SECTION: SPORTS; Page A41

LENGTH: 258 words

HEADLINE: STADIUM BLEACHERS DRY OUT

BYLINE: Lawrence Rocca 


BODY:
Cleveland - In hopes of minimizing unruly behavior in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium, the club has banned the sale and consumption of beer in that section effective with the next home game, against the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

In explaining the move, Yankees publicist Jason Zillo said: "It's eroding our society as we know it." Asked whether he was referring to violence or alcohol, Zillo said, "Both." Yankee players hope the ban of suds doesn't produce less boisterous fans, especially in regards to the opponent.

"You can see guys looking out there," Bernie Williams said. "It's like a different world out there in the bleachers. They have their own cheering section, they're always changing stuff that they throw at you, they're always coming up with new stuff."

But Williams thinks the bleacher creatures will continue to be intimidating, beer or no beer.

"I think the attitude is going to be the same toward, quote, any of the foreign guys," Williams said.

"They're always going to be hostile to them. I don't think that has anything to do with alcohol. But I guess alcohol has a way of stirring some things up when it's consumed excessively."

The sale of beer by roving vendors in the bleachers was discontinued last season.

This time, the club has extended the ban to fixed concession stands that service the bleachers. Jeff Nelson doesn't think that will stop the most thirsty of the bleacher creatures.

"They can sneak it in, I'm sure," Nelson said.





LOAD-DATE: May 20, 2000