In Cincinnati, Dave Goldstein reports that NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue yesterday gave Bengals President
Mike Brown a "vote of confidence" after a tour of Paul Brown
Stadium and asked Bengals fans "to be patient" with Brown
and his 0-6 team. Tagliabue also "reiterated his support"
for the new stadium, despite the team's "lack of success" in
it so far this season (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/18). The AP
notes that Tagliabue held a 20-minute Q&A session with
reporters, with Brown standing nearby, that "was uneasy from
the outset" (AP, 10/18)....Ravens VP Kevin Byrne said that
team staffers heard the Redskins PA announcer say, "Ravens
fans suck," during Sunday's Ravens-Redskins game. Redskins
Senior VP/PR Karl Swanson said, "If that occurred, we
absolutely apologize." USA TODAY's Gary Mihoces writes that
the NFL is "looking into the situation," as well as into the
Ravens' complaints about the Redskins' game presentation
(USA TODAY, 10/18)....The Nuggets-Bucks preseason game last
night at 24,000-seat Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, drew an
announced attendance "liberally listed" at 1,100 (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/18)....FSN's Jeanne Zelasko, on Lakers
G Kobe Bryant selling his 50% interest in Italian basketball
team Olimpia Milano: "Selling CD's is more difficult than it
looks. Planning a wedding can take longer than you think.
Being an owner is not all it's cracked up to be. Life
lessons young Kobe learned this off-season" ("NSR," 10/17).
