WILL KARMANOS' WHALERS BE GHOST OF XMAS PAST IN HARTFORD?

          Whalers Owner Peter Karmanos said yesterday that "if he
     had to decide today, he would move his team to the St. Paul
     (MN) Civic Center," according to an AP story citing a report
     in the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.  Karmanos told the newspaper
     that the only two options he's considering are St. Paul, MN,
     and Columbus, OH.  Karmanos has called for a new arena,
     saying the Hartford Civic Center is unable to meet the
     revenue requirements to keep the team from posting operating
     losses (AP/PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/20).
          IN HARTFORD: An editorial in the HARTFORD COURANT says
     that Karmanos and CT Gov. John Rowland need to "work with
     each other" to resolve the team's future in Hartford, adding
     that "ideally" a new offer from the Rowland administration
     "would include realistic ways to channel more revenue to Mr.
     Karmanos, whether it be from television rights, parking,
     concessions or the sale of more luxury boxes and season
     tickets.  No one expects the Whalers' owner to run a
     philanthropic organization" (HARTFORD COURANT, 12/20).