MLB: The Yankees increased ticket prices for the '99
season. Field-level box seats will cost $50, up from $45,
and main-level box seats will move to $37.50 from $35.
Other increases: Field box and loge box seats near the
infield $29 (up from $25); Outfield main box and loge box
seats $26 ($23); Upper deck box seats $23 ($20); Infield
reserved seats $26 ($23); Outfield Main reserved $26 ($23);
Upper deck reserved $14 ($12). Bleacher seats will increase
by $1 to $8 a seat (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/14)....In MN, Sid
Hartman: "I'm convinced that if a baseball stadium isn't
built and there isn't a local buyer, [Twins Owner] Carl
Pohlad will sell the team to Charlotte interests after next
season" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 11/15)....In Boston,
Eileen McNamara, on the Red Sox not re-signing 1B Mo Vaughn:
"Letting Mo go was only the latest in a series of affronts
to Sox fans and Fenway residents that leaves one wondering
whether the team's management is stunningly arrogant or
simply oblivious" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/15)....D'Backs Managing
General Partner Jerry Colangelo, on the team's interest in
free agents Randy Johnson and Bernie Williams: "We could
sign neither of them. We could sign one of them. Or we
could sign both. You can't rule it out" (REPUBLIC, 11/15).
NFL: In DC, Thomas Heath examined the Redskins sale in
a front-page feature on Sunday. As many as ten bidders
"could vie" for the team and what makes it so "attractive to
some ... is its ability to generate lots of cash." The team
is "expected to earn" $141M in gross revenues this year,
half from the league's TV deal and half from ticket and
concession revenue. Meanwhile, Redskins President John Kent
Cooke has reportedly "found his partner and firmed up his
bid within recent weeks" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/15). Orioles
Owner Peter Angelos said the NFL's cross-ownership rules do
not apply to him as the Orioles operate within a 75-mile
radius of the Redskins: "The rule states that in order to
own a team in another sport, you have to be within the same
market area as the football franchise" (N.Y. TIMES,
11/14)....CBS's Marcus Allen, on Chargers QB Ryan Leaf: "He
should take that 'L' off his forehead for loser and sit back
and think about what he's done. This guy's basically
offended the entire city of San Diego, the players, the
coaches, you name it" ("NFL Today," CBS, 11/15).
TAGLIABUE ON TOUR: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
visited Cleveland on Friday and "raised the intriguing
possibility that the league might favor" a Monday night
opener in the team's new stadium in '99 (AKRON BEACON
JOURNAL, 11/14). Tagliabue was in Detroit yesterday and
said the league has "made a commitment" to another Super
Bowl in Detroit once the new stadium is completed. In
addition, Tagliabue dismissed the idea of teams rotating the
Thanksgiving games: "There is a commitment to keep the games
in Detroit and Dallas" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/16).
