MEDIA GIVE MIXED REVIEWS TO CONTENT OF ESPN'S TOWN MEETING

          The following are reax on ESPN's special.  In St.
     Louis, Bernie Miklasz called its "fascinating, intelligent
     television" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/2).  The Newark
     STAR-LEDGER's Nat Gottlieb called the Town Meeting "a lively
     and worthwhile sports forum" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/2).  But
     in K.C., Jason Whitlock called the Meeting "too unfocused. 
     Too many panelists.  Too many agendas.  And way too much
     posturing" (K.C. STAR, 3/2).  In Houston, David Barron wrote
     the show "had its moments.  Unfortunately, there weren't
     many of them.  Perhaps had there been fewer participants,
     and had many of the speakers been more interested in
     substance rather than advocating their own agendas, we would
     have had a panel on which Robinson would have been proud to
     sit" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/2).  NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay added
     that Webber and Brown received the "most applause," while
     the "jeers were primarily aimed" at MLB (NEWSDAY, 3/2).  In
     L.A., Mike Penner notes the "lively, often contentious ...
     discussion was conspicuous by the absence" of MLB officials
     (L.A. TIMES, 3/3).  USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand gives ESPN
     "kudos," but adds the show was "flawed by an inability to
     ... define key issues" (USA TODAY, 3/2).