MARBURY DROPS AND 1 SUIT; IS HE HEADED FOR PLANET REEBOK?

          T-Wolves G Stephon Marbury "has voluntarily withdrawn
     his lawsuit against" PA-based AND 1, as both parties "have
     agreed to resolve the issue through binding arbitration,"
     according to John George of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL.  No
     hearing dates have been held as both parties are "in the
     process of selecting an arbitration panel."  AND 1 Founder
     Seth Berger would only confirm that the matter is going to
     arbitration.  Marbury sued AND 1 two months ago for breach-
     of-contract, claiming he was owed more than $200,000 in
     "basic compensation" and royalties.  Marbury had been with
     AND 1 since June '96 (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/17 issue).  
          STEPHON TO JOIN IVERSON? The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's
     Josh Gotthelf cites "several shoe executives" who say that
     Marbury "is close to finalizing the terms of a deal with
     Reebok."  With royalties, the deal "could be worth as much
     as" $900,000 a year (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/17 issue).