FRANCHISE NOTES

          NFL: Within five weeks, NFL Oilers officials "expect to
     know where the team" will play in '98 and "resolve the
     status of team colors and nickname," according to John
     Glennon of the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL.  Glennon: "So far,
     the Oilers appear to be sticking with their two-year
     contract in Memphis" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 1/13).
          OTHER NOTES: The Raptors drew a "franchise low"
     attendance of 14,376 for their game against the Nets on
     Monday at SkyDome (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/13)....CNN's Jim Moret
     co-hosted yesterday's "Showbiz Today" from The Pond at
     Arrowhead to promote an upcoming charity event which the
     Mighty Ducks are hosting.  The show included an interview
     with Ducks co-Captain Mark Janssens.  Janssens, on a fringe
     benefit of the team being owned by Walt Disney: "Free Disney
     passes, so I can go any time I want" (CNN, 1/13).