Franchise Notes

In Denver, Charlie Brennan reports the Lakers hired attorney Patrick Burke, who represented Patsy Ramsey after the disappearance of her daughter, JonBenet, to "advise the team on the progress" of Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case. Attorney Craig Silverman: "The Lakers have had a huge investment in Kobe Bryant — and they are contemplating a further investment — so this is only prudent and proper on their part" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/7).

T-MAC ATTACK: The AP's Joel Anderson reported the Rockets have sold almost 650 season tickets since acquiring Tracy McGrady from the Magic June 29. Rockets VP/Marketing Tim McDougall: "The trade has got us an extra boost. To get people to focus on basketball at all this time of year, that's pretty good. The phones were ringing all day after the trade" (AP, 7/6).

TICKET TAKERS: The Padres as of Friday had sold 2,560,690 tickets, topping their all-time home attendance record of 2,555,901 set in '98. Season-ticket sales are over 20,100, surpassing the initial goal of 17,500 for the first season at Petco Park and shattering the club's previous high of 12,854 in '85. The Padres rank third in ticket sales gains from last season at 50.9%, trailing only the Marlins (73.2%) and Phillies (72.1%) (Padres)....In Jacksonville, P. Douglas Filaroski reports the Jaguars expect to sell 2,000 additional season tickets by September, meaning the team would start the season with 55,000 season-ticket holders, about 2,000 more than '03. The Jaguars "did not replay last season's advertising blitzes in January and April but will launch a direct mail campaign July 10 and ads on TV, radio, print and billboards July 19" (BUSINESS JOURNAL OF JACKSONVILLE, 7/2 issue).