101.   Then on Saturday the team suffered a howling embarrassment by falling to a Cyprus team that has only four professional players.

102.   The U.S. team, made up entirely of professional players from the National Hockey League, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Czech Republic.

103.   These championships are the first to allow professional players.

104.   Two former U.S. football stars, Oklahoma Reps. Steve Largent and J.C. Watts, both reported wealth reflecting their careers as high-paid professional players.

105.   Union head Donald Fehr suggested allowing minor league professional players to compete in the Olympics.

106.   U.S. Open champion Marat Safin said after a first-round win in Melbourne that he thought professional players were satisfied with the current ball.

107.   Verghese was an enthusiast since childhood, Smith a onetime professional player.

108.   With the Olympics now open to professional players, Bakouris said he is optimistic that major leaguers will compete in the Athens Games.

109.   While the proposal currently would cover only professional players and coaches, Travis said he would consider including college athletes in the legislation as well.

110.   He said the issue would be discussed in the light of previous IRB rulings on professional players.