A STERN WARNING: WILL ROCKETS CONSIDER MOVE W/OUT NEW ARENA?

          NBA Commissioner David Stern said that if the vote for
     a downtown Houston arena fails, Rockets Owner Les Alexander
     "could eventually consider offers from other cities like New
     Orleans or Baltimore," according to John Williams of the
     HOUSTON CHRONICLE.  Stern: "It's not constructive to issue
     ultimatums, but everybody understands what's at stake here. 
     The NBA has an exciting team there.  We have expressed
     confidence in the market.  Les Alexander has stepped up and
     brought championships in his men's and women's teams.  He
     has spent millions.  He doesn't talk about the alternative,
     and I don't want to either because our focus is how to do
     the best for the franchise."  But arena opponents "quickly
     dismissed" Stern's comments, saying that the city "should
     wait for a better deal before approving Tuesday's referendum
     on the arena proposal."  Harris County Republican Chair Gary
     Polland: "Stern is a shill for the Rockets, he will endorse
     whatever the Rockets want" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/29).