EDITORIAL\Don't fumble it away\L.A. officials must act quickly on latest opportunity for pro\football.

THE easy temptation is to dismiss Seattle Seahawks owner Ken Behring's effort to bring his team to Southern California. We've heard all the knee-jerk reactions: Behring is not a local owner, the team is not new, there's no immediate plan for a flashy new stadium, etc.

And yet during his first few days in Los Angeles, Behring comes off as someone not only committed to re-introducing pro football to Southern California, but to making the team an integral part of the community. For that alone, we give him credit.

Behring has done more than put on an optimistic front. Despite numerous legal skirmishes still being played out in Washington State, he understands the importance of making a good first impression in media-sensitive L.A.

To that end, he quickly announced plans to abandon the franchise's old name, colors and uniforms in order to establish a brand new identity. He also envisions his team playing in the Rose Bowl on an interim basis (although the current litigation prevents a deal being struck) and then moving into a new first-class facility.

"But we want to go further than that," he told the Daily News this week. "We want the stadium to be a place where families can come. We want to have a section where, for a small amount of money, a father and mother can bring (their) kids."

In making his case, Behring has managed to leave the potential home-grown buyers of an NFL franchise (such as the Dodgers' Peter O'Malley and Disney's Michael Eisner) a little flat-footed. It was assumed that one or more of these marquee players would want to buy their own franchise - as well as build their own stadium.

How long that might take, however, is an open question. Meanwhile, Behring's team is the only one available right now for Southern California.

We say "Southern California" because Behring is being relentlessly pursued by Orange County officials, who would like nothing more than to claim the club as their own. Already, they're closing in on a deal to have the team practice in Anaheim.

So who can stop them? We would hope Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council. If Behring is serious about delivering a team that is responsive to this community - and, of course, committed to winning - then city officials shouldn't lose any time in trying to cut a deal. If they wait around too long, our best chance for pro football next fall might be fumbled away.