RAMS PURCHASE REMAINING UNSOLD TICKETS TO AVOID TV BLACKOUTS

          Rams ownership "has decided to buy any unsold tickets"
     for the three remaining home games this season, according to
     Jim Thomas of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH.  As a result, all
     three games will be televised in the St. Louis area.  Rams
     President John Shaw: "It's been an ownership and management
     decision to put all these games on (TV), even if it means
     that we will buy tickets."  The 6,100 combined tickets
     remaining as of yesterday for the team's final three home
     games, at an average price of $25, would amount to $152,500.
     For the Rams to lift the blackouts, it would end up paying
     less than half of the $152,500, as it "must simply guarantee
     the visiting team its share of gate receipts," which is 40%
     minus any game-day expenses by the home team.  Shaw spoke
     with co-Owners Georgia Frontiere and Stan Kroenke before
     making the move, and he said that most of the tickets bought
     by the team will go to charity (POST-DISPATCH, 11/19).