In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports the "hot rumor" in
N.Y. is that NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN wants to hire
Target Center Exec Dir DANA WARG "as one of his top aides"
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/22)....The TRAIL BLAZERS were
named recipient of the Points of Light Foundation's '99
Award for Excellence in Corporate Community Service. The
team is the first pro sports franchise to receive the award
(USA TODAY, 10/22)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that
prior to a recent speech by Vice President AL GORE, BILL
WALTON, a supporter of Presidential candidate BILL BRADLEY,
handed Gore a note which read, "Dear Al. Thank you in
advance for your early withdrawal from the 2000 race for the
presidency. Go Bradley Go!" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
10/22)....FORBES lists BRUTON SMITH's Speedway Motorsports
among its list of the "200 Best Small Companies." FORBES:
"Smith was making big and brash decisions four decades ago,
realizing even before Nascar's founding France family how
big a business stock car racing would become" (FORBES, 11/1
issue). Smith's auction site called SoldUSA.com sells
automobiles, NASCAR merchandise and other sports
collectibles. SoldUSA.com "remains a subsidiary" of SMI for
now but Smith said that "eventually," it could spin off as a
separate company through an IPO (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/22).
...ABC's "20/20" tonight reports that SAMMY SOSA, MARK
MCGWIRE and TONY GWYNN worked with the FBI for "more than
two years in a sting dubbed 'Operation Bullpen' aimed at
catching [memorabilia] forgers." The show airs at 10:00pm ET
(N.Y. POST, 10/22)....In L.A., Diane Pucin writes that
BILLIE JEAN KING's reluctance to discuss her relationship
with PHILIP MORRIS CO. might show that she is "not totally
comfortable with her decision to accept a position" on the
company's Board of Directors. Pucin: "If King wants to be a
board member of Philip Morris, that is her decision. It's
also her responsibility to answer some tough questions"
(L.A. TIMES, 10/22)....At "GQ's Men of the Year" awards last
night in N.Y., OSCAR DE LA HOYA won the Athlete Award and
LANCE ARMSTRONG won the Courage Award (NBC, 10/22).
