KING COUNTY TELLS MARINERS NOT TO EXPECT SAFECO BAILOUT

          King County, WA, officials "are ready -- even eager --
     to pop the Mariners trial balloon about getting more public
     money to cover cost overruns of the club's new ballpark,"
     according to Neil Modie of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. 
     With Safeco Field experiencing cost overruns, team execs
     "have informally queried" members of the state Public
     Facilities District about refinancing the stadium bonds. 
     But Mariners Dir of Public Information Rebecca Hale said the
     team has never made a formal proposal for more money, "so
     unless and until there is, it's all just speculation on
     everyone's part."  The team has "promised to pay all costs"
     above the $372M public share, and the budget has currently
     "soared" to $517M.  King County Council member Larry
     Phillips introduced a motion yesterday stating that the team
     should not receive any of the $336M in taxpayer-financed
     bonds issued to build the ballpark.  County Council member
     and ballpark advocate Rob McKenna: "The door isn't open at
     all (for a bailout) as far as I can see" (P-I, 5/25).