NASHVILLE DEMANDS OILERS DECISION BY OCT. 20, OR NO DEAL

     Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen told the TENNESSEAN that if
the Oilers cannot decide on a move by October 20 -- the end of
the two parties' exclusive negotiating period -- all deals are
off.  Bredesen: "This is not going to go on forever, we are all
busy people.  I would expect an agreement to come out of it that
the Oilers would take to the NFL."  Bredesen is reportedly under
fire from critics who say he is being used by the Oilers to get a
better deal from Houston.  Meanwhile, in Texas, a District Judge
"gave the Oilers their first victory" by ruling that he has
jurisdiction over a suit filed by the team to prevent local
parties from blocking a relocation.  The judge ruled against
Houston, Harris County and Astrodome USA's bid to move the case
to state court -- where they "believe they have a better chance"
(John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/25).