SAFECO FIELD OVERRUNS TO COST M'S A-ROD OR GRIFFEY?

          Mariners execs are using the argument that if the
     organization is "forced to pay" $100M in cost overruns at
     Safeco Field, "it may not be able to hang onto its superstar
     athletes," namely CF Ken Griffey Jr. and SS Alex Rodriguez,
     according to Alex Fryer of the SEATTLE TIMES, who wrote that
     "it's a high-stakes game of brinkmanship aimed at forcing
     public officials to make a choice. ... Incur more debt ...
     or watch the team lose its marquee talent."  Seattle Public
     Facilities District Board Member Sue Taoka: "The owners have
     consistently tried to find a lever to hold over you"
     (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/4).  Griffey Jr., on ownership bringing
     his name up during cost-overrun discussions: "Every time
     this team has something come up, it's always me and Alex to
     blame. ... It's not fair to the fans, it's not fair to the
     team.  And what do Alex and I have to do with this? 
     Nothing" (Tacoma NEWS-TRIBUNE, 7/5).  CNN/SI's Mike Galanos:
     "That's great -- new stadium and no stars to play in it. 
     Baseball economics" ("Sports Tonight," CNN/SI, 7/4).  In
     Chicago, Ron Rapoport: "How about if Griffey tried to welsh
     on his contract by saying he had changed his mind?  Would
     the Mariners stand for that?" (SUN-TIMES, 7/6).
          UN-CHARTER-ED WATERS: In Seattle, Bob Sherwin wrote
     that 362 of the 900 Safeco Field Charter Club seats, which
     require license fees between $12,000-23,000, are unsold. 
     They will be "available on a game-by-game basis," meaning
     that some people "spending thousands to own a seat for 20
     years will sit next to someone spending $28." Mariners
     VP/Business & Sales Bob Aylward, on the situation being a
     problem: "We don't think so" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/4).