LEAGUE NOTES

          STOCK CART: Reconciliation talks between CART and the
     IRL have "addressed" IRL concerns about what to do "with the
     low-budget" IRL teams that won't be able to afford to race
     should the two merge.  It "has been decided" that those IRL
     teams would "receive CART stock" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/14).
          EARLIER NHL START? The '99-2000 NHL schedule will be
     released today and in Toronto, Tim Wharnsby writes that the
     regular season will "open and close roughly one week earlier
     next season."  The season will open on Friday, October 1 and
     conclude Sunday, April 9, 2000 (TORONTO SUN, 7/14). 
          CANADIAN PRO LEAGUE? The Canadian Soccer Association
     has retained KPMG to conduct a business study "into the
     feasibility" of a pro league in Canada.  KPMG is "scheduled
     to report back" in October to the association.  The CSA is
     "looking at launching" a pro league in 2001 (CP, 7/14).