FRANCHISE NOTES

          Two weeks after questioning the city's renaming of The
     Summit after Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp., the
     Rockets inked their own three-year advertising deal with the
     company.  Compaq will have advertising and other rights with
     the Rockets under the deal.  Terms were not disclosed
     (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/14)....In MN, Charley Walters reports
     that former Spurs Owner Red McCombs "has increased" his
     offer to buy the Vikings from $150M to $185M (ST. PAUL
     PIONEER PRESS, 11/14)....The Reds announced that ticket
     prices for the '98 season will "remain the same."  Reds
     ticket prices were the most affordable MLB tickets in the
     U.S. last year (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 11/13).