NAMES IN THE NEWS

          USA TODAY's Larry King reports that it "looks as if" AL
     PACINO "will play" former Yankees manager Billy Martin in a
     future film.  King also notes that the buzz on "ANY GIVEN
     SUNDAY," which is due out December 22, is "sensational" (USA
     TODAY, 12/13)....Former NFL Oilers fan and Houston attorney
     JOHN PIRKLE has written a new book, "OILER BLUES -- THE
     STORY OF PRO FOOTBALL'S MOST FRUSTRATING TEAM" (Nashville
     TENNESSEAN, 12/12)....Sonics G GARY PAYTON is the author of
     a new children's book called "Confidence Counts."  The book
     is part of the "Positively For Kids" series created by Greg
     Brown that also includes bios by athletes such as TROY
     AIKMAN and MO VAUGHN ("NBA Inside Stuff," 12/11)....CHARLES
     BARKLEY, on his future: "I'm looking at a lot of movie
     roles, I'm going to talk to NBC, because I want to do both
     of those things" ("NBA on TNT," 12/11).