In Toronto, Marty York reports there is a "lengthy lineup
of would-be investors" in the U.S. to buy into the CFL. New
groups are representing Milwaukee, Miami, L.A., Portland,
Houston, Richmond, Jackson (MS), Norfolk, Birmingham and
Shreveport (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/12).... GOLF Magazine has
ranked PGA Tour events based on "strength of field" (50%),
"quality of winners" (35%) and "course difficulty" (15%). The
Top 10: British Open, Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship,
Players Championship, Memorial, Tour Championship, MCI Classic,
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and NEC World Series of Golf (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/12).... MLB reports the players' pool for
the World Series was a record $22,177,412. Braves players get 30
full shares of $206,635 apiece for winning (MLB)....USA TODAY's
Hal Bodley bemoans the slow pace of MLB labor talks. MLBPA Exec
Dir Don Fehr: "We would all be better served if we could make an
agreement before spring training. Whether that is possible
remains to be seen." Bodley: "Whether that is possible? It has
to be" (USA TODAY, 12/12)....Filip Bondy notes the latest in the
bidding war between Japan and South Korea for the 2002 World Cup.
Japanese organizers are floating the idea of 3-D matches beamed
into "virtual stadiums," while South Korea is promising $78M in
profits to FIFA. Bondy: "This enormous bribe, if accepted,
could change the way international sports are organized in the
future" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/12)....The U.S. became an
"overwhelming favorite" to host the '99 Women's World Cup when
Australia and Chile withdrew (AP/NEWSDAY, 12/12).
