Sources told the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM that Cowboys Owner
Jerry Jones "had planned to rechristen" the Texas Stadium party
tent "The American Express Corral" for Sunday's game. But,
"those plans are now stalled" (Mike Fisher, FT. WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM, 9/20). However, the league's suit against Jones,
scheduled for a hearing In new York tomorrow, is "jurisdictional"
and can't stop further moves (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES,
9/20). A league source told the WASHINGTON POST: "He could do a
deal tonight if he wanted." But Vikings President Roger Headrick
said any new deals would "make our case stronger." He predicts
Jones "will be in some sort of a holding pattern until it gets
better resolved what the courts can and cannot do." Jones
attorney Richard Cass: "We're not prohibited from entering into
new transactions" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/20).
AND NOW, A WORD FROM THE SPONSORS Headrick said NFL
sponsors are asking the league if the Cowboys will be involved in
future league deals (N.Y. TIMES, 9/20). In Washington, Michael
Wilbon reports that one NFL sponsor's representative said, "What
Jones has done has made Reebok, Coca-Cola and Visa look like a
bunch of chumps." Wilbon quotes a league official regarding
sponsors: "They want to know if we represent all 30 of the teams
or just 29 ... You can't operate a business like this"
(WASHINGTON POST, 9/20).
Athletes and Artists President Arthur Kaminsky: "Nike and Pepsi
are home free as I understand it, because the NFL's action does
not seek to overturn those deals." Kaminsky added they "love"
the publicity ("Moneyline," CNN, 9/19).
WHERE'S IT ALL HEADED? In Dallas, columnist Kevin
Blackistone predicts an out-of-court settlement: "The NFL
couldn't possibly want a court battle. ... The next thing it
would hear is someone tossing around words like antitrust and
monopoly, which are to sports leagues what kryptonite is to
Superman" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/20).
