Sonics will move to OKC for 2008-09 season. Sonics name stays with Seattle

[206kid]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008030229_sonitrial02.html


They just settled.

[Nets fan 93]

^^ Ouch

[BlazersDozen]

This is going to change pro sports forever. Mark my words. All these teams not selling out games but are winning and can't get out of their lease with their city will now buy out the lease, go to court and point to this and will win the case. Next up, Tampa Bay Rays.

[JordanL]

This is going to change pro sports forever. Mark my words. All these teams not selling out games but are winning and can't get out of their lease with their city will now buy out the lease, go to court and point to this and will win the case. Next up, Tampa Bay Rays.

They can't point to this if they settle and there's no ruling, because then there would be no precedent.

[yeesterbunny]

:(

[veilside23]

sad day for all sports fans..

[crisoner]

man....thats f*cking bullsh*t.

The bizz side of things always f*cks things up.

[206kid]

sad day for all sports fans..

co-sign :mad: :mad:

[WorldWarriors]

Sorry Sonics fans. That's messed up.

[DuMa]

David Stern, big **** you for not doing anything.

[BlazersDozen]

They can't point to this if they settle and there's no ruling, because then there would be no precedent.

Oh , didn't know they settled. I thought the judge ruled.

Dammit, no Rays in Portland anytime soon then.

[DCMC]

*pours out a lil liquor*

[nba_55]

What happened to the Sonics?

[Beebo]

There goes the closest NBA team people in Vancouver will have. Well...I guess there's always Portland.

[plat1numX]

i cant say that i care:oldlol:

[gts]

have to wait for the press conference to hear the deatils... kinda surpised because as i understood the city's case was based on keeping the sonics there no matter what, they had turned down offers of buyouts before...

[RobertSwift31]

Yeah I'll have to wait to hear the details of the settlement. Seattle has said that Cash is not good enough, and it is basketball that we want. Also, the settlement was rumored to have been held up by Howard Schultz not wanting to drop his case. Apparently he will still go through with his lawsuit even though there is some sort of setttlement.

[Raj Da Dodge]

ok what happened? I don't get this?

[Attila]

ok what happened? I don't get this?
I don't understand it either but then again to understand something you got to care a little.

[gts]

ok what happened? I don't get this?well it appears that after a few days in court because the two parties couldn't reach a deal, today before the judge made her ruling both sides realized they could come to some form of understanding...lol

[BlogOFfatman]

I dont live in Seattle so I couldnt care less if I tried. I actually do care... now Kevin Durants home games are a 3 hour drive north.

[RagingBull33]

:( R.I.P
http://www.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0222/nba_g_johnson_395.jpg

[Timmeh]

Maybe Seattle will get an expansion team like Charlotte when the Hornets moved out.

Maybe add 2 expansion teams, one in Seattle and the other in St. Louis or Las Vegas (to make 32 teams), and move New Orleans and Memphis to the Eastern Conference. See? Problem solved.

[BlogOFfatman]

Maybe Seattle will get an expansion team like Charlotte when the Hornets moved out.

Maybe add 2 expansion teams, one in Seattle and the other in St. Louis or Las Vegas (to make 32 teams), and move New Orleans and Memphis to the Eastern Conference. See? Problem solved.

So we can degrade the NBA product even more? No thanks... we need to take away teams, not add them.

[1987_Lakers]

So we can degrade the NBA product even more? No thanks... we need to take away teams, not add them.

I agree 100%

[knickballer]

So we can degrade the NBA product even more? No thanks... we need to take away teams, not add them.


More teams will be better for the NBA. More teams=more city's=more fans=more money

I will love to see more teams in the NBA.

[RobertSwift31]

Preliminary details on Settlement: Bennett gives seattle $75 Million. That number is changed to $45 Million if Seattle can get another team.

[SCY]

Yeah, as much as it sucks for Seattle to be losing a team, it will suck even more if the NBA feels the need to add another team there. New Orleans or Memphis should have lost their team, no one goes to the games whether they're good or bad.


