IRL BACK TO ATLANTA: In Atlanta, Kent Mitchell reports
that the IRL "is coming back" to Atlanta in 2001, with a
race scheduled for April 28, 2001 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
(AMS). AMS President & GM Ed Clark: "We aren't looking at
this as a one-year deal, I'll tell you that" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 8/25). In K.C., Jim Pedley writes that
increased attendance at this year's IRL race "convinced" AMS
officials "to invite the series back" (K.C. STAR, 8/25).
NOTES: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports that the MLBPA
"is expected" to announce by Thursday's deadline that "it is
exercising the option" to extend the CBA through 2001 (USA
TODAY, 8/25)....In Detroit, Jemele Hill wrote, "The reason
we should watch the WNBA is the very reason we don't watch
it. As much as we complain about [76ers G] Allen Iverson's
Liberace-like appearance, we can't get enough of his drama.
... Drama means interesting, and right now the WNBA is too
goody-goody for us to pay attention" (DETROIT FREE PRESS,
8/24)....In Philadelphia, Kevin Mulligan wrote that "amid
news of the sale and relocation" of the Sanex WTA Advanta
Championships from the city (see THE DAILY, 8/25),
Tournament Dir Barbara Perry "expressed optimism" the WTA
"will find a way to retain its presence" in the city.
Perry: "We fully intend to keep pro tennis in the market"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/24)....The North American
Baseball Association will form a new independent pro
baseball league called the All American Association of
Professional Baseball Clubs (AAAPBC) to begin play in summer
2001 with a minimum of eight teams. Memberships have been
approved for teams in Ft. Worth, TX; Albany, GA; Tyler, TX;
Baton Rouge, LA; Texarkana, TX; and Victoria, TX (AAAPBC).
