ESPN EARNS RECORD MLB RATING FOR ITS LABOR ON MONDAY'S GAME

          ESPN drew its highest MLB rating ever Monday, earning a
     9.5 for Cubs-Cards, featuring McGwire's No. 61.  The rating
     is the equivalent of 7.1 million homes, and tops ESPN's
     previous high, Cal Ripken's consecutive game record-breaker
     in September '95, which drew a 7.5.  Monday's game was also
     ESPN's highest afternoon rating ever, topping the 6.6 for
     the '89 Gator Bowl (ESPN).  For more on ESPN, see (#8). 
          PAUL SAYS NO TO ESPN: Twins DH Paul Molitor declined
     ESPN's offer to serve as an ESPN analyst during the first
     round of MLB's playoff coverage (Mult., 9/10).
          MCGWIRE MEDIA NOTES: SI has reprinted its 9/14 issue
     with a new cover and content reading "62! ... September 8,
     1998."  Over 500,000 copies will appear on newsstands this
     afternoon (SI)....Time magazine will publish a commemorative
     McGwire issue, which hits newsstands Monday ("Extra," 9/9).
     ...ESPN.com, which had three writers on-site in St. Louis,
     had its front-page reading "Gone! McGwire hits 62nd"
     published just as McGwire touched third base (THE DAILY).