CHICAGO IS ABL'S KIND OF TOWN, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT

          The ABL will announce a new franchise for the '98-99
     season, and Carol Slezak of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES writes
     that Chicago is "in the running," but it is "going to take a
     miracle" to get the team.  ABL Commissioner Gary Cavalli:
     "At this point, Chicago is a long shot for next year." 
     Slezak writes that the "likely" candidate is Nashville, with
     Dallas, Long Island and Central FL "also on the short list." 
     Slezak writes that "while the ABL covets Chicago, there just
     isn't enough enthusiasm for women's basketball" in the city.
     The "biggest logistical hurdle" the ABL faces is lack of a
     facility, but Cavalli is "interested" in a 12,000-seat
     facility in Prospect Heights that could be ready by 2000. 
     IMG, which is the marketing rep for the facility, "is
     interested" in the ABL, but ground has not been broken on
     the arena's 17-month construction project (SUN-TIMES, 2/25).