LAND DEAL FOR AIR CANADA CENTRE COMPLETED

     The Raptors' "complicated land deal" to build their new
arena has been completed, according to David Israelson in today's
TORONTO STAR.  Raptors President John Bitove:  "The lawyers have
finished negotiating and we expect to receive the executed copies
this week."  Bitove says the ball is now in "city council's
court"(TORONTO STAR, 2/28).
     LONELY LEAFS?  The TORONTO STAR's hockey notes section
speculates the Leafs "might have missed the boat" by not
announcing plans for a new Maple Leaf Gardens before the Raptors
unveiled their new home.  By doing so, the Leafs could have
likely "induced the big lenders to shy away from the Raptors."
Now, however, the Raptors "will almost certainly bring" an IHL
team to the Air Canada Centre, leaving the Leafs "on their own"
(TORONTO STAR, 2/28).