The Bills have signed a deal with CA-based ETM
     Entertainment Network to "provide round-the-clock access to
     Bills tickets," according to Sharon Linstedt of the BUFFALO
     NEWS.  The Bills become the first NFL team to use the ETM
     machines, which function like ATMs, accepting credit cards
     to pay for tickets.  However, the machines are currently
     used by MLB's Mets, Rangers and Dodgers.  The NFL Cardinals
     "are expected" to sign with ETM soon.  Customers will be
     provided with stadium seating diagrams and price options, or
     can obtain the "best-available seat" with one touch of the
     screen.  ETM East Managing Dir Steve Smith said transactions
     are completed "very quickly," averaging about 50 seconds. 
     The machines can also dispense tickets previously ordered
     through the Bills ticket offices.  Although the team has not
     finalized locations for the ETMs, it "is negotiating" with
     Marine Midland Bank to put "as many as" 14 in bank branches
     near  ATMs. The team plans to set up 20 machines.  The
     service fee for ETM purchases is $2.75 per ticket, compared
     to Ticketmaster's $3.50 per ticket fee (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/4).

          For the second straight year, the Mavericks will not
     raise ticket prices (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/5)....Sixty-five
     Eagles staff members, along with 31 players, helped students
     from five area schools put together playground equipment and
     set it in place at the Eagles Unity Playground, six blocks
     from Veterans Stadium (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/5).
     ...Prospective Lightning Owner Art Williams met with the NHL
     Exec Committee in New York on Thursday, and when the meeting
     ended, "several members of the committee, composed of team
     owners, told him 'Welcome aboard.'"  The official vote on
     his ownership comes June 25, but Williams "expects the vote
     to be 'no more than a formality.'"  Williams: "I think the
     meeting went very, very well" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/5).
     ...In Chicago, Michael Sneed reports that Bulls F Scottie
     Pippen "is singing his swan song at a party he is planning
     June 17 ... [which is] being billed as 'The Last Dance' and
     it's supposed to be the current Bulls' last goodbye event." 
     Sneed: "It's done" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/5)....The ECHL
     Greenville Grrrowl announced the formation of a health care
     partnership with the Greenville Hospital System (Grrrowl).

          Rockets Owner Les Alexander has hired Ken Harmon in an
     interim capacity as the COO for Rocketball Ltd, according to
     Eddie Sefko of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE .  Harmon, who recently
     retired after more than 30 years at Dow Chemical, will be
     responsible for "overseeing all aspects" of Alexander's
     teams' business operations.  Besides the Rockets, Alexander
     owns the WNBA Comets and the AFL ThunderBears.  Harmon will
     also be involved in Alexander's pursuit of possible NHL and
     NFL franchises.  A Rockets spokesperson said that Harmon
     "will be considered for the newly created job on a permanent
     basis, but an exhaustive search will be conducted before any
     decisions are made" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/5). 

          The Indians' "opening pitch on the stock market was a
     little low and outside," but Owner Richard Jacobs raised $60
     million and "declared it a hit," according to Bill Lubinger
     of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER.  The shares closed the day's
     trading "at a lackluster" $14.75, down $.25 a share from the
     offering price with 1.5 million shares trading hands.  On
     the price drop, Jacobs said, "Oh, that happens, for
     goodness' sake.  A lot of people buy the stock to flip it"
     (PLAIN DEALER, 6/5).  In Akron, Mary Vanac reports the IPO
     raised $55.8M and "as expected, the real interest in the
     shares came from area residents" (BEACON JOURNAL, 6/5).     
          SWING AND A MISS? CNN's Jan Hopkins reported that the
     Indians' IPO "came in dead last [Thursday] on Wall Street"
     among yesterday's debut stocks.  Hopkins: "That investor
     shutout should come as little surprise to anyone who follows
     the IPO market.  History shows that stock and sports are not
     usually a winning combination" ("Moneyline," CNN, 6/4). In
     N.Y., Aaron Lucchetti reports that while a "one-day loss
     doesn't ruin the whole season, giving up ground on the first
     day after an IPO is unusual.  The average company going
     public this year has gained 16% on its first day of
     trading."  IPO Reporter's John Fitzgibbons: "They struck
     out."   But Lucchetti writes that whether the Indians'
     investors "really care about the stock market is debatable" 
     (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/5).  Also in N.Y., Peter Grant
     reports that investors "were concerned about warnings that
     the company has very limited growth potential."  But he adds
     that Jacobs' success "will encourage" other team owners to
     explore IPOs.  The Bonham Group Chair Dean Bonham: "It
     unquestionably was a home run for Jacobs" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
     6/5).  In S.F., Mark Veverka writes that while the IPO
     "wasn't exactly a home run for shareholders," Jacobs was the
     "real winner" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/5).  Header of BLOOMBERG
     NEWS story in the N.Y. POST: "Cleveland IPO A Swing And A
     Miss."  Bonham: "From an investment standpoint, on a scale
     from 1 to 10, this is a 2" (N.Y. POST, 6/5).  CNBC's Scott
     Cohn said the reason for the drop in Indians' shares is that
     MLB is "a lousy business.  The sport still hasn't recovered
     from the players strike four years ago, so this would be an
     investment for love" ("The Edge," CNBC, 6/4).     
          SALARIES: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley notes the Indians'
     prospectus with the SEC lists the following salaries: Jacobs
     at $700,000; GM John Hart at $600,000; Exec VP Dennis Lehman
     and Assistant GM Dan O'Dowd at $300,000 and Marketing VP
     Jeff Overton at $225,000 (USA TODAY, 6/5).