THE CFL TORY-LINE: CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LEAGUE

          CFL Chair & Acting Commissioner John Tory "is
     cautiously optimistic about the state of his league,"
     according to Jeff Gray of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. 
     Speaking yesterday at a season-launching news conference,
     Tory said that the CFL is "about a year away from having
     every team break even," and that this year's league profits
     will mean teams will get "about" C$1M each.  Tory also
     unveiled the league's '98 marketing plan which will build on
     the Radically Canadian promo of two years ago.  Gray adds
     that the CFL's relationship with the NFL "has helped snag
     some premium sponsorships" from adidas, RCA and MasterCard
     (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/12).  Also in Toronto, Tony Maraschiello
     reports that the CFL plans to distribute more than seven
     million pocket schedules across Canada this season.  The
     league also announced a new flag football initiative it
     plans to introduce to more than 2,000 elementary schools
     across Canada over the next three years (TORONTO SUN, 6/12).