Hockey East Dir of PR Ed Saunders, who has been trying
to form the Women's Pro Hockey League in the Northeast and
Canada, "now says he may only [be] able to field a
barnstorming roster of Olympians to play against NCAA teams
this year," according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK.
Saunders: "That would hopefully allow us to showcase the
product and the level of competition for fans and sponsors."
Lefton lists Visa, Columbo Yogurt and Lifetime as "likely
prospects" to sponsor the proposed league (BRANDWEEK, 5/25).
BRINGING THE SIZZLE TO WOMEN'S TENNIS: In Philadelphia,
Diane Pucin wrote, "Tennis is sizzling again. Tennis has
buzz again." Pucin cited Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova
and Venus and Serena Williams, and wrote, "It is being
propelled by a quartet of athletic, charismatic, confident,
mouthy teenagers who have been raised to believe they are
the best, who aren't afraid to say so, and who can flat-out
back up their big talk" (PHILA. INQUIRER, 5/24). In L.A.,
Lisa Dillman profiles the Williams sisters, and writes that
while "[i]t's not Tiger-mania," they are "the most
intriguing forces in a strong cast of teenage characters
jockeying for position on the court" (L.A. TIMES, 5/28).
BATTER UP: The Women's Pro Fastpitch league begins its
second season Friday, with AT&T Wireless Services returning
as the league's title sponsor and Olympic softball gold
medalist Dot Richardson serving as WPF spokesperson (WPF).
In AZ, Jeff Metcalfe wrote that a Western Conference of WPF
"remains at least two years away, but the softball league
begins it second season Friday with reasonable hope of
surviving long enough to expand" (AZ REPUBLIC, 5/27). USA
TODAY's Al Young previews the league and reports that it has
an eight-game tape-delay TV schedule on ESPN2. But "perhaps
its biggest coup" was hiring former UCLA coach Sharron
Backus. Rayla Allison, WPF VP & League Dir: "With Sharron,
we've stepped up the level of professionalism and improved
our marketability. Her name will be a big drawing card for
fans, players and coaches" (USA TODAY, 5/28).
