71.   Murdoch has launched a blitz in recent months to snap up the channels and local sports franchises he needs to turn Fox Sports into a true rival of ESPN.

72.   Most owners thought the proposal, which would represent the record price for a professional sports franchise, is too heavily leveraged.

73.   Nearly every market that has a major-league sports franchise or is seeking one has recently built a sports facility or is looking to build one.

74.   No sports franchise is.

75.   Now we see what a professional sports franchise really is.

76.   No city south of Washington, D.C., and east of the Mississippi then had a major-league sports franchise.

77.   Nowhere is death and taxes more closely paired than for families of professional sports franchise owners.

78.   Out of necessity, the Red Sox have joined the long line of sports franchises that have gone to the local municipality and asked for a new stadium.

79.   People like to identify with sports franchises.

80.   Pax already has a deal to carry some opening rounds on the U.S. Senior golf tour next season and is looking into other NBC-related sports franchises.