BASEBALL'S BACK II: THE JAYS HEADED BACK TO DUNEDIN?

     The Ontario Labour Relations Board heard closing arguments
yesterday from lawyers representing players, owners and umpires,
but did not rule on whether replacement umps would be banned in
Toronto under Ontario's anti-scab worker law.  While noting that
umpires had never filed as a union in Ontario, AL Counsel Roy
Filion said the MLBUA "cherry picked this opportunity to bring
this application forward" (Donovan Vincent, TORONTO STAR, 4/28).
Blue Jays Counsel Gordon Kirke argued that the umps "are not
employees of ball clubs because it would compromise their
integrity" (Dan Ralph, CP/OTTAWA CITIZEN, 4/28).  Meanwhile,
Kirke told the OLRB that a ruling against the league would mean
the Jays playing in Dunedin, FL -- an option that "sent a visible
jolt" through Blue Jays President Paul Beeston (James Christie,
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/28).