EQUAL PURSE: The USTA announced that the U.S. Open will
offer a record $15M in prize money, making it the first
sporting event to reach that level. It is also the first
tennis event to award its finalists a combined $1.2M -- with
$800,000 going to the champion -- and the only event to
continue to offer equal prize money for men and women
(USTA). USA Network analyst Tracy Austin wrote an Op-Ed on
the equal pay debate in Sunday's N.Y. DAILY NEWS: "There's
no doubt in my mind the women's game is as intriguing and as
healthy as it has ever been. ... Isn't it clearly time for
these major events to even things?" (DAILY NEWS, 5/28).
CART VS. IRL: In Cincinnati, Tim Sullivan wrote that
"right or wrong, fair or unfounded," CART driver Juan
Montoya's victory at the Indy 500 "reinforces the notion
that the IRL is a second-tier circuit" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER,
5/29). In Detroit, Terry Foster wrote, "Somewhere in the
CART offices the bosses are raising a toast to their racing
league. All along they've said they are the organization
with the stars and cars" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/29).
SELIG HAS CONSIDERED CONTRACTION: MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig, on the possibility of franchise "contraction": "The
problem with contractions is, I'm not sure it solves
anything. I'm not ruling it out, but it's not high on my
list because then you've left 28 teams in the same economic
system that is flawed" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/27).
NOTES: In Toronto, Al Strachan noted ESPN's heavy
promotion of the NHL playoffs, as it is giving hockey "top
billing" on "SportsCenter." Strachan added the NHL "is
starting to be noticed" in the U.S. (TORONTO SUN, 5/29).
Wayne Gretzky said during a chat session last night on
faceoff.com that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA
Exec Dir Bob Goodenow are discussing a new CBA. Gretzky:
"From what I've heard, there are some preliminary talks."
The NATIONAL POST's Alan Adams reports that both league and
union sources "denied there have been discussions about re-
opening" the CBA, which expires in 2004. But the league has
"opened the financial books of a handful of teams" to the
NHLPA, and Gretzky "may be referring to this, an
unprecedented move by the league" (NATIONAL POST, 5/31).
...Tom Lehman has resigned from the TPA after his proposal
to hire a consultant to represent players on PGA Tour issues
was voted down. Lehman: "I basically decided that any
further efforts by the TPA are harmful to our tour" (USA
TODAY, 5/31)....In Boston, Peter May wrote one "complicating
factor" for several NBA teams leading up to the NBA Draft is
that "many of the top draftees" are represented by SFX
Sports, which "doesn't want two of its players competing
against each other in workouts" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).
