Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991 TAG: 9102220309
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
In wide-ranging interviews with ESPN's Bob Ley, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue also said he did not expect to fine New England Patriots owner Victor Kiam for an off-color joke he told about reporter Lisa Olson.
" . . . You cannot ensure that every owner tells every joke in good taste or that his other personal habits are in good taste or bad taste," Tagliabue said. "There is a limit to what you can do with sanctions."
ESPN taped the interviews with Tagliabue, NBA commissioner David Stern and baseball commissioner Fay Vincent on Tuesday as part of its "Outside The Lines" program.
The NFL has clauses in its contracts with the networks and ESPN and TBS to allow for experimentation with pay-per-view.
"We're still looking at it," Tagliabue said. "I don't think that we are that much closer except for in terms of exploring concepts. I don't think you'll see it in the 1991 season. Perhaps we will experiment in the last two years of four-year current contract, 1992 and 1993."
Stern sounded a warning, though, that if improperly implemented, the pay-per-view system could collapse under the weight of too much sports.
"I would say in the next couple of years," Stern said. "But, the most important thing is not to simply go out and grab more revenue to feed a system that is out of control. You've got to first make sure it's a fair system in place for both owners and players, then the revenue that comes into it will grow ... for both the players and owners."
On the subject of Kiam, Tagliabue was asked if he would punish the Patriots owner and, if he did, would he make it public.
"I don't think I will do anything in the way of a fine," Tagliabue said. "I've spoken to Victor, and I've spoken to Sam Jankovich about it." Jankovich is the Patriots' new general manager.
"... I think probably Victor has to either deal with this himself or someone else will have to do it, but it's not going to be a sports league commissioner."
Kiam apologized to Olson on Feb. 7, three days after he told a joke about Olson, a reporter for the Boston Herald who was sexually harassed by players in the locker room last season.
Three players were fined and Kiam and Patrick Sullivan, who resigned as general manager of the Patriots a month ago, were reprimanded after the lockerroom incident.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL FOOTBALL
by CNB