In Baltimore, John Steadman wrote that "no owner of a
Baltimore sports franchise, going back over 100 years, has
ever done for his city" what Orioles Owner PETER ANGELOS
"continues to contribute. It's a scenario that can't be
challenged or refuted" (Baltimore SUN, 3/26)....Lakers C
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, on the reported engagement of ANNA
KOURNIKOVA and NHL Panthers RW PAVEL BURE: "Once she gets a
look at me, she won't want to marry that hockey guy" (ROCKY
MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/26)....NBC's David Bloom interviewed the
WNBA's NIKKI MCCRAY, LISA LESLIE and RUTHIE BOLTON-
HOLIFIELD. Leslie, on participating in the 2000 Summer
Games: "This is the first time that we're going to have
players from the WNBA actually playing in the Olympics and
we're looking forward to it." McCray: "Our fan support has
been great. ... Fans all across America are really watching
us and we're really excited. Our league would not be in
existence if it wasn't for our fans" ("Today Show," NBC,
3/26). Meanwhile, the USA Basketball Women's Senior team
will visit the NBA Store in N.Y. today as part of this
week's NBA Global Week celebration (NBA)....Philadelphia
resident LOUIS VITAGLIANO, who pushed the Orioles' "Bird"
mascot, JOHN KROWNAPPLE, over an outfield wall during a game
last year resulting in Krownapple breaking his ankle, has
been ordered by a Baltimore Circuit Court Judge to pay
Krownapple nearly $60,000 (AP, 3/25)...."ONE DAY IN
SEPTEMBER," a documentary on the death of 11 Israeli
athletes during the Munich '72 Olympics, won the Oscar for
"Best Documentary." The film, which has "never been seen in
theaters," will be distributed in May (REUTERS, 3/26).
