In Toronto, Stephen Brunt noted a different approach
employed by the NHL in seeking government aid for the six
Canadian NHL teams. Brunt noted that unlike last year,
"This time, it's going to be quiet, it's going to be subtle
-- there will be far less grandstanding." While there is
still "plenty of resistance" to aid, the NHL has been
"making inroads that seemed unimaginable" (GLOBE & MAIL,
3/27). But Jim Hunt writes, "I'm afraid they're [Canadian
NHL teams] not going to get anything meaningful, at least
until the NHL gets its house in order" (TORONTO SUN, 3/29).
NBA NOTES: In UT, Rich Evans wrote that the 76ers'
decision to bar the media from practice is an "annoying
trend by players and, to a lesser degree the teams
themselves, of fingering the media as the root of much of
the NBA's evil." Evans added that while "their solution is
-- surprise -- to make life tough on the poor old
messenger/beat writer," it is the fans "who ultimately get
cheated" (DESERET NEWS, 3/28)....Lakers G Derek Harper, on
the NBA's young players: "They don't care about the game.
All they care about is being on ESPN to see my slam, the
pass behind my back, the pass over my head. They don't care
about the game" (Peter May, BOSTON GLOBE, 3/28).
WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE, TAKE TWO: Women's World Cup
Organizing Committee Chair Alan Rothenberg said that he
"envisions" an eight-to-12 team women's pro soccer league to
be formed by spring 2001, "depending on the success of this
summer's Women's World Cup." A plan "should be formulated"
for the league by the end of the year (AP, 3/26).
