ARENA FOOTBALL GETS PUMPED OVER ABC'S TELECAST OF TITLE GAME

          ABC Sports will televise the AFL Championship game live
     on Sunday August 23 at 3:00pm ET, marking the first time the
     title game will be seen on a broadcast network.  The past
     five AFL Championships have aired on ESPN.  The AFL and ESPN
     have also agreed to a two-year contract extension that will
     include the broadcast of 20 AFL games on ESPN and ESPN2
     during the '98 regular season and playoffs. The schedule
     includes seven AFL games seen in primetime on ESPN2, not the
     early morning time slot of last year (AFL).  In Orlando,
     Jerry Greene writes that the AFL "took a prime step forward"
     with the TV deal.  Predators President Jack Youngblood: "To
     get our league's championship on live network television is
     a huge step for Arena Football" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/20).