SOX/METS TARGET ENDORSEMENTS: In Boston, Peter Gammons
reported that the MLBPA is "on the warpath against the Red
Sox and Mets over letters those clubs sent out last week
informing players that they must get those clubs' permission
for any endorsement or appearances deals." In an earlier
agreement, the union and the league's Players' Relations
Committee had come to the understanding that while technical
language exists, the "practice has been that players don't
need that permission." But the Red Sox and Mets "have
decided they are not going along with the agreement and will
have to deal with the union" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/27).
WNBA ACTION, IT'S...: The WNBA is profiled by Frank
Isola of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS, who writes that New Yorkers
"by the droves are choosing Sue Wicks in the Paint over
Shakespeare in the Park, as the WNBA in its second-season
takes hold as one of the city's hottest attractions." The
Liberty are averaging 14,000 per game, second in the league.
In a sidebar, Meredith Nelson writes that Liberty games
"have become part of the social scene of New York's lesbians
-- a place to meet, be seen, hang out, take the kids and
celebrate women power" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/27). In DC,
Jennifer Frey wrote on the popularity of the WNBA's Mystics,
currently leading the league in attendance averaging 16,004
per game. Frey: "At a time when most leagues -- with the
exception of Major League Baseball -- have stopped caring
about whether kids can afford to attend their sporting
events, the WNBA has nurtured the bond between athletes and
the girls (and, yes, boys) who see the players as heroes and
role models" (Jennifer Frey, WASHINGTON POST, 7/26).
