BATTLE OVER RANDOM DRUG TESTING? In SI, Jackie
MacMullan reports that while NBA player reps say a "majority
of their peers are in favor of including marijuana in a new
drug policy, hammering out the specifics could take time."
The "biggest stumbling block" might not be the penalties,
but the "matter of random testing." MacMullan: "According
to sources who attended the union meeting during the All-
Star weekend, more than 70% of the players at the meeting
adamantly opposed random testing" (SI, 3/30 issue).
THE LIFE OF BRIAN (BURKE): In SI, Kostya Kennedy writes
that NHL VP/Hockey Operations Brian Burke is "expected" to
step down and take a post with one of the four NHL expansion
clubs. Burke, "who's frank and strong-willed, won't be
easily replaced." Kennedy mentions Sharks GM Dean Lombardi,
Isles GM/coach Mike Milbury, Oilers President Glen Sather
and former Canucks GM Pat Quinn as possible replacements
(SI, 3/30 issue)....But in St. Paul, Charley Walters writes
that Burke might decide against resigning after this season
and then consider the Wild's GM post likely to be filled
sometime in '99 (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/26).
INCREASE IN PGA TOUR PRIZE MONEY: The PGA Tour "has
ordered all of its tournaments" to increase their total
prize money to $3M by 2002, in "an effort to get the game's
top players to appear at more events in the U.S." Only two
of the Tour's 45 events have purses that big right now. But
PGA Tour VP/Tournament Business Affairs Ric Clarson said
that the move shouldn't "squeeze smaller tournaments that
have trouble convincing sponsors to spend more." Clarson:
"We've had very favorable response from a large number of
our sponsors. We have as much, if not more stability, than
other professional leagues" (AP/AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/26).
