CANADIAN PRO TEAMS SHUT OUT OF GOV'T FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

          Canada's professional sports franchises "will get no
     relief in next week's federal budget," despite previous
     recommendations from Parliament Member Dennis Mills'
     subcommittee studying sport in Canada, according to Michael
     Grange of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL.  In early December,
     Mills subcommittee hoped to get some of its "69
     recommendations" into the federal budget.  But Mills said
     that the "public appetite to do something" to assist teams
     "just isn't there."  Mills: "I stand by our recommendation
     that small-market teams have to be viewed as part of the
     national economic and social fabric.  Just because the door
     doesn't open the first time you knock doesn't mean you give
     up" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/11).