1.  Although a string of smaller deals have created sizeable regional players, the global steel industry remains fairly fragmented and ripe for big mergers, analysts said.

2.  Also, Jordanian academics say the king is trying to please Washington these days because he is increasingly concerned with being remembered as a regional player and peacemaker.

3.  And it thrusts Arch from its position as a successful regional player into the big time in what is a booming industry.

4.  And she collected a regional player of the year award and an invitation to the first high school all-American game for girls.

5.  And those companies are turning themselves into regional players, their coverage spreading like butter on hot toast.

6.  Behind this lies an interesting coalition of regional players trying to stop the Republicans.

7.  According to conventional wisdom, the increased presence of these giant retailers will result in consolidations and casualties among the smaller regional players.

8.  Alarmed by the global consolidation in banking, Singapore has called for its own banks to merge into a handful of big regional players.

9.  But in retailing, size matters, and as only a regional player, Bradlees lacked heft.

10.  Even Network Plus Corp., a large regional player in long-distance telephone and telecommunications services in the Northeast, has seen few changes in its stock price.