FRANCHISE NOTES

          IBL VP/Basketball Operations George Blaney announced
     that Jacksonville has lost its IBL franchise because its
     ownership group failed to meet certain obligations (FLORIDA
     TIMES-UNION, 4/21)....The Devil Rays drew 17,660 last night
     against the Orioles despite having a 7-7 record entering the
     game.  The crowd was the smallest ever at Tropicana Field
     for a Devil Rays game (ST. PETE TIMES, 4/21)....In Edmonton,
     Jim Matheson writes under the header, "Can The Red Wings Buy
     Another Cup?"  Kings President Tim Lieweke, on the Red
     Wings' spending: "I think it's a crime.  It's like baseball. 
     I see no suspense there" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/21)....A's 3B
     Eric Chavez, on Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, with whom he has
     taped several team promotions: "I don't think he knows too
     much about baseball.  He said some things that were kind of
     out there" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/20).