DENVER MAYOR WANTS ANSWERS FROM ASCENT

     Denver Mayor Wellington Webb will not reopen talks on a new
arena for the Nuggets or Avalanche until the team explains "why
they can't live with a deal reached two years ago."  Ascent
President Charlie Lyons said the fact the deal was not signed is
not the city's fault, adding, "We have no one to blame but
ourselves."  Webb reportedly won't begin talks until Lyons
"explained publicly how Ascent messed up."  Webb wanted Lyons to
say last week how Ascent "was out-negotiated the first time and
can't live up to its end of that deal."  Ascent needs to begin
construction on the proposed Pepsi Center by the end of this
summer to be ready for the '98-99 NHL and NBA seasons (DENVER
POST, 5/17).