NBA BLAZERS HONORED FOR THEIR OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

          As noted in Friday's issue, the Trail Blazers will
     become the first pro sports franchise to receive the annual
     Points of Light award at a reception Wednesday in
     Washington, DC.  The award recognizes exceptional commitment
     to community service. In Portland, Ed Guzman reported that
     Blazers President & GM Bob Whitsitt established a company
     policy that provided paid time off "for all employees to
     participate in community service," which led to the team
     contributing "more than 4,000 hours of community service"
     last year (OREGONIAN, 10/22).  A Portland OREGONIAN
     editorial stated: "It's not an NBA championship, but it's
     just as rare an honor, and one in which all Oregonians,
     basketball fans or not, can be proud" (OREGONIAN, 10/22). 
          TICKET SALES: Meanwhile, Blazers Senior VP/Marketing
     Operations Harry Hutt said that season ticket sales have
     increased 30% from last year.  Hutt: "We're looking at the
     possibility of a sold-out season" (OREGONIAN, 10/24).