NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue met Sunday with Seahawks
Owner Ken Behring and Blazers Owner Paul Allen, who has an option
to buy the team, in an attempt to "massage" the proposed sale of
the club.  Tagliabue expressed "optimism" the sale will be
consummated as long as a suitable stadium solution is found
(SEATTLE TIMES, 11/4). ...Since Devils Owner John McMullen owned
the Astros from '79-92 and knows about the Houston market, NHL
owners will "heed what he has to say" in its expansion process.
Neil Hohlfeld writes McMullen is now "lying low, not tipping his
hand as to which [ownership] group he favors. But make no
mistake, he will have a say in who owns the NHL team in Houston"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/5).

     Noting that by following the club's early season print,
radio and TV ads, "you wouldn't know if the Stars play in the NHL
or are contenders in the Ultimate Fighting Championships," Barry
Horn of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS calls for an end to the Stars
"tasteless" promotional campaign which focuses on catch-phrases
like "execution" and "firing squad."  One example is "Announcing
the Firing Squad and the Return of Public Executions."  Horn:
"Might it be more appropriate to promote a franchise on the rise,
not afraid to spend money to turn around 26-42-14?"  Stars
VP/Marketing & Promotion Jeff Cogen calls the effort "cutting
edge," and says it is designed to promote the team's "aggressive
style of play" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/2).

     In an attempt to "jump start sluggish ticket sales," the
Marlins have begun an "aggressive marketing push" which places a
"heavy emphasis" on South FL Hispanics, according to Anne
Moncreiff Arrarte of the MIAMI HERALD.  The effort  will be built
around traditional print and broadcast ads and will include
promotional events, community activities and consumer services.
The first step in the campaign was the hiring of Jorge Plasencia
as the club's new Dir of Hispanic Marketing.  Plasencia, who had
been Dir of Marketing/Sports for the team's Spanish-language
affiliate WCMQ-AM, will work through a new Marlins ticket and
events office located in the Little Havana-area of Miami (MIAMI
HERALD, 11/3).

     THE DAILY continues to examine NHL club's initial marketing
slogans, mediums of advertising and key corporate sponsors.
Today: The Central Division (THE DAILY).
     TEAM:     Chicago Blackhawks
     SLOGAN:   "Cold Steel on Ice"
     MEDIUM:   Transit, Print, Radio, TV
     SPONSORS: Nike, AT&T, Max. House, A-B, Coca-Cola, United Air
     TEAM:     Dallas Stars
     SLOGAN:   "Announcing the Firing Squad and the Return of
               Public Executions"
     MEDIUM:   Direct Mail, Transit, Print, Radio, TV
     SPONSORS: Dr Pepper, Miller, Southwest Air, American Air
     TEAM:     Detroit Red Wings
     SLOGAN:   "Hockey Town"
     MEDIUM:   Billboards, Print, Radio, TV
     SPONSORS: Miller, Molson, Coca-Cola, Little Caesars
     TEAM:     Phoenix Coyotes
     SLOGAN:   "The Coolest Game in the Desert"
     MEDIUM:   Billboards, Direct Mail, Print, Radio, TV
     SPONSORS: A-B, Coca-Cola, America West Airlines
     TEAM:     St. Louis Blues
     SLOGAN:   "30 Years of Memories"
     MEDIUM:   Billboards, Print, Radio, TV
     SPONSORS: Bud Ice, Pepsi, Dillards Dept. Store, Boatman's
     TEAM:     Toronto Maple Leafs
     SLOGAN:   "65th Anniversary"
     MEDIUM:   Print
     SPONSORS: Molson, GM, Coca-Cola, Midas, Canadian Air

     The Penguins have named Donn Patton to replace Steve Ryan as
the team's President.  Patton previously was Penguins
VP/Operations and will now oversee the club's day-to-day
management.  Ryan will become President & CEO of Strike Ten
Entertainment, the management, marketing and TV company for the
bowling industry.  Also, Jack Kelley was named Exec VP/Pittsburgh
Sports Associates Holding Company, which includes the Penguins,
Igloo Development Associates and the club's AHL team (Penguins).

