IS THERE PEACOCK ENVY? USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes
that NBC Sports and Turner Sports execs "debunk" a report
that their proposed football league "might be scrapped" (See
THE DAILY, 4/12). Turner Sports President Harvey Schiller:
"There's absolutely no truth in that. We're still moving
ahead. Our goal is still 2001." NBC Sports President Ken
Schanzer added that there's still "an enormous amount of
interest" in the league (USA TODAY, 4/14).
HOCKEY SUMMIT: In Calgary, Mark Miller writes that the
"focus" of Canada's upcoming three-day "Open Ice" Summit in
August must "be the numbers of our children who play hockey
for the love of the game." Miller: "This conference will
fail miserably if it degenerates into nationalistic chest-
thumping or the agenda of NHL teams seeking tax relief"
(CALGARY SUN, 4/14). The CP's Pierre LeBrun called the
Summit's "mandate to resolve the problems that afflict"
hockey in Canada a "daunting task" (CP, 4/14). In Toronto,
William Houston writes under the header, "Hockey Conference
Must Allow All Voices To Be Heard" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
4/14). To hear ideas from the public on the development of
hockey in Canada, the "Open Ice" Summit is offering two Web
sites for input, found at www.molson. com/openice and
www.canadianhockey.ca (TORONTO SUN, 4/14).
MEMORIES OF PLUTO: In Akron, Terry Pluto reports that
"only 7,500 fans" attended the Wizards-Cavs game last night
and writes on the post-lockout state of the NBA. Pluto: "I
sit here and I wonder what has happened to the league I once
loved. The average ticket price is more than $40, and I
keep asking myself, 'Forty bucks for this?'" More Pluto:
"The NBA just can't keep doing this, forcing a half-baked,
watered-down dessert down the throats of fans and insisting
it's steak and lobster" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 4/14).
