AGENTS BOMB TEST: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Josh
Gotthelf reports that sources say that the NFLPA has
"suspended about 30 agents who failed its open-book test
designed to test ... competency." Agents can appeal the
suspensions to an NFLPA-appointed arbitrator. If they don't
appeal or lose their arbitration, agents will be banned from
"representing players" in contract talks until at least
January (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/12 issue).
REVENUE SHARING: In the WALL STREET JOURNAL, Allen
Barra suggests MLB teams share TV revenue to make up for
revenue disparity. Barra: "Some kind of split of local TV
revenues is inevitable, but it could take years." But
smaller-market teams "can demand from the larger-market
teams an immediate split of national TV money, ticket
shares, and marketing deals." Barra adds that it will be
"easier" going into battle with large-market owners than
"going to war" with the MLBPA (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/12).
NOTES: National Rookie League President Bruce Stern
said the league is still searching for start-up funding:
"January 1 is our absolute drop-dead date. If we don't have
all our teams funded by then, we won't launch this league
... I think we have about a 75 percent chance" (WASHINGTON
POST, 7/10)....In N.Y., Alex Yannis, on MLS: "Despite signs
pointing toward a healthy future, the league deferred plans
for expansion by a year to 2001" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/11).
...P.O.V. Editor Randall Lane, on the NFL approving a $65M
loan to Ravens Owner Art Modell: "He has one of the sweetest
deals in sports and now he needs a loan. It's mind-boggling.
... Now the NFL is controlling his lending, so it's going to
be done on a more-friendly basis" (CNNfn, 7/9).
