1.  The principal will gain valuable market information on competitive actions, the overseas business environment and feedback on promotions and new products.

2.  But as electronic communications moves further away from the computer desktop, where Microsoft does enjoy the spoils of monopoly, the competitive action gets fierce and less profitable.

3.  In terms of truly competitive action, the season really ends two weeks before the Super Bowl with the conference championship games.

4.  After successful surgery to repair the damaged heart valve, the Inter Milan star has returned to competitive action this season but so far played few matches.

5.  After slipping up at home against Lille, Parma has had little competitive action and worked to overpower the strong defensive action of a determined Lille.

6.  But consumers might have to stifle a yawn or two while waiting for the real competitive action to start in cable and local phone service.

7.  Eriksson said Beckham was tired having had no competitive action for so long.

8.  France also has seen almost no competitive action in two years because it qualified automatically for the World Cup as defending champion.

9.  Shearer has not kicked a ball in competitive action this season because of a broken ankle and is now unlikely to return until February.

10.  The coach conceded that France had suffered from lack of competitive action before the World Cup.