RETAIL NEWS: SPORTMART & JUMBOSPORTS LOOK FOR FRESH STARTS

          IL-based Sportmart, "continuing its decline, said it
     lost" $3.7M, or $0.29 a share, in its fiscal 3Q, after a
     loss of $2.5M, or $0.20 a share, a year earlier, according
     to the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  3Q sales ended November 2 fell 20%,
     to $89.3M from $111.6M a year earlier.  Sportmart shares
     slipped $0.19, or 6%, to close at $2.75 on Friday, "near its
     52-week low of $2.50."  Sportmart "blamed the downturns on
     its exit from Canada" and a 10.5% "plunge" in same-store
     sales in the U.S. (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/13).
          JUMBOSPORTS: FL-based JumboSports new CEO Jack Bush
     said that he plans to maintain the company's focus on
     hunting and fishing equipment while "beefing up on footwear
     and apparel."  Bush: "It's (apparel and footwear offer)
     higher margin opportunity.  Those require more expertise in
     distribution."  Bush "won't be running JumboSports on a
     daily basis," as that will be left to the newly promoted
     President, Ray Springer (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/14).