The Seahawks made a presentation to NFL owners yesterday in
an attempt to convince them that "the dispute over safety" of the
Kingdome "transcends the debate" over whether owner Ken Behring
should be allowed to move to L.A. According to this morning's
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, two key team representatives who
would comment on the presentation "weren't buying it." Both the
Steelers' Dan Rooney and 49ers President Carmen Policy said they
were unconvinced by the presentation by Ron Olson, Behring's
attorney. Quoting a King County report, Olson told owners the
Kingdome sits on a landfill that would liquify during an
earthquake, creating columns and ramps vulnerable to collapse.
King County officials admit that such a quake could cause the
facility's grandstand to collapse, and estimate the cost of
repairing the situation at $15-$20M. However, officials maintain
the Kingdome "would be one of the safest places to be" should the
"big one" hit the area. But Olson maintained his stance: "Would
the roof come down? That's a very good question. I think you
ought to ask some of the Seattle officials that question"
(Farnsworth & Boren, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 3/12).
OTHER REAX: In Anaheim, Barbara Kingsley reports that in
the wake of Olson's presentation, Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen cited
the agreement by owners not to move into L.A. and suggested that,
"on its face," Behring's maneuver looks like a "rush into the
L.A. market." Agent Leigh Steinberg, who headed the "Save the
Rams" campaign, noted that Behring could perhaps "sidestep" the
agreement by landing in Anaheim. Steinberg: "Then, the NFL
could put their own team in L.A." But Olson said the league's
L.A. resolution "matters little" and is "without a doubt an out-
and-out violation of anti-trust law" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,
3/12).
