1.   About the only time he bristled Wednesday was when someone asked him if he had changed his stance about players sitting on helmets.

2.   But the pitcher has demonstrated his resolve already by maintaining a consistent public stance about coming to the Yankees.

3.   If Republicans stick too long with Gingrich, they compromise their ability to take a highly indignant and judgmental stance about ethics problems emanating from the Clinton White House.

4.   It would be easy to lapse into a defensive stance about this whole thing.

5.   That is why I want the prime minister to take a cautious stance about his planned visit.

6.   That has caused manager Johnny Oates to do an about-face on his stance about national exposure for his team.

7.   The alliance has also toughened its stance about what sort of peace settlement it will seek in the region.

8.   McGwire has softened his hard-line stance about the labor situation, however.