Deron Treadwell wrote:
>
>                      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.
>
>                    ) 1997 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
 
  I wish I was as financially strapped as the Mighty Ducks and Disney
are!
 
John Duffill