NOTHING COULD BE FINER THAN HOCKEY IN CAROLINA

     While Hornets Owner George Shinn expects to hear proposals
this week from both Raleigh, NC and VA Beach, VA, he "may be
leaning toward" the former in his pursuit of an NHL expansion
club, according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.
Raleigh is proposing a 20,000-seat, $100M arena near NC State's
Carter-Finley Stadium and about $66M has already been promised
toward construction of the facility, which would also house
Wolfpack basketball.  Shinn said he sees a "big opportunity" to
pair an NHL franchise with the Hornets in the same region.
Shinn: "Imagine the leverage you'd have with a SportSouth. ...
you could start your own [regional] television network."  Shinn
noted talks have begun regarding a team name, (possibly Rhinos),
mascot and colors (teal, purple and black).  Alexander Julian,
who designed the Hornets uniforms, has been contacted regarding a
hockey uniform (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/22).