LEAGUE NOTES
MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING: In Indianapolis, Sean Horgan
examined the NFL's newly adopted stadium financing
assistance plan, which has the support of the NFLPA (See THE
DAILY, 3/16). The NFLPA "will contribute money from its
share of gross revenues" to stadium financing proposals and
will receive its share of luxury box revenues "after 10
years instead of the previously agreed-upon 15 years."
NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen said that this was
"one of the areas where we've agreed to agree," because "the
big fear" is that the price of the next TV deal will reflect
the fact that the league has lost teams in large markets.
Berthelsen: "If our contribution is the difference between a
stadium being built or not being built, we think it's worth
it" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 3/24). In Pittsburgh, Dennis
Barbagello reported that an MLB spokesperson said that MLB
"is not considering" a similar program to the NFL's in
assisting franchises in the funding of new ballparks. The
NHL and NBA also "have no plans to help teams ... finance
their new homes" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/21).
FROM THE LIPTON: In Miami, Meri-Jo Borzilleri writes
that it's a "good thing The Lipton [Championships are]
setting attendance records early," because following Pete
Sampras' loss yesterday, there is now "a draw bereft of
[men's] stars" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/24). In Ft. Worth, David
Markiewicz reports on the marketing efforts of the WTA Tour.
Burns Sports President Bob Williams said that the Tour's
"emphasis on glamour is the right move, and the only move,"
since it is "the quickest way" to recapture sports fans'
attention. However, CBS Sports exec Rob Correa said that
while "glamour ... gets tennis exposure in places it hasn't
been seen before, it's not a cure" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/24).
MORE NOTES: IBL VP/Basketball Operations George Blaney
is directing the league's pre-draft camp from May 28-31 at
the Univ. of MD. The camp is expected to draw players who
are interested in participating in the league's inaugural
season, which starts November 26 (IBL)....The ARIZONA
REPUBLIC examines the role of agents in the NBA after the
new CBA. Suns F Pat Garrity, on why he selected to pay
attorney Lon Babby an hourly fee to negotiate his contract
rather than hire an agent: "I wanted to be in control. I
didn't want someone always checking up on me. I feel like
I'm a mature person and I can take care of a lot of things
myself. I know there are some things I can't take care of
and need an expert to do" (AZ REPUBLIC, 3/24).
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