Allen Still Interested In Hawks

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen says he’s interested in the Seahawks. He’s been interested for several months.

And, according to his spokeswoman, Susan Pierson, one of Allen’s advisers met with King County Councilman Peter von Reichbauer recently to discuss buying the team.

Von Reichbauer said Friday he believes Seahawks owner Ken Behring and a potential buyer could agree on a sales price for the team as soon as this weekend. His conversations with Behring about such a sale began four weeks ago, von Reichbauer said.

“I’ve talked independently with them both and I’m convinced that they’re close enough that they will be able to resolve their financial differences,” von Reichbauer said.

The Federal Way Republican wouldn’t identify the potential buyer, beyond saying that he has “strong Northwest ties and is recognized nationally for his financial stability.”

It’s no secret the would-be buyer is Allen.

Allen spokeswoman Pierson stopped short of saying Allen and Behring are at the negotiating table.

“As we’ve said in the past, Mr. Allen has stated that if the team were for sale, he would take a look at it. However, to date no one has notified us that the team is for sale,” Pierson said Friday. “As a fan, he hopes they stay in town.”

Allen owned 55.7 million shares of Microsoft stock as of October. Microsoft stock closed at $93 a share Friday, putting Allen’s stake at around $5.2 billion.

Willing landlords

The Seahawks are starting to smell like Roses for the NFL-deprived football fans of Southern California.

The general manager of Pasadena’s Rose Bowl said Friday his stadium stands ready and waiting to be the interim home of the Seahawks or any other football team relocating to the area. And at least one group attempting to build a stadium in the Los Angeles area was clamoring for the Seahawks.

Hollywood Park racetrack owner R.D. Hubbard, who wants to build a $250 million football and entertainment complex in Inglewood, was the first to issue a public statement about the Seahawks. His efforts are bolstered by a pledge of $35 million from the city to help build the stadium and woo a franchise.

Earlier this month, Anaheim city officials announced plans to build an NFL stadium as part of a 159-acre development near Disneyland and Anaheim Stadium. The Rams played in Anaheim Stadium before they left the city for St. Louis.

Neither Disney officials nor officials from the city of Anaheim would comment on the Seahawks’ situation Friday.

NFL a bystander

As a team owner with few or no allies in Seattle or the National Football League, Behring appears to be a lone wolf in his movement of the Seahawks out of the Kingdome and Seattle.

But that doesn’t mean the NFL can or will try to do anything to stop him.

Friday, the league stood by as Behring became the fifth owner in a year to initiate an unauthorized move.

NFL spokesman Joe Browne said the league has no plans to step into the fray.

Browne said the league will address the Seahawks’ situation at its owners meeting Thursday and Friday in Chicago.

Topping the agenda of that meeting is the proposed move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is expected to deliver the league’s findings on the planned move.

The NFL’s decision on Cleveland, and the city’s legal action against Browns owner Art Modell, will be closely scrutinized by other teams.

NFL insiders say they expect the Browns to move to Baltimore. They also say that if a team like the Browns can be moved out of Cleveland, then no team is safe.

“The only ones safe are the people in Green Bay,” said Kansas City Chiefs spokesman Greg Carr, “because they own the team.”

Headquarters closed

There were no moving vans at the Seahawks’ headquarters Friday, but there may be some soon.

On the day Behring announced he was taking the franchise out of Seattle after 20 seasons, headquarters doors were locked and guards were posted in the lobby and parking lot.

Most of the club’s 50 employees were gone by early afternoon. Most players were not to be found.

But Kevin Mawae, a two-year starting guard, made clear he was angry about the move. He said he loves Seattle and bought a house just six months ago.

“It’s ridiculous,” Mawae said. “If the owners want to do something, they just do it.”