ADVISORY/The World Series May Be Out, but Cleveland Can Still Have a Dream Team.

Entertainment Editors

ADVISORY...for Saturday and Sunday (Oct 4-5)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

MLB Showdown National Championship to be held in Cleveland; Trading Card Game fans compete for huge prizes, season tickets

What:       The World Series of Sports Trading Card Games! As
            professional ball players and managers gear up for the
            playoffs and World Series, local fantasy baseball gamers
            are ready for a "World Series" of their own. At the MLB
            Showdown(TM) National Championship players, from around
            the country, including local Cleveland trading card game
            enthusiasts, build their best baseball team. Each gamer
            picks the players, creates the line-ups, and sets the
            strategies to compete head-to-head for huge prizes,
            including season tickets for the major league team of
            their choice.

When:       Saturday, October 4
            10:00 AM: MLB Showdown Open - the last chance to qualify
            for the MLB Showdown National Championship, top 8
            finishers receive invitations to the next day's event
            11:00 AM: Side events begin (open to all players who wish
            to play outside of the championship competition)
            Sunday, October 5
            9:00 AM: 2003 MLB Showdown Championship competition
            begins (MLB Showdown Open finalists and previously
            qualified players compete)
            11:00 AM: Side events open

Where:      Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
            Tower City Center
            24 Public Square
            Cleveland

How:        Registration for the MLB Showdown Open is $10.00, and is
            open to anyone not currently holding an invite to the
            Championship. The MLB Showdown National Championship is
            free of charge, but participants must hold invitations to
            the event to play. Call 800/324-6496 for more
            information, or visit the website at
            http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=showdown/mlb/natfacts

Story
Background: The MLB Showdown Sports Trading Card Game
            combines the strategy of baseball with the collectability
            of sports cards and the competition of fantasy baseball.
            Players of all ages and skill levels can go card-to-card
            against other MLB Showdown players in official
            tournaments held throughout the United States. There are
            currently hundreds of officially ranked MLB Showdown
            players across the country, with more than 400
            tournaments held since the game's inception in 2000.