Adelphia Communications and Sabres Owner John Rigas
announced the closing of Patmos Inc.'s complete acquisition
of the team from the Knox-Buffalo Group. Patmos, the new
General Partner of the Sabres, is owned by John, Timothy,
Michael and James Rigas (Sabres). In Buffalo, Kevin
Collison wrote that the NHL approved the buyout of the
team's "dozen minority partners that has been in the works
for two years" (BUFFALO NEWS, 7/27)....In Dallas, Jean-
Jacques Taylor writes that the Cowboys "will honor" late
coach Tom Landry with a patch on the upper left chest of the
team's jersey this season "resembling Landry's trademark"
fedora (DMN, 7/28)....In Orlando, Tim Povtak writes that
since June 12, when the Magic completed their season-ticket
renewal process, they have sold 800 new season tickets.
Their season-ticket renewal rate was approximately 90%,
which "is in the upper third" of the NBA (SENTINEL, 7/28).
MINOR LEAGUE: In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs reports that the
CBA Pride "appear set to leave" Hartford's State Armory for
the New Haven Coliseum. Jacobs: "Good. The Pride should
move. ... After seven years of tourniquets, the franchise is
dead here." Pride co-Owner Brian Foley said he may look at
another minor league team, said, "You've got to be careful
with these leagues. I've looked at the IHL, AHL, CBA in real
detail. They say 7,000 attendance. That means 4,000.
They're not audited. When you go to sign the franchise
agreement you have to disavow the numbers. You can never
sue them. The numbers are phony" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/28).
