MLB: In O.C., Kevin Acee wrote that the AL issued a
memo to teams "cautioning players and coaches not to throw
balls into the stands, even as an act of kindness." The
move comes "in the wake of recent lawsuits against players
and the [Triple A] Toledo Mudhens" (O.C. REGISTER, 4/29).
MORE NOTES: In Detroit, Becky Yerak writes under the
header, "Despite Cup Hoopla, Hockey's On Thin Ice: High
Payrolls, Low TV Ratings Hurt NHL And Teams," that "many are
hopeful" that Disney-owned ABC, which holds NHL rights
beginning next season, "can make hockey more broadcast-
friendly -- in the process boosting the audience and thereby
the size of TV contracts." The Bonham Group's Dean Bonham:
"Hockey could end up being a sport that's attended and not
viewed. If that's the case, the NHL is quickly going to
reach its capacity in the U.S." (DETROIT NEWS, 4/30)....In
L.A., Anne-Marie O'Connor wrote that "no city in America
draws bigger soccer crowds" than L.A., and "sponsors from
Nike to Tecate are targeting soccer and scoring a direct hit
with the Latino market." Mayor Richard Riordan: "Soccer is
the future game of Los Angeles" (L.A. TIMES, 4/29).
