HIGH-FASHION SPORTS: RALPH LAUREN TO LAUNCH NEW SPORTS LINE

          Ralph Lauren is "leaping into hardcore athletic gear,"
     becoming the "first high-fashion name to make the jump from
     selling sideline sports apparel to playing field gear,"
     according to Paul Tharp of the N.Y. POST.  Snowboarder
     Michele Taggart is "one of the early" athletes to test the
     RLX line, which will debut this spring and "carry a discrete
     small logo."  The line "will be aimed" at snowboarding,
     cycling, skiing and cross-training pros and enthusiasts and
     will be sold in sporting goods stores.  The launch "could
     help boost the company's sagging fortunes," as its stock has
     lost "about half its value in the last seven months," and
     company execs said that '99 profits will likely not meet
     analysts' expectations.  The company "expects" to sell $6M
     of RLX goods in '99 (Paul Tharp, N.Y. POST, 12/18).