MLS: MLS Dir of Communications Dan Courtemanche said
that Cincinnati is in line for an expansion franchise,
"possibly as early as" 2000 or 2001. If a team is granted,
it would play at the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium currently
under construction. Charlotte, Atlanta, San Diego, Houston,
Philadelphia and Seattle or Portland are also under
consideration (CINCINNATI POST, 4/29).
THE FUTURE OF DH: ESPN's Tim Kurkjian examined the
future of MLB's DH and said, "Any change in the DH will have
to go through the players association and be done at the
bargaining table. And that will be a long, arduous
process." Cubs President & CEO Andy MacPhail: "It's one
issue that will not be resolved to everybody's satisfaction,
you can guarantee that, because people are passionate on
both sides of the issue." Acting MLB Commissioner Bud
Selig: "If the American League clubs want to keep it, then
they ought to keep it. ... It's going to take some type of
crisis, some powerful moment -- maybe more realignment --
something else that the American League clubs like where the
DH becomes an issue. If not, it's no issue" (ESPN, 4/29).
PERFECT SPOT FOR WINTER MEETINGS: The NAPBL announced
that Anaheim, CA, has been selected as the site of the '99
Baseball Winter Meetings. The convention will be co-hosted
by the NAPBL and the Angels from December 10-14 (NAPBL).
CORRECTION: Tuesday's attendance numbers for the Mighty
Ducks and Canucks in THE DAILY's chart comparing NHL team
attendance before and after the league's midseason break for
the Nagano Winter Games should have read as follows:
PRE-NAGANO POST-NAGANO +/-
TEAM DATES AVG. %CAP DATES AVG. %CAP %
ANA 29 17,027 99% 11 17,174 100% + 1%
VAN 27 17,221 93% 13 16,906 91% - 2%