FRANCHISE NOTES

          Former Raptors G Damon Stoudamire blamed former team
     Owner Allan Slaight for the club's "disintegration" and said
     that he suspects Slaight "kept the entire team in the dark
     about his ownership intentions."  Stoudamire: "Him and I met
     on a few occasions.  He flat out lied, saying that he would
     was going to do whatever it took to make this team a
     winner."  Slaight responded, "I have no idea what Damon's
     talking about" (TORONTO STAR, 2/18)....The Bulls announced
     the following ticket increase for next season: courtside
     seats increase from $425 to $450; main floor tickets from
     $140 to $145; and other seats increase from $80-85; $70-80;
     $45-50; $35-38; $25-28; and $20-22 for other seats (CHICAGO
     TRIBUNE, 2/17)....The closing of $195M sale of the Islanders
     to Steven Gluckstern and Howard Milstein "has been postponed
     yet again."  The "major holdup" continues to be the banking
     delay with Gluckstern selling his 50% share of the Coyotes
     to co-Owner Richard Burke (N.Y. POST, 2/18).