ABL'S SPIN-MOVE: TALK OF ITS DEMISE IS PREMATURE

          ABL CEO Gary Cavalli characterized the folding of the
     Long Beach StingRays "as part of the league's effort to
     streamline and to improve profitability," but many observers
     wonder whether the ABL "can survive beyond next season,
     especially in light [of] the WNBA's successful summer
     operation," according to Mel Greenberg of the PHILADELPHIA
     INQUIRER.  Evan Korth, a VP at Bruce Levy Associates Int'l:
     "The media can bury the league.  On the other hand, the
     league eliminated its two worst-performing cities and moved
     to better markets, which might improve their financial
     picture" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/28).  In Orlando, Shannon
     Rose reports that the StingRays' folding "might be an
     indication of the shakiness of the ABL," or "it could be
     chalked up to just poor judgement by the ABL on choosing a
     bad market" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/28).