A FRIEND OF THE DEVILS IS A FRIEND OF MINE: FRANCHISE NOTES

     NJ-resident Michael Bandler sued the Devils Wednesday saying
that he has risked bodily injury and endured snowy nights and
lousy teams all to be a Devils fan.  He is alleging the team
violated the consumer fraud act when it denied him postseason
tickets for the past two years.  Bandler: "I watched them lose
for 10 or 12 years, and then they started winning and things were
looking good, and I got left out" (Thomas Zambito, Bergen RECORD,
8/10)....Dodger players are being limited to six tickets for
tonight's Cardinals game due to the increased demand for tickets
when Hideo Nomo pitches.  The Dodgers average attendance is
36,396, but 41,047 when Nomo pitches (Chris Baker, L.A. TIMES,
8/10)....Boston Neurologist Edison K. Miyawaki bought ownership
shares in the Bengals from Bengals Chair Austin E. Knowlton.  It
is the first time someone from outside the state of Ohio has
owned part of the team. Miyawaki said he has no intentions of
trying to move the team. (AP/Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/10).