The AL announced it will not pursue the latest matter
involving Indians' OF Albert Belle -- in which he allegedly
cursed out a Ranger fan and would not trade an autographed ball
for the homerun ball Belle's wanted ("SportsCenter," ESPN,
5/30)....L.A. TIMES columnist Jim Murray on Michael Jordan's
return "saving" basketball. Murray: "The people smiled ... They
knew Michael would save them. And they bought his shoes, and
drank his pop and made him rich beyond the imaginings of any king
in history. And they didn't care. He had, after all, saved their
beloved game from being Shackled" (L.A. TIMES, 5/31)....In
Chicago, Jay Mariotti writes on the "credibility" question
concerning NBA refs, adding "no other sport has problems of this
nature. ... The NBA should haul refs into seminars, throw away
the key until they're all on the same page" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
5/31).. ..HOUSTON CHRONICLE columnist Ed Fowler calls NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue "senor smoke" for offering Houston a
team (likely an existing team), if they can build a new stadium
while last week Tagliabue put a gag order on any talk of teams
moving to an open market (i.e. Houston). Fowler: "Whatever his
motives, he's running around the country like a character out of
a John Le Carre novel -- or perhaps a boxing promoter. ...
Wouldn't you love to be able to put this guy under oath" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 5/31).
