L.A. TIMES' GUSTKEY CRITICIZES ABL CLOSED-DOOR MEDIA POLICY

          The ABL has "decided to remain the only pro sports
     league in America that bans reporters from its locker
     rooms," according to the L.A. TIMES' Earl Gustkey.  Gustkey:
     "Incredibly, a league that needs all the media exposure it
     can get -- particularly during the World Series and the NFL
     season -- a league that is locked in a life-and-death war
     with a competitor that has raised media friendliness to an
     art form, chose to become media unfriendly."  The WNBA's
     locker rooms are open for 20 minutes, 90 minutes before
     tipoff, and beginning 10 minutes after each game.  ABL CEO
     Gary Cavalli cited the ABL's arenas for the policy: "We play
     in small arenas and the WBNA teams use NBA arena locker
     rooms.  Our players felt there just wasn't enough room." 
     Gustkey: "[T]he ABL message to the media is this: 'We love
     it that you want to cover our games. [B]ut if you want the
     kind of schmoozing, free-wheeling locker room conversations
     that can liven up your game stories, sorry, try the other
     league'" (Earl Gustkey, L.A. TIMES, 10/21).