Allen Wants To Buy; Behring Won’t Sell
Microscoft co-founder Paul Allen is an interested buyer. But Seattle Seahawks owner Ken Behring isn’t an intersted seller.
“There isn’t a whole lot happening,” said Bob Whitsitt, who is the general manager for Allen’s Portland Trail Blazers and handles Allen’s growing sports enterprises. “If Ken Behring puts the team for sale, Paul will be interested in taking a look at it.”
Whitsitt, former GM of the Seattle SuperSonics, spent an hour talking to King County politicians this week to show Allen’s legitimate interest as a potential buyer. That’s been the only activity from Allen’s side.
“Have we met with Behring? No,” said Whitsitt, who said he was amazed about the number of incorrect reports linking Allen and Behring in various meetings.
“Were there meetings scheduled with Behring? No. There are a lot of politicians trying to set up meetings, but there haven’t been any meetings and there aren’t any planned.”
But King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer said daily conversations with Behring have convinced him Behring wants to sell the team. He said Friday he would continue to work during the weekend on setting up a meeting between Whitsitt and Behring.
“I think he will sell the team when the timing is right,” von Reichbauer said.
Money matters
Although quarterback Warren Moon of the Minnesota Vikings was acquitted on a misdemeanor assault charge when his wife took part of the blame for their altercation last year, the trial did provide a closer look at how the big money an athlete makes can affect his personal life.
Moon said, “I didn’t know at the time that it (the big contract he got in Houston) would affect our relationship, but obviously it did a little bit.”
His wife, Felicia, said she started spending a lot of time shopping because Moon was gone so much.
“I spent a lot of money,” she said. “My free time would be basically spent at the mall. It would be $5,000 here, $2,500 there. We had so much money in the bank, I didn’t think it would be that big a deal.”
She ran up $160,000 in credit card bills and Moon decided it was a big deal, and it led to one of their altercations.
Answer man
Illinois linebacker Kevin Hardy was one of several prospects who took the New York Giants’ 570-question exam during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. And to one of its weirdest questions - “Do you like tall women?” - Hardy gave one bright answer.
“I crossed out the T and wrote, ‘I like all women,”’ he said.
Jumbo deals
Tackle Jumbo Elliott, a mainstay of the Giants offensive line for eight years, used the free-agent route to move to New York’s other team, the Jets. Elliott agreed to a five-year deal said to be worth between $15 million and $16 million.
The Philadelphia Eagles said they had signed Miami free-agent cornerback Troy Vincent to an offer sheet, giving the Dolphins seven days to match the offer.
Vincent has been a starter with the Dolphins since the 1992 first-round draft pick entered the NFL. He earned $1 million last year. Terms of the offer sheet weren’t disclosed. But Miami must give Vincent $2.08 million, the average of the top 10 cornerbacks in the league, in order to keep the transition player on their squad.
Around the league
Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy offered former Buccaneers and Redskins quarterback Doug Williams a position as offensive assistant, but Williams declined because he wants a more substantial post… . In signing with the Carolina Panthers as an unrestricted free agent, 6-foot-7-inch, 340-pound tackle Greg Skrepenak felt that after five seasons with the Raiders he needed a fresh start. “I was No. 78 with the Raiders, and automatically Art Shell was always the comparison,” said Skrepenak. “That’s kind of unfair to a player like me - or any player - because he’s a Hall of Fame tackle.” … Baltimore asked former Redskins coach Richie Petitbon to come out of retirement to become defensive coordinator, but he rejected the offer.