Seahawk Notebook -- 54,500 Not Enough To Lift TV Blackout

KIRKLAND - Telecasts of Sunday's Seattle Seahawk game against Tampa Bay can be seen in many Northwest cities, but not in the hometown of the Seahawks.

With only 54,5000 tickets sold for the 65,000-seat Kingdome game between slumping teams, the Seahawks yesterday announced another local TV blackout.

The game will be carried on Fox network affiliates in Spokane (KAYU, Channel 28), Portland, KPDX, Channel 49) and Yakima (KCY, Channel 68).

KCPQ (Channel 13) will carry the New Orleans vs. Raiders game.

Three of the four previous home Seahawk games this season have been blacked out. The only game televised live in Seattle was the Oct. 9 visit by Denver, which was carried on Channel 5 (KING).

Next week's home game, against Kansas City and quarterback Joe Montana, is likely to be on TV because 62,000 tickets have been sold. Only 54,000 tickets have been sold.

Notes

-- Before Sunday's game, from 12:40 p.m. to 12:48 p.m., a film crew will shoot a scene on the Kingdome field for the upcoming movie "The Ox and the Eye." The film stars Gregory Hines and Vince D'Onoffrio. The scene will show D'Onoffrio's character playing one of his final games as a Seahawk.

-- The Seahawks were down to four healthy linebackers yesterday after Bob Spitulski left practice early when a hamstring muscle tightened. Spitulski is listed as questionable for Sunday.

David Brandon (groin) didn't practice but is expected to play. Duane Bickett (back) didn't practice and isn't expected to play.

Other players who didn't practice and probably won't play Sunday are wide receiver Michael Bates (groin) and defensive end Michael Sinclair (groin). Cornerback Patrick Hunter (hamstring) tried to practice but went in early.

-- Middle linebacker Rod Stephens leads the Seahawks in tackles in the past two games with 24. Stephens said the improvement in his play coincides with improvement of a nagging right-ankle injury.