"Talks to keep the Jets in Winnipeg have turned into a
battle over day-to-day control" over the team, writes John
Douglas in this morning's WINNIPEG FREE PRESS.  Douglas reports
that former majority owner and President Barry Shenkarow, who is
selling 42% of his share, wants to remain as president and
governor for at least two years.  Shenkarow will remain as the
largest investor in the team -- at 11% --however, the new
ownership has only offered him a seat on the Board.  Shenkarow
reportedly wants both titles, and "if he can't do both, he
doesn't want to do either."  Sources say that Shenkarow "told his
partners yesterday that if he is seen as the obstacle to a deal
keeping the Jets in Winnipeg, he would leave his shares in the
hockey club but refuse any leadership role."  NHL Commissioner
Gary Bettman has already said he would not favor a sale without
Shenkarow (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 6/2).  Meanwhile, columnist Scott
Taylor writes that fan interest is waning each day a deal is
delayed (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 6/2).

     Bengals President Mike Brown "probably will visit Baltimore
to see what's available," because he's "worried more now than
ever" about his chances of keeping his team in Cincinnati,
according to Jon Morgan in this morning's Baltimore SUN.  Morgan
reports that Brown will be "following in the footsteps" of
Raiders Owner Al Davis, who secretly visited the city in early
May.  Davis reportedly met with Orioles Owner Peter Angelos and
had discussions about a local group led by Angelos buying a 40%
share in the Raiders (Baltimore SUN, 6/2).

      The Bergen RECORD and NEWARK STAR-LEDGER are suing the NJ
Sports and Exposition Authority in State Superior Court over the
NJSEA's failure to disclose lease terms for the teams occupying
state facilities, according to Richard Sandomir in today's N.Y.
TIMES.  The papers allege the failure to disclose "violates
public records laws that require disclosure of documents like the
lease."  The NJSEA claims that "allowing the leases to be viewed
by the public would ... dull its competitive edge."  Sandomir
writes, "The 'loss of competitiveness' argument may be logical
when applied to squeezing more profit from the concessions at a
monster truck show than at a circus.  But those are one-day or
multi-day events, not long-term leases.  There is no daily
marketplace competition for sports teams with 20-year leases,
except when a team threatens to move, and that does not happen
every day."  Sandomir argues that the most compelling argument
for full disclosure is to show the public the Devils' demands and
the financial losses the NJSEA may have to suffer to keep them
(N.Y. TIMES, 6/2).
     HELL-OOO?  In his column on ESPN's SportsZone, Keith
Olbermann notes that "virtually daring" Devils' fans to call last
week after he suggested the team has no fan base, ESPN received
only four calls viewers (ESPN SportsZone).
     DOES SPORTSCHANNEL KNOW SOMETHING?:  SportsChannel New York,
which holds rights for both the Devils and Islanders, is not
pursuing contract negotiations with Islanders announcer Jiggs
McDonald until the Devils situation is resolved.   Steve
Cavendish of the NASHVILLE BANNER reports that the sports cable
channel may be waiting to move Devils Broadcaster Mike Emrick to
the Islanders should the Devils make the move to Nashville
(NASHVILLE BANNER, 6/2).