The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES began a three-part profile of NFL
agents in a special report titled, "The NFL's Real Players."  The
SUN-TIMES lists the Top 12 football agents: 1) LEIGH STEINBERG,
TOM CONDON (tie); 3) MARVIN DEMOFF; 4) RALPH CINDRICH; 5) JIM
STEINER; 6) DREW ROSENHAUS; 7) EUGENE PARKER; 8) FRANK BAUER; 9)
LAMONT SMITH; 10) TONY AGNONE; 11) JIMMY SEXTON; and 12) BRAD
BLANK (Dan Pompei, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/16).  In Part II, "Black
Agents On Rise," EUGENE PARKER addresses the challenges facing
African-American agents (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/17).  In Part III,
"The Best in the Business," Pompei profiles Steinberg.
Steinberg:  "Sports is entertainment.  The reason pro sports are
popular is the public is exposed to them through newspapers and
television.  I tell my clients if they don't want to talk with
the press and they disdain writers, they ought to play in a
sandlot" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/18).
     MORE AGENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT:  BET's "Sports Report"
featured BILL STRICKLAND, President of IMG Basketball, and LEN
ELMORE, Founder/Pres. Precept Sports & Entertainment. Strickland,
on criticism that he doesn't further the interests of African-
American agents by working for IMG:  "The opportunity presented
itself to do what I wanted to do with a great deal of autonomy
with a support of a number one company in the industry.  Where I
draw the line is how well do I do by my clients and I don't care
who is supporting me in terms of resources."  Elmore:   "We see
ourselves, particularly with African American athletes, as
mentors who can provide counsel not only in the professional
life, but in their life outside of professional sports" (BET,
4/15).

     MAGIC JOHNSON said he wants to play for the USA Olympic
Basketball team during the '96 Games (L.A. TIMES, 4/19)....NBA
Senior VP ROD THORN was named to head an 11-member panel to pick
players and coaches for next year's U.S. Olympic men's basketball
team (Mult., 4/19)....LARRY DONEN was named VP/Properties and
Retail for Northwest Entertainment Group.  He will be responsible
for the overall development strategies and consumer products for
the Canucks, Grizzlies, and GM Place (Grizzlies)....LES KRANTZ,
the author of the "Jobs Rated Almanac," reports the three
highest-paying professions (on average):  1) Pro basketball
player -- $1.561M; 2) Pro baseball player -- $1.119M; 3) Pro
football player --$655,055 ("Today," NBC, 4/19)....HUBERT DAVIS,
ANTHONY BONNER, MONTY WILLIAMS and HERB WILLIAMS of the Knicks
played four-on-four against Letterman audience members last night
(The audience won, 108-107).  NBC's MARV ALBERT also made an
appearance, presenting an "Albert Achievement Awards Embarrassing
Moment" to an audience member who was hit in the head ("Late
Night," CBS, 4/18).