RAY OF HOPE: SHINN TO SELL MINORITY STAKE TO WOOLDRIDGE

          Atlanta business exec Ray Wooldridge signed a
     partnership agreement with Hornets Owner George Shinn "late
     Wednesday and will be announced today as a minority owner"
     of the NBA team, according to Leonard Laye of the CHARLOTTE
     OBSERVER.  Sources said that he will pay approximately $80M
     for a 40-49% share of the franchise.  Shinn and Wooldridge
     "will each have an option to buy out the other, should one
     of the men decide to sell."  Shinn has "been sole owner of
     the Hornets for nine of their 10 NBA seasons."  Wooldridge
     recently sold his int'l modular office construction business
     in Atlanta for around $270M, and Laye writes that the deal 
     "is apparently" the first venture into pro sports for the
     Hawks season-ticket holder (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/29).