NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE EXPERIENCING LABOR PAINS AT BIRTH

          The National Lacrosse League "could be over before it
     begins if players fail this weekend to ratify a tentative
     contract with team owners," according to Edward Moran of the
     PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS.  Moran: "What union and owner
     representatives believed would be an easy approval vote on a
     deal hammered out two weeks ago turned difficult when the
     Boston Blazers' owners said they would fold rather than
     operate under the new contract."  The new system would
     increase average salaries from $400 last year per game to
     between $500 and $1,100 this season.  The league is set to
     begin January 3, and league spokesperson Bruce Wawrzyniak
     said yesterday that the league is "exploring potential new
     owners to take over operation of the Blazers."  But
     Philadelphia Wings Owner Russ Cline said a Boston franchise
     is "out" and added if the contract is not ratified, the
     league will not operate this season (DAILY NEWS, 11/14).