FRANCHISE NOTES

       The Oilers have only sold 16,000 seats to their home
opener against the Chiefs this weekend (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
8/28)....U.S. Women's Basketball team member Venus Lacy signed a
one-year deal with the ABL's Seattle Reign (ABL)....76ers
President Pat Croce and Community Relations Dir World B. Free
presented 1,300 city cab drivers with 76ers caps yesterday.
Croce: "The 76ers have a new spirit and a new attitude, and we
are going to remind you of that every time you get in a cab in
the City of Philadelphia" (76ers)....A full-page letter from
Oilers Owner Bud Adams thanking the people of TN for their
efforts in bringing the team to Nashville appeared in Monday's
TENNESSEAN.  Adams:  "Even though we are playing our games 800
miles away, our heart is in Nashville and we will get here as
soon as possible" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/26).