FACILITY NOTES

          In Minneapolis, Jay Weiner writes an open letter to
     Vikings Owner Red McCombs offering advice on pursuing a new
     publicly-funded stadium: "Please, as you crank up the volume
     on the Vikings stadium debate, address specifics.  Please
     don't insult the intelligence of Minnesota's public and
     sports fans.  We've seen it all, Red" (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/10). 
     Meanwhile, fallout continued from the departure of Vikings
     VP/Football Ops Jeff Diamond, and in Houston, John McClain
     called McCombs' action in Diamond's exit "a foolish decision
     at such a crucial time to build support and good will with
     the media and fans" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/8).  One day after
     Diamond left, the team "fired" his secretary and 32-year
     franchise employee Roz Sorenson.  In St. Paul, Bob Sansevere
     wrote that McCombs "might be a competent businessman, but he
     sure isn't a compassionate one" (PIONEER PRESS, 5/9).  
          OTHER NOTES: NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue made his
     "pitch" for Patriots stadium luxury seat sales at Citizens
     Bank's Boston office on Friday (BOSTON HERALD, 5/8).