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FRANCHISE NOTES

          In Tampa, representatives of the Maloof family
     requested additional financial information from Lightning
     CEO Steve Oto, "re-establishing" the Maloofs as the team's
     "most ardent pursuer."  Oto, on the Maloofs: "I think we
     will probably get together sometime in early June."  Oto
     also received a call from N.Y. investment banker Michael
     Largue, the leader of an int'l investment group expressing
     interest in the team (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 5/21)....In Miami, the
     Panthers confirmed that they will increase season-ticket
     prices for three of six seating areas.  Lower bowl seats
     went from $48-52; Panther club seats, $78-80; and mezzanine
     seats, $30-31.  A "slight increase is likely" for individual
     game tickets (MIAMI HERALD, 5/21)....The Orioles drew 48,003
     for last night's game against the Tigers, making it the
     largest regular-season crowd in the six-year history of
     Oriole Park at Camden Yards (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/21)....In
     Toronto, one rumor has Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher being
     "canned" as early as today while another said the "axe would
     come by week's end" if he did not agree to drop his title of
     GM and stay on as team president, with his "main
     responsibility" being overseeing construction of a new arena
     with the Raptors (TORONTO STAR, 5/21)....Smith College
     professor Andrew Zimbalist writes an op-ed in USA TODAY
     under the header, "Fewer Families Own Sports Teams; It's
     OK."  Zimbalist: "Certainly, the days of family ownership of
     franchises are fading.  As franchise prices have
     skyrocketed, from less than $5 million in the 1950s, to $10
     million to $20 million in the 1970s, to in excess of $100
     million today, there are fewer families who can afford to be
     sole proprietors" (USA TODAY, 5/21)....In Philadelphia, Bill
     Lyon writes that 76ers President Pat Croce called the Lakers
     "for permission to speak" to Mitch Kupchak about becoming GM
     and ended up trying to make overtures to [Lakers Exec VP]
     Jerry West."  Croce: "[Lakers Owner Jerry Buss] wouldn't
     give me permission to talk to Jerry West. ... Doesn't hurt
     to try though, does it?" (PHILA. INQUIRER, 5/21).

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