21.   The league is beginning to take notice.

22.   The league officially began the policy last August but did not have a chance to brief the clubs about it.

23.   The league began intensive study of concussions and their effects after repeated concussions ended the careers of Jets receiver Al Toon and Bears running back Merril Hoge.

24.   The league began opening its foreign offices the next year.

25.   The NBA-owned league will begin in June with teams in New York, Charlotte, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento and Utah.

26.   The two leagues begin their divisional playoff series with two distinctly different scenarios.

27.   They said they would continue to do so until the league began testing for it.

28.   Three years ago, when the league began, the league had all the attention.

29.   But as the league begins its annual meeting Monday, few executives know what to do about it.

30.   Most European and South American leagues already had begun their season when the new interpretation of the rule was announced.