ALEXANDER SAYS HE'LL DROP SUIT, EXPECTS NEW ARENA

          Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander said Thursday he "will
     drop his lawsuit to get out of Compaq Center before his
     lease expires in 2003 because he is satisfied officials will
     have a new arena by then," according to John Williams of the
     HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Alexander has spent "about three years"
     trying to get a new arena in Houston, arguing that the team
     can't stay competitive without luxury suites, club seats and
     "other revenue boosters."  Harris County-Houston Sports
     Authority member Michael Stevens said that the Authority had
     "started preliminary negotiations with Alexander."  In other
     news, Alexander said he will "renew efforts" to acquire 25%
     of the Vikings with a new investor group after Tom Clancy
     withdrew his bid on Wednesday (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/22).