Gart Sports in Denver has named DOUGLAS MORTON as President
and CEO of the company, succeeding JOHN CHASE who resigned
(DENVER POST, 5/17).... Converse has named THOMAS NELSON as
Senior VP and MARK SHUSTER as Marketing Dir of Performance
Categories (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/17)....The Broncos announced
yesterday the appointments of BOB FERGUSON as Dir of Player
Personnel, JERRY FREI as Dir of College Scouting, and JACK ELWAY
as Dir of Pro Personnel (Broncos)

     IOC President JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH plans to visit Cambodia
today to discuss the country's pending participation in next
year's Atlanta Olympics (KYODO NEWS SERVICE, 5/17)....Pacers Head
Coach LARRY BROWN and General Manager DONNIE WALSH were on
"Charlie Rose" to talk about the NBA playoffs.  GEORGE FOREMAN
also appeared to talk about his book, "By George" (PBS,
5/17)....MICHAEL JORDAN has tied MUHAMMAD ALI for the most SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED cover appearances, gracing the cover for the 33rd
time.  Jordan is also featured in a "special collector's issue"
of SI FOR KIDS, sponsored solely by McDonald's (SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED). ....STEVE YOUNG's Forever Young Foundation will
hold its first charity auction Saturday at 6:30 at the San
Francisco Hilton (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, 5/18)....Maryland
sophomore center JOE SMITH, who declared himself eligible for the
NBA draft, has signed with agent LEN ELMORE.  When he declared
himself eligible last month, Smith had said he would not sign
with an agent until after the draft to keep open the possibility
of a return to Maryland (WASHINGTON POST, 5/18). ...Detroit
native and Bullets Forward CHRIS WEBBER, in Baltimore to film a
commercial with his father, took batting practice with the
Orioles yesterday before their game with the Tigers.  Webber,
joking: "I'm going to try out for the Tigers. ... I'm going to
take (baseball) more seriously than (Jordan did) and hopefully
become an all star" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/18).... BOOMER ESIASON
and his son, GUNNAR, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, were on
ABC's "Good Morning America" discussing the "Heroes Foundation,"
which raises money for people with CF.  Esiason on being a CF
parent:  "I don't have all the answers, but I can give a little
bit of inspiration" ("GMA," ABC, 5/18).