MLB: News from N.Y.'s gossip pages:  The POST's "Page
     Six" reports that the Yankees Fan Fest -- a seven-year-old
     tradition at the New York Coliseum -- "has been cancelled
     for mysterious reasons."  The event raised money for various
     charities with Yankee autographs (N.Y. POST, 1/6).  The
     DAILY NEWS' Rush & Molloy reported that a source said
     Cablevision Chair Charles Dolan wants to buy a piece of the
     Yankees.  Spokespeople for Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner
     and Cablevision would not comment (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/23).
          OTHER NOTES: In L.A., Earl Gustkey notes that the ABL
     Long Beach StingRays have the worst attendance in the league
     and reports that if those numbers don't improve, the team
     could move to Long Island or Dallas (L.A. TIMES, 1/6).
     ...ESPN's David Aldridge writes that 76ers head coach Larry
     Brown and G Allen Iverson "aren't coexisting."  Aldridge:
     "Would the Sixers deal Iverson if the price is right? ...
     Philly's ad campaigns, its team identity, its ticket base
     are all intertwined with Iverson.  A trade would be hard to
     explain, harder to make up in sales" (ESPN SportsZone, 1/6).

          The NHL Blue Jackets are trying to "secure a deal" with
     IHL Columbus Chill Owner Horn Chen to "become part" of its
     investment group, according to Craig Merz of the COLUMBUS
     DISPATCH.  The Blue Jackets "are working to bring Chen into
     the fold," and a deal with Chen "may mean" the Blue Jackets
     will "own the Chill, which will move to another city, and
     Chen's Indianapolis IHL team" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 1/4).

          Houston business exec Robert McNair and IHL Aeros Owner
     Chuck Watson "are planning to pitch in" to keep the NHL
     Oilers in Edmonton, according to Bernard Pilon of the
     EDMONTON SUN.  Watson and McNair are wrapping up a deal
     where they would make up the difference in what local
     investors need to buy the team for US$70M.  Watson: "That's
     been the plan all along, but I don't expect any conclusion
     until mid- to late January."  The amount the duo would
     contribute "isn't known."  Watson and McNair "won't wind up
     owning any part of the team" (EDMONTON SUN, 1/6).

          A spokesperson for Stars Owner Tom Hicks confirmed
     yesterday that Hicks "is leading an investors group that has
     been negotiating for several months to purchase" the MLB
     Rangers, according to Ken Daley of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. 
     Rangers President Tom Schieffer: "Traditionally, we have
     never discussed anybody's interest, and we're not going to
     start now."  Daley reports that Hicks "has previously
     mentioned his interest in the Rangers, and in pairing the
     local baseball and hockey franchises in an attractive, year-
     round broadcast package."  The Rangers' ownership group now
     has 28 members, but percentages of ownership by individual
     members are not made public (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/6).

          The Red Sox have raised tickets by $4 in almost every
     section, according to Larry Whiteside of the BOSTON GLOBE. 
     In creating a second tier of seats in several sections, the
     Red Sox hope to produce an additional $7.58M in revenue,
     "just enough to pay the salary" of P Pedro Martinez.  The $4
     hike will be in effect for field and loge box seats, right
     field boxes and roof seats, approximately half the
     grandstand and bleachers.  The team says that more than
     500,000 seats over the course of the season will be
     available at the same price as '97 (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/6).  
          DOH! The Red Sox home opener will take place April 10
     and will start at 3:05pm ET to accommodate religious
     observances of Good Friday and Passover.  There will be no
     beer sales at Fenway Park that day (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/6).
          ORIOLES: The Orioles have raised ticket prices 15% for
     the '98 season, on top of a 19% increase in '97, according
     to Jon Morgan of the Baltimore SUN.  The increase will net a
     little more than $7M for the club (Baltimore SUN, 1/1).  The
     average Orioles ticket will cost $18.93 in '98, a 74% leap
     in six years (Thomas Boswell, WASHINGTON POST, 12/31).