Packers coach Mike Holmgren said that a ban on QB Brett
Favre consuming alcohol has "not been lifted," and an NFL
source confirmed Holmgren's claim. On Tuesday, Favre's
agent, Bus Cook, had stated that Favre had been cleared of
the alcohol ban (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/23)....In the
wake of former NFL lineman Walt Sweeney winning a Federal
Court ruling of $1.8M from the NFL pension plan, ABC's Armen
Keteyian noted that two other former players with histories
of steroid and drug abuse are now seeking disability
payments ("World News Tonight," ABC, 1/22)....The WNBA
announced team assignments for its first 16 players. In the
news: Lisa Leslie will play for the L.A. franchise, Sheryl
Swoopes in Houston, and Rebecca Lobo in New York
(WNBA)....In S.F., Ross McKeon writes on NHL expansion under
the header, "NHL's Expansion Plans Mean There'll Just Be
More Bad Teams" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/22). In Chicago, Rich
Strom, on the state of the NHL: "Scoring is down, shutouts
are way up, injuries are too many and attendance continues
to rise. Expansion is knocking at the door, which could
further water down competition, but with it will come even
more attendance records" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/22).