NO MINOR VENTURE: IFF EXEC VP USED TO "BEATING THE ODDS"
Int'l Football Federation Exec VP Dennis Murphy was
profiled by the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER's Mike Bruton, who
wrote that Murphy "doesn't get riled over the maniacal
laughter he has heard since the IFF was announced a few
weeks ago." Bruton noted that Murphy "is used to beating
the odds," as he started the ABA, which was eventually
absorbed by the NBA, and the World Hockey Association (WHA),
which saw four teams go the NHL. Murphy, on whether the IFF
can survive: "You can rest assured it's going to happen. It
has always happened with my leagues." Murphy added that the
league will have a minimum of 12 teams when it launches in
March 2000, with teams already located in N.Y., Orlando, CT,
Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Austin, Toronto, L.A., Anaheim,
Denver and San Jose. Games will be televised in part by
Calvacade of Sports, which will debut this fall and is owned
by IFF CEO and Toronto franchise Owner Ed Litwak. Officials
at Fox, ABC and NBC said that they have yet to talk to
anyone from the IFF (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/4).
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