51.   It has become such a problem that commissioner David Stern is talking to the players union about ways to ease the flood.

52.   Just last week, the NFL and its player union agreed to prohibit players from endorsing companies that market NFL-banned products.

53.   Last night he planned to watch an informational videocassette, explaining the collective bargaining agreement, sent to him from the players union.

54.   Major League Baseball and its players union said they would look at the medical and performance aspects.

55.   Major-league owners have yet to negotiate a new labor agreement with the players union.

56.   Major League Baseball may find contraction useful in negotiations with the players union, and with communities considering new stadiums.

57.   Marvin Miller, former head of the players union, recently came up with an interesting juxtaposition of news items.

58.   Marvin Miller, the first leader of the baseball players union, has long been a critic of the players union in the National Football League.

59.   McIlvaine, though, cautions the owners that the players union is unified and prepared.

60.   Meanwhile, do not expect Rodman to cast his ballot Thursday when players vote either to decertify the players union or to accept the tentative collective bargaining agreement.