The Devil Rays placed ads in local papers this morning
informing fans that the team's name would, in fact, be the Devil
Rays.  Team Managing General Partner Vince Naimoli originally
named the team Devil Rays, but allowed fans to choose between
that and Manta Rays after initial reaction to the name was
negative (Joe Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/3).

     Whether a city is capable of supporting an MLB team is
examined by Ty Ahmad-Taylor in the Sunday N.Y. TIMES.  Money and
fans are "just two factors in deciding where teams play," as the
piece notes that some cities have been awarded teams after
threatening legal action against the league's antitrust
exemption.  Economists say an MLB team can make it in a
metropolitan area with: 1) a population over one million; 2) a
high percentage of men between 18 and 54; 3) per capita income
above the national average; 4) high population growth; and, 5) a
high proportion of businesses with more than 500 employees --
likely to buy luxury suites.  55 metropolitan areas with at least
one million in population were measured against the four
necessities of supporting a team:  27 areas were classified as
definitely able to support an MLB team; nine were listed as
"possibly" able; 19 not able (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).  Cities in caps
do not have an MLB team or expansion franchise.
     DEFINITELY CAN SUPPORT A TEAM: L.A./Long Beach; New York;
Chicago; Philadelphia; WASHINGTON; Detroit; Houston; Atlanta;
Boston; DALLAS (separate from Fort Worth); Twin Cities; Orange
County; Baltimore; Phoenix/Mesa; Seattle/ Bellevue; Oakland;
PORTLAND, OR; Kansas City; San Francisco; SAN JOSE; Ft.
Worth/Arlington; INDIANAPOLIS; COLUMBUS; CHARLOTTE; HARTFORD;
MIDDLESEX, NJ; LAS VEGAS.
     COULD POSSIBLY SUPPORT A TEAM:  San Diego; NEWARK; Denver;
Cincinnati; SACRAMENTO; ORLANDO; BERGEN CO., NJ;
GREENSBORO/WINSTON-SALEM; ROCHESTER.
     CAN NOT SUPPORT A TEAM:  RIVERSIDE/SAN BERNANDINO;
NASSAU/SUFFOLK; St. Louis; Pittsburgh; Cleveland; Tampa Bay;
Miami; NORFOLK/NEWPORT NEWS; Milwaukee; SAN ANTONIO; FT.
LAUDERDALE; NEW ORLEANS; BUFFALO; SALT LAKE CITY; PROVIDENCE;
MEMPHIS; NASHVILLE; MONMOUTH, NJ; OKLAHOMA CITY (N.Y. TIMES,
4/2).

     Negotiations between the Rams and NFL officials hinge on the
amount of PSL money the team will offer the league, according to
the BOSTON GLOBE's Will McDonough.  "Sources close to the
negotiations" say the team has increased its original $25.5M
offer to $40M, but the league wants $70M, "and has taken the
stance that $40 million is not enough" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/2).  Rams
President John Shaw says the two sides "remain far apart
financially," and that the team will file a lawsuit by April 17
if nothing is worked out at the April 12 owners meeting.  Shaw
held out the possibility that the Rams "could decide to pack
their bags, head to St. Louis for the '95 season and tell the
league: Try to stop us."  Shaw: "I'm not saying that's a
probability, but there's a chance of that" (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS
POST-DISPATCH, 4/1).
     THE COMMISH:  In Atlanta, Len Pasquarelli writes, while
settling without a court battle may look like a victory for NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, "no one should be deceived ... For
one thing, the league is caving in to Georgia Frontiere, one of
its least-formidable owners and a person her colleagues felt they
could crack -- and possibly force to sell the team."  Second, "a
compromise renders the NFL's relocation guidelines ... all but
meaningless.  Finally, the league is once again showing its true
colors.  To no one's surprise, the favorite tint is green.  All
along, while Tagliabue hid behind flimsy excuses" -- protecting
CA's fans and Fox's interests -- "the Rams situation has boiled
down to money" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/2).
     THE MOUSE WAITS TO POUNCE:  Tony Tavares, President of
Disney Sports Enterprises, says Disney may be interested in an
NFL team if the league approves a Rams move.  Tavares: "We're
waiting to see how it all shakes out. We don't want to interfere
in the Rams' business" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/3).