Les Alexander's offer to buy the NHL Oilers "was left
     in doubt after he left Peter Pocklington standing alone
     Tuesday to face a much publicized news conference about
     their deal," according to Jac MacDonald of the EDMONTON
     JOURNAL.  Pocklington said that Alexander stayed away
     because of "tough words he heard at a Monday meeting with
     Mayor Bill Smith and other city officials about preserving
     the location agreement that keeps the Oilers in town until
     2004."  Pocklington said "without question" he painted a
     fair picture of the Oilers situation to Alexander. 
     Pocklington: "He has seen all the documents, all the pros
     and cons, exactly what the local buyers have seen." 
     Alexander told Houston's KTRH radio station: "The city,
     Economic Development Edmonton and Northlands Park had to
     agree to certain conditions and without those conditions
     being met, we cannot buy the team."  MacDonald reports that
     those conditions "included dropping the location agreement
     and turning over" the C$2.8M annual ticket surcharge to the
     team (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 11/5).  Alexander, on Edmonton
     officials: "I was led to believe that they were ready to
     address some of the larger issues, that they would welcome
     me with open arms as the savior of the team.  And the
     complete reverse was true.  They were, to say the least,
     hostile.  Everything I was told was now completely reversed"
     (Neil Hohlfeld, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/5).  More Alexander:
     "My idea was to come here, be a white knight and keep the
     team in Edmonton" (Terry Jones, EDMONTON SUN, 11/5).  
          REAX: In Toronto, Al Strachan writes that if Edmonton
     agrees to modify the location clause, "it opens the door for
     an agreement that will give the Oilers an excellent chance
     of survival for the foreseeable future.  But if the city
     refuses, the outlook becomes bleak.  Unless local buyers can
     be found ... Pocklington will then sell the team to the
     highest bidder.  And that bidder will probably move the team
     to the United States" (TORONTO SUN, 11/5).  An EDMONTON,
     JOURNAL editorial: "Alexander doesn't even seem interested
     in explaining why this deal would be good for Edmonton, or
     in sitting down and negotiating with the city.  He expects
     Edmonton to buy a pig in a poke" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 11/5). 
     An EDMONTON SUN editorial: "The refusal of Edmonton's
     leaders to renege on the location agreement ... looks smart
     from any perspective" (EDMONTON SUN, 11/5).

          Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment fired Canucks President
     & GM Pat Quinn, according to Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver
     PROVINCE.  Quinn, who held the post since '87, "took the rap
     .. for his hockey club's tailspin season."  Orca Bay CEO
     Stephen Bellringer said the move "was a joint decision, a
     discussion between myself and the ownership of the Orca Bay
     organization and it was a categorically unanimous decision." 
     Quinn had one year remaining on his contract "that is
     believed to pay him" C$1.2M in base salary.  Bellringer said
     Orca Bay would negotiate a settlement (PROVINCE, 11/5).  In
     Toronto, Dave Fuller reports potential candidates to replace
     Quinn included Mike Keenan, agent Mike Gillis, former Maple
     Leafs President Cliff Fletcher and former Sabers GM John 
     Muckler (TORONTO SUN, 11/5).  USA TODAY's Kevin Allen also
     mentions NHL Senior VP Brian Burke (USA TODAY, 11/5). 

          NHL: The Hurricanes "are standing by" G Sean Burke, who
     was arrested Sunday and charged with assaulting his wife,
     saying that the incident "has given them no reason to
     suspend Burke."  The team said the Burkes are being provided
     professional assessment and therapy through the NHL's
     counsel.  Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford: "Until I see a
     reason that Sean should not be with the team I would not do
     that" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 11/5).
          GENERAL: NJ-based Worldwide Entertainment & Sports said
     it will buy the AFL Florida Bobcats from Bruce Frey (SOUTH
     FL BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/3 issue)....In Vancouver, B.C. Lions
     Owner David Braley has assumed ownership of the A-League
     soccer Vancouver 86ers (Vancouver PROVINCE, 11/4).

          Although their purchase of the Islanders has not
     received formal approval from the NHL Board of Governors
     yet, Steven Gluckstern and New York Hockey Ventures will
     name former Jaguars President & CEO David Seldin COO of the
     team today, according to Valenti & Topol of NEWSDAY. 
     Sources confirmed that Seldin will be hired and said the
     move "bodes well for a new arena."  Seldin served as the
     stadium "point man" during the construction of Jacksonville
     Municipal Stadium.  Sources add that Gluckstern, a majority
     partner in the Isles, will retain his title of President and
     oversee team operations.  Seldin left the Jaguars last
     January as President but remains a limited partner with the
     team.  Since then he has been a consultant to the NFL in
     trying to put together a team for Cleveland (NEWSDAY, 11/5).