DAN WASSERMAN, an attorney/writer who contributed legal
     reports to WFAN, NewSport and recently, the Newark Star-
     Ledger, is the new Communications Dir of the NBPA (NEWSDAY,
     10/10)....The Nashville NHL expansion team named GERRY
     HALPER VP/Communications & Development.  Halper has been
     involved in the NHL since '79 (Nashville NHL)....JOHNNY
     CAPELS, the current U.S. Auto Club Competition Dir, "will
     move up" to USAC President & CEO in December.  Capels was
     elected to succeed DICK KING by the Board of Dir.  King will
     remain as Vice Chair of the USAC Board.  MIKE DEVIN,
     Technical Dir since '92, succeeds Capels as Competition Dir
     (ESPN SportsZone, 10/9)....The Southern League announced a
     three-year contract renewal for league President & General
     Counsel ARNOLD FIELKOW (Southern League).

          "First Time," part of the "Nickelodeon Sports Theater
     With SHAQUILLE O'NEAL" series, will air Saturday at 9:00pm
     ET/PT.  The program is narrated by O'Neal, who is also one
     of the co-producers.  The First Time episode is produced by
     MICHAEL TOLLIN & BRIAN ROBBINS, who produce HBO's "Arli$$"
     (Nickelodeon).  In L.A., Larry Stewart: "Need a lift?  This
     one-hour dramatic special should do it" (L.A. TIMES, 10/9).
     ...John Feinstein, on DEAN SMITH: "Dean Smith could have
     made a lot more money than he did, but he turned down
     endorsement opportunities. ... He was always outspoken on
     behalf of the players, and that's gotten lost a little bit
     in this rush for all these coaches to have their fancy suits
     and their endorsement contracts the last few years"
     ("Newshour With Jim Lehrer," PBS, 10/9)....The body of DON
     LEVENTHAL, who wrote the NBA Draft Report and contributed to
     ESPN SportsZone, was found Thursday in Philadelphia, after
     an apparent suicide (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/10).