ASTROS OWNER CLOSE TO DEAL TO SELL MINORITY SHARE

     Astros Owner Drayton McLane "is close to finalizing a deal
to sell a minority partnership of the team to a group that would
include the Love and Onstead families of Houston," according to
Saturday's HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Sources say McLane has offered 30
minority shares at $1M each, and the majority of that amount will
be split among five or six investors.  The limited partnership
will constitute about 25% of the team.  Ben Love and his son,
Jeff, were part of a group that tried to buy the team in '92 from
then-owner John McMullen.  Jeff Love stressed that the minority
partners will have no role in day-to-day operations of the team
(Terry Blount, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/15).