     The four pro teams in South Florida and their inability to
"turn a profit" are profiled by Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD
in a piece entitled, "Winning Teams, Losing Bottom Lines."
Panthers/Marlins/Dolphins Owner Wayne Huizenga: "Sports is
different from other businesses.  It's a unusual thing.  When
you're in other businesses people expect you to operate a
profitably.  But in sports, people perceive it as a negative when
a team makes money.  There is a double standard.  If I had to do
it all over again as far as going into sports, that would be a
real tough decision.  But now, that we are in sports, we will
stay in it. ... In hindsight, it might be better off not getting
into it."  Huizenga notes with the Panthers, "we know it will
turn around with the new arena.  The Marlins are the ones we
don't see the light at the end of the tunnel."  The MIAMI HERALD
examined the financial status of each South FL team.
     MARLINS:  The Marlins had total revenue of $53M and a net
loss of $17M.  For the team, financial "woes have everything to
do with attendance."  Season tickets have dropped to 12,500 this
season after 20,000 in '93.  Huizenga said he would consider
selling the team if the Marlins win and still have trouble
drawing fans.  Huizenga: "Nobody would buy this team in the
condition we're in, unless there's a change in attendance or a
new venue."
     DOLPHINS: The Dolphins had $65M in total revenues, mostly
from network TV deals and ticket sales.  But the team had a $45M
payroll and $20M in expenses to "merely break even."  Dolphins
management say they expect to make a profit, but "wouldn't
project how much they plan to make."
     PANTHERS: The Panthers earned $30M in total revenue with a
net loss of $11M.  They lose money annually as their lease at
Miami Arena is "among the worst in sports."  They paid $849,982
in rent in '95, while the Heat paid $219,031.  The Panthers
receive no skybox revenue and earned "just" $5M in national and
local TV/radio revenue in '95.
     HEAT:  Heat Owner Micky Arison said the team broke even in
'95 with a payroll around $2M less than '96.  Although more than
90% of season-ticket holders have renewed for this season, "new
sales have lagged."  Arison: "Even with a new arena, breaking
even is the best we can hope for for a long time" (MIAMI HERALD,
11/3).

     Some "intriguing names are surfacing" as possible investors
in the Raptors, as team President John Bitove Jr. attempts to buy
out partner Allan Slaight, according to Craig Daniels of the
TORONTO SUN.  Daniels quotes one unnamed source who says John
Bitove Sr. is "taking a lead" in the effort while a second
anonymous source adds that both Bitoves have met over the last
week with Bill Ballard, who along with partner Michael Cohl, was
behind one of the failed bids to win the Raptors franchise.  The
source suggested that Ballard would "convince the Leafs to come
as partners with the Raptors at Air Canada Centre ... in exchange
for Ballard dropping" a lawsuit against the Leafs ownership.  A
third unnamed source said "there has been talk" that L.A.-based
MCA Corp. is interested in the team while Albuquerque businessman
Gavin Maloof's interest in the team is "dropping by the minute"
(TORONTO SUN, 11/5).
     GARDENS WON'T BE RAVAGED:  Maple Leafs Chair Steve Stavro
said yesterday Maple Leaf Gardens will not be demolished when the
club moves to a new arena.  Stavro:  "We're not going to knock it
down -- my personal opinion is that it's a shrine" (Lance
Hornsby, TORONTO SUN, 11/5).       STERN WORDS: Noting the "high
and mighty commissioner of the NBA acted ... like a kid who had
his Halloween candy stolen," Jim Hunt of the TORONTO SUN notes
NBA Commissioner David Stern's critical comments Friday against
the Maple Leafs for insisting on complete control over a shared
arena with the Raptors.  Hunt: "Stern is trying to save the NBA's
butt for a bad decision.  It goofed when it awarded the [Raptors]
to John Bitove and his gang" (TORONTO SUN, 11/5).