21.   Auerbach is still smarting over the way the Celtics were treated by league officials when Reggie Lewis died.

22.   Because the league officials are frightened that the ratings have been going down.

23.   Before he works for an NBA team, league officials want him to sell the Continental Basketball Association, which Thomas bought last year.

24.   Before the game, Hart joked with reporters, players and league officials.

25.   Both Giants and league officials have said that one of the worst-kept secrets in the league is that DeBerg has struggled with alcohol problems for years.

26.   Blank is not going to give Wolf a stake in ownership, in part because league officials have expressed concern over the precedent it would set.

27.   A league official confirmed that.

28.   A league official said that Boston would be one of only three cities in the country with an NFL Pavilion, and the only one on the East Coast.

29.   A decision whether or not to lock out the officials could be made next week, a league official said.

30.   A league official confirmed that the commitment is contingent upon a new stadium being built.