BET PRESIDENT JOHNSON WILL NOT GO AWAY IN DC ARENA DEAL

     A day after Bullets/Caps Owner Abe Pollin's proposal for a
new downtown arena in DC "cleared an important hurdle," Bob
Johnson, president of Black Entertainment Television, reiterated
his plan to build the arena with his own funds and try to buy a
share of the teams from Pollin.  Johnson will now take his fight
to Congress which must approve the project and funding.  He has
hired Republican lobbyist Tom Korologos to "press his case with
the incoming GOP leadership."  Johnson has generated a letter
with 17 signatures from GOP Senators who will not support using
city bonds when a private investor is ready to "assume the risk."
Johnson: "Am I going away?  I go away when the process is
complete" (Howard Schneider, WASHINGTON POST, 12/9).