LIFTOFF? MCNAIR'S ARENA ENDORSEMENT GIVES ROCKETS A BOOST

          Houston's NFL expansion team Owner Bob McNair     
     "unconditionally endorsed" the city's downtown arena
     agreement yesterday, calling it "'beneficial' to the
     community," according to Eric Berger of the HOUSTON
     CHRONICLE, who writes that the endorsement is "particularly
     notable for its timing," which occurred three days before
     the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority is expected to
     call a November 7 referendum on the $175M facility.  Berger
     writes that McNair was "considered a key opinion leader by
     both" the Sports Authority and its partner in the deal, the
     Rockets.  The Rockets said that without McNair's backing,
     the team "would be unwilling to support calling the
     election."  McNair is one of four community leaders the
     Rockets "have targeted" for pledges of support.  The others
     are County Judge Robert Eckels, County Tax Assessor Paul
     Bettencourt and IHL Aeros Owner Chuck Watson.  Bettencourt
     and Watson have yet to comment, but may do so after the
     Sports Authority meeting Friday (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/30).