FRANCHISE NOTES

     The Hamilton AHL Hockey Club announced its name and logo
yesterday -- the Bulldogs (Bulldogs)....Former Ottawa Mayor Jim
Durrel was introduced as the new President & CEO of the CFL
Ottawa Rough Riders, with his goal being to "re-establish
corporate credibility" for the troubled franchise (EDMONTON
JOURNAL, 7/17)....Fleet Bank will join the Red Sox as sponsors of
the 10th annual "Sox Talk" community program (Red Sox)....Saints
Owner Tom Benson said the team is considering moving its training
camp back to New Orleans from the Univ. of Wisconsin-La Crosse,
where it has trained the past nine years.  The team's five-year
contract with the school expires in '99, but it contains an
escape clause (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/16)....There are
"intensifying rumors" that the Double-A Trenton Thunder will
switch affiliation to the Yankees when their contract with the
Red Sox expires after this season (Trenton TIMES, 7/16).