NAMES IN THE NEWS

          At the Australian Open, SERENA and VENUS WILLIAMS
     yesterday each challenged KARSTEN BRAASCH, ranked No. 203 on
     the men's ATP Tour, to a set, and each lost.  Serena fell 6-
     1, while Venus lost 6-2 (Mult., 1/28)....RUDY MARTZKE is
     profiled by John Keim in SPORT.  Keim: "Network execs and
     broadcasters gulp down his information, though some find it
     hard to digest."  Fox Sports VP/Media Relations VINCE
     WLADIKA: "He can make people's day, or put people in a bad
     mood" (SPORT, 3/98)....CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS' list of 40
     RISING STARS UNDER FORTY, included NFLP Senior VP/Business
     Affairs & Legal Counsel GARY GERTZOG (CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS,
     1/26)....Packers QB BRETT FAVRE was a guest on the "Tonight
     Show" last night.  Favre, asked if Broncos QB JOHN ELWAY's
     age, 37, is old for football: "It's like dog years, you
     know?  Football and 37 is old.  It really is" (NBC, 1/27).