In Tampa, Eric Miller reports that the Lightning have hired an SFX Sports Group affil, SME Power Branding, to "help it create a fresh marketing identity." The team is also considering hiring another SFX affil to "help it find a corporation willing to pay big bucks to put its name on the Ice Palace." Lightning Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Michael Yormark said that SFX "came up with hundreds of possible new slogans" for the team, including this year's season ticket renewals campaign slogan: "Join the Charge" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 6/19)....The CFL "is returning to Ottawa, most likely for the 2001 season," after Transmedia Asia Pacific CEO Grant White "signed a letter of intent" to bring a team to the city (Jeremy Sandler, NATIONAL POST, 6/17)....A WASHINGTON POST editorial, under the header "Play Ball in Washington," examined a DC-area MLB team's potential affect on the Orioles' fan base and said, "It's hard to imagine how a franchise that consistently draws 3 1/2 million people and more, even when it fields mediocre teams, could be seriously harmed by a bit of competition down the road. Certainly the two metropolitan areas have no problem supporting a couple of pro football franchises" (WASH. POST, 6/17)....Sunday's AFL Bobcats-Avengers game at Staples Center "forced" the Pacers to hold their workouts "early in the morning" at the Lakers' practice gym in El Segundo (AP, 6/18)....In Edmonton, Gerry Prince wrote that NPSL Drillers Owner Wojtek Wojcicki has until today to "renew irrevocable letters of credit" with the league or "face the prospect of losing the franchise." According to one source, the letters of credit total US$175,000 and "must be renewed" by the close of business today (EDMONTON SUN, 6/18).