ABL Commissioner Gary Cavalli, on the WNBA: "I don't
think they're going to get very big TV ratings. ... They
seem to have made most of their decisions based on TV. That
seems to be the driving force for them. ... I'm not
minimizing the importance of TV, but I don't think it should
drive everything, and that's what it's done in their league"
(DENVER POST, 1/29)....The PGA Tour signed a multi-year deal
with Charles Schwab & Co., placing Schwab as the official
investment firm of the PGA and Senior PGA Tour (PGA)....The
NFL plans to stage three American Bowl exhibition games
outside the U.S., and the Packers have been notified that
they probably will be one of the six teams selected. An
Bears-Steelers American Bowl is set for Dublin, Ireland, and
it is believed games would also be played in Canada and
Mexico. Possible sites include Toronto, Vancouver and
British Columbia and Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/30)....MLB umpire John
Hirschbeck said he plans to work Orioles games this season
and foresees no problems being on the field with Roberto
Alomar in the aftermath of their incident last season
(WASHINGTON POST, 1/30)....In Toronto, Marty York reports
that CFL Governors want Commissioner Larry Smith "out of
office" before his contract expires April 1. York: "There's
a strong possibility that they'll tell him that at the CFL's
annual meetings in Edmonton next week." One Governor:
"Smith cannot be a part of this restructuring. We have to
resaddle a different horse" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/30).