Devils Owner John McMullen will hold a press conference
     today at Hoboken City Hall where he is expected to announced
     his "grand plan to move the Devils to a new arena,"
     according to Jon Gelberg of the Newark STAR-LEDGER.  
     According to sources, McMullen's conference will include
     architectural plans for a new arena, a "map of a
     reconfigured Hoboken, one with a new train station, new
     roads and new parking facilities," and an economic
     feasibility study.  McMullen will claim that the New Jersey
     Sports & Exposition Authority "has not lived up to its
     obligations under the team's current lease," set to end
     after the 2006-2007 season.  He also "believes" the NJSEA
     has had "secret discussions" with Yankees Owner George
     Steinbrenner about moving the Yankees (STAR-LEDGER, 12/19). 
     

          Washington Mutual Inc. is changing the names of its
     banks, including Great Western branches in CA, to Washington
     Mutual.  California Sports spokesperson Bob Steiner, on
     whether the change will affect The Great Western Forum, home
     to the Lakers and NHL Kings: "We don't know what would
     happen" (USA TODAY, 12/19)....The Miami-Dade Commission have
     approved Morse Diesel Int'l and Odebrecht Contractors of FL
     as the contractor for the new downtown arena.  The Heat
     agreed  to cap the contract at $157M (MIAMI HERALD, 12/18).