FILMS DU JOUR: U.S. women's basketball team members and
WNBA vets "raved about their private screening of 'LOVE AND
BASKETBALL' Saturday night." The film, to be released this
spring, was produced by SPIKE LEE and tells the "love story
about childhood friends who dream of playing professional
basketball." The film premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival and features cameos from Sparks players such as
LISA LESLIE (SEATTLE TIMES, 2/21)....In Boston, Stephen
Schaefer wrote that OLIVER STONE's "ANY GIVEN SUNDAY" was
"received warmly" at the Berlin Film Festival, and Stone
said that "he saw a shade of conspiracy to keep any
discussion of the issues raised" in the film from being
"aired in America's sports pages." Because there was only
one N.Y. Times feature, Stone thinks that sportswriters "are
afraid to incur the NFL's wrath" by writing on the film.
Stone: "They'll lose access to NFL players if they're
friendly to us" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/21).
OTHER NAMES: In N.Y., Neal Travis reported that TIGER
WOODS has "just popped the question" to his girlfriend,
JOANNA JAGODA. Reports have a Valentine's Day engagement,
with plans to marry, "maybe in November when the tour is on
hiatus" (N.Y. POST, 2/21)....In Pittsburgh, Chuck Finder
profiled former Fox Sports Pittsburgh VP/GM BILL CRAIG, who
is now Founder & President of iCrave TV in Canada. Former
Penguins Owner HOWARD BALDWIN, on Craig: "He's a classic
example of a renegade. He looks to bend the rules. But he's
very bright, and I don't think anybody should underestimate
him" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/20)....CNN's Terry Baddoo
reported that golfer COLIN MONTGOMERIE was "named Scotland's
first ambassador." The position will involve speaking at a
"number of business meetings, and carrying a golf bag with a
distinctly Scottish logo" ("Inside The PGA Tour," 2/19).
