JOIN THE CLUB: NFLPA SAVING MONEY IN CASE OF WORK STOPPAGE

          NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw is "taking steps to
     guarantee ... a financial warchest in case there is labor
     strife" when the current CBA expires in 2005, according to
     Mike Freeman of the N.Y. TIMES.  Agents and NFLPA officials
     said that by 2005, the union will have funds of "at least
     several hundred million dollars, and maybe much more."  Most
     of the money being invested is coming from the union's
     licensing arm, which earns "millions each year from
     merchandise sales."  Freeman writes that it may not be
     enough to support each player for a year, but it would give
     them "security and leverage" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20).