DAVIDSON READY TO DEAL FOR LIGHTNING; GANIS SUIT IN LIMBO?

          Pistons Owner William Davidson "has come to terms" with
     Lightning Owner Art Williams "on all major facets" of the
     sale of team, but the Davidson group "continues to pore"
     over paperwork, according to Tim Buckley of the ST.
     PETERSBURG TIMES.  Pistons President Tom Wilson: "We're not
     further away.  I think we're getting closer, and the hope is
     that if not by (today), then by the weekend, we can get
     things done" (ST. PETE TIMES, 2/26).   Williams: "We're
     closer than we were yesterday" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/26).
          GANIS SUIT UPDATE: In St. Pete, Larry Dougherty reports
     that Sportscorp President Marc Ganis' federal civil suit
     against the Lightning "teetered on the edge of dismissal
     Thursday as a judge voiced doubts about whether he had
     jurisdiction to hear the case" (ST. PETE TIMES,2/26).