MLS: MLS begins its third season Sunday, and in
Philadelphia, Roger Allaway writes, "This is a very
different-looking MLS from the one fans saw in its first two
seasons. ... The main changes are the addition of two
expansion teams, Miami and Chicago, and personnel shifts
caused by a series of trades involving some of the league's
biggest names." Allaway: "Significantly, MLS has not lost
any of its original teams. By the start of the [NASL's]
third season, in 1970, 13 of that league's original 17 had
folded" (PHILA. INQUIRER, 3/13). In L.A., Grahame Jones
previews MLS '98 and writes of the league's move to continue
its season while the World Cup takes place from June 10
through July 12: "MLS leaders have decided to sling a hook
onto the France '98 bandwagon and see where it carries them.
Even if it is to oblivion" (L.A. TIMES, 3/13).
ABL: In L.A., Earl Gustkey wrote that sources said Rage
G Dawn Staley is "close to re-signing with the ABL." In
other news, Columbus Quest F Andrea Lloyd is retiring after
the ABL finals to become an agent (L.A. TIMES, 3/12). Game
Three of the ABL finals was shown on a taped-delay basis in
the Columbus area despite Fox Sports Ohio's "promise to the
ABL that central Ohio would see the game live." The Cavs'
NBA game aired instead. ABL CEO Gary Cavalli: "Both Fox and
the ABL are working to make it better. ... Part of the
problem is our playoff dates and the conflicts it creates
with their pre-existing contract" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 3/12).
CART: Sunday's Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami marks the
season-opener for CART, and USA TODAY's Liz Clarke writes of
the marketing challenges facing the racing series in its
20th anniversary season: "Boost TV ratings through livelier
broadcasts and keep fans wanting more" (USA TODAY, 3/13).
GOLF: SI's "Golf Plus" examines the plans of Joe
Collet, the "frontman" for the fledgling International
Professional Golfers' Association (IPGA). Collet has
announced a new tour that "would piggyback" on 15
established events, and players "who do well in those
tournaments and sign a confidential membership agreement can
tap into a bonus pool and get invited to a lucrative
postseason" All-Star Game. Asked why players should join
his tour, Collet said: "Because the climate is right. Other
sports have players' associations. Golf needs one, too."
Collet wants a tour run by players, "not suit-coated men
around a table." But "Golf Plus" adds that "there remains a
good deal of confusion about the IPGA" (SI, 3/16 issue).
NBA'S CANADIAN TAX DILEMMA: ESPN's David Aldridge
reported that the NBA "hopes that educating both players and
agents will help dispel the impression that playing in
Canada makes for a prohibitively high tax burden." But NBA
Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik told Aldridge that "there
are no plans to create a fund similar to one used by the
[NHL] to supplement low income, smaller market Canadian
teams" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/12).
