Contrary to a report on CTV Sportsnet's Web site, a
Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) spokesperson said that there
"is no pending deal to buy part" of the CFL, according to
Allan Maki of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The report had said
that the deal "would result" in BCE gaining 40-49% ownership
in the CFL. A BCE source, on the report: "That's 100-per-
cent false." However, Maki cites a CFL source as saying
that outgoing league President Jeff Giles "has been in
contact" with BCE and that a business partnership "was
possible" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/26).
TALENT SEARCH: The CP's Dan Ralph cites a league memo
as stating that the XFL "will begin picking" CFL players in
December for its inaugural season which begins in February.
The memo, which sources say has been distributed to CFL
agents, outlines the XFL's "plans to hold supplemental
drafts" on December 1 and 29 to "allow its eight teams to
start stockpiling CFL talent" (CP, 10/26). The XFL draft
begins Saturday at 11:00am ET, and NBC will feature a recap
of the draft at halftime of Saturday's Air Force-Univ. of
Notre Dame game, which begins at 2:30pm ET. Mike Adamle of
Chicago's WMAQ will file the report (NBC).
THE NEXT CFL COMMISSIONER WILL BE ...? In Vancouver,
Kent Gilchrist wrote that while sources "wouldn't confirm"
Jim Thompson as a leading candidate to replace outgoing CFL
Commissioner John Tory, Thompson is the "name that is worth
betting on." Thompson "made the CFL a staple on the Sports
Network" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 10/25).
