NBA: ESPN's David Aldridge reported that the NBA and
the players' association "continue to get nowhere" in their
CBA talks. Aldridge: "Sources indicate that the league is
still seeking a hard cap without a Larry Bird exception,
something that the players just won't buy. And the union
appears to be skeptical about the NBA's contention that up
to half of its teams may lose money this season. Word is
that the union believes only four teams -- the Clippers,
Hawks, Pacers and Warriors -- will finish in the red this
season. And the Clippers, Indiana and Atlanta are all on
line" for new arenas by 2000 ("SportsCenter," 5/21). NBC's
pre-game show on Sunday will focus on the NBA's labor talks,
featuring interviews with Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik
and NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, followed by a round-table
discussion (MIL. JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/22)....Lakers Exec VP
Jerry West discussed a possible minimum age for the NBA on
Portland's KFXX Sports Radio yesterday: "[W]e need to find a
way to put an age limit on it, because these kids simply do
not understand why going to college, how important it is.
... We have glamorized everything in this league and we have
marketed this league to a point where I really feel like we
have to start worrying about our product" (THE DAILY).
OTHER NOTES: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports that NBC
Exec VP Ken Schanzer said a report that he'd become COO of
MLB is "not true." Schanzer was President of The Baseball
Network. Martzke also talks to former USA Network President
Kay Koplovitz, who said "a lot of people have called and
suggested" she consider becoming MLB Commissioner.
Koplovitz: "Baseball needs a lot of repositioning in the TV
area, which other sports have done, but they don't appear to
want anybody making waves" (USA TODAY, 5/22)....NFL owners
approved a trial use of instant replay during some of this
year's preseason games (NFL)....NHL Fans Association co-
Founder Jim Boone: "We're not a fan club. We're going to
look at broader issues facing the NHL and its fans." NHL
VP/Media Relations Frank Brown: "Their enterprise is
laudatory. That doesn't mean the NHL endorses it. But it
doesn't mean we won't be responsive to it, either" (TORONTO
SUN, 5/21)....MLS Commissioner Doug Logan, on Rochester's
chances of moving up from A-League to MLS: "If some magic
gets made and a stadium happens, Rochester will get strong
consideration for an MLS team" (DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 5/20).
