NBA: NBC's Hannah Storm reported during halftime of
last night's NBA Finals Game Four that negotiations on a new
CBA "continued with a three-hour meeting [Tuesday] in New
York." Storm: "No word as to any progress in those
negotiations between owners and the players association, but
another meeting is tentatively scheduled for next week"
(NBC, 6/10)....In Akron, Chris Tomasson concludes his five-
part series on the state of the NBA by examining the CBA
negotiations. NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter: "The
representation that you hear about 15 or more teams losing
money is purely an attempt to mislead the public and to
garner public support by the NBA" (BEACON JOURNAL, 6/11).
...CBS CEO Michael Jordan, on the NBA: "Even though, at CBS,
we couldn't bid on the NBA because of our golf schedule ...
I think the whole sport and the league will lose something
when [Michael Jordan] steps out because he's such a positive
image and such a class guy" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/11).
MLB: MLB owners unanimously approved the sale of the
Rangers to Tom Hicks yesterday at their meetings in Seattle
(MLB)....In Denver, Tracy Ringolsby writes that Acting
Commissioner Bud Selig's "denials" that he will take the
position permanently "have become shallow." Ringolsby: "The
movement to draft Selig to stay on a permanent basis is
growing -- and it's become a virtual lock, according to word
out of Seattle" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 6/11).
NOTES: The Phantoms won the AHL Calder Cup last night
before a sellout of 17,380 at the Corestates Spectrum, the
largest postseason attendance in league history
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/11). For final AHL attendance,
see (#30)....SPEEDNET's Bill Koenig writes that the "graying
CART needs easily recognizable competitors to expand its fan
base." Noting Alex Zanardi and Jimmy Vasser's recent deal
which will have them appear on limited edition Wheaties
boxes, Koenig writes that there "are signs that some CART
drivers are starting to develop an image beyond racing fans"
(SPEEDNET, 6/11)....In Indy, Robin Miller called CART's
Detroit Grand Prix "Monotony in Motown," and wrote that
"with all the new venues available, it's embarrassing to
have this big-time series at this dung patch. ... There
aren't enough people (maybe 45,000) to merit staying"
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 6/10).
