MARINERS LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME ... BUT NOT IN VIRGINIA

          Acting Commissioner Bud Selig said he believes that
     Mariners' owners "plan to listen to offers from potential
     buyers outside Seattle who would move the team if they're
     allowed to purchase it," according to Mark Maske of the
     WASHINGTON POST.  But Selig indicated that MLB's leaders
     would "prefer to see the franchise remain in Seattle," and
     baseball sources said the team "almost certainly" would not
     be permitted to move to Northern VA.  Members of VA
     Baseball, headed by telecom exec William Collins, say
     they've "had no recent contact" with the Mariners and don't
     plan to "initiate any such discussions" unless they're
     cleared to do so by MLB (WASHINGTON POST, 12/18).
          GRIZZLIES, CANUCKS ... AND MARINERS?  In Vancouver,
     Neil Campbell, GM of B.C. Place Stadium, says he talked with
     Mariners' President Chuck Armstrong about offering
     Vancouver's dome as a "temporary refuge for the team," (Mike
     Beamish, VANCOUVER SUN, 12/18).