JACK DONOHUE has joined the Grizzlies as Dir of Int'l Public
Relations.  Donohue was coach of the Canadian National Team and
is in the Basketball Canada Hall of Fame.  He will also serve as
Grizzlies Dir of Canadian Player Development
(Grizzlies)....MICHAEL CHICO has joined ESPN as Senior
VP/Integrated Sales and Market Research (L.A. TIMES,
12/15)....News Corp. will reportedly set up an executive
committee to determine "strategic directions" for the company.
The committee will include CHASE CAREY, Head of the Fox Network
(FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/15).

     DAVID CONE testified yesterday at the federal tax evasion
trial of his former accountant, ERIC GOLDSCHMIDT, admitting he
was "a little uneasy" when Goldschmidt told him to just "put in a
figure" on a blank 1040 form for money he made from autographs.
Cone said he inadvertently failed to report one $1,500 show in
the process.  Though Cone admits he underreported, prosecutors
say he broke no laws because they can't prove he did it on
purpose (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/15)....The Eastern Motorsport Press
Association has named IRL Founder TONY GEORGE as its "Newsmaker
of the Year" (Ernie Saxton Communications)...."ET" went on
location with CAL RIPKEN in his role as a technical advisor for
the film "The Fan," to be released this June.  Ripken was shown
advising WESLEY SNIPES on hitting.  Ripken:  "He's got good bat
speed."  ET's John Tesh: "It takes a lot of balls to play a major
leaguer" ("ET," 12/14)....SHAQUILLE O'NEAL will make his return
to the Magic tonight against the Jazz.  The star center will not
start, and commented, "I'm not a prima donna who needs to start.
I don't want to mess with any chemistry.  I'll go for the Sixth
Man award.  It's mine" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/15)....Nets guard
Kenny Anderson has hired DAVID FALK as his new agent (N.Y. POST,
12/15).