NFL: A potential labor strike by Northwest Airlines
pilots Saturday could impact its business with nine NFL
teams, but Bill Wernecke, Manager of Northwest's charter
department said, "It's important business for us, and we
take it very seriously. We don't want anyone to have
inroads to our teams. Hopefully, the (labor) situation will
be resolved" (USA TODAY, 8/26)....Monday night's attendance
of 32,017 for the Bucs-Raiders exhibition game was the
smallest Oakland Coliseum crowd for a Raiders game since
'67, when an AFL regular-season game drew 30,738 (S.F.
EXAMINER, 8/25)....Saints President, GM & COO Bill Kuharich
said that NFL Security has advised the team "that it has
initiated a review of the rookie hazing incident" involving
rookie TE Cam Cleeland, who was injured last week (Saints).
NOTES: In Sacramento, Gavin Maloof, whose family plans
to purchase controlling interest in the NBA Kings in '99, on
a report suggesting the Maloofs "might be receptive" to
relocating to The Pond in Anaheim: "This keeps coming up,
and it's pure speculation." Maloof said he is committed to
Sacramento: "The (fan) support is there" (SAC. BEE, 8/25).
...Tuesday's D'Backs game versus the Pirates drew 38,960,
the "lowest" crowd of the season and the third time in the
past four games that the D'Backs drew fewer than 40,000 (AZ
REPUBLIC, 8/26)....A season-low crowd of 23,126 was
announced for yesterday's Twins-Devil Rays game, "but maybe
half of those seats actually were occupied" (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
8/26)....The MLS Fusion announced that reserved ticket
prices "would be slashed" for the team's four remaining home
games. Reserved seats, normally $30, will be $15 for adults
and $7 for children 16 and younger (MIAMI HERALD, 8/26).
