CINCINNATI OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BENGALS DEAL

          Cincinnati and Hamilton County leaders "are poised to
     vote today on a deal to clear the way for construction" of
     the Bengals' $400.3M stadium complex, according to May,
     Goldberg & Hobson of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER.  Bengals' Dir
     of Stadium Development Troy Blackburn "stopped just short of
     saying a tentative deal had been struck" after yesterday's
     session among city, county and team negotiators.  But
     Hamilton County Administrator David Krings said late last
     night that the staffs "were still working and will attempt
     to finalize a deal this morning" (ENQUIRER, 1/30).  In
     Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty writes that Bengals Owner Mike
     Brown "is not Art Modell," but that his stadium stance "is
     still a shakedown. ... Just not at gunpoint."  Daugherty:
     "It's the attitude.  It's the arrogance of the NFL and other
     sports leagues.  They are bullying, arm-twisting, hostage-
     taking, heartbreaking thugs" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/30).