Talks Confirm Allen Wants The Seahawks

A representative of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen met earlier this week with King County Executive Gary Locke and other county officials to discuss who would be responsible for upgrading the Kingdome should Allen buy the Seattle Seahawks.

The meeting is the strongest indication that Allen is seriously considering buying the National Football League team.

The meeting preceded a 90-minute meeting in Florida Wednesday during which NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue reportedly told Seahawks owner Ken Behring that the league might levy a substantial fine against the club if it didn’t rescind its move to Los Angeles.

Locke said he was told by Bob Whitsitt, who works for Allen as general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team , that Allen “would be willing to put some money in but doesn’t want to be the only one” to fund improvements to the Kingdome.

Locke said the meeting was short on specifics because Allen doesn’t know if Behring actually would sell, or what his asking price would be.

Seattle Seahawk Cortez Kennedy has failed to take advantage of a program that would have allowed him to avoid misdemeanor charges of domestic violence for allegedly shoving his wife.

Kennedy missed a deadline Tuesday for a counseling program in which he wouldn’t have to plead guilty to the charges, but would accept responsibility for the assault and undergo intense counseling.

The Pro Bowl defensive lineman must now go to trial in April, Bellevue city prosecutor Susan Irwin said Wednesday.