DID ERIC FLEISHER BREAK NCAA RULES? In N.Y., Lenn Robbins writes that sports agent ERIC FLEISHER, who is "embroiled" in a $30M lawsuit with ANDY MILLER, "allegedly has broken NCAA rules and state laws by engaging in inappropriate behavior as an agent, according to papers filed in the suit." Robbins cites sources as saying that Fleisher "paid for meals and/or hotel rooms" for Nets G STEPHON MARBURY, Bulls F ELTON BRAND, T'Wolves G WILLIAM AVERY and Grizzlies F SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM when the players were in college. Robbins writes that because Fleisher "is not registered in" GA, NC or CA, among others, he "could be subject to criminal charges." Fleisher "vehemently denied the allegations" (N.Y. POST, 8/10). MORE NAMES: Cubs 1B MARK GRACE, on OF SAMMY SOSA's popularity: "[Sosa is] a rock star. We went to Japan this year to start the season, I mean he's a rock star [there]. This guy is so popular, not only in Chicago but worldwide, he's like [MICHAEL] JORDAN or MADONNA or MICHAEL JACKSON, he's an icon. It's impressive that he can still smile and have fun and be friendly with the people. He doesn't get much time to himself" ("Up Close," 8/9)....USA TODAY's Steve Wieberg writes that in a letter to NCAA President CEDRIC DEMPSEY, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's MARTIN LUTHER KING III "urged" the NCAA to "consider different locations" for the 2002 and 2007 men's and 2003 women's basketball Final Fours if the Confederate battle flag symbol "is not removed" from the GA flag by March 31, 2001 (USA TODAY, 8/10)....PRESIDENT CLINTON "established" a White House panel on performance-enhancing drugs in sports that "will recommend ways the federal government can combat the problem." The task force members will be appointed by White House drug policy chief GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY, various federal agencies and advisory boards (AP, 8/10)....This season's tenth episode of HBO's ARLI$$ airs Sunday at 9:30pm ET and will replay Tuesday at 11:30pm, Wednesday at 9:30pm and August 18 at 1:00am. Guests include Dodgers VP TOMMY LASORDA, Mets P AL LEITER, USA Today media columnist RUDY MARTZKE, ESPN MLB announcer JON MILLER and Clippers F LAMAR ODOM (Arli$$)....Coyotes co-Owner WAYNE GRETZKY's wife JANET gave birth on August 2 to TRISTAN WAYNE GRETZKY, the couple's fourth child (CP, 8/10).
