MAJOR WEB ACTION: LEAGUES SEEK TO CAPITALIZE ON E-COMMERCE

          Each of the "four biggest sports organizations" -- MLB,
     the NBA, the NHL and the NFL -- "have developed modest
     Internet retail operations" and are "planning to invest
     heavily in e-commerce ventures this summer," according to
     Bob Tedeschi of the N.Y. TIMES, who wrote "in doing so, the
     leagues are hoping to rejuvenate a sluggish sports-
     merchandise market by serving fans who are increasingly
     watching the game with a remote in one hand and a mouse in
     the other."  Tedeschi noted the "e-commerce push comes amid
     a stagnant market for sports apparel and merchandise," which
     saw the four leagues bring in $8.5B in sales last year. 
     League execs believe that e-commerce sales will "bolster" a
     sales growth by "catering to fans who have moved away from
     their hometown teams."  Internet sales will also allow
     leagues to "capitalize on so-called 'hot market
     opportunities' that arise when a player's popularity
     suddenly surges."  Sporting Goods Business Editor-in-Chief
     Christopher McEvoy: "With the Internet you can have items on
     sale in about a week if you need to."  The NFL "will
     relaunch" its Web site, www.nfl.com, in early August "in
     partnership with Venator, and NFL Senior VP/Marketing & Fan
     Development Howard Handler said the league's "vision is to
     have the largest centralized inventory of team merchandise." 
     The NBA and WNBA are "rebuilding their online stores in
     partnership with IBM" and plan relaunches for both sites in
     the fall.  NBA Dir of Internet Services Stefanie Scheer said
     that IBM will "promote the league's site with a series of
     'e-business'" TV ads (N.Y. TIMES, 7/5).