Anaheim's Kariya reportedly ready to sit
                   out season 
 
                   Posted: Mon October 13, 1997 at 3:59 PM ET 
 
                   ANAHEIM, California
                   (CNN/SI) -- Mighty Ducks of
                   Anaheim All-Star left wing Paul
                   Kariya is reportedly willing to
                   hold out for the entire season
                   rather than give into the Walt
                   Disney Company's
                   take-it-or-leave-it contract offer. 
 
                   The Los Angeles Times, citing a
                   league source, reported Sunday
                   that while Kariya was happy with
                   a recent offer, believed to be
                   about $7 million a season, he was
                   offended by the manner in which it was offered. 
 
                   According to the report, Walt Disney Company chairman
    Michael Eisner told Kariya that it was the team's final             offer because
of the financial hit the
                   company took in defenseman Dave Karpa's arbitration
hearing                 during the off-season. Karpa was awarded $1.7 million over two
years. 
 
                   "He told Paul they were worried about having enough
money to pay the office personnel [including secretaries]," the source told
the paper. "Paul said, 'You've got to be kidding me.' " 
 
                   According to the source, Kariya felt that this was
                   another example of Disney's "shortsighted financial
                   approach" and said so to Eisner. 
 
                   The Ducks made more than $7 million last season,
                   according to a source close to the team. In July,
                   Disney reported companywide profits of $473
                   million for the latest quarter available. 
 
                   Several weeks ago, team president Tony Tavares
                   denied the conversation between Eisner and Kariya took
     place. But he did confirm that the two men had lunch around                     the
time Ron Wilson was fired as coach on May 20. 
 
                   Kariya is also said to be irked by Anaheim's refusal to
pay for a full-time masseur to travel with the team last year. A source
said that the masseur was paid such a small salary, that Kariya offered to
house the man for much of the season. 
 
                   "It's little things like that that has Paul so mad at
Disney," the league source said. 
 
                   Don Baizley, Kariya's agent, has not commented on
contract negotiations since June. 
 
                   For the second straight season, Kariya captured the Lady
Byng Trophy, honoring the NHL's most gentlemanly player. Kariya, who turns
23 on October 16, finished second to Buffalo Sabres Dominik Hasek for the Hart
Memorial Trophy (MVP). He scored 44 goals and had 99 points. In his last
two years, Kariya has a total of 94 goals and 207 points. 
 
          The Ducks, who are 2-9-3 over the last two seasons when Kariya is
missing from the lineup, have started the season with a 1-1-1 record. In
their last game the fans booed and chanted "Kariya" throughout their 1-1
tie with the
Ottawa Senators. 
 
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