BETTMAN WORKING TO GET LIGHTNING SOLD TO "LOCAL" BUYERS

          The NHL "is working feverishly" with the Lightning to
     consummate a franchise sale that NHL Commissioner Gary
     Bettman says would eliminate "99.9 percent" of the team's
     problems, according to Ira Kaufman of the TAMPA TRIBUNE. 
     Bettman said that the team's foreign ownership under Kokusai
     Green "presents unique problems for the team and the
     league," and he expressed optimism that the team would be
     sold "to domestic suitors by the fall."  His "preference is
     local ownership," as he said there are "no plans to move the
     team."  Bettman: "At this point, I'll define local interest
     as North America.  I'll take somebody within a six-hour
     flight.  How's that?"  Attorney Stephen Wayne, who
     represents Kokusai Green, "confirmed the league's expanded
     role and predicted new ownership would be in place by the
     start of next season" (Ira Kaufman, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/16).