Accompanied by local business leaders "prepared to guarantee
the sale of loge and club seats in a refurbished stadium,"
Cleveland Mayor Michael White arrives in Atlanta today to make
his case before NFL owners on the city's proposed Cleveland
Stadium renovation.  According to Len Pasquarelli of the ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, "How sympathetic an audience White encounters,
however, remains to be seen."  Pasquarelli notes of the 14 owners
on the league's Finance and Stadium Committees, "eight either
face stadium crises similar to those cited by Browns Owner Art
Modell or have already announced that they are moving their teams
to new cities" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/4).  The owners are
"eager" for White to present specifics of his $175M renovation
plan, with much of the focus expected on Cleveland's corporate
community and its willingness to purchase luxury suites and club
seats.  In response, White will have Harry Howell III, who was
responsible for the successful marketing of Gund Arena and Jacobs
Field boxes, outline his sales strategy.  As for details, Nancy
Lesic, White's press secretary, said they will keep specifics of
the plan and the revenue projections secret until after the
meeting of NFL owners on January 17 (Bart Hubbuch, Akron BEACON
JOURNAL, 1/4).
     EARLY PEEK:  Yesterday's Cleveland PLAIN DEALER notes the
plan includes changes from the proposal offered the Browns days
after the team's move announcement -- including an additional $6-
13M in costs to provide club seating.  Frederick Nance, White's
counsel on the stadium issue, said the added costs would be paid
by club seat holders.  The revenue breakdown:  $140M from city
sin and parking taxes; $26M from the state (although the state's
15% could mean more money under an expanded plan); $6M from the
city Utilities Dept.; $3M from the Regional Transit Authority.
Pre-renovations, the plan would guarantee the Browns $16.3M in
new revenues in '96 and an average of $19M per year over 30 years
(Heider & Koff, Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/3).
     DOUBTERS:  According to several experts surveyed by the
Baltimore SUN on the city's November 8 proposal to the Browns, it
will not be an "easy sell."  One source familiar with the new
plan said it is "better" than the earlier proposal, but still
follows "many of the same guidelines and assumptions."  The SUN
does note revenue estimates now could be as high as $200M (Jon
Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 1/4).

     The PGA Tour starts its season today at the Mercedes
Championship at Lacosta on Carlsbad, CA.  The Tour's 45 events
feature a total of $66.6M in purse money.  The LPGA, which gets
underway next week, will have 39 events for $25.3M in prize money
-- up $1M from '95.  The Senior PGA Tour also has 39 events for
$38.5M.  In Washington, Leonard Shapiro notes that golf heads
into '96 "in relatively strong shape" with World Tour and FTC
problems settled.  However, the controversy over CBS commentator
Ben Wright still "lingers" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/4)....In an
interview released by the Corel WTA Tour, Monica Seles expressed
a desire for equal pay at future Australian Opens, but she said
she still plans to play in the tournament.  Seles:  "I wish it
wouldn't have happened ... [but] I always play because it doesn't
matter to me" (Corel WTA Tour)....The CFL owes its Players'
Association nearly $500,000 in overdue pension-fund payments at
the same time they are trying to reduce roster sizes and cut pay.
The CFLPA says it will not begin  negotiations on a new CBA until
the pension-fund issue is settled (TORONTO SUN, 1/4)....The NPSL
announced its players will be allowed to participate in MLS
combines to be held this month.  NPSL Commissioner Steve Paxos
said they are "glad to assist and cooperate" with MLS (NPSL).

     While the baseball offseason has featured a "blizzard" of
player movement, there is still no MLB labor agreement. Since it
appears "unlikely" there will be a work stoppage during '96, MLB
owners and players face a number of opportunities to announce
labor peace, according to BASEBALL WEEKLY.  Owners meetings
scheduled for January 16-18 in L.A. will focus on revenue
sharing, but Peter Pascarelli reports a framework for a new labor
deal could be in place for discussion by then.  Team GMs and
managers will be at these meetings and they will draw significant
media coverage setting a "stage" for labor news if it can be
made.  This would also coincide with the January opening of club
season-ticket sales.  The announcement of a new labor deal to
open spring training would also be a "perfect PR sendoff" for the
'96 season.  If not done by then, Opening Day would be the next
"crunch deadline" as Pascarelli notes MLB cannot go on
indefinitely without a CBA (BASEBALL WEEKLY, 1/3-9 issue).

     During the tenure of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, league
GMs "have seen much of their power over league affairs ceded to
the governors and league executives," according to David Shoalts
of the GLOBE & MAIL.  Past complaints focused on rule changes,
but when they meet in Tucson on February 5, Shoalts predicts the
issue will be scheduling.  GMs are unhappy with the amount of
travel and distribution of home dates.  Maple Leafs President &
GM Cliff Fletcher:  "Each team has its own philosophy when it
comes to the schedule.  Some teams want to maximize gate
receipts, so they'll ask for certain dates.  Others want a
maximum competitive advantage, and others want to maximize their
TV schedule.  Now the league has taken teams out of the picture
on the schedule."  Under Bettman, former NHL Dir of
Administration Phil Scheuer was let go in favor of a fully
computerized system.  League officials note that teams are
allowed to present preferred dates before the schedule is done
and can request changes after.  The league acknowledges the
complaints, but the system is unlikely "to undergo any radical
changes" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/4).