The CBA, in conjunction with Advantage Int'l, announced that
a team consisting of three CBA players and seven retired NBA
players will stage a five-game exhibition series against the
Australian Olympic team starting in Perth tonight. Former Laker
Kurt Rambis is player-coach (CBA). Sonics Coach George Karl
urges a stronger developmental relationship between NBA and CBA
teams and suggests NBA rookies start out in the CBA (Tacoma NEWS
TRIBUNE, 3/27).... The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Clubs will begin play in May '97. The independent league, not
affiliated with MLB, will have teams in six East Coast cities in
NY, PA, NJ and MD. Atlantic City's team will play in a new $12M,
6,000-seat stadium called the "Sandcastle" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY
NEWS, 3/27)....The JCPenney Classic, which has PGA and LPGA Tour
players in a mixed-team format, will have an increased purse of
$1.5M in '96. This represents a $200,000 increase from '95
(LPGA)....The NHL is altering its playoff format to prevent teams
from playing back-to-back games (USA TODAY, 3/27)....Tickets for
the '98 World Cup in France go on sale May 4. A total of 2.5
million will be available, down from 3.6 million tickets
available in '94 (N.Y. POST, 3/27)....Former Ottawa Rough Riders
exec Garney Henley accused CFL Commissioner Larry Smith of
"trying to play God" by getting involved in teams' personnel
decisions (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/27).
