ROCKETS' ALEXANDER NAMES AN NEW COO FOR HIS SPORTS EMPIRE

          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).