A plan to return the Seahawks to Seattle -- at least on a
temporary basis -- "fell apart yesterday afternoon" as Owner Ken
Behring "apparently backed out." This morning's SEATTLE P-I
reports that local officials thought they were close to a deal to
return the team to its Kirkland, WA, training facility, but the
deal faltered. Both NFL Dir of Communications Greg Aiello and
Behring's attorneys were "vague" as to whether any progress had
been made on returning off-season workouts to WA (Boren &
Farnsworth, SEATTLE P-I, 3/21). In yesterday afternoon's SEATTLE
TIMES, team President David Behring said he didn't expect to
travel to New York to meet with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
about the decision to hold off-season workouts in Anaheim. Local
officials and the media believe that may mean the team is close
to returning to WA to avoid a possible $500,000 fine from the
league (Smith & Almond, SEATTLE TIMES, 3/20). PARTY-TIME,
CALIFORNIA-STYLE: Ken and David Behring met with Anaheim and
Orange County political and business officials on Wednesday and
will be the guests of honor at a "grand fete" in Newport Beach,
where about 200 people are expected to attend (ORANGE COUNTY
REGISTER, 3/21).
THE PAUL ALLEN ANGLE: Susan Pierson, a spokesperson for
Microsoft co-Founder Paul Allen, denied rumors Allen was losing
interest in purchasing the Seahawks. Pierson, who said Allen,
also owner of the Blazers, was out of town on business: "He's
the fourth wealthiest man in the world. He has 30-odd other
businesses. He has other things to do than think about this all
day" (SEATTLE P-I, 3/21). The Kingdome concession contract
"could be a factor in enticing Allen." Allen owns the concession
company that services Portland's Rose Garden. Ogden
Entertainment's contract with the Kingdome expires after the '96
season (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/20).
MORE STICKS IN THE SPOKES: Seahawks DE Cortez Kennedy
brought the NFLPA into the matter, filing a grievance protesting
the lack of workout facilities in WA. As part of his contract,
Kennedy is scheduled to earn $200,000 for participating in off-
season conditioning, but he contends the contract stipulates
workouts occur in Kirkland. The agent for Seahawk Sam Adams says
he may also file a grievance, if the team doesn't cover losses
due to higher CA taxes (Clare Farnsworth, SEATTLE POST-
INTELLIGENCER, 3/21).
