Relocation Of Business

Anaheim city officials, hoping to have the Seattle Seahawks to anchor their proposed Sportstown complex, had their first meeting with team owner Ken Behring over the weekend. Mayor Tom Daly and City Manager James D. Ruth met with Behring but would not reveal details of the meeting. Daly described it as a "get-acquainted chat." "He was very cordial," Daly said. "Obviously, the first order of business for him is clearing up the situation in Seattle."

The city's Redevelopment Agency has won an achievement award from an industry publication for the agency's efforts to improve the city's downtown. Business Facilities magazine's annual economic development achievement award was presented to the agency at the City Council meeting Tuesday. The awards are given to agencies showing innovation and creativity in a long-term project to spur economic growth, officials said.

While NFL owners gather here to vote on the Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore and to talk about the Seattle Seahawks' jump to the Southland, battle lines were being formed in Los Angeles. Seven of the 15 members of the Los Angeles City Council urged Mayor Richard Riordan on Wednesday to "work more aggressively and effectively" to bring the Seahawks to the Coliseum, rather than let the team play in the Rose Bowl or Anaheim.

Los Angeles has become an unwitting pawn in an intense chess game between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington's King County. Or Los Angeles is about to get another professional football team. These conflicting news bulletins surfaced almost hourly Thursday, saying the Seahawks, who are prepared to break their Kingdome lease, are leaving Seattle for Los Angeles, or--hold on--the Seahawks are staying in Seattle.

My mind is trying to picture it. Seahawk caps turned backward on California kids. Seahawk stickers on San Diego Freeway bumpers. Seahawk ticket info on a Sunset Boulevard bus. I have heard of birds flying south for the winter, but this is ridiculous. Don't look now, boys and girls, but we might be back in the National Football League. The date is Feb. 2, this is Groundhog Day, and life is repeating itself.

First Curt Warner, then Chuck Knox, and now, the Seahawks? Is that how far we've fallen? Southern California, dumping ground for every sporting institution Seattle no longer wants or can afford? And if that's the truth, when will Randy Johnson be making it down? Would the first Sunday in April be convenient? The Seahawks say they are leaving Seattle and planning to play home games here next season, which begs another question, or three. Were we consulted on the matter?

The owner of the Seattle Seahawks said Saturday his organization is close to finalizing details with the Magnolia School District for the use of Rams Park in Anaheim, and said his team will be moving there "very soon," possibly by this week. Anaheim city officials, who have been preparing the park for a new tenant, said they will immediately begin negotiations with team owner Ken Behring to bring the Seahawks to their city permanently.

The race is on to catch the fancy of Seattle Seahawk owner Ken Behring, and the city of Anaheim believes it has a head start. James D. Ruth, Anaheim city manager, said Saturday it is his understanding that the city will begin "an exclusive six-month negotiating period" to win the right to build a new stadium for the Seahawks, who will move this week into the same administrative offices and training site vacated by the Rams last June.

Ken Behring, owner of the Seattle Seahawks, said Saturday he is committed to immediately bringing his football team to Los Angeles with the dream of moving into a state-of-the-art football facility for the 1998 or 1999 season.

At the former Juliette Low Elementary School, where the Rams trained from 1979 until they left for St. Louis last spring, the once well-manicured practice field has become overgrown with weeds. The lone remaining goal post tilts to the right and the front gate is still welded shut.