WILL RAYS FEEL THE STING OF THE ABL'S FINANCIAL TROUBLES?

          The ABL Long Beach [CA] StingRays "might be disbanded,"
     according to Earl Gustkey of the L.A. TIMES, whose sources
     said that the "financially strapped" ABL "is considering
     such a move, among others."  On Saturday, ABL CEO Gary
     Cavalli "denied" that the move "was imminent, but wouldn't
     rule it out."  Cavalli: "As of today, there is no plan to
     close any franchise."  Cavalli "acknowledged" that the
     StingRays were "under scrutiny," but said that the league is
     also "looking at other teams" including the Philadelphia
     Rage. The StingRays' average attendance, which grew as the
     season progressed, was 2,200 for the season -- last in the
     10-team league, by a margin of about 1,000 per game.  The
     cost of running the team was "roughly $800,000, without
     including travel costs," and Cavalli said that season-ticket
     sales for the team "weren't good."  League cutbacks
     continued Friday, as S.J. Lasers GM Christine Forter and two
     other execs "were laid off and replaced" by ABL Senior VP &
     Investor Rodger Rickard (L.A. TIMES, 8/23).