RUMORS AND INNUENDO? GRETZKY THRILLED TO BE W/ COYOTES

          If Coyotes co-Owner Wayne Gretzky "wants out" of his
     bid to purchase the team, he "had a strange way of telling
     it" during a radio interview Tuesday on KGME in Phoenix,
     according to Tim Tyers of Faceoff.com.  Gretzky said in the
     interview, "I really believe this is going to be a great
     franchise and we're really excited about it.  I can say now
     that I'm probably more excited about it than two months ago,
     when I was really elated."  Gretzky said that "at the
     insistence" of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, he has "taken
     a step back and maintained a low profile" until the purchase
     from outgoing Owner Richard Burke is completed.  Gretzky
     added that he is "confident [it] can be completed within the
     next 30 days."  Gretzky: "It's just a matter of dotting the
     I's and crossing the T's to put it together.  You have to
     remember it's a $90 million deal and it takes time to put
     together" (Faceoff.com, 8/9).