CHICAGO TO LAND XFL TEAM; WILL BUDDY BALL RETURN TO SOLDIER?

          The XFL "will announce today" at a news conference that
     Chicago will be home to one of the league's eight charter
     franchises, according to Greg Couch of the CHICAGO SUN-
     TIMES, who cites sources who report that the team will play
     at Soldier Field.  Chicago Park District Superintendent
     David Doig "acknowledged that he had been negotiating with
     the XFL to put the team there," but he said that "no
     contract had been signed."  Meanwhile, XFL officials said
     that the team's GM "will be someone with a recognizable
     name," leading to speculation that former Bears defensive
     coordinator Buddy Ryan might be "involved" with the team. 
     However, the league "would not confirm" that Ryan "was in
     the [team's] plans."  Couch notes that Ryan "would seem to
     be a good fit for the XFL, which strives to be a rebel
     league but also needs credibility" (SUN-TIMES, 6/13).