MARINERS WILL NOT SPEARHEAD NEW STADIUM EFFORTS

     Mariners VP Paul Isaki said a matter of "very Japanese"
dignity prevents the team from heading up efforts to build a new
ballpark, according to the Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE.  Addressing the
King County Council budget committee, Isaki said that Nintendo
President Hiroshi Yamauchi considers his '92 purchase of the team
a "gift" and could never consider asking taxpayers to build him
stadium.  Isaki said any vote on a tax would have to be held in
'95 since the Mariners will need a new home before their Kingdome
lease expires at the end of '96.  Budget Committee Chairman Peter
von Reichbauer:  "The average person is going to question the
Mariners' commitment. ... They should be leading the charge
financially and physically" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/1).