A source close to Reds Owner Marge Schott, on MLB
     allegedly trying to pressure her to sell the team: "She's
     not someone you bully.  If she (sells), it will be because
     it's her decision" (CINCINNATI POST, 4/30).
          BLUE JAYS: In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski writes that "fans
     are taking notice" of the Blue Jays' 10-16 record.  The Jays
     said they sold 26,690 tickets for yesterday's loss to the
     Royals "but there weren't anywhere near that many on hand." 
     Overall, through 13 home games, the team has drawn 11,894
     less than last season (TORONTO STAR, 5/1)....The A's have a
     promo planned for tomorrow where if Blue Jays P Roger
     Clemens strikes out more than 10 A's, ticket-holders get a
     free pair of tickets to a future game (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/1).
          RYAN'S EXPRESS: Nolan Ryan, his son Reid and Don
     Sanders, a former part owner of the Astros, have reached an
     agreement to purchase majority interest in the Jackson (MS)
     Generals, the Astros AA Texas League team, and move them to
     Central TX (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/1).  Ryan is talking with
     the city of Round Rock about possibly relocating the team
     and constructing a city-owned stadium (Nolan Ryan).
          TEAM NOTES: A new souvenir being sold at Dodger Stadium
     is a stuffed koala bear dressed in a Dodger uniform.  In
     N.Y., Rush & Molloy report that some fans have already
     started calling the new mascot "Rupert," after News Corp.
     Chair Rupert Murdoch (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/1)....Former
     Marlins/current Padres P Kevin Brown, on a meeting he and
     three other Marlin players had last November with team Owner
     Wayne Huizenga: "We went there to talk as players because we
     knew things were about to fall apart.  We tried to do what
     we could.  We offered to become campaigners and told Wayne
     we'd do what we could to save it.  We'd try to get fan
     support and push the stadium issue with positives instead of
     having the trigger being pulled" (SUN-SENTINEL, 5/1).

          Molson Breweries announced a five-year strategic
     alliance with Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, owners of
     the Canucks and Grizzlies, according to a CP report in the
     Montreal GAZETTE.  The deal also "provides for involvement
     in the presentation of concerts and other entertainment at
     GM Place through Molson's stake in Universal Concerts
     Canada."  As part of the deal, Molson now becomes the
     official brewery of the Grizzlies (Montreal GAZETTE, 5/1).

          MLB "is balking at Houston's attempt to extract a
     promise the Astros will play at least 30 years in the
     ballpark being built downtown," according to John Williams
     of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Astros Owner Drayton McLane Jr.
     has made a written promise to sign a "strict performance
     lease" that would prevent the team from playing home games
     anywhere else for 30 years.  But the Harris County-Houston
     Sports Authority "wants stronger assurances should baseball
     face worsened economic problems."  In a "doomsday scenario,
     McLane or a future owner might place the Astros in
     bankruptcy, voiding such a lease and freeing the next owner
     to move the team."  Authority officials have been
     negotiating with Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig for a
     pledge that MLB "will not allow the Astros to leave Houston
     until their 30-year lease expires."  Though MLB "has the
     antitrust power to make such a promise," two sources said
     that Selig "has been unwilling to put anything in writing." 
     Williams writes that Authority officials "don't have much
     negotiating power" because they have started construction on
     the $249.5M ballpark and need a final lease to secure their
     tenant.  Gene Locke, the Authority's legal counsel, said
     yesterday that until the authority completes its discussions
     with Selig, it cannot complete its lease negotiations with
     the Astros (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/1).

          Pistons Owner William Davidson "is in preliminary
     talks" with attorneys representing ownership of the
     Lightning about purchasing the team, according to Kupelian &
     O'Hara of the DETROIT NEWS.  Pistons President Tom Wilson:
     "We are looking at it. ... We saw this as it might be an
     opportunity to go into a one-winter-sport town.  It's kind
     of an underperforming team right now.  You might be able to
     pick it up at a decent price."  Wilson added that "there are
     two or three other parties that are serious.  I wouldn't say
     it's a strong possibility it's going to happen."  Pistons
     management has reviewed the Lightning's books, "indicating
     talks are serious."  Wilson said that the price range for
     the Lightning, based on recent sales of other teams and the
     cost of expansion franchises, is $90-130M.  He added that
     Davidson "has no intention" of moving the Lightning to The
     Palace outside of Detroit (DETROIT NEWS, 5/1).

          IHL Aeros Owner Chuck Watson said Thursday "he will
     withdraw from efforts to bring an NFL and/or NHL team to
     Houston, primarily so he can focus on his company,"
     according to John Williams of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  But
     Watson also said that "he has grown frustrated with the
     politics of stadium negotiations" which have slowed to the
     point where Houston's chances of regaining an NFL franchise
     "are threatened."  Watson "has taken a much-lower profile on
     the NFL front in the past two months amid pressure from
     stockholders to devote more attention" to his company, NGC
     Corp., an energy firm.  Watson has a held a 50-50 stake in
     Houston NFL Holdings, which he formed with businessman Bob
     McNair.  The two have spent about $2.5M trying to get a team
     to replace the NFL Oilers and another $2.5M trying to lure
     the NHL.  Houston NFL Holdings head Steve Patterson said
     that Watson's departure would not hamper the group's efforts
     to land a team, and that McNair has the "financial clout and
     fortitude" to continue (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/1).

          Royals officials "will add some pricier new seats
     behind home plate," according to Charles Crumpley of the
     K.C. STAR.  The seats "are just the first phase of more
     dramatic upgrades" Royals officials are contemplating that
     could cost $70-80M.  Those improvements could include
     enclosing the middle level of seats to create some luxury
     suites.  Jackson County Sports Complex Authority Chair John
     Bondon said that discussions "so far" have centered on
     asking voters to approve a bond issue or asking for more
     money from the city, the county and the state.  Installing
     the premium seats behind home plate would cost $10-13M.  The
     new section would be constructed after the season.  It is
     undecided how many seats would be in it or whether any
     existing seats would be torn out (K.C. STAR, 5/1).  
          BRETT, HUNT OR BOTH? Noting the group led by George and
     Bobby Brett and the joint effort by Lamar Hunt and Western
     Resources that are bidding for the Royals, columnist Jerry
     Heaster writes, "The Brett group is a worthy candidate to
     buy the Royals, but ... the team of Hunt and Western
     Resources is preferable for a compelling reason.  It has a
     more clear-cut and seemingly ironclad commitment to local
     economic and civic interests" (K.C. STAR, 5/1).  But
     columnist Jeffrey Flanagan, under the header "Don't Count
     Out Brett-Hunt Partnership," reports that two sources "close
     to the situation" said that the two groups "agreed to
     continue discussions about a possible joint involvement
     after the Royals' board of directors has selected a winning
     bid" (Jeffrey Flanagan, K.C. STAR, 5/1).