LEAGUE NOTES

          MLB umpires "were threatened with 'swift action'
     Tuesday in a strongly worded letter" from MLB if they "fail 
     to abide by baseball's policies and practices," according to
     Hal Bodley of USA TODAY.  The letter, written by MLB
     attorney Robert Kheel, said that the umps face "suspensions
     or even more severe action if they follow through on their
     'no tolerance' stand" (USA TODAY, 10/1).  Highlights of
     David Letterman's "Top 10 Signs The Umpire Is Nuts."  No.
     10: His Chest Protector Has Large Silicone Implants.  No. 9: 
     Cleans Home Plate With His Tongue.  No. 8: The First Batter
     Has Worked The Count to 46 Balls, 29 Strikes.  No. 6:  Was
     Seen Checking Into Motel 6 With The Philly Phanatic.  No. 3: 
     Insists That "Baseball Fever" Is The Cause Of That Weird
     Rash On His Back ("Late Show," CBS, 9/30).
          RACING: The IRL increased its '98 schedule to 10 races 
     as it has added Dover Downs, DE, to its schedule with a race
     on July 19 (IRL).  A second IRL race at Texas Motor Speedway
     has been added for September 20 and will serve as the final
     event on the '98 schedule (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/1).  
          GENERAL: The National Lacrosse League, a new eight-team
     league combining teams from the Major Indoor Lacrosse League
     with two expansion teams, begins its inaugural season
     January 3, 1998 (NLL)....USA Baseball will relocate its
     national headquarters to Tuscon, AZ's Hi Corbett Field on a
     permanent basis, contingent upon city approval.  USA
     Baseball's administrative offices are currently located in
     Trenton, NJ, and the organization expects to complete the
     move sometime in mid-November (USA Baseball)....The CISL
     will assume operational control of the Anaheim Splash,
     having terminated the franchise rights of the current owners
     due to a failure to meet financial obligations (CISL).