The NFL Draft could be moved to early March as soon as '98,
according to Gordon Forbes of USA TODAY.  The move would "be part
of a plan to overhaul the draft process and end a growing problem
of bickering between personnel people and head coaches."  NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue had planned to move the draft next
year, but was persuaded by personnel people to wait until '98
(USA TODAY, 4/23)....NHL Senior VP/Hockey Op Brian Burke said he
would prefer the NHL keep three periods over four quarters, but
he did note his own children "lose interest" during breaks.
Burke, on shorter periods and time-outs:  "It's something to look
at, but it's not Fox driven" (NewSport, 4/23).  In Philadelphia,
Timothy Dwyer criticizes Commissioner Gary Bettman's aim to end
fighting, saying the NHL should focus instead on cheap shots
levied during play (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/20).

     The harmony that existed when the NBA players were pleading
for the return of the NBA officials has dissolved throughout the
season, to the point where the players and refs are now "warring
factions" as the playoffs approach, according to the CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES.  Referees' Union attorney Fred Slaughter has proposed
players be suspended for three games and fined $50,000 for
approaching refs in an angry or argumentative way.  NBPA official
Alex English says refs should be punished for bad calls just as
players and coaches are punished for criticizing officiating
(Lacy Banks, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/23).  In Cleveland, Bud Shaw
writes the NBA should issue a pre-playoffs statement that anyone
making physical contact with a ref will "be finished for the
remainder of the postseason.  End of discussion" (Cleveland PLAIN
DEALER, 4/21).  Atlanta's Craig Ehlo:  "It's ego.  All the stuff
that's going on now is all about egos" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER,
4/21).
     OTHER NBA NEWS:  The Nets and Magic will play at the Tokyo
Dome on November 7 and 9 in the NBA Japan Games (NBA)

     Today, THE DAILY presents an exclusive look at the agents
representing the NFL's first round draft picks.  Tomorrow:  The
second round (THE DAILY).
NO.  PLAYER/POSITION       AGENT/FIRM
 1.  Keyshawn Johnson/WR   Lee Kolligian/Mouthpiece Sports
                           Jerome Stanley/Stanley & Associates
 2.  Kevin Hardy/LB        Ethan Lock/ProServ
 3.  Simeon Rice/DE        Eugene Parker/Burt Blee Dixon & Sutton
 4.  Jonathan Ogden/OT     Marvin Demoff, Don Yee/
                           Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp
 5.  Cedric Jones/DE       Gary Wichard/Pro Tect
 6.  Lawr. Phillips/RB     Mitch Frankel/Impact Sports
 7.  Terry Glenn/WR        James Gould, Brig Owens/Management One
 8.  Tim Biakabatuka/RB    Kevin Poston
 9.  Rickey Dudley/TE      Joel Segal
10.  Willie Anderson/OT    Pat Dye/ProFiles
11.  Alex Molden/DB        Angelo Wright/Sports West
12.  Regan Upshaw/DE       Steve Baker
13.  Walt Harris/DB        Kennard McGuire
14.  Eddie George/RB       Lamont Smith/All Pro Sports
15.  John Mobley/LB        Brian Mackler/SportsStars
16.  Duane Clemons/DE      Leigh Steinberg/Steinberg & Moorad
17.  Reggie Brown/LB       Mark Mottaz
18.  Eddie Kennison/WR     John Hamilton
19.  Marvin Harrison/WR    Gary Wichard/Pro Tect
20.  Daryl Gardener/DT     Neil Schwartz/Schwartz Associates
21.  Pete Kendall/OT       Neil Schwartz/Schwartz Associates
22.  Marcus Jones/DT       Greg Williams/Vanguard
23.  Jeff Hartings/OG      Ben Dogra, Jim Steiner
                           Sports Management Group
24.  Eric Moulds/WR        Pat Dye/ProFiles
25.  Jermane Mayberry/OT   Jack Bechta/JB & A
26.  Ray Lewis/LB          Drew Rosenhaus/Rosenhaus Sports
27.  John Michels/OT       Marvin Demoff
28.  Jerome Woods/DB       James Sexton, Kyle Rote/
                           Athletic Resource Management
29.  Jamain Stephens/OT    Tank Black/Professional Management
30.  Andre Johnson/OT      Tony Agnone/Eastern Athletic