MLB: In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports that Edison Int'l
officials have talked "recently with" reps of prospective
Angels Owners Henry Nicholas III and Henry Samueli about the
company's naming rights deal in Anaheim. The talks have
been described as "strictly introductory." If the Angels
are sold, Edison "retains the right to cancel or renegotiate
the sponsorship agreement, but corporate officials have
expressed their satisfaction with the deal" (L.A. TIMES,
9/23)....In Detroit, Dan Shine reports that one Tigers fan
sold his $8 upper-deck reserved seats for Monday's final
game at Tiger Stadium for $125 each (DETROIT FREE PRESS,
9/23). Also in Detroit, Drew Sharp, on Monday's finale:
"Nothing would be more displeasing than experiencing
unruliness from the crowd at Monday's finale. Please,
exercise some restraint." ABC's "Nightline" plans to
broadcast Monday from Tiger Stadium (DETROIT FREE PRESS,
9/23)....In Milwaukee, Don Walker reports that Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries of America, which "holds the contract to
build" the retractable roof at Miller Park, "has decided on"
a new crane company "to finish the job." The company is in
"final discussions" with Dutch firm Van Seumeren Holland BV
(MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/23)....In Atlanta, Rick Badie
reports that construction on the Falcons' proposed $15M
practice facility and corporate offices in Flowery Branch
will begin within 40 days. The "targeted completion date" is
January 2001. It is "not clear whether the facility will
host" preseason training camp (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/23).
TURF TALK: ESPN's "SportsCenter" Cover Story focused on
artificial turf possibly leading to season-ending injuries
in the NFL. NFL Senior VP/Football Operations George Young:
"My issue is, when you tell me that because one player gets
hurt, therefore that means that the rug caused it. And I
say ... when a guy gets hurt on grass you don't say that the
grass caused it." Young added that the league has
scientific research that "proves [artificial] turf is not
more dangerous than natural grass." But NFLPA Regional Dir
Clark Gaines said, "George knows exactly what the flaws are
in that study. But it's the only study out there and it's
the only one the league will allow out there because they
control the data and all the injury information that will
allow studies to be done" (ESPN, 9/22).
