Last week's MLS Players' Association's antitrust
lawsuit is examined by Mark Zeigler in the SAN DIEGO UNION-
TRIBUNE, who writes "many of the points they make are valid
issues that probably should be examined in light of the
antitrust statutes this nation holds so dear. Just not now"
(SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/19). In Dallas, the MORNING
NEWS' Kevin Blackistone, noting MLS' TV contracts and All-
Star Game, writes there was "only one stone MLS left alone
in making sure it wouldn't be confused with minor league
sports ... That rock was turned over last week, and look
what crawled out from underneath: a labor-management
dispute." MLS Commissioner Doug Logan said he bumped into
NBA Commissioner David Stern last weekend and Stern told him
"You've finally arrived" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/19).
NATIONAL FRONT: The U.S. women's soccer team has
reached a three-year deal with U.S. Soccer to pay its
players for all national team games. The deal will pay
unspecified salaries to players, who will be divided into
three categories, depending on years of service and
international appearances for the national team. The pact,
which runs through the U.S.-hosted '99 FIFA World Cup, was
handled on the players side by representative Ellen Zavian
(Jerry Langdon, USA TODAY, 2/20).
