European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Baseball owners Eye eight team playoffs by Ronald Blum Phoenix apr baseball owners no closer to hiring a commissioner arc considering doubling the teams in the playoffs to eight a although change May have to wait until 1995. John Harrington of the Boston red sox chairman of the sch Dulc format committee said Early results of a fan Survey showed support for doubling the size of the playoffs by adding a third tier. Owners still seemed stuck Ort defining the duties of the commissioner whose office has been vacant since Fay Vincent s forced resignation on sept. 7. But they seemed to be taking tentative Steps to the most fundamental change in the came since 1969. A there s a lot of Strong feelings in the game to make some changes Quot Harrington said. Milwaukee Brewers president Bud Schlig chairman of the ruling executive Council said last month that a Survey of. About 2,000 people showed More support for change among younger fans and less support among those who attended games More frequently. A second group of surveys was sent to about 11,000 season ticket holders and Harrington said those results arc still being tabla cd. Because schedules must be provided to the major league baseball players association by july 1, Harrington said it was becoming harder to make postseason changes Tor 1994. A a it a still possible but the window is closing a he said. A a it a More Likely �?T95.&Quot the Survey also asked questions about three divisions in each league int Erica gue play and the designated hitter. Harrington said there May be a need for additional surveys and that any changes were Likely to be gradual. A i done to see us making a series of changes All at once Quot he said. A it will be a progression of  Eddie Einhorn of the Chicago White sox another advocate of change said owners understood they needed to negotiate changes with the Union. A fall we can do is discuss it and approve it from our standpoint a he said. George w. Bush of the Texas rangers indicated there might be some owners against change. So far that group has been silent. A a in a a traditionalist Quot he said. Einhorn a member of the television committee said it was unlikely that starting times for postseason night games would be earlier this season. World series games were criticized last fall for their 8 35 . Edt starts precipitating late endings. A they have �?~60  they have commitments that we be contemplated the stars and stripes february 18,1993 a Page 32 when they made the Deal Quot Einhorn said of lbs. A in a new Deal we would like to work that into  lbs sports president Neal Pilson has said however that he would consider earlier Start times if baseball allowed the network to reduce its rights payments. Members of the restructuring committee and executive Council met tuesday and were set to give an update to All owners during wednesday s major league meeting. Although the committee was told to redefine the commissioners Job by nov. 1, it has been unable to come up with a final report and some officials say there is a split. Money May push i a into football playoffs by Rick Warner Kansas City to. A although most coaches and College presidents remain opposed to a division i a football playoff Mcaa executive director Dick Schultz thinks there will be one by the end of the decade. Schultz said tuesday that economic pressures will Force schools to seriously consider a playoff which could generate $60 million to help financially strapped athletic departments. A there Are a lot of things outside the control of coaches and presidents and athletic directors that might take place that could have some Impact on what happens in the late �?T90s,&Quot Schultz told the Mcaa College football forum. At convention Schultz consider a one game playoff As a Maior source of new Revenue. While he concedes there Hasni to been much support for his proposal Schultz thinks that will change As More and More schools struggle to fund their athletic programs. A we could do a lot with $60 million a he said. Most coaches Are against a playoff because they believe it would destroy the bowl system. But Schultz pointed out that the bowls Are already being Hurt by the a Fly a extended season which has led to a glut of games on new years Day and hard times or late december bowls that must compete with the pros. A most of those non new years games have gone to syndication or Cable a Schultz said. A and the postseason bowl committee which had a plan to continue Schultz last months Mcaa used members to to raise the payouts has had to hold the line for the last couple of years or we would have lost a couple of  while division i a football and basketball programs generally make Money almost All other sports arc in the red. And the financial Strain could get even worse As the Mcaa tries to achieve a gender equity by increasing opportunities for female athletes. Football coaches arc worried that cuts May have to be made in their sport in order to fund women a teams. But Schultz said the goal is to increase opportunities for women without reducing them for men. A perhaps there does have to be some paring of programs but i done to think anybody wants to do anything that a going to damage football or damage basketball or damage menus sports a he said. Instead Schultz said College officials should consider adding new women a sports such As figure skating. A a it a a Beautiful sport with tremendous interest in the olympics a he said. A maybe we have to take a look at some of these programs. Maybe we re not searching in the right areas to determine what the interests and abilities of women  and How will schools pay Tor new or expanded women a programs in addition to a football playoff Schultz has suggested the creation of an Mcaa licensing division similar to those in the Aba nil and major league baseball. Schultz said collegiate licensing generated $60 million last year but Only $10 million went to universities and $2 Mil Ion to the companies that handled the licensing. The rest he said went to makers of counterfeit and pirated products. A it has unbelievable potential if handled right a Schultz  have to con a eyes done to have it ,, ic�?~0k Quot can Ca Quot a skulk and bucket Charles Macon both appear i. Have lost he Bat a a a . Tic for a rebound in tuesday nights game which Iowa won 6s-s4see so Story on Page 30