NBA: On CBS SportsLine, Mike Kahn wrote to "keep an eye
on the Rockets, [as] they could be blasting off to New
Orleans or St. Louis before you know it" (CBS SportsLine,
11/18)....In N.Y., Chris Broussard writes that "there is
increasing excitement, speculation and even unrest within
the Nets' organization concerning what role" Yankees Owner
George Steinbrenner will play in the franchise with the
YankeeNets partnership. Nets President Michael Rowe, whose
team is off to a 1-7 start and has "had trouble drawing
fans": "I think our ownership will value his opinion on
basketball issues. I don't know what the depth of that may
be, but he will be a partner." One Nets official: "There's
no way he's not going to be involved" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/19).
NOTES: MLB COO Paul Beeston spoke to the Canadian Club
of London yesterday and said that "all of Canada's pro teams
could one day come down to" just the Maple Leafs and
Canadiens. Beeston: "Canadians have to make a decision. If
they want pro sports, there simply has to be a level playing
field. If there isn't, teams will be gone" (LONDON FREE
PRESS, 11/19)....In L.A., Randy Harvey wrote that if Raiders
Owner Al Davis brings the team back to L.A., "he might agree
to phase out his role as managing general partner within
three years. That would allow for local ownership" (L.A.
TIMES, 11/18). The legal battle over whether the Raiders
have the right to break their lease at Network Associates
Coliseum will go to trial on February 15 (CONTRA COSTA
TIMES, 11/19)....In Toronto, Allan Maki notes PCL Cannons
Owner Russ Parker's decision to keep the team in Calgary
after the city of Portland "was willing to commit" $33M for
the renovation of Civic Stadium. That plan "could be
scuttled" unless Portland Family Entertainment acquires a
baseball team before December 31 (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
11/19). Parker, on not selling the team, which "shows no
signs of becoming profitable" in Calgary: "Some people might
say, `Are you an idiot?'" Maybe I am" (CALGARY SUN, 11/19).
