The Rockets will accept $150 non-refundable deposits that
will be applied to the cost of season tickets but will carry over
if no more seats are available. The only customers that are
guaranteed seats are those who paid $250 deposits before August
19 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/20)....The Timberwolves have sold 1,600
new full-season tickets for the upcoming season. Team President
Rob Moor: "They are going like gangbusters and we haven't opened
up our partial season-ticket sales yet" (Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE, 8/20). ...In Hartford, Mike Arace profiled the Whalers'
new marketing strategy, which includes "going after Greater New
Haven with gusto," a new team store and a over-the-air TV deal.
Whalers' Business Advisor Lou Beers: "The No. 1 priority is to
get Whalers hockey to everybody in the market area, on
television. The Whalers' primary carrier, SportsChannel-New
England does not reach some areas, including Southern CT. Beers
hopes to secure deals with multiple stations around the region
(HARTFORD COURANT, 8/18)....Larry Weisman profiles Saints' owner
Tom Benson in USA TODAY. Benson: "People make success. And I've
been able to get good people around me" (USA TODAY, 8/21).