ABL CEO Gary Cavalli said he hopes the league's new
     franchise in Chicago will average 5,000 to 6,000 fans next
     season, according to Steve Tucker of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. 
     Cavalli made his remarks in Chicago after officially
     announcing the league's intention to place a franchise in
     the market.  The team will play at the Univ. of Illinois-
     Chicago Pavilion, which seats 7,800.  The league will also
     expand to Nashville next season as well (SUN-TIMES, 4/9). 
     Cavalli said the league hopes to add two additional teams in
     '99-2000 and said that the "early favorites" are New York,
     Dallas and St. Louis (Frank Litsky, N.Y. TIMES, 4/9).  USA
     TODAY's Valerie Lister writes that while Nashville isn't a
     big TV market, the league "hopes to capitalize" on the Univ.
     of TN's women's basketball fan base (USA TODAY, 4/9).
          THE JACKSON VIBE: Bulls coach Phil Jackson, on the
     ABL's latest entry: "It's not NBA-sponsored, so we can't
     root for it, I guess.  I understand the ABL's the best of
     the leagues, actually.  There have been a lot of people that
     talk talent that say the ABL has the strongest teams and
     personnel overall.  The WNBA obviously has the superstars,
     so to speak, the marketing people" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/9).

          HOCKEY: In Philadelphia, Rich Hofman writes that no NHL
     teams "are sprinting toward the Stanley Cup playoffs," and
     blames the Olympics for the quality of play: "Our heroes
     have returned from the great worldwide stage, for the most
     part, with neither medals nor legs.  They have rejoined
     their teams ... and most of them have pretty much just
     limped along."  He adds, "If there has been one microscopic
     particle of benefit from these Olympics for the NHL's paying
     customers, well, you really do need a microscope to see it"
     (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/9)....The Canadian Hockey
     League, a 51-team junior-hockey league, set a single season
     attendance record of 5,712,284, up over 290,000 from last
     year.  Western Hockey League (WHL) clubs led the way with
     2,605,284 fans at 648 regular season dates, an average of
     9,174 (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/8). The WHL drew a record playoff
     crowd of nearly 13,000 for its semi-finals at the Canadian
     Airlines Saddledome last night (CALGARY SUN, 4/9).
          OTHER LEAGUES: MLS Commissioner Doug Logan confirmed
     yesterday that the price for a league franchise has risen
     $15M since its inception in '96.  He added that the league
     was close to a deal granting MLS Founder Alan Rothenberg
     operating rights to the Clash for $20M. Three years ago,
     franchises were awarded for $5M.  Logan said MLS investors
     "agreed not to accept any offers for less" than the $20M
     that was paid by Ken Horowitz for the expansion Fusion last
     year (N.Y. TIMES, 4/9)....In S.F., Ira Miller questions NFL
     owners about Eddie DeBartolo possibly reclaiming ownership
     of the 49ers and writes, "[S]everal NFL owners -- while
     stressing they do not have all the details of DeBartolo's
     legal problems in Louisiana -- said they would be concerned
     about an NFL club owner who was also involved in casino
     gambling." Bills Owner Ralph Wilson: "The further away we
     can stay from gambling, the better.  There is going to be a
     very big (gambling) blowup someday, and that could really
     hurt professional sports" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/9)....PGA Tour
     Commissioner Tim Finchem, on whether other Tour pros have
     inquired about using a cart after the Casey Martin trial:
     "[They] have inquired, but haven't requested" (ESPN, 4/8).
     ...The Ladies Pro Baseball league awarded a franchise to
     Homestead, FL, joining sites in Long Beach, Scottsdale, San
     Jose, Buffalo and Augusta, NJ (MIAMI HERALD, 4/9).
          

          MLB has new office space in New York and signed a lease
     with World Financial Properties to occupy 104,000 square
     feet at 245 Park Avenue, according to Nick Ravo of the N.Y.
     TIMES.  The 14-year lease, which "brings the commissioner's
     office and four other offices to the building between 46th
     and 47th Streets," began April 1.  MLB, which will lease
     three floors in the building, had been at 350 Park Avenue. 
     Terms of the lease were not disclosed (N.Y. TIMES, 4/9).
          IN A PINCH? BASEBALL WEEKLY features a special report
     on MLB's "tobacco war."  A survey shows that 59% of MLB
     players who volunteered to be tested at spring training had
     tobacco-related mouth lesions (BASEBALL WEEKLY, 4/8 issue).

          The NHL announced a restructuring and expansion of
     their PR and communications functions, and created a new
     management position.  Frank Brown, a N.Y. Daily news
     reporter/columnist since '80, has joined the league in its
     new position as VP/Media Relations, effective April 13.  He
     will be responsible for the NHL's day-to-day communications
     and serves as a league spokesperson on game-related matters. 
     NHL VP/PR Arthur Pincus will oversee league communications
     with int'l media, and serve as a main contact for national
     sports publications and electronic media outlets.  Gary
     Meagher, Managing Dir of PR, will continue to be responsible
     for media relations in Canada and will act as the primary
     liaison with the PR operations for each NHL club.  The
     league's media relations, PR, corporate communications and
     creative service functions will be consolidated into a
     single integrated communications department, under the
     direction of VP/Communications Bernadette Mansur (NHL).

          Pistons Player Rep Jerome Williams said that during the
     NBA's last lockout in '95, the players "didn't have a chance
     to set up the decertification process," according to Chris
     McCosky of the DETROIT NEWS.  But McCosky writes that NBPA
     Exec Dir Billy Hunter "already has met with 17 teams and 15
     of them have agreed to decertify if the owners lock them out
     this summer."  The Pistons have yet to vote.  Williams: "If
     they lock us out, we will already have a lawsuit in place to
     decertify.  Then everybody will be a free agent.  No union,
     no lockout, no draft, no salary cap" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/9).