UMPIRES: In N.Y., Murray Chass reports that the Major
League Umpires Independent Organizing Committee filed two
petitions with the NLRB office in N.Y. seeking certification
as the bargaining rep for all of the umpires and the
decertification of the MLBUA. If an election of membership
is held, it must be scheduled no later than December 1. One
name mentioned as a possible union leader includes Baltimore
labor attorney Joel Smith, while umps have reached out to
former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent (N.Y. TIMES, 10/13).
NASCAR: NASCAR released its 2000 Winston Cup schedule
yesterday, and in Charlotte, David Poole writes that "there
were no surprises," as next year's schedule "features the
same number of races, 34, at the same 21 tracks featured
this year." Despite "persistent lobbying" from Speedway
Motorsports Inc. Chair Bruton Smith for one more race, TX
Motor Speedway will have only one Winston Cup date in April
(CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/13). Meanwhile, Smith "still hasn't
given up on acquiring" NC Motor Speedway in Rockingham. In
legal action "debating Roger Penske's buyout of the track
two years ago, Smith is seeking information" from NASCAR and
Int'l Speedway Corp., through "a subpoena that [ISC CEO
Bill] France's lawyers are hoping to quash." In Winston-
Salem, Mike Mulhern wrote, "It is not so much the track
itself ... that is the object of such concern, but the
track's two Winston Cup dates" (W-S JOURNAL, 10/12).
OTHER NOTES: NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol said that a
decision regarding the future of the proposed NBC/Turner pro
football league will be made no later than Thanksgiving, but
the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Langdon Brockinton cites
sources as saying "the proposed league's future looks bleak"
(SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/11 issue)....CBA Owner Isiah
Thomas will tour the league's nine markets and meet with
team personnel, potential corporate sponsors and the media.
Thomas' first stop was Ft. Wayne, IN, yesterday. He will be
in Grand Rapids, MI, today (CBA).
