SHARKS LOOK TO BUY CITY RINK AND RUN LOCAL CAROUSEL

          The Sharks have plans to "take over operation of both
     the Ice Centre of San Jose and a new carousel" soon to open
     across the street from San Jose Arena, according to Barry
     Witt of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS.  The city will pay the
     team $136,022 a year to run the carousel, play area and
     restrooms near the arena.  The team's non-profit Sharks
     Foundation will also contribute $500,000 over 10 years
     toward the carousel's $1.7M construction cost.  An agreement
     for the Sharks Foundation's $1.1M buyout of the Ice Centre
     interests of Los Altos developer David Mariani's Griffin
     Foundation is "still in the works."  Sharks President Greg
     Jamison said that the team wants control of the Ice Centre
     "to improve scheduling for practices and to expand the
     Sharks' involvement in community programs."  Johnson said
     that once the deal is finalized, ice rink customers can
     "expect to see improved management" (MERCURY NEWS, 9/22).