Baseball's owners this week "intensified" discussions about
adopting a revenue sharing plan next year with or without a new
labor agreement, according to the WASHINGTON POST. A committee
headed by Astros Owner Drayton McLane proposed the plan. The
owners already have a plan that would transfer $58M annually from
large to small-market clubs. However, the owners argue that the
plan can't be put in place until there is agreement on curbing
players' salaries. McLane's plan would immediately aid small-
market clubs which say they need revenue-sharing to survive.
Mark Maske notes large-market clubs are "wary" of such a plan
without a salary cap or payroll tax (WASHINGTON POST, 8/17).
OTHER HAPPENINGS: Dave van Dyck noted from Chicago that one
"moderate" owner said the labor situation better be resolved by
mid-September if baseball wants to cut a multimillion-dollar deal
with Fox (CHICAGO SUN TIMES, 8/15). New York City's Commissioner
of Labor Relations Randy Levin appears to be the choice as new
chief labor negotiator with an announcement to be "made soon."
Owners are also close to hiring a new marketing director
(WASHINGTON POST, 8/17).
MADAME COMMISSIONER? When asked to name two public figures
he thought would be good Commissioners, former Commissioner Bowie
Kuhn named former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and
former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Colin Powell. Kuhn added
while he didn't think either would want the job, he also didn't
think the owners would approve either of them because of each
one's ability to be a "strong leader" (Bob Wolfley, MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/17).
UBL GEARING UP: The UBL will hold a press conference today
in New York to announce major developments for the season
starting in the spring of '96. Included will be information on a
commitment for an extensive national media deal, franchise
owner/owner groups for the first season, locations of first
season stadium facilities, UBL's schedule, and the format for its
Championship Series (UBL).
