FOOTBALL: In San Diego, Jerry Magee wrote that the XFL,
scheduled to begin in February 2001, "could mean the end" of
NFL Europe. San Diego-based player agent Derrick Fox:
"Obviously, it's the money. A player goes to Europe and he
is going to come home with only a couple of thousand
dollars, and that's if he lives frugally. XFL's flat rate
is $55,000, with bonuses each week for winning. XFL is for
real" (UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/13)....In St. Louis, Tom Timmermann
wrote, "The most refreshing thing about the start of the NFL
preseason wasn't seeing the Rams' new uniforms, or even
seeing their old offense. It was what we didn't see. We
didn't see the Bob 'N Weave, the Rams' touchdown celebration
'dance,' which has been retired courtesy of the NFL. I only
wish they had done it sooner" (POST-DISPATCH, 8/13).
NOTES: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Jennifer Lee cites
U.S. Professional Volleyball (USPV) league officials as
saying that the league, which "had planned" a debut in 2001,
has "decided to hold off a year and instead further promote
itself through additional tour and marketing events." Bob
McAuliff, USPV interim President & CEO of the Venture Group,
the league's marketing arm, said that the plan over the next
year will be to "discuss a television partnership with major
networks, seek additional investors and sponsors and launch
an extensive marketing campaign" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL,
8/14 issue)....In DC, Jon DeNunzio writes that yesterday's
Russia-U.S. women's soccer match at Navy-Marine Corps
Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD, drew 21,278 fans.
DeNunzio adds that the stadium's grandstands hold 30,000 and
the crowd "filled nearly every section" (WASHINGTON POST,
8/14)....RealNetworks Founder & CEO Rob Glaser, on recently
co-purchasing the PBA: "Fundamentally, it's just an
incredible business opportunity. Bowling is something that
50 million Americans a year do. Bowling has been
undermarketed as a sport for a number of years." Partner
Chris Peters: "We want to make it the next NASCAR. We think
this can be a very successful sports league" (CNN, 8/12).
