LEAGUE NOTES

     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).