NFL: The Colts named Bill Polian team President and
     dismissed Dir of Football Ops Bill Tobin and coach Lindy
     Infante.  Along with investing about $1M a year in Polian,
     Owner Jim Irsay must pay Tobin, Infante and the 13
     assistants.  All were under contract through '98.  All told,
     Irsay's restructuring will cost more than $3M (STAR-NEWS,
     12/23)....Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, on if Denver voters do
     not pass a sales-tax referendum in '98 to help build a new
     stadium: "I will not be the owner of the Broncos for much
     longer.  Somebody else will buy this team, they will pay me
     the appropriate sum and I will maximize whatever I can get -
     - not on the basis of what they're going to do in Denver but
     what they're gonna do somewhere else, and it will end up in
     Houston, or Toronto or somewhere else" (L.A. TIMES, 12/27).
          OTHER NOTES: Through their "Give the Gift of Soccer"
     holiday campaign, the MLS Revolution generated an additional
     1,300 season-ticket sales (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/26)....Flames
     co-Owner Harley Hotchkiss, on the team's fan base: "One of
     the challenges we face here is we are in transition with our
     longer-term fans who like to focus on just hockey, and now
     we have a group of younger fans who want a total
     entertainment package, other attractions and more noise. 
     It's a challenge to strike the happy balance and not
     alienate our older fans and yet recognize the change we are
     going through" (CALGARY SUN, 1/1). 

          Houston business exec Robert McNair and IHL Aeros Owner
     Chuck Watson, partners trying to return the NFL to Houston,
     "have spoken with the Vikings about purchasing the team,"
     according to Paula Parrish of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. 
     Citing a Houston Chronicle report, Parrish wrote the two
     plan to resume talking to the Vikings after the playoffs,
     and have told people around the league that they are
     interested in any team that is for sale (STAR TRIBUNE, 1/3).
          SALE TALK: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reported that
     Vikings President Roger Headrick "is working to get a group
     to buy the team that will keep him in his present position. 
     Rumor is that he has a group in Birmingham, Ala.,
     interested" (STAR TRIBUNE, 1/4).  In St. Paul, Charley
     Walters wrote that "word is" Headrick "has NFL backing in
     trying to acquire financing."  While former Vikings GM Mike
     Lynn has interest, Headrick "contends Lynn, who floundered
     when the NFL put him in charge of its world league several
     years ago, has 'zero' chance" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/4).

          CO attorney Jac Sperling, who assisted St. Paul's NHL
     expansion bid, has been named the club's CEO.  He  will also
     be a minority investor and member of the board of the team's
     general partner, Naegele Sports.  The St. Paul NHL team also
     named Bill Robertson as Dir of Communications.  He spent the
     last four-plus years as Dir of Communications for Anaheim
     Sports.  Prior to that he was Dir of Media Services for the
     T-Wolves and Target Center (Minnesota Hockey NHL).
          NOTES: In St. Paul, Charley Walters reported that the
     team "is back to its original nickname, 'The Wild,' which is
     expected to be announced within three weeks" (PIONEER PRESS,
     1/4)....St. Paul's City Council and Civic Center Authority
     approved a 25-year arena lease deal with the expansion team.

     The debate now moves to the State Legislature, where city
     officials will ask for $65M in state bonds to pay half the
     bill for the new $130M arena (STAR TRIBUNE, 12/28).

          Sabres Chair Northrup Knox and Adelphia Communications
     Corp. Chair John Rigas signed a memo of understanding
     calling for the restructuring of the Sabres under which
     Adelphia and Rigas would acquire control of the team and
     make a capital investment.  Existing Sabres partners would
     receive a partial return of their investment while
     continuing to hold subordinate notes.  As part of the
     agreement, Rigas was elected Interim Chair of the Niagara
     Frontier Hockey Management Corp., general partner of the
     Sabres, replacing Knox, who concurrently resigned (Sabres). 
     In Buffalo, Jim Kelley reported that sources said Rigas will
     have "near complete ownership," perhaps as much as 90% 
     (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/1).  In Toronto, Dave Fuller reported that
     Sabres President Larry Quinn "is expected to be replaced" by
     one of Rigas' sons in the next few weeks (TORONTO SUN, 1/5).

          A group of local investors hoping to buy the NHL Oilers
     is $15M short of the US$50M it needs to proceed with its
     bid, according to Ric Dolphin of the EDMONTON JOURNAL.  An
     investor, who asked not to be identified, said that if the
     group can raise $50M the Alberta Treasury Branches "has
     agreed to carry" a US$20M loan on the team.  The group is
     "confident" the $15M will be raised soon.  Meanwhile,
     Rockets Owner Les Alexander, whose earlier offer of US$88.8M
     was unsuccessful, "is putting the finishing touches on a
     second bid that is expected any day" (EDMON. JOURNAL, 1/3).

          The Nets, "reeling from the surprise announcement that
     the Devils want to move to Hoboken, are now seriously
     considering a move of their own -- to Long Island,"
     according to Jon Gelberg of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. 
     Officials of the Nassau County Sports Commission and the
     Palladium Co., a real estate investment company in the
     process of buying the Islanders, "confirmed their interest
     in bringing the Nets back to Long Island," where they played
     20 years ago.  Parties on both sides confirmed recent
     discussions that hinge on a new Uniondale arena.  Nets
     President Michael Rowe "refused to confirm or deny the
     report" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/24).  On Long Island, Nassau
     County Exec Thomas Gulotta confirmed that the county has
     "ongoing but very informal discussions" with the Nets.  He
     added the county also has had talks with other pro teams,
     but would not identify any of them (NEWSDAY, 12/26).
          REFUSE TO LOSE: A NJ Superior Court judge "threw out a
     lawsuit" against Nets coach John Calipari by Newark Star-
     Ledger reporter Dan Garcia, who "accused Calipari of causing
     him emotional distress when Calipari cursed at him and
     threatened to punch him" last March, according to Elizabeth
     Moore of the Newark STAR-LEDGER.  Judge Joseph Scancarella
     said that Calipari's "remarks did not intentionally or
     negligently cause 'emotional distress' and that the coach
     did not follow through on his threats" (STAR-LEDGER, 12/25).

     Garcia said that "he does not plan to appeal" the suit, in
     which he was seeking $5M in damages (AP/STAR-LEDGER, 12/26).