LIGHTNING DOESN'T STRIKE TWICE: MCGEHEE DENIES RUMOR OF SALE

          Lightning President Billy McGehee denied a rumor that 
     began on WXTB-FM, which said Owner Art Williams was putting
     the team up for sale, according to Kyle Parks of the ST.
     PETERSBERG TIMES.  McGehee said that Williams is "looking
     for a minority partner to ease the financial load" of a
     franchise that will lose "about" $20M this year.  McGehee:
     "Those losses aren't as important to us as our thinking that
     this is a long-term process ... We want to pitch our team as
     a good sports value, not something that has to be sweetened
     with giveaways like Beanie Babies" (ST. PETE TIMES, 12/18).