OPENING ACT -- NASHVILLE COUNCIL EXPECTED TO APPROVE DEAL

     Nashville's Metro Council is scheduled to vote on its share
of the $292M package to lure the Oilers to TN tonight as a giant
pep rally takes place outside of the meeting.  John Williams
reports in this morning's HOUSTON CHRONICLE that the proposals --
 the first in a series of "milestones" that must be completed by
March 15 to move the club, won support Monday from the council's
finance committee.  The city must still sell enough PSLs by
December to raise $71M.  A NASHVILLE BANNER poll indicates that
only 31% of state residents approve of spending state money for
the deal, 58% oppose and 11% are unaware (HOUSTON CHRONICLE,
10/10).
     A SPORTS PARADISE?  Kevin Paul DuPont reports in Sunday's
BOSTON GLOBE that if an existing NHL team doesn't pledge a move
to Nashville soon, the league may grant an expansion team as
early as '96-97 (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/8).