Expansion Team

Domenic Mediate, a flashy midfielder from the University of Maryland, gave the Major League Soccer Superdraft held at the Baltimore Convention Center yesterday a bit of local flair. But Mediate, 22, wasn't present when the Columbus Crew surprised him by making him its second pick and the 23rd selection overall. "I really didn't know what to do about the draft," said Mediate, whose Maryland teams went to three NCAA final fours. "I thought most of the players who were expecting to go in the first round would go to Baltimore.

The CFL team attempting to gain entry to Baltimore not only wants to revive the Colts name, but also wants to tap into the resources of some of old Colts personnel.Ernie Accorsi, the last general manager the Colts had before sneaking off to Indianapolis in March 1984, has been asked to become a consultant to a prospective CFL team in Baltimore. He said he has not accepted the offer."I haven't agreed to anything," Accorsi said from Florida, where he has been vacationing."They asked me to consider helping them in an advisory role, but it's not a position with the team.

KONA, Hawaii -- Victor Kiam, the owner of the New England Patriots, said yesterday he plans to meet with Baltimore officials next month as a favor to a friend.Kiam, who told Massachusetts officials last week that he would move his team if he doesn't get a new stadium, said after arriving at the annual National Football League March meetings that "a friend of his" asked him to agree to a meeting."I told him I didn't want to do it. He said, 'Hey, do me a favor just meet with them,' " Kiam said.

Baltimore will christen its inaugural season in the Canadian Football League with a Thursday night, July 7 opener against, appropriately, the Toronto Argonauts at SkyDome.CFL commissioner Larry Smith wants to borrow a page from one of baseball's best rivalries -- the Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays -- for the occasion."Larry Smith told me he wants us to open in Toronto," said Jim Speros, owner of Baltimore's CFL expansion team. "He wants to build the rivalry up."Speros is more than happy to oblige.

Quote: " I think if you go through something like that, when is it ever going to be 100 percent? But he's worked awfully hard to come back. It's too bad, as hard as this kid's worked." Manager Jimy Williams on longest-tenured Red Sox player John Valentin, who reinjured his surgically repaired left knee. It's a fact: Dean Palmer's club-leading 10th homer for Detroit makes Minnesota the only major-league team without a double-digit home run hitter. Who's hot: Dave Burba (5-1) is Cleveland's steadiest starter, working at least seven innings in five of his last six starts.

Amid the unveiling of the Baltimore CFL Colts' uniform yesterday, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke said he does not rule out the possibility the city might wind up with teams in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League."

CHICAGO -- It's over, we're getting a team, but right to the end, the NFL tried to stick it to us. As late as yesterday, league officials wanted Baltimore to wait for an expansion team so the Browns could remain in Cleveland.John Moag just said no."It didn't get heated," said Moag, chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority, "but I was pretty adamant that the team would play in Baltimore, that we weren't going to wait."Moag was leaning against a wall outside a ballroom at the O'Hare Hilton last night, looking tired and worn while Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White stood at a podium inside, proclaiming victory for his city.

Draft Order: The Colorado Rockies, having won a coin flip las week with the Florida Marlins, will make the No. 1 pick at 2 p.m. EST. The Marlins will follow, and the teams will alternate picks throughout the first round. Each expansion team will take 13 players in the first round, and the 26 established major league clubs will each lose one player.Draft Process: There will be three rounds, with the Marlins picking first in the second and third rounds. There will be five minutes between each selection, and a 30-minute break between the rounds.

Fran Murray, the minority owner of the New England Patriots, said yesterday that he will retain his interest in the club even if Victor Kiam sells the majority interest to Florida businessman Malcolm Glazer.Murray, who owns 49 percent of the Patriots and is attempting to obtain an expansion team for St. Louis, said he will have the power to block any move of the Patriots until after the league adds two expansion teams.Murray also said he didn't think it would be a setback for Baltimore's expansion hopes if Glazer buys Kiam's 51 percent interest in the Patriots and pulls out of the Baltimore expansion picture.

Anyone looked at the NHL standings today? The first-year Florida Panthers are in third place in the Atlantic Division.Their 52 points is 11th best in the 26-team NHL."There aren't any rules saying an expansion team has to lose," said Panthers general manager Bob Clarke from Buffalo, N.Y., where his team beat the Sabres, 3-2, Sunday night. "Normally, they do lose. But our guys haven't believed that, haven't believed it from the start. They've kept the goals-against down, and they've been in every game, win or lose."