FRANCHISE NOTES

     The Vikings have sold 42,000 season tickets which is about
1,000 less than last year.  Also, there are still 15,000 seats
left for their September 1 season opener  (Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE, 8/16)....Steve Kettmann examines the A's "paltry"
attendance average of 13,270 fans and blames "lazy" people for
not coming.  With the A's bashing home runs at a record pace, A's
Owner Steve Schott can't believe that fans are "missing history
here" (San Francisco EXAMINER,8/15)....Media reaction continues
on Pat Riley and the Juwan Howard episode.  USA TODAY's Bryan
Burwell writes "Riley broke the rules in the first place with his
wink-and-smile agreement with Falk" (USA TODAY, 8/16).
Meanwhile, Peter Vecsey recounts Riley's "lame denials" and
"ludicrous contracts."   Vecsey notes, "In [Riley's] eyes, (NBA
Commissioner David) Stern is only the latest and greatest
adversary looking to take him down" (N.Y. POST, 8/16).