FRANCHISE NOTES

          NBA: Last night's Nets-Cavs game drew 12,860 at Gund
     Arena, the smallest crowd since the arena opened, and the
     smallest at a Cavs game since December '92 at Richfield
     Coliseum (BEACON JOURNAL, 11/17)....In N.Y., Peter Vecsey:
     "Those fleeing the Warriors maintain the team can't possibly
     be resuscitated unless owner Chris Cohan sells or removes
     himself from all decision making" (N.Y. POST, 11/16).  
          NFL: Vikings board member Wheelock Whitney disputed a
     report that Red McCombs had increased his offer for the team
     to $185M (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/15).  McCombs would
     not comment on his offer, but said that although his "first
     goal" is for San Antonio to have an NFL team, he has "no
     intention" of moving the Vikings out of MN should he gain
     control of the team (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/15).  
          NOTES: Lamar Hunt's attorneys have appealed a Columbus
     judge's ruling that "closed Hunt out as an owner" of the NHL
     Blue Jackets (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 11/15)....Anaheim Sports
     President Tony Tavares said that Disney would "take a look
     at ownership" of an MLS franchise (L.A. TIMES, 11/14).