VA-based AMF Bowling debuted on the NYSE yesterday
     under the symbol PIN, and finished up 11.5% for the day,
     according to Bob Rayner of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH.  AMF
     opened at $19.50 per share but closed up $2.25 at $21.75.
     AMF President & CEO Doug Stanard said the company raised
     about $300M from the IPO after expenses.  Standard: "This
     will allow us to pay down debt and continue to fund our
     bowling center acquisitions" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH,
     11/5).  CNN's Lou Dobbs reported that AMF raised $263M "on
     its big board debut" ("Moneyline," CNN, 11/4).

          Over the "next several months," corporate owner
     Benetton Sportsystems "will shift the bulk" of MN-based
     Rollerblade's "administrative departments" to its Princeton,
     NJ, N.A. headquarters, according to Jennifer Ehrlich of
     MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL CITY BUSINESS.  The 280 employees at
     Rollerblade's MN office "are expected to lose their jobs,"
     and sources within the company "say the only Rollerblade
     employees who will hold on to their positions are a handful
     of people who will staff a new corporate office in
     Minneapolis," which will serve as the sales and marketing
     arm of the company.  Benetton's decision to "essentially
     scrap" Rollerblade as an "autonomous" company "came as no
     surprise to analysts who have predicted a wave of industry-
     wide consolidation."  Benetton "plans to cut costs" by
     taking over Rollerblade's finance, accounting, credit, human
     resources and information services departments that were in
     the MN offices (CITY BUSINESS, 11/3 issue).

          adidas yesterday "surprised investors with a stronger
     than expected increase in third-quarter pre-tax profits,"
     according to Graham Bowley of the FINANCIAL TIMES.  The
     company said pre-tax profits rose 64.4% to $176.8M in the
     period.  The company also announced that Chair Robert Louis-
     Dreyfus and fellow Dir Christian Tourres would each sell
     500,000 shares, but would continue to hold about 4.9% each
     of adidas share capital (FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/5).  3Q sales
     rose 46% to $1.2B, up from $859M in '96.  Apparel sales rose
     59% from '96, and footwear sales were up 35%.  In North
     America, sales rose 69% to $306.8M; European sales grew 34%
     to $792.6M; and Asian sales increased 74% (REUTERS, 11/4).  
          CONVERSE: Converse posted its sixth consecutive
     financial quarter of improved net earnings, for the 3Q ended
     September 27.  Net sales were $121.9M compared to $113.3M in
     the 3Q of '96, an increase of 7.6%.  Net earnings were $0.2M
     or $.01 per share compared to a loss of $3.0M or an $.18
     loss per share in the third quarter of '96.  For the nine
     month period, net sales increased 29.1% to $361.2M compared
     to $279.8M in '96  (Converse).  Results for the 3Q include
     an after-tax gain of around $8M, or $.45 per share, relating
     to the successful resolution of litigation stemming from the
     purchase of Apex One Inc. in '95 (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/4).
          OTHER NEWS: CNBC's Terry Keenan: "Fila closed down a
     fraction, just under $25 a share, but the stock could
     attract some buyers tomorrow.  The Italian sportswear
     company is out with disappointing 3rd quarter profits of
     $0.64, but that is well ahead of the street estimate. 
     Looking forward, Fila says that it will reengineer its U.S.
     apparel, footwear and retail divisions" ("Market Wrap,"
     11/4)....MI-based Penske Motorsports earned $8.8M, or $.63
     per share, on revenue of $44M in the 3Q '97, compared to
     $6.5M, or $50 per share, on revenue of $24M after 3Q '96
     (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 11/3)....CA-based Golden Bear Golf,
     Inc. announced 3Q '97 revenues of $17.7M, up 79% from $9.9M
     for the 3Q in '96.  Net earnings for the 3Q were $364,000,
     or $.07 per share, compared to $268,000, or $.06 per share a
     year ago (Golden Bear Golf).