FRANCHISE NOTES

          Wayne Huizenga's effort to "beef up" his Auto Nation
     USA chain was profiled by Lou Dobbs on CNN's "MoneyLine." 
     Dobbs noted investors are showing "stunning confidence" in
     Huizenga with shares of his Republic Industries rising to a
     record 41 1/8.  Standard & Poor's Equity Analyst Robert
     Friedman: "They're confident Mr. Huizenga can successfully
     build a brand name from nothing, which is what he did with
     Blockbuster."  Shares of the NHL Panthers also were up 3 1/8
     ("Moneyline," CNN, 1/22)....In L.A., Mike Downey writes on
     the future for Dodgers Owner Peter O'Malley: "It is entirely
     plausible that O'Malley will resurface in L.A. pro football,
     once these politicians come to their senses and realize that
     the NFL is serious about not bringing an expansion team to
     the Coliseum" (L.A. TIMES, 1/22).