SHINN SPEAKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF POSSIBLE NEW LEASE DEAL

          Hornets Owner George Shinn, "in his first public
     comments since a woman accused him of sexual misconduct in
     September," gave his support yesterday to a lease deal
     between the team and the city to "possibly keep the Hornets
     in Charlotte long term," according to Dan Chapman of the
     CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.  The City Council still must approve the
     lease which "could" keep the team in the Coliseum until
     2004.  Shinn said in a statement: "The Hornets organization
     wants to remain a strong contributor to this city, on and
     off the court, heading into the next millennium."  Chapman
     writes the "reworked lease would satisfy the Hornets' short-
     and long-term needs" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/13).