NAMES IN THE NEWS

          NASCAR's BILL FRANCE, recovering from a mild heart
     attack, is preparing for his trip home (N.Y. TIMES, 11/26)..
     ..The EDDIE ROBINSON Gala, honoring the retiring Grambling
     coach, will be held Saturday at the Hyatt Grand Regency
     Hotel's Grand Ballroom in New Orleans, LA (Robinson
     Gala)....SI for Kids readers voted for their Top 5 athletes
     of '97.  MICHAEL JORDAN led the voting, followed by TIGER
     WOODS, KEN GRIFFEY JR., TINO MARTINEZ and DOMINIQUE MOCEANU
     (SI for Kids).....Ballantine Publishing has released "Shark
     Among Dolphins: Inside JIMMY JOHNSON's Transformation Of The
     Miami Dolphins" written by STEVE HUBBARD (Ballantine).
     ....DAVID LETTERMAN, on MICHAEL JORDAN's restaurant opening
     in NYC: "I didn't invest in Michael Jordan: The Steakhouse. 
     No, I've got all my money tied up in HIDEKI IRABU: The Sushi
     Bar."  More Letterman: "Yeah, it's a pretty good location,
     Michael Jordan: The Steakhouse.  It's right next to DENNIS
     RODMAN's The Big & Tall Men's Dress Shop" (CBS, 11/25).