FOOTBALL: USA TODAY's Gordon Forbes writes on the
     franchise fee for the Browns and wonders, "Is [Cowboys
     Owner] Jerry Jones playing mind games with the bidders by
     predicting a $700M bid?"  Jones: "I don't think I'm being
     overly optimistic.  Remember, I'm the guy who said the NFL
     was in the position of having television revenues double"
     (USA TODAY, 6/5)...The Marquee Group's Mike Trager, on the
     NBC/Turner proposed football league: "We did the research on
     the All-American League, which is similar to NBC's and
     Turner's model.  Our research found a demand for another pro
     football league in the spring-summer" (USA TODAY, 6/5). 
          SEEKING SPONSORS: Women's Sports Foundation Exec Dir
     Donna Lopiano and Silver Bullets manager Phil Niekro will
     travel to Hartford in the next few weeks for "discussions
     with potential sponsors" for the team (HART. COURANT, 6/5). 

          While the NBA and NBPA "continue to talk," discussions
     in recent weeks "indicate a lockout by the owners is on the
     horizon," according to David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING
     NEWS.  NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik: "I have to
     acknowledge that we're getting closer (to a lockout) since
     time is going by.  I'd feel better if we were meeting a
     little more often and making more progress.  But we're not
     totally discouraged yet" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/5).  
          MEET THE PRESS: Granik and NBA Commissioner David Stern
     met the media in Salt Lake City to discuss the state of the
     league.  Stern, on the possibility of a work stoppage:
     "We've been through work stoppages before, and while it's
     true we haven't lost regular-season games, we know the magic
     words of strike and lockout" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/5). 
     Stern: "We're not trying to run away from the payments, but
     we need to slow the growth.  The notion that you simply
     decide to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year is not
     a principle that I'm familiar with, in terms of any business
     around the world."  Stern, on the previous CBA: "Have we
     made mistakes at the bargaining table in the past?  The
     answer is yes.  But the system is not working now."  At the
     press conference, Stern pulled out a 1982 clip from Sports
     Illustrated -- "not because it is the most reliable
     publication but because it takes itself the most seriously" 
      -- that questioned who would take the mantle in the post-
     Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,
     6/5).  Stern: "Guess what?  Somebody did replace them, and a
     whole group of players did" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/5).  
          FROM THE PLAYERS: Jazz F Antoine Carr, on a work
     stoppage: "It's the stupidest thing we could ever do on
     either side. ... We could end up with 3,000 or 4,000 people
     in the stands like the old time" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/5). 
     Jazz F Chris Morris: "There's going to be one ... (and) it's
     going to hurt a lot of people" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/5). 
          REAX: In Chicago, Sam Smith: "It's clear the two sides
     are growing close to a serious dispute.  Top team officials
     say the league has been notifying them in recent days to
     prepare for a long dispute that possibly interrupts next
     season" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/5).  In Orange County, Mark
     Whicker writes that Stern "seems almost resigned to a
     lockout" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/5).  In S.F., David
     Steele reports that the situation Stern painted yesterday
     "could not have been more bleak.  Nor could he have
     presented the chances of avoiding an owners' lockout as
     being more remote" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/5). In Philadelphia,
     Mike Bruton writes the "foreboding storm clouds of labor
     unrest are gathering."  He says that both sides "should cut
     the posturing and find some imagination to deal with this
     complex situation" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/5).  In
     Milwaukee, D. Orlando Ledbetter writes that the "league has
     never lost a game to a strike and it knows now is not the
     time to set any ugly precedents" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/5).

