11.   Barely a decade ago, only established stars were signed by European clubs, usually for huge transfer fees.

12.   Cleveland has all its stars signed for next year, and holds an option on outfielder Manny Ramirez.

13.   Cragnotti invested dozens of millions of dollars in the last few years to sign several stars, including Paul Gascoigne, Alen Boksic, Pierluigi Casiraghi and Aron Winter.

14.   Economic difficulties facing Canadian-based teams that pay salaries in U.S. dollars but receive revenue in weaker Canadian dollars hinder the ability to sign top stars.

15.   Italian first-division Bologna is attempting to sign Japanese stars Hidetoshi Nakata and Shinji Ono for the next season, club vice-president Tommaso Gazzoni Frascara said Friday.

16.   Italian first-division Bologna is in talks for signing Japanese stars Hidetoshi Nakata and Shinji Ono for the next season, club vice-president Tommaso Gazzoni Frascara said Friday.

17.   Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, who negotiated the deal with Liverpool chairman Rick Parry, said it was clear Leeds had signed a star.

18.   Lazio of Rome did not sign new stars, but kept the team competitive by refusing rich bids for strikers Giuseppe Signori and Alen Boksic and midfielder Aron Winter.

19.   Signing basketball star Scottie Pippen seems to have worked for the Demio.

20.   The former Brigham Young star was signed by the Jazz on Friday and had played in one National Basketball Association game.