LEAGUE NOTES

     The NHL announced that Pittsburgh will be the site of the
'97 Entry Draft.  The draft will be held at the Civic Arena on
June 21, 1997 (NHL)....Season ticket sales update for MLS teams:
New England -- close to 5,000; Columbus -- Approx. 7,400; NY/NJ -
- 6,200; Kansas City -- 3,750; Colorado -- Approx. 3,000; San
Jose -- 2,500; Dallas -- 2,000; Tampa Bay -- Approx. 800;
Washington and L.A. were not available (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/17)....A
top North Korean official denied that they have proposed a joint
backing with South Korea of the 2002 World Cup (KYODO NEWS,
3/16)....A strike by the Italian Soccer Players Association wiped
out all weekend matches (Mult., 3/17)....In Chicago, Philip Hersh
examines the "long and winding road" of skating competitions.
"Near rock bottom" performances at recent events have caused ISU
President Ottavio Cinquanta to make "vague -- and meaningless --
threats" about forcing Olympic-eligible athletes to cut back on
their tours, exhibitions and pro-am competitions (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 3/17).