Simple Deduction

On the campaign trail Bill Clinton voiced support for eliminating corporate tax deductions for salaries of more than $1 million paid to employees. It is uncertain if such a proposal will now become law, or, if so, whether it would apply to professional sports teams owned by corporations. If it did, clubs like the Chicago Cubs ( Tribune Co.) and the New York Knicks (Paramount Communications) could lose write-offs totaling millions on such stars as the Cubs' Ryne Sandberg (above), who commands a salary of $7 million a year, and the Knicks' Patrick Ewing, who makes $3.1 million.

A fearless prediction: Given fan complaints about overpaid athletes, a groundswell of public support for excluding jocks from such a measure isn't very likely.