NHL CALLS FOR SILENCE IN WAKE OF ISLANDERS OWNERSHIP DISPUTE

          The NHL has "ordered representatives of embattled
     Islander Owner John Spano and former Owner John Pickett to
     stop talking to the media," according to Colin Stephenson of
     the N.Y. DAILY NEWS.  Stephenson writes that "one source
     speculated the order may mean that some sort of resolution
     to the problem must be close" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/8).  
          UN-FESTIVE HOLIDAY: A report in Sunday's NEWSDAY by
     Moritsugu, Fessenden, Riley, et al, said that documents
     obtained by NEWSDAY showed that Spano "has left a tangled
     trail of bounced checks and unmet promises stretching across
     three continents."  NEWSDAY reported that Spano "owes
     $85,000 in late property taxes and penalties" on his mansion
     in TX, "bounced a $1.6 million check to some South African
     business partners in April."  NEWSDAY added that "officials
     at Nordstrom," the Seattle-based retailer that Spano told
     partners "he was cultivating, say that they've never heard
     of him, and that a supposed purchase order from the store is
     bogus."  Spano also "became embroiled in a dispute" with a
     Dallas law firm over $254,000 the firm charged Spano to
     research the purchase of the NHL Stars.  Spano told NEWSDAY
     that he "still has substantial assets" of more than $200M
     and that some of the "broken deals were misunderstanding." 
     Spano: "My businesses are fine" (NEWSDAY, 7/8).
          SPANO'S RESPONSE: Spano faxed a release to the media
     Sunday "reiterating he has the money to wrap up the deal to
     purchase the Islanders," according to the N.Y. DAILY NEWS'
     Colin Stephenson.   Spano "claimed" he is "being assaulted
     by former owner John Pickett, who is trying to regain
     control of the team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/7).  Also in N.Y.,
     Peter Botte wrote that the release "indicated Spano's
     comments came in response to 'the leak' of what he called a
     'slanderous arbitration memo' written last week by members
     of Pickett's legal team 'to orchestrate a ridiculous
     renegotiation on the terms of our agreement'" (N.Y. POST,
     7/7).  Spano spoke with Terry Egan of the DALLAS MORNING
     NEWS yesterday.  Spano: "I'm the owner; there is no question
     about that. ... The dispute really is between two
     businessmen. ... The team is in a much better position now
     than when he sold it."  Spano said he also spoke with
     Pickett on Sunday and the two had a "good" talk (DALLAS
     MORNING NEWS, 7/8).  On Sunday, N.Y. POST hockey writer
     Larry Brooks commented on the Islanders dispute.  He wrote
     that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "acted as the matchmaker
     in the marriage that once had seemed to guarantee the team's
     viability."   Brooks: "We can only wonder what Bettman ...
     thinks of the ugly and sordid affair that not only threatens
     the Islanders, but his credibility and the credibility of
     the NHL office, as well" (N.Y. POST, 7/6).
          WHEN IT RAINS...: Also in N.Y. Phil Mushnick reported
     that the team's radio carrier, WLIR-FM, "wants out" of its
     deal one year through a three-year deal.  Mushnick: "The
     station feels the club sold it a bill of goods by
     misrepresenting potential ad revenue" (N.Y. POST, 7/7).