31.   That trend began a year ago with the Asian economic meltdown, which continues to put a big damper on demand.

32.   The cultural wisdom is that American trends begin on the coasts, then crawl inward and collide in the middle about the time something else becomes hip.

33.   The trend began several years ago when airlines switched to e-ticketing to cut transaction and processing costs.

34.   The trend began in December and continued in January.

35.   The trend began well before the aborted attempt by owner Ken Behring in February to move the franchise to Los Angeles.

36.   The trend began when President Jimmy Carter named former Montana Sen. Mike Mansfield to the post.

37.   The trend began with the Junior Worlds.

38.   The trend toward secrecy began several years ago.

39.   This trend began to show itself in the season opener against the Dolphins and reached a crescendo in the last three losses.

40.   This trend has already begun.