OSCAR GOODMAN EVER THE OPTIMIST ON BRINGING TEAM TO VEGAS

          Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was profiled on CNN/SI's
     "Page One" by Nick Charles, who reported that Goodman's
     "latest wager is that he can lure the NBA and NHL to a town
     that can't pave over the desert fast enough."  Charles said
     that bringing an NBA or NHL team to the city "would probably
     mean the end" of pro sports betting in Las Vegas.  Goodman:
     "The NHL is just a small amount of the sports business, I
     think less than 4%.  It's characterized with the `other,' as
     far as golf and tennis. ... As far as the NBA, it's about
     12% of the amounts bet here."  Fiesta Hotel & Casino
     President and Kings co-Owner George Maloof: "There's still a
     little concern from some of the casino companies probably,
     that might compete a little bit with what they're trying to
     do and take the visitor or their guest away from the gaming
     tables for that three hours while the game is going on.  To
     me, that's little short-sighted" ("Page One," 10/23).