END TO THIS RIVALRY? COMPANY TO "RE-EVALUATE" BUSINESS PLANS

          "The sports world may have seen the last of Rival," the
     apparel brand jointly owned by the NHL, Mentmore Holdings
     Corp. and "a handful" of NHL players, according to Andy
     Bernstein of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL.  Rival CEO Gene
     Pease said that the company "has been forced to re-evaluate
     its business plans."  Pease said that the company has "laid
     off employees" at its offices in NC, and that the Rival
     board of managers "is considering all of our options to
     determine the future direction of the company."  Bernstein
     reports that Rival's hockey-inspired lifestyle apparel "was
     slow to catch on with consumers.  The company then pursued
     status as an official NHL jersey supplier and was widely
     expected to be granted that prized license until last week." 
     Although the NHL held an equity position in Rival, the
     company's day-to-day operations and marketing budget "were
     independent of the league" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/28).