"In addition to new uniforms, a new logo, and new colors,"
the Bullets will apparently be getting a new name, according to
Richard Justice of the WASHINGTON POST.  Sources said yesterday
that Owner Abe Pollin has decided that when the Bullets leave
USAir Arena after the '96-97 season for the proposed downtown MCI
Center, "they'll no longer be the Bullets."  Justice reports that
Pollin will allow fans to select the new name later this year in
a name-the-team contest, reportedly to be sponsored by Boston
Market.  The Washington Post is also discussing a possible
promotional role in the endeavor (WASHINGTON POST, 8/22).

     The Twins, with the worst record in the major leagues, are
not faring much better off the field.  The team's gross ticket
receipts are down 42.6% and concession income is down $892,913
from last year, according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE.  Hartman writes that Owner Carl Pohlad "could lose in
excess" of $10M this year (STAR-TRIBUNE, 8/22)....The Jaguars'
home debut last Friday is the subject of an article in this
morning's N.Y. TIMES.  Mireya Navarro writes that the team's
arrival brings "a new image for this city of Southern roots and
cosmopolitan dreams" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/22)....In an op/ed piece in
Sunday's HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Allen Sanderson, an economics
professor at the Univ. of Chicago, analyzes the "Games Oilers
Play."  Sanderson equates professional sports team owners' desire
for a new stadium with his own automobile situation:  "I
currently drive a Honda Accord ... It must serve multiple
purposes for me -- sporty driving, off-road exploring,
transporting several children and their possessions and for more
elegant social occasions.  My modest fantasy would be to own four
separate cars for these purposes ... Does my Honda serve all
those functions perfectly well?  Of course not, but until I
become very wealthy or find someone to bankroll my wants, it just
has to do.  Sports team owners are in the same situation.  Cities
and their taxpayers would be much better served financially if
teams shared facilities" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/20).

     The Raiders "are preparing to blitz the Bay Area with
perhaps the most pervasive advertising campaign ever run for a
pro football team," according to Peter Fimrite of the SAN
FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.  Max Muhleman, who has been brought in to
take over the team's marketing efforts, said the ads will
"emphasize the planned renovations" to the Coliseum for the '96
season (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, 8/22).  In Oakland, Judy
Ronningen reports that the new marketing blitz will "focus on the
area of weakest sales":  the club seats that require annual fees
as high as $1,600 per season.  Muhleman Marketing VP Tamera Green
said the revised effort will emphasize the "perks" of the club
seats, such as "free close-in parking, waiter service at the
seats, and better chairs" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 8/22).
     JUDGE RULES FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS PUBLIC:  In a suit brought
by the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, an Alameda County judge yesterday
ordered public officials to release key financial documents in
the Raiders deal, saying the information may not be kept from the
public.  The papers must be given to the newspaper by Thursday
morning unless an appeals court orders a stay (Dan Stober, SAN
JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 8/22).