JUMBOSPORTS POSTS MORE LOSSES, CEO SEES A BRIGHTER FUTURE

          FL-based JumboSports "suffered more losses last quarter
     after being cut off by sporting goods suppliers," but the
     chain's execs contend that the "losses are behind them,"
     according to Aissatou Sidime of the TAMPA TRIBUNE.
     JumboSports reported a net loss of $6M, or $.30 a share, for
     the quarter ended April 30.  Last year, the company lost
     $1.5M during the same period.  Total sales fell to $86.5M
     from $130.1M, with sales at stores open a least a year down
     12.3%.  JumboSports "attributed the losses to" a 35%
     reduction on advertising and "difficulty finding products to
     sell during publicized baseball and camping" promos in
     February and March.  JumboSports CEO Ray Springer said that
     the chain "should see sales growth" in the 2Q "now that
     shipments are back on schedule, inventory has been cut by
     about $275,000 per store and short-term debt has been pared
     down" by 41% to $102M (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 5/28).