FRANCHISE NOTES

          COMPLICATED BID: In K.C., Charles Crumpley takes a
     behind-the-scenes look at the Lamar Hunt-Western Resources
     bid for the Royals under the header, "Relations Between Hunt
     Group, Royals Never Warmed Up."  Royals insiders said the
     group submitted a "complicated bid" that they felt was worth
     about $17M.  Crumpley writes, "From there, relations never
     warmed up much," and the Royals Board turned their focus to
     the bid from N.Y. attorney Miles Prentice (K.C. STAR, 8/28).
          ILITCH IPO? Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch, when asked
     about the possibility of taking the team public: "Never say
     never.  We're in the entertainment business and we've got
     some exciting entities" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/28).