In Chicago, George Lazarus reports that the city could
host back-to-back '99 WTA and Nuveen Tour tennis events.
The WTA Tour has dropped its '98 Chicago stop, but IMG
Senior VP Gary Swain has asked the Tour to "secure a summer
date, preferably in July or August, beginning in 1999," and
hold a senior Nuveen Tour event the week after. The event
would be held downtown, with the city putting up grandstand
seating holding 4,000 to 5,000 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/1).
NFL: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick reports the NFL won a cease
and desist agreement from NY-based handicapper Stu Feiner
over an ad campaign in which Feiner claimed that former NFL
coach Bum Phillips would offer inside gambling information
that he received from his son Wade, then an NFL assistant
coach with the Bills. Feiner must pay a $50,000 settlement
fee to the NFL and take out ads in 30 publications saying he
never had any inside information from former or current NFL
personnel (N.Y. POST, 5/1)....Despite being the defending
champion, Ravens QB Vinny Testaverde will not participate in
the Foot Locker NFL QB Challenge this weekend in FL. He
will be replaced by new Ravens QB Jim Harbaugh.
Testaverde's agent, Michael Azzarelli, said that CBS, which
will air the event in August, made the decision on
Testaverde because "his future is in doubt." But NFLP Dir
of Corporate Communications Chris Widmaier said that
Harbaugh "is projected as the starter and we only take the
starting quarterback" (Baltimore SUN, 5/1).
OTHER NOTES: In Canada, Reform Party Leader Preston
Manning has called for "tax cuts" for NHL teams (CALGARY
SUN, 5/1)....The Women's Pro Fastpitch softball league
unveiled a new logo, opting for a "bolder, cleaner" look
though keeping its red and blue color schemes. The CO-based
league will begin its second season on May 29 with games in
Hampton, VA, Tampa Bay, FL, and Charlotte, NC. The league
will play a 66-game season in six cities (WPF).
