CIVILITY AT CIVIC ARENA: PENGUINS PAY AS CITY ENDORSES TEAM

          After the Penguins "agreed to pay $500,000 toward its
     tax debt," Pittsburgh City Council members were asking fans
     to "support the financially troubled franchise," according
     to Jon Schmitz of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE.  Council
     member Jim Ferlo: "We need to fill these stands in the
     coming weeks and months."  Schmitz writes that the team will
     make the initial payment of $500,000, monthly payments of
     $30,000 on the remaining debt and bi-weekly payments of
     taxes accruing from this years games, with any remaining
     balance paid in Dec. '99.  The Penguins owe the city "an
     estimated" $1.5M in amusement taxes.  The team will also
     "drop its lawsuit" against the city.  The deal is subject to
     the approval of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Bernard Markovitz and
     is "hinged" on the team's ability to secure a $20M loan from
     Societe Generale.  Penguins interim CEO J. Garvin Warden
     said that the unpaid taxes had been a "major credibility
     issue" hurting the team at the gate (POST-GAZETTE, 11/13).