NAMES IN THE NEWS

          "First Time," part of the "Nickelodeon Sports Theater
     With SHAQUILLE O'NEAL" series, will air Saturday at 9:00pm
     ET/PT.  The program is narrated by O'Neal, who is also one
     of the co-producers.  The First Time episode is produced by
     MICHAEL TOLLIN & BRIAN ROBBINS, who produce HBO's "Arli$$"
     (Nickelodeon).  In L.A., Larry Stewart: "Need a lift?  This
     one-hour dramatic special should do it" (L.A. TIMES, 10/9).
     ...John Feinstein, on DEAN SMITH: "Dean Smith could have
     made a lot more money than he did, but he turned down
     endorsement opportunities. ... He was always outspoken on
     behalf of the players, and that's gotten lost a little bit
     in this rush for all these coaches to have their fancy suits
     and their endorsement contracts the last few years"
     ("Newshour With Jim Lehrer," PBS, 10/9)....The body of DON
     LEVENTHAL, who wrote the NBA Draft Report and contributed to
     ESPN SportsZone, was found Thursday in Philadelphia, after
     an apparent suicide (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/10).