Locke’s Bill Contains Stadium Options

Just in case the King County Council is not in a tax-raising mood, Gov. Gary Locke’s new stadium-financing bill contains an option to build a stadium for the Seattle Seahawks in a neighboring county.

Key officials in the state and King County governments were surprised Friday to learn of the option, which is linked to Locke’s proposed 2.5-percent hike in King County’s tax on rental cars, a provision worth $76 million in his funding plan.

Under two small sections in the 38-page bill, Pierce County or Snohomish County could wind up hosting the NFL team if the King County Council declines to raise the car-rental tax by June 24, and one of the other two counties does.

Locke’s bill includes a provision for a statewide vote, to be held June 3, on the biggest component of the stadium plan: a 10-percent tax at the wholesale level on logo-bearing sports products and memorabilia.

Vikings release Moon

The Minnesota Vikings released Warren Moon as expected when the 40-year-old quarterback turned down a $500,000 offer to back up Brad Johnson next season. Moon’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, said it was an amicable parting, and he expected Moon to sign elsewhere in the next couple of weeks.

Houston, Seattle, Tampa Bay and St. Louis may be interested.

Quick kicks

William “The Refrigerator” Perry told the Lancaster (S.C.) News that he is interested in returning to the NFL, especially if he can play for Mike Ditka, his former coach with the Chicago Bears who is now coach of the New Orleans Saints… . St. Louis Rams running back Lawrence Phillips has been charged with property damage, leaving the scene of an accident and driving with a revoked license after driving his HumVee into a 5-foot tall pillar at the entrance to his Forest Hills Country Club neighborhood in west St. Louis County Jan. 30… . Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard met with the New England Patriots on Friday. The free agent’s 99-yard kickoff return was a key play as Green Bay defeated New England 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI.