LEAGUE NOTES

          USA TODAY lists individual players salaries for each
     AFC team and its computerized analysis of NFL salary data
     shows that 333 players earned $1M or more on a league-wide
     payout in salaries and prorated bonuses of about $1.1B. 
     That number is down from 344 in '96.  Starting players
     averaged about $1.07M in average salary, while backups
     earned an average of $325,000.  USA TODAY will list NFC
     player salaries tomorrow (USA TODAY, 6/23).
          A WILD KINGDOM: The emergence of NASCAR as a major
     player on the sports landscape is examined by Peter De Jonge
     of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.  De Jonge: "Nationally televised and
     backed by name-brand corporations, Winston Cup competitions
     have transformed the pastime and its moonshiner's roots into
     one of the richest, fastest growing sports" (NG, 6/98).