GREAT ONE READY TO GAIN CONTROL IF ELLMAN CLOSES DEAL?

          Wayne Gretzky "will have control" over the Coyotes'
     hockey operations after AZ developer Steve Ellman completes
     a $10M transaction with outgoing team Owner Richard Burke on
     Friday, according to Bob McManaman of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. 
     Burke, on the ownership transfer: "There won't be any
     further extensions, because I don't expect them to ask for
     any."  McManaman adds that Ellman "has not said publicly why
     he asked for the delay" of payment from last Wednesday, but
     Gretzky's involvement in his investment group "apparently is
     connected to it."  It is "believed" that Gretzky "will
     immediately receive" 10% interest in the team with future
     holdings of 20% "or more" once the Los Arcos arena project
     is complete.  If Ellman "fails to meet" Friday's deadline,
     "the deal is off" and Burke's "two options" would be to
     "scramble to find local investors," or sell the team to
     "willing out-of-town suitors" who "would likely want to
     relocate the franchise" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/23).