FRANCHISE NOTES

     The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports the Coyotes may be in the hunt
for free-agent Wayne Gretzky.  Gretzky is said to be considering
Phoenix if he doesn't resign with the Blues (ARIZONA REPUBLIC,
6/17)....Former ABA Commissioner Mike Storen has been invited to
interview for the Nets GM job (N.Y. POST, 6/16)....Fall River,
MA, officials want to lure the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox with
plans for a new $18M stadium (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/15)....ESPN's Mitch
Albom, on Phil Jackson's statements following John Calipari's
Nets deal: "Phil Jackson -- for all his spirituality, and the
peaceful way in which he coaches and all the Indian artifacts on
his wall -- decides in the middle of the Finals to bring up how
much money he wants for next year.  What happened to
concentrating on the task?" ("The Sports Reporters," 6/16).