Representatives from MLBPA responded to allegations from
former player Robin Roberts that the union has done nothing to
support the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), which provides
financial help to former players and their families, by noting
that the union recently presented B.A.T. with a $300,000 gift.
MLBPA spokesperson Richard Weiss told THE DAILY that the union
has been "exceedingly generous" in its dealings with the charity
(THE DAILY)....MLB owners will decide at their quarterly meeting,
September 10-12 in Seattle, where to place the expansion teams
when they begin play in '98 (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 8/13)....NHL GM's
approved the "Rat Rule" at their meetings in Anaheim, CA. Teams
will now be held accountable for the actions of their fans
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/13)....Although advance ticket sales for
the IRL's True Value 200 are "way down," New Hampshire Int'l
Speedway officials are optimistic the IRL "represents the future
of Indy Car racing." The track will reportedly losing hundreds
of thousands for its first IRL event, with advance sales down to
25,000 (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/11).
