SOCCER SUIT: As part of its '97 lawsuit against MLS, attorneys for a group of MLS players claimed that the U.S. Soccer Federation "effectively created a monopoly when it designated" MLS as the country's sole Div. I league, which "violated U.S. antitrust laws." From the suit, only the "question of whether the league operated as a monopoly" is being addressed at the current trial (AP, 9/19). PRAISING PRIVATE RYAN: NPSL Blast Owner Ed Hale Sr., on the league's new Commissioner Steve Ryan: "I can tell you as one of the owners and speaking for a lot of other owners, we are very, very happy to have [Ryan] here. He gives us a new dimension from what we've had in the past in terms of management of the league" (Baltimore SUN, 9/20). BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton writes that "priorities" for Ryan include "cranking up sponsorship and landing a national TV contract, which would help support the bottom line in a league where about half the franchises are profitable" (BRANDWEEK, 9/18). ALL ABOUT LAX: The National Lacrosse League named Jim Jennings as its new Commissioner yesterday. See (#27). In Newark, Mike Moretti writes that the NLL league office is relocating from Buffalo to Lyndhurst, NJ, "in an effort to drum more media coverage and a national television contract." Jennings: "By the end of 2003, we want to be coast to coast and have 16 teams" (STAR-LEDGER, 9/20). In DC, Jeff Seidel cites league officials confirming that the NLL's Pittsburgh CrosseFire will move to Washington this season and play at the MCI Center under an ownership group headed by Gary Gait and Dennis Townsend (WASHINGTON POST, 9/20). Meanwhile, Major League Lacrosse investor Chris Hutchins said of his league, "All of the pieces are there for this to be successful. SFX knows how to market and put on events, you have lacrosse knowledge in our [Baltimore] group, and you have a great sport" (Baltimore SUN, 9/19). NOTES: In NC, Mike Mulhern wrote that NASCAR team Owner Jack Roush "is working on a new sponsorship and driver development program with the goal of finding a talented minority driver and bringing him up to the Winston Cup tour over the next three years." Roush Racing Manager Geoff Smith said that "part of the current effort could involve" MLB HOFer Hank Aaron (W-S JOURNAL, 9/19)....NHRA President Tom Compton said the high cost of sponsoring a car for the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit "creates an opportunity for us because we are a real value for the money right now. We offer a tremendous amount of exposure for a fraction of the cost. We think that's going to benefit us" ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 9/19)....ESPN's Jon Beekhuis said the "rumors" of ISC and Penske Corp. board member Greg Penske succeeding Bobby Rahal as CART CEO are false ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 9/19).
