FRANCHISE NOTES

     New England Blizzard GM Pam Batalis of the women's ABL hopes
to meet this week with Rebecca Lobo and her agent, Kenton Edelin,
about playing for the team (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/27). The ABL
Richmond Rage signed Brazilian Marta Sobral to a two-year
contract.  Sobral will most likely take the place of U.S. Women's
Basketball team member Lisa Leslie (RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH,
8/27)....In Charlotte, columnist Ron Green notes "second-hand"
information that Hornets Owner George Shinn and Speedway
Motorsports Chair Bruton Smith had a deal for the sale of the
Hornets, but "Shinn nixed it at the 11th hour" (CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, 8/27)....The Ottawa Rough Riders have until September 9
to raise at least C$1.6M to continue operations (TORONTO SUN,
8/27).