MLB TEAM NOTES: In Augusta, Bill Zack reported that the Braves will draw more than three million fans this season, but in "a city that's 68% black ... the black community has turned its back on its baseball team." In the past three years, the Braves have drawn more than ten million fans, yet team figures indicate that "less than" 5% are African Americans. Braves President Stan Kasten, on the team's attendance and fan demos: "I would like to sell our full 4- point-something million tickets that we have available every year, but I'm very happy doing three (million). ... I don't find myself thinking about the color of our customers when I walk through the stands. That isn't something I think about" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 5/23)....In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports that former Northwest Airlines exec Chris Clouser "will soon" be named CEO of the Twins (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/24)....In Montreal, Jack Todd writes that Expos Majority Owner Jeffrey Loria "has clearly been taken aback by the negative reaction in the city's media -- and he knows very well that some of it starts within the ownership group, specifically with [prospective investor] Jean Coutu, who has been making the single-handed effort to torpedo" the team's ballpark project "from within with calculated leaks to a favourite reporter at La Presse" (GAZETTE, 5/24). NOTES: In L.A., Helene Elliott wondered, "How petty can the Flyers be? Very. On the cover of their playoff media guide, they airbrushed the captain's C off Eric Lindros' uniform" (L.A. TIMES, 5/23)....In Buffalo, Allen Wilson wrote that the Bills Caravan, in its third year, is on a 20- stop tour through upstate NY. Bills VP/Business Development & Marketing Russ Brandon, on the caravan: "It just gives us another opportunity to put our brand in front of as many eyes as possible. Any time you can accomplish that, to have your athletes out in the communities speaking to your fans, you can't ask for much more" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/23)....NPSL Commissioner Steve Paxos said he has "found a buyer" for the Edmonton Drillers, but current team owner Wojtek Wojcicki is "not even aware of it." Paxos, on the new owner: "He's going to move it [to the U.S.]. ... I can't say where he would move it to because we're in arena negotiations but there's two markets he's very hot on. One could be on the west coast, the other is in the midwest" (EDM. SUN, 5/24).
