COLEMAN WON'T STAND FOR CEREMONIAL ROLE, LIKELY WILL RESIGN

          ESPN's Dave Revsine reported on "SportsCenter" Friday
     evening that NL President Leonard Coleman will resign after
     this season "at least in part because he is frustrated that
     he will lose supervisory control over NL umps.  It has been
     widely reported that [MLB Exec VP/Operations] Sandy Alderson
     will oversee both leagues' umps starting next season." 
     Coleman had no comment when contacted by ESPN (ESPN, 9/10). 
     In L.A., Ross Newhan reported that Coleman was "upset over
     baseball's handling of the umpire dispute and a general loss
     of authority through the ongoing reorganization of the
     commissioner's office."  Newhan noted that Coleman is MLB's
     "highest ranking minority official and a leading advocate of
     minority hiring."  Newhan added that "much of" Coleman and
     AL President Gene Budig's "powers have already been
     transferred" to MLB COO Paul Beeston, Alderson, MLB legal
     counsel Robert Dupuy and MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Robert
     Manfred (L.A. TIMES, 9/11).  In N.Y., Murray Chass reported
     that Coleman "may join the campaign" of GOP presidential
     candidate George W. Bush (N.Y. TIMES, 9/11).  In DC, Richard
     Justice reported that Coleman's "possible replacements" are
     former Yankees GM Bob Watson and Frank Robinson.  Coleman
     "apparently believes the role of league president" will end
     up being "mostly ceremonial" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/11).
          MLB APPEARS TO SWING AND MISS: In Philadelphia, Claire
     Smith wrote that Coleman's departure would be "a loss of no
     small consequence to a game that claims it is all about
     inclusiveness, fair play, and equal opportunity.  Baseball
     has turned its back on Coleman" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
     9/11).  In AZ, Jack Magruder wrote that Coleman's "impending
     resignation only serves to call attention -- again -- to the
     sport's unadmirable record in race relations" (ARIZONA DAILY
     STAR, 9/12).  In Boston, Peter Gammons wrote that Coleman
     "has been frustrated by what he considers lip service toward
     minority hiring" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/12). In N.Y., Bill Madden:
     "You can't blame Coleman for bidding the game goodbye.  He's
     never been the ceremonial type."  Madden called Coleman a
     "huge" loss for baseball (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/12).  
          WHO WAS FIRST TO THE STORY?  USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
     gives ESPN his "Scoop Award" for being the first to report
     on Coleman's resignation (USA TODAY, 9/13).