The MA State Ethics Commission is investigating Nets
     coach John Calipari for "his conduct" during his tenure as
     coach of the UMass basketball team, according to Don Burke
     of the Newark STAR-LEDGER.  The commission "intends to
     investigate" whether Calipari "misused his position ... to
     gain profits and publicity from the 'Refuse to Lose' slogan
     that he had trademarked."  Burke wrote that the alleged
     violations include "participating in the decision to place
     the slogan ... on garments worn" by the UMass team; using
     the team "as a means of gaining publicity for the slogan";
     and "having a financial interest" in UMass contracts
     involving trademarks.   If the inquiry finds that Calipari
     broke the law, he could be fined.  Nets President Michael
     Rowe had "no comment."  Calipari, through a spokesperson,
     called the story "old news" (STAR-LEDGER, 3/1).
          CAN HE TAKE THE HEAT? During Friday's home loss to the
     Heat, Calipari shouted "a profanity at a fan, which could
     result in a league reprimand or suspension," according to
     Michael James of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  During the game,
     Calipari turned to a heckler and shouted "You shut your
     mouth.  Shut the (expletive) up."  James wrote that the
     comment "shocked many fans" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1). 
     Calipari: "In the emotion of the moment, I said something I
     shouldn't have said."  NBA VP/Ops Rod Thorn said the league
     would "look into" the incident (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/2).

          NY-based business exec Michael Largue is in Edmonton
     today "to decide whether he'll take a run" at the NHL
     Oilers, according to Jac MacDonald of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. 
     Largue will meet with Mayor Bill Smith and the local group
     of prospective buyers and also tour Edmonton Coliseum. 
     Largue said Friday that while he is "looking at signing a
     general partnership agreement" with the local group, he
     "wants day-to-day responsibility" of the team.  MacDonald
     writes that Largue's financial credentials "are as elusive
     to Smith as they are to everyone else" and that "[n]obody
     knows for sure if he has the funds necessary" to buy the
     club (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 3/2).  In Houston, Neil Hohlfeld
     wrote that Largue and his partner, Lester Mittendorf, a
     Zurich banker, have $100M "available to invest" in the
     Oilers, which would cover the purchase price and provide
     operating capital.  Hohlfeld called Largue's desire to have
     controlling interest a "drawback" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/1). 
     

          Disney Chair Michael Eisner said the Angels are "making
     the necessary moves to build lasting success," according to
     Kevin Acee of the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.  Eisner, who said
     that he "does not see the Angels ever having a Yankees-type
     payroll," said the team would be "competitive."  Eisner: "We
     are competitive.  I don't think there's any secret our
     company has spent the money in every area, including the
     stadium, including the executives and players, to be
     competitive. ... We don't want to own a team that's not
     competitive.  We'd rather not be in the game."  Acee wrote
     that the theme of Eisner's comments "always returned to
     Disney's long-term commitment," and that Eisner "even said
     he can accept the Angels continuing to lose money for a
     time" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/1).  Eisner, on the team's
     aim to sign young players to long-term deals: "It would be
     nice to re-create the loyalty baseball used to have, for
     fans to know you'll have certain players from one year to
     the next."  Eisner, on the team's goals: "What we're
     building toward is having a winning organization year in and
     year out, so that every season there's a sense of hope.  You
     just can't shoot from the hip."  Eisner, on the Marlins: "To
     me, I'm still idealistic, and I think it takes the luster
     away if you buy a championship.  I hope that was an anomaly. 
     I don't think the fans in Florida are going to be loyal if
     they buy a team one year and dissolve it the next.  I don't
     think that will happen here" (L.A. TIMES, 3/1).

          NHL: Although Steve Stavro and the Maple Leafs "have
     scored" with the deal to buy the Raptors and Air Canada
     Centre, the franchise's "biggest win might come if they gain
     control of Union Station."  The station, which the Leafs
     plan to acquire to act as a "grand entrance" to Air Canada
     Centre, is the country's largest transportation hub and a
     property with "huge development potential and prospects for
     massive profits" (TORONTO STAR, 2/28)....The NHL reportedly
     spent $120,000 investigating the new Islanders' owners
     before approving the team's sale.  Former Owner John Pickett
     "is responsible" for the payment (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1). 
          NFL: The Nashville Sports Authority said the Oilers
     have sold 42,200 of 56,485 PSLs for their new facility in
     Nashville.  The sales have raised "about" $58.9M of the $71M
     earmarked to help finance the facility's construction
     (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 3/1)....The loss of the Browns
     and the return of the franchise in '99 were examined by
     CNN/SI's Vince Cellini on "Page 1."  Cellini noted that
     Cleveland wants an expansion team, not a relocated one.  NFL
     Exec VP/League Football Development Roger Goodell: "We think
     at this stage that we're moving in a direction that would
     allow us to go to the membership and seek approval for an
     expansion franchise so that we can put an expansion
     franchise in Cleveland for '99" (CNN, 2/28).  USA TODAY's
     Gordon Forbes reports that the NFL "will soon evaluate as
     many as six prospective ownership groups for its new
     Cleveland franchise.  It hopes to have personnel and
     marketing people in place by mid-April" (USA TODAY, 3/2).   
          OTHERS: In N.Y., Murray Chass reported that the Braves,
     who hold spring training at the new Disney baseball complex,
     are "believed to have become the first team" to charge fans
     to watch workouts before the exhibition season began. 
     Disney officials said the $8 fee was "general admission for
     the entire sports complex" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1).

          The NJ Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) is "having
     a hard time breaking even on running" Continental Airlines
     Arena, according to Thomas Fitzgerald of the Bergen RECORD. 
     The NJSEA "expects to clear just" $167,000 on $38M in arena
     revenues this year, according to the agency's budget.  That
     "reflects the continuing costs" of "major lease concessions"
     it made with the Devils to keep them in NJ in '95, as well
     as "some concessions" it made with the Nets.  Fitzgerald
     reported that the NJSEA lost $22,000 on the arena last year. 
     NJSEA CEO Robert Mulcahy said that he is "optimistic" that
     the arena "could do better than projected" because both
     teams are "sure bets to make the playoffs this year, meaning
     extra games with extra revenue" (RECORD, 2/28).
          DEVIL'S ADVOCATE: Devils Owner John McMullen's drive
     for a new arena in Hoboken, NJ, was examined by Frank Brown
     in the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  McMullen called Continental
     Airlines Arena (CAA) "antiquated" and said the team "cannot
     survive" there.  McMullen, on why he wants a new arena: "The
     question is, can an individual or a family organization
     compete against a big corporate owner?  In order to do it,
     you need a certain stream of income.  I get not a penny out
     of this thing, and nobody should expect me to do it forever. 
     Certainly, my heirs aren't going to do it; they'll sell the
     damn thing" (Frank Brown, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/1).