NHL LOOKING TO START THEIR SEASON LATER?

     Penguins Owner Howard Baldwin is reportedly set to propose
that the NHL start their season three weeks later next year to
"remove conflicts with the World Series."  Baldwin could make his
suggestion at the NHL Board of Governors Meetings in December in
Florida.  Larry Wigge of THE SPORTING NEWS writes if the league
starts on November 1 in '97 and the takes off 14 days for the '98
Games, "will the season be over by August?" (TSN, 11/27 issue).
     NEWS & NOTES: In Montreal, Jack Todd questions whether new
Avalanche owner COMSAT knew about the lawsuit from former players
which could potentially cost $800M and "drive most American teams
to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection" (MONTREAL GAZETTE,
11/27)....After reviewing a quarter of the NHL season, the N.Y.
TIMES' Joe Lapointe analyzes the "low crowd count" and asks again
whether the '94 lockout was "worth it" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/26).