NFL: In N.Y., Mike Freeman wrote that the NFLPA
"continues to build its strike war chest, just in case the
amicable relationship that exists" between the players and
owners "breaks down" when the CBA expires in 2003 (N.Y.
TIMES, 4/9)....On "Outside The Lines," ESPN's Bob Ley
reported on NFL teams considering character more carefully
in this weekend's NFL Draft. Ley: "The league has taken a
body-blow to its image over the past six months, and the
logical argument of 'The vast majority of NFL players are,
certainly, law-abiding individuals,' runs around on the
chilling fact that two current NFL players are to be tried
[on] first-degree murder charges" ("Outside The Lines,"
ESPN, 4/9). A SALT LAKE TRIBUNE editorial examines the
NFL's image: "Those [players] who do not meet background
expectations should not be hired, and those who break the
laws with violent actions off the football field should be
barred from the game" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/10).
RACING: SPEEDNET's Robin Miller quotes one anonymous
CART team owner as saying the racing circuit likely won't
return to Nazareth, PA. Yesterday's race was postponed due
to snow and will be made up in May. Miller writes that the
IRL "could share Nazareth" with CART in 2001, or "possibly
take its place." IRL Founder Tony George: "We've talked to
Nazareth, but there wasn't a lot of energy. It's got to be
something that works for both sides" (SPEEDNET, 4/10).
NOTES: In Toronto, Canadian Hockey VP Tom Renney told
the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL's James Christie a women's pro
hockey league "is inevitable because of the level at which
Canadian and U.S. players play the game." National Women's
Hockey League President Susan Fennell, on corporate interest
in a women's pro league: "The amount of interest we have
from companies wanting to purchase teams is amazing. These
are not just local girls' organizations asking 'can we
play?'" Fennell adds she has had "inquiries" for franchises
in seven U.S. states, Edmonton and Calgary. But NHL
VP/Communications Bernadette Mansur said of a possible
women's league: "We'll look closely at it again after the
Salt Lake City Olympics. ... We want to make sure, when and
if we get involved, that in the long term we provide the
best talent on ice" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/8).
...Saturday's Iceland-U.S. women's soccer game in Charlotte
drew 10,315 fans at Ericsson Stadium, "about the same" as
the 10,119 fans that "showed up" for a similar match against
Japan last spring (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/9).
