NEW EIGHT-TEAM FOOTBALL LEAGUE TO KICK OFF IN '99

          After being "put on hold" for a year, the Regional
     Football League "now expects to kick off its inaugural
     season" in the spring of '99 with Houston a member of the
     eight-team league, according to Richard Dean of the HOUSTON
     CHRONICLE.  Houston franchise CEO Jeff Crowder: "It's a go. 
     We had an owners meeting last week in Boston and everything
     went well.  Everything's paid for."  Local business exec
     Mike Tolds will be principal owner of the team, and although
     investors "are still needed," the team's franchise fee "has
     been paid."  The team "hopes to play" its games at Rice
     Stadium.  RFL Commissioner Gus Bell will be among league
     reps in Houston on Thursday for a news conference to
     officially announce the formation of the league, whose
     planned spring '98 debut "was pushed back because of
     financial considerations."  The RFL is "expected to announce
     a 16-game schedule to begin in April."  Each team's salary
     cap will be $1.5M, with the minimum salary for players set
     at $35,000 (Richard Dean, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/10).