NBA TO DELAY VOTE TO APPROVE HEAT SALE BY 2-3 WEEKS

     Whit Hudson learned Monday that NBA owners will not vote
until mid- to late-October on whether to approve his purchase of
a 40% share of the Heat.  Hudson, who plans to buy the shares of
Heat part-owners Lewis Schaffel and Billy Cunningham, hoped to
have the sale approved tomorrow at the NBA owners meeting in New
York.  But the league said the purchase will be discussed but not
voted upon.  That means Hudson must wait even longer to hire a
GM, leaving Schaffel and Cunningham in charge of team operations.
Hudson said the delay "is nothing out of the ordinary."  NBA
attorney Joel Litvin said the vote is being delayed because
paperwork surrounding the sale was not complete.  Hudson meets
with the NBA's finance committee today and Wednesday to address
any financial questions (Alex Marvez, MIAMI HERALD, 10/4).