FRANCHISE NOTES

          The NHL Rangers unveiled their third jersey which
     features a darker shade than the club's usual royal blue and
     features a likeness of the Statue of Liberty above the
     letters NYR.  The Rangers will wear the jersey for the first
     time tonight against the Islanders (NEWSDAY, 1/11). 
     Columnist Joe Lapointe, on the Rangers' new jersey: "Perhaps
     the Rangers should be careful with this jersey business.  In
     hockey, it's a fine line between fashion and passion" (N.Y.
     TIMES, 1/12)....In Indianapolis, former Mariners Owner Jeff
     Smulyan, on talks of the Colts leaving Indianapolis: "The
     city still has a binding, 18-year lease, so even if the team
     goes somewhere else, that city would be liable for damages. 
     And no city can afford that ... no city can live with
     contingent liabilities" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 1/11).