FRANCHISE NOTES

          The NHL Oilers are "fast running out of time" in their
     drive to sell at least 13,000 season tickets by May 31 in
     order to qualify for $2.5M from the NHL's Canadian
     Assistance Plan.  With five days remaining, the team has
     sold "about" 11,400 tickets (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 5/27).
     ...Saturday's MLS MetroStars-Fusion game drew 56,404 to
     Giants Stadium, the biggest crowd in MetroStars history. 
     The game was followed by an exhibition match between
     Colombia and Scotland (Bergen RECORD, 5/24)....MLB "shot
     down a proposal" by Hamilton County Treasurer Robert Goering
     that the county buy Marge Schott's controlling shares of the
     Reds.  Acting Commissioner Bud Selig: "I don't see that 
     happening" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/22)....In N.Y., Jay
     Glazer reported that final NFL attendance numbers showed the
     Jets trailed only the Chiefs and Broncos in total attendance
     figures for home and away games in '97 (N.Y. POST, 5/24).
     ....The Flyers have invited Hayley Wickenheiser, one of
     Canada's "top female ice hockey players," to the team's
     prospects camp (USA TODAY, 5/27).