Exec Dir Don Fehr
"downplayed" comments he made regarding a union investigation of
collusion among owners on players' salaries this spring.  Fehr
said the union "always reviews" for possible collusion, but that
they have no specific evidence relating to this spring (Mark
Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 4/19).