TRACK AND DEAL: NEW U.S. TRACK LEAGUE TO BEGIN THIS SEASON

          Gold Medal Management agent Brad Hunt and track coach
     John Smith "confirmed yesterday the basics" of a new track
     and field series "designed to revitalize the sport" in the
     U.S., according to Philip Hersh of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. 
     Chicago-based agent Brian Vandenberg is the league's
     creator, and he "apparently has funding from a combination
     of investors and sponsors" and he "hopes to expand" the
     league "to a dozen meets within a couple of years."   Hunt
     said that the top athletes will get "appearance fees, while
     others will compete for prize money," adding, "The leading
     athletes have bought into it."  Details of the U.S. Track &
     Field sanctioned plan will be announced tomorrow, but
     sources "familiar with the project" said that the league
     "will begin this season" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/21).