NHL: In Edmonton, prospective local owners of the NHL
Oilers met with Premier Ralph Klein "to discuss a possible
role for the province in saving the financially troubled"
team (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 12/9)....In FL, NHL Panthers
President Bill Torrey said that he "expects" the team to
purchase the AHL expansion franchise previously awarded to
FL broadcast exec Bill Paxson. He added the team could play
at the Miami Arena (MIAMI HERALD, 12/7)....The Senators
unveiled their third jersey with a red background. It will
be worn eight times after the All-Star break (Senators).
OTHER NOTES: ABC's Al Michaels interviewed Cowboys
Owner Jerry Jones at halftime of last night's Panthers-
Cowboys "MNF" game. Jones, on his involvement in next
year's coaching process: "I got involved in the NFL because
I was passionate about the game, about football. I enjoyed
playing it. But I think it'll stop short of me being the
head coach of the Dallas Cowboys ("MNF," ABC, 12/8)....The
N.Y. POST reports that the Yankees dismissed Hideki Irabu's
interpreter, Kota Ishijima, and four other non-uniformed
employees "three weeks before Christmas." Also dismissed
were equipment manager Nick Priore, massage therapist
Michael Silverwise, video coordinator Carl Taylor and
consulting psychiatrist Fran Pirozzolo. The Yankees had no
comment in the report (N.Y. POST, 12/9)....The Indians sold
600,000 tickets over the weekend in the first two days that
'98 general admission seats were put on sale (Indians).
