GOVERNMENT ACTION ON FEDERAL ESTATE TAX COULD EASE BURDEN

          The federal estate tax, "a huge issue" for NFL team
     owners, is "disappearing," according to Mike Freeman of the
     N.Y. TIMES.  On June 9, the U.S. House of Representatives
     voted to "phase out" the tax "on rich people's assets" when
     they die.  The estates of "many" NFL team owners, including
     Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara, Bills Owner Ralph Wilson
     and Raiders Owner Al Davis, "would very likely be forced" to
     sell their teams under the current law in order to pay the
     "hefty" tax after an owner's death.  Freeman: "But if the
     Senate were to pass a bill similar to the one approved by
     the House, and if both bodies were to override a threatened
     veto by President Clinton, the federal tax burden would be
     erased and families of N.F.L. owners would not have to got
     through a painful sale process" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/9).