MURDOCH CONFIRMS TALKS WITH O'MALLEY BUT SAYS NO ON LAKERS

          News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch confirmed his bid to
     buy the Dodgers and said that reports of a $350M price tag
     "are about right," according to David Holley of the L.A.
     TIMES.  In Japan to announce a new digital TV venture,
     JSkyB, Murdoch said, "We are interested in the Dodgers," and
     added that he met with Dodgers Owner Peter O'Malley "several
     weeks ago" to discuss a possible deal.  Murdoch: "If we are
     successful in buying them, we look forward to bringing them
     to Japan to play the [Yomiuri] Giants."  But Murdoch denied
     rumors that he is interested in buying a stake in the Lakers
     (L.A. TIMES, 5/15).  Murdoch said he expected the deal to be
     final "within a month" (John De Bellis, USA TODAY, 5/15). 
     The investment firm of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the L.A.
     firm of O'Melveny & Myers are representing Peter O'Malley in
     talks with News Corp. (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/15).