In L.A., Ross Newhan wrote that the Reds may be fined
$250,000 for minor league director Donnie Scott's "faux pas
in asking the banned Pete Rose" to speak to a group of minor
leaguers last Wednesday (L.A. TIMES, 3/15)....Don Smiley
said Saturday that his investors group "is close to
completing a deal to purchase the Marlins." In Ft.
Lauderdale, David O'Brien wrote that Smiley also "made his
boldest statement yet concerning the team's future in South
Florida." Smiley: "We will get a baseball park built."
Smiley also said that the Marlins know they will have to pay
part of the construction costs and "are willing to do so"
(SUN-SENTINEL, 3/15)....The Jazz are working on the design
for a third uniform to be used occasionally on the road next
season. The uniforms will be black with copper panels on
the sides with the mountaintop logo on front (SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE, 3/16)....In St. Paul, Tom Powers reports that "Tom
Clancy's people are confident they will get the nod from NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue this week," in the ownership
dispute between Clancy and Vikings President Roger Headrick
(PIONEER PRESS, 3/16)....Several first-time season ticket
customers said the Tigers' Pick-a-Seat Saturday at Tiger
Stadium, which let prospective buyers check out different
vantage points in the ballpark, "went a long way in
clinching a deal" to buy tickets (DETROIT NEWS, 3/15).
ATTENDANCE: The Hawks have sold over 52,000 tickets for
their March 27 game versus the Bulls at the Georgia Dome.
The Hawks are considering an increased sale that could boost
the crowd beyond the NBA record of 61,983 set at the Pontiac
Silverdome (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/15)....The Bulls and
Spurs played "before a record crowd of 37,492" at the
Alamodome on Saturday (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/15).
