Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 18, 1994                   TAG: 9402180269
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BALTIMORE GETS CFL FRANCHISE

Canadian Football League commissioner Larry Smith on Thursday formally introduced Baltimore as the league's 11th franchise. Speros, who worked nearly a year to land the team, saw his effort reach fruition in a ceremony attended by Smith, several CFL team owners and two of the league's biggest names, quarterbacks David Archer and Doug Flutie.

The team, which cost Speros $3 million, will begin its training camp under coach Don Matthews in June and open its season in July.

The team colors will be royal blue, white, black and silver. The nickname, if Speros has his way, will be the Colts. An NFL official wrote Smith a letter threatening a lawsuit if Speros uses the same nickname as the Indianapolis Colts (formerly the Baltimore Colts).

The NFL finance committee voted unanimously to approve James B. Orthwein's sale of the New England Patriots to Robert Kraft. The vote clears the way for sale to be considered by team owners during their meeting Tuesday at Orlando, Fla. Approval of 75 percent of the owners is required.

Matt Millen, who played on four Super Bowl champion teams, is leaving CBS to join Fox as an NFL analyst. Millen began broadcasting in 1992 after a 12-year career as an NFL linebacker. He won two Super Bowls with the Raiders and one each with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins.