FRANCHISE NOTES

     The N.Y. POST's Neal Travis writes to look for former MSG
President Bob Gutkowski to buy a stake in the Islanders.
Gutkowski's Marquee Group has had informal talks with Islanders
ownership (N.Y. POST, 4/9)....NFL owners will vote on the Oilers
move to TN in a special meeting April 30 in Atlanta.  Although
the league "will not admit it, the timing of the vote is designed
to give incentive to Nashville-area voters," who vote on May 7
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/9).....More speculation on the fate of the
Whalers:  In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman notes his sources say the
Whalers will move to San Diego where an arena will be built, and
the Oilers will move from Edmonton to Portland (Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE, 4/7).  In Tampa, Tom Jones writes the front-runners for
the Whalers are Atlanta, Cleveland and Nashville (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
4/7).