UPN debuted the Canadian TV series, "POWER PLAY," last
night at 9:00pm ET. The show tells the story of BRETT
PARKER, a N.Y. sports agent who returns to his hometown of
Hamilton, Ontario, to run a hockey team called the
Steelheads (USA TODAY, 6/14)....Former NFLers RONNIE LOTT
and HARRIS BARTON have been "hawking" their new mutual fund,
Champion Ventures. Their hope is to raise $30M from pro
athletes that Champion Ventures will then "reinvest in seven
venture-capital funds." Lott hopes Champion will keep pro
athletes from making poor investments (BUSINESS WEEK, 6/21
issue)....While IOC member PHIL COLES was forced to resign
from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Committee, he retains his IOC
post and he "will enjoy all the comforts of being a VIP IOC
spectator at next year's Games -- including free tickets to
all events" (AUSTRALIAN, 6/15). In Chicago, Philip Hersh
writes the IOC's move on Coles proves the committee "won't
fry its big fish" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/15)....The Greater
K.C. Sports Commission & Foundation will honor USOC Exec Dir
DICK SCHULTZ and former Emporia State RB BRIAN SHAY, the '99
Div. II Player of the Year, today at its 27th annual awards
banquet (USOC)....The ORLANDO SENTINEL is running a three-
part series called, "When The Glory Days Are Gone," a look
at the adjustments for athletes who join America's
mainstream work force (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/15)....No Limit
Sports' LELAND HARDY is profiled in today's CHICAGO TRIBUNE
and responds to criticism on the contract he negotiated for
Saints RB RICKY WILLIAMS. Hardy: "The contract-negotiating
element of representing ballplayers is the least of the
businesses we're looking to be in. We look to bundle
athletes into entertainment vehicles" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
6/15)....Thrashers play-by-play announcer SCOTT FERRALL
appeared on "The Late, Late Show with CRAIG KILBORN." On
why he was dropped from Westwood One: "I was sacrificed."
Ferrall is currently touring MLB ballparks with the MARK
MCGWIRE/SAMMY SOSA home run balls bought by Oilers co-Owner
TODD MCFARLANE to raise funds for research for Lou Gehrig's
disease (CBS, 6/14)....KEVIN COSTNER screened his new
baseball flick, "For Love of the Game," for Cal State
Fullerton players at the NCAA World Series. Costner went to
Cal State Fullerton (ET, 6/14)....NBC's AHMAD RASHAD said on
the "Tonight Show" with JAY LENO that the winner of the NBA
Finals is going to be "either San Antonio or the Knicks."
Leno: "So you're going to narrow it down to that. Hey,
thanks for going out on a limb" (NBC, 6/14)....NBC's Lisa
Myers reported on the "well-oiled fund-raising machine" of
GOP President candidate GEORGE W. BUSH. Bush "tapped" five
sources of money for his early fund-raising, including
"friends from Major League Baseball" (NBC, 6/14).
