FRANCHISE NOTES

          The D'Backs on Saturday became the second-fastest team
     in MLB history to draw two million fans, needing only 45
     home dates.  The Rockies did it in 43 games (AZ REPUBLIC,
     7/19)....The United Sports Fans of America rated the Tigers,
     Reds, Indians and Dodgers as the most fan friendly MLB
     teams, with the Marlins, Cubs, Yankees and Braves ranked as
     the least friendly (BUSINESS WEEK, 7/27 issue)....In N.Y.,
     gossip columnist Neal Travis hears that Bill Cosby "will be
     a major player in the group that's planning to buy the ...
     Nets and move the team to Newark" (N.Y. POST, 7/20)....As
     part of his signing with the Maple Leafs, G Curtis Joseph
     "made sure the club threw in a private luxury box in the new
     Air Canada Centre," worth about C$200,000.  He will use the
     suite to invite underprivileged, handicapped and seriously
     ill children to games (TORONTO SUN, 7/19).