NAMES IN THE NEWS

     The Boston MLS franchise is trying to lure U.S. World Cup
star ALEXI LALAS to play when competition begins in April '96
(BOSTON GLOBE, 6/8)....US Soccer Secretary General HANK
STEINBRECHER flew to Spain yesterday to try and hire Brazil's
World Cup-winning coach CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA to become the
next U.S. national team coach (BOSTON HERALD, 6/8)....MAGIC
JOHNSON was on "Dateline NBC" last night.  Johnson:  "It's not
like I retired because I couldn't play anymore.  It was just when
I retired, I had this HIV virus and we didn't know what was going
to happen.  Now, if I knew what I know now, then, I would still
be playing."  Dateline's "Question of the Week": Should Magic
play in '96.  56% said Yes, 28% said No, and 15% Not Sure (NBC,
6/7).
     ALL-SPORTS NIGHT ON "TONIGHT":  JAY LENO's guests last night
included cameos by BOB COSTAS and KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, and a
visit by PGA Tour star PETER JACOBSEN.  Costas appeared from the
NBA Finals in Orlando.  Costas on how "keyed up" the people in
Orlando are for the Magic:  "At Disney World this week, they put
in a special ride exclusively for NBA players -- Madonna."
Kareem was brought out on stage by JENNIFER ANISTON, star of
"Friends."  Kareem apparently had taught Aniston how to spin a
ball on her finger (NBC, 6/7)....Bob Costas will interview JOE
MONTANA on a special "Dateline" this Friday.