In Dallas, Brad Townsend writes that incoming LPGA
Commissioner Ty Votaw "largely was responsible for the
LPGA's most recent TV contract negotiations," and those
inside the Tour "describe him as brilliant, a class act."
Townsend writes that while departing LPGA Commissioner Jim
Ritts "will be missed ... five years from now, the LPGA will
still have its small but solid niche in the sports world,
and Votaw probably will still be on the job" (DALLAS MORNING
NEWS, 2/10). Votaw "has been authorized" to hire a COO,
giving him more time to "focus on selling the LPGA to
sponsors and television" (USA TODAY, 2/10)....Cowboys CB
Deion Sanders' '98 salary of $7.579M made him the NFL's
highest paid player, and was the only non-QBs whose salary
exceeded $7M. Dolphins QB Dan Marino and Patriots QB Drew
Bledsoe were the others to top $7M per year in salary (USA
TODAY, 2/10)....WCHL President Mike McCall is "encouraged by
the strength of certain franchises," but "as in any new
business, you're going to have some changes, some bumps and
bruises." It is "probable" the WCHL will add teams in
Anaheim, Las Vegas and Reno after 2000 (NEWS-TRIBUNE, 2/9).
