GEORGE PYNE has been named to the newly created position of
Manager of Business Development-Licensing for the NASCAR.  Pyne
was with AMC Events in Atlanta, a sports marketing and event
management firm, where he was Exec Dir (NASCAR).....MICHAEL PLANT
was named President of Goodwill Games Inc., and VP/Events for
Turner Sports. He is President of Medalist Sports, which operates
cycling events (USA TODAY, 8/16)....FERRIS THOMPSON was named Dir
of Sponsorship Sales and Services for SportsLab.  SportsLab,
backed by ABC/Cap Cities and Electonic Arts, will hold
interactive sports events in cities throughout the U.S.
(SportsLab).

     "Entertainment Tonight" examined HOWIE LONG's new movie with
JOHN TRAVOLTA.  Long:  "It's not Macbeth, but it is for me."
Long plays Travolta's side kick in a movie called "Broken Arrow"
("ET," 8/16)....MIKE TYSON continued his media tour last night.
Tyson appeared on "Larry King Live" and on the BET special "Man
on a Mission" (CNN, BET, 8/16)....DAVID LETTERMAN, on the $39.95
price for the fight:  "I'm thinking, man that's a good deal.
$39.95 for a whole minute.  Wow!" ("Late Show," CBS, 8/16)....The
Rockets and VERNON MAXWELL have agreed to drop legal action
against each other.  Sources report Maxwell received a buyout
close to $500,000 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/17)....VINCE VAN PATTEN,
former tennis player and actor, has co-written, co-produced and
will star in "The Break," a movie due to open in late September.
Van Patten plays the coach of an "awkard, young rookie" tennis
player (MIAMI HERALD, 8/17).