SOME FEEL DELAY ON 2002 PLAY IS OVER LACK OF TV COMMITMENT

          Aside from "paperwork," the NHL and NHLPA have delayed
     a decision on the league's players participating in the 2002
     Olympics because of a disagreement "on how long the break in
     the schedule" will be, according to sources of Bruce
     Garrioch of the OTTAWA SUN.  One NHL exec: "The last time we
     did, it wasn't worth it because we didn't get good
     television exposure and I think it took away from the
     momentum of the season. ... The league has to get some
     benefits out of it and we don't want to shut down" for two
     weeks (OTTAWA SUN, 12/12).  In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont
     wrote that the NHL "still can't decide" on participation
     because network TV "still isn't promising enough money or
     enough prime viewing hours" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/12).