Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If Baltimore is going to return to the NFL, it seems that Peter Angelos' attempted purchase of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the best shot. Today, in the second of two articles, The Sun examines how keeping the Bucs in Tampa likely depends on what can be done to improve Tampa Stadium. TAMPA, Fla. -- With its graceful, u-shaped lines and open end zones, Tampa Stadium looks to passengers flying into the nearby airport like a giant, tan potato chip or, as it's known to locals, a "Big Sombrero."

TAMPA, Fla. -- Baltimore is one of five cities that has completed the first round of negotiations to purchase the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to a member of the team's board of trustees.Jack Donlan, one of the three members on the board charged by the late Hugh Culverhouse with selling the team, told the Tampa Tribune that Tampa, Toronto, St. Louis, Orlando, Fla., and Baltimore are the five cities.St. Louis is the front-runner in the bidding for the Los Angeles Rams, but has expressed an interest in the Bucs in case the Rams deal falls apart.

Prospective NFL owner Peter Angelos, who met with Los Angeles Rams officials over the weekend, said that the team still has issues to work out with St. Louis and that Baltimore remains in the running for the franchise."

So, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially for sale, and the highest bidder, at least so far, is from Baltimore. What are we supposed to do, jump up and down and hug each other?Sorry, not buying.Not that Bucs-to-Bawlmer isn't a realistic possibility. It makes almost perfect sense, in fact. No Tampa group has come close to matching the $200 million offer Peter Angelos put on the table months ago. Moving the team from a mediocre stadium there to a new stadium here would make it among the most profitable in sports.

Peter Angelos denied yesterday that he is actively pursuing a third NFL team, although he said he is open to the idea if he is unsuccessful in luring the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town.Denying a report on Channel 11 news Tuesday night, Angelos said he thinks more teams may become available but said he has had no contact with them and declined to specify which team or teams would go on the sales block."I just have a sense," Angelos said.Angelos has spoken with Rams officials several times in recent months and has offered to purchase a minority stake in the team if it moves to Baltimore.

The NFL didn't return to Baltimore in 1993, when it passed over the city and awarded expansion franchises to Charlotte and Jacksonville. Now, Baltimore apparently has a chance to get either the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Which team do you want? Or are you fed up with the NFL's snubbing the city and prefer that the league stay out of Baltimore? The results will run next Friday.To respond, call Sundial, The Baltimore Sun's telephone information service, at (410) 936-5028; in Carroll County, (410)

Mental blocksThe Bears' Donnell Woolford got so excited after causing New Orleans wide receiver Michael Haynes to fumble that he forgot to block when Bears teammate Shaun Gayle started to run with the ball."

Auto racingMcLaren -- Named Martin Brundle second driver in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.BaseballChicago Cubs -- Sent P Randy Veres outright to Triple-A Iowa.Chicago White Sox -- Sent OF Michael Jordan to minor-league camp for reassignment.Cleveland Indians -- Sent P Tom Kramer, P Dave Mlicki, P Bill Wertz, 3B David Bell and C Jesse Levis to Triple-A Charlotte.Colorado Rockies -- Sent P Curtis Leskanic, 1B Jay Gainer and C Jayhawk Owens to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Reassigned P Bruce Walton, IF Jason Bates and IF Ty Van Burkleo to Colorado Springs.

WASHINGTON -- Linebacker Monte Coleman wants to be judged by his ability, not by his age.Coleman, who was a standout on defense in the Washington Redskins' 30-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons yesterday, gets tired of hear- ing he's 36 years old."It makes me sensitive simply for the fact I view myself as an individual," he said. "I don't think 36 is very old in the real world. Of course, in football, it is kind of old, but I don't have a 36-year-old body. I'm not trying to boast on myself.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Instead of lashing out at his players, Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka -- with an assist from his wife -- saved his oral fireworks for a couple of spectators yesterday immediately after his team lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-17.Separated by a fence, Ditka got into a cursing match with one spectator en route to the visitors' dressing room at Tampa Stadium. Some of his players pushed him away from the irate spectator and toward the dressing room.However, another spectator threw a crumpled beer cup at Ditka from an elevated ramp.