          NBA Commissioner David Stern "stopped short of calling
     them unpatriotic, but he did question the wisdom of players
     who are considering boycotting this summer's world
     championships in Athens," according to Mike Wise of the N.Y.
     TIMES.  Stern: "If the individual players decide to trash
     their country, that's going to be their decision."  Stern's
     comments earned a response from Michael Jordan, who said he
     would support a boycott of the games in the case of a
     lockout in "a heartbeat."  Jordan: "If you're going to try
     to handcuff one side, we have to retaliate."  NBA Deputy
     Commissioner and USA Basketball President Russ Granik
     "warned that such a boycott could influence" the U.S.'
     chances of automatically qualifying for the 2000 Olympics. 
     He said the team may be forced to play in a qualifying
     tournament which would take place during the '99-2000 NBA
     season.  But NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter said he was looking
     into whether the U.S. team could receive a bye since it won
     the '96 gold medal.  Hunter said "he was mindful of the
     players possibly being betrayed as unpatriotic if they
     boycotted the games."  Wise: "Because players signed
     contracts with USA Basketball, Stern is mostly wringing his
     hands when it comes to the league's involvement."  But
     Hunter said, "We could argue we think USA Basketball is the
     alter ego" of the NBA (N.Y. TIMES, 6/5).  In Miami, Steve
     Wyche adds that Stern "tried to distance the NBA from USA
     Basketball" and "seemed to be putting pressure on the
     players" who have already committed to the event.  He also
     said that if the players do boycott, "many of their
     individual sponsors ... may not be pleased" (MIAMI HERALD,
     6/5).  Stern: "What USA Basketball is going to do is not my
     problem, nor my owners' problem" (USA TODAY, 6/5).  
          WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? In Houston, Eddie Sefko
     notes a source saying that USA Basketball will send letters
     to players in "about" 10 days asking them of their
     intentions.  If the NBA players do not participate, USA
     Basketball "will scramble to find an alternate team"
     (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/5).  In Toronto, Craig Daniels writes
     the World Championships have "become a hostage to the
     looming collective bargaining war" (TORONTO SUN, 6/5).
          NOT THE BATTLE YOU WANT? In Minneapolis, Steve
     Aschburner writes that Jordan and Stern, the "two most
     powerful men in the NBA ... squared off" over the World
     Championships issue (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/5).  In
     L.A., Mark Heisler writes that Stern "found himself in a
     spat with his star of stars" (L.A. TIMES, 6/5).

          The fledgling Premiere Soccer Alliance (PSA) has added
     the former CISL Sacramento franchise, the Knights, for the
     '98 season, joining teams in Dallas, Portland and Arizona. 
     The Knights are owned by NBA Kings Owner Jim Thomas and are
     a part of his Capital Sports group.  The four teams, playing
     at the Rose Garden, Arco Arena, Reunion Arena and Veteran's
     Memorial Coliseum, will play an exhibition-type schedule in
     '98, in addition to games against All-Star teams from
     Argentina, Italy, Mexico and Brazil.  PSA President Gordon
     Jago told THE DAILY that the PSA expects to field an eight-
     to 10-team league to begin play in August '99.  He hopes to
     add three more former CISL teams to the PSA in '99, with an
     eventual goal of a 16-team league.  Jago is touting the
     PSA's business plan which does not require a franchise fee
     or a league assessment in '99.  The league will not have a
     Commissioner, and instead, each franchise owner will have
     one vote, with majority rule (THE DAILY).
          GOOOOAALLLS: Within the next week, Jago said the PSA
     hopes to announce a CEO and a partnership with an agency to
     handle all league-wide marketing and media deals.  In
     addition, the PSA is looking to land a national league-wide
     sponsor by the fall.  Jago said the PSA "is not really
     interested" in a national TV deal, but would like to develop
     a national 30-minute weekly highlight show.  Jago: "From a
     sponsorship viewpoint, it's a better bet than one or two
     games and out. ... It's something we could sell far better
     than a two-hour game."  Individual teams will be permitted
     to create their own local TV deals (THE DAILY).
          COMPETITION GOOD FOR YOU? Jago said that the PSA "will
     continue talks" about forming a partnership with the NPSL,
     the 13-team league that plays from October to March.  While
     Jago has "heard rumors" about the possibility of a re-formed
     CISL beginning play in '99, he said the PSA is moving ahead
     with its plan: "I believe there has to be one league, I
     don't think there's enough [resources] for two leagues."  In
     addition, PSA Dir of Communications Andy McNamara told THE
     DAILY that CISL player contracts will "become null and void
     after June."  McNamara said that while the PSA has had no
     contact with the CISL, they hope to reach an "out-of-court
     settlement" regarding the use of former CISL team names and
     logos.  McNamara, on the possibility of the two leagues
     joining forces: "A lot of things would have to change, but
     we'd never shut the door completely" (THE DAILY). 
          C-YA LATER? Former CISL Commissioner Ron Weinstein told
     THE DAILY that his suspended league is in the process of
     reforming and "most likely" will begin play next summer.  He
     said the league will be a solely-funded, independent
     operation consisting of NBA/NHL team owners or those who own
     or operate their own facilities.  He said talks are ongoing
     about securing a "major" cable TV deal (THE DAILY).