With an experiment in interleague play in '97 awaiting the
players' expected approval, MLB's owners "plan to spend the next
few months trying to figure out when they will be able to put a
revenue-sharing plan into effect," according to the WASHINGTON
POST. Revenue-sharing is expected to be the top issue at the
March owners' meetings in Phoenix. Phillies President Bill Giles
said a plan could be in place by '96, but added, "You cannot do
it without discussions with the union" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON
POST, 1/28).
KANTARIAN IN LIMBO? AD AGE's Jeff Jensen reports MLB is
restructuring its business unit, MLB Properties, and "giving it a
new name; the leading candidate is Baseball Enterprises." But
negotiations with Radio City Music VP Arlen Kantarian to take
over as MLB's marketing head "have hit a snag" as MLB owners
failed to ratify his contract at recent winter meetings. A
league spokesperson "insists" Kantarian's hiring "wasn't even
addressed at the meeting," and neither acting Commissioner Bud
Selig or Kantarian could be reached for comment (AD AGE, 1/29).