More teams will be better for the NBA. More teams=more city's=more fans=more money

I will love to see more teams in the NBA.

Unless you work for the league why would you give a sh.t how much money they have? More teams = worse quality.

[DKLaker]

Oklahoma Okies? Oklahoma Hommies? Oklahoma Laters? :wtf:

[1987_Lakers]

More teams will be better for the NBA. More teams=more city's=more fans=more money

I will love to see more teams in the NBA.

Yea, just add more teams so a team with total scrubs can win the NBA championship and give the NBA Finals 5.0 ratings.:lol

[veilside23]

Oklahoma Twisters .... cant think of a better name ...

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

perfect name veilside. perfect!

[DMizzle]

this is weak.

[knickballer]

Yea, just add more teams so a team with total scrubs can win the NBA championship and give the NBA Finals 5.0 ratings.:lol


Adding 3 teams won't make the nba worst. Considering their are more and more players in the draft and alot more talent the NBA won't really have scrub teams if you only add 3 more teams.

[BlogOFfatman]

Oklahoma Twisters .... cant think of a better name ...


Fits the region but Twisters arent exactly loved in Oklahoma, dont think that name would be very fond with the locals.

[veilside23]

perfect name veilside. perfect!



:lol thanks man:cheers:

[Valliant13]

Adding 3 teams won't make the nba worst. Considering their are more and more players in the draft and alot more talent the NBA won't really have scrub teams if you only add 3 more teams.

The NBA is already watered down. When you factor in growing strength of the Euro leagues (and how a weak American dollars makes them even more competitive) the NBA already has signs of talent bleed on the horizon. Three more teams would significantly dilute the product...and give them a uneven number in one of the conferences.

[stephanieg]

Adding 3 teams won't make the nba worst. Considering their are more and more players in the draft and alot more talent the NBA won't really have scrub teams if you only add 3 more teams.

The NBA has too many scrub teams now.

But if it's profitable it will be done.

[crisoner]

Weak man..........

The Sonics will be back. They are already talking about a plan to have a new team in Seattle. (Kind of like what happen to the Browns in the NFL)

But what sucks is B-ball will not be in Seattle for a lil while and they will lose Durant etc.

[BlogOFfatman]

Weak man..........

The Sonics will be back. They are already talking about a plan to have a new team in Seattle. (Kind of like what happen to the Browns in the NFL)

But what sucks is B-ball will not be in Seattle for a lil while and they will lose Durant etc.

Durant will be close to Texas now, where he went to college.

[veilside23]

The NBA is already watered down. When you factor in growing strength of the Euro leagues (and how a weak American dollars makes them even more competitive) the NBA already has signs of talent bleed on the horizon. Three more teams would significantly dilute the product...and give them a uneven number in one of the conferences.

stern has plans to acquire three teams from Europe right? so adding teams wont hurt NBA because it adds profit and viewers too but its tiring for player if that happens... road games will be tough specially if you will go visit the home teams from Europe.

[highwhey]

More teams will be better for the NBA. More teams=more city's=more fans=more money

I will love to see more teams in the NBA.
you forgot this =more Luke Walton's

[rezznor]

Oklahoma Thieves

[1987_Lakers]

Adding 3 teams won't make the nba worst. Considering their are more and more players in the draft and alot more talent the NBA won't really have scrub teams if you only add 3 more teams.

Adding teams has been bad for the NBA. In the 80's there were only 23 teams in the NBA and the league was in great shape. Now there are 30 teams in the NBA and its really hurt the NBA. Just look at some of the teams in the Finals these past years.

2001 76ers
2002 Nets
2003 Nets
2007 Cavs

If these teams played in the 80's or 90's they would have no shot to make the NBA Finals. They might of gotten a #6-#8 seed in the playoffs at best. And with these teams in the finals the NBA Finals ratings have gone down signifficantly. With the Nets in the finals in 2003 the finals recieved a 6.5 rating. The Cavs in the finals in 2007 the finals recieved a 6.2 rating. (least watched NBA Finals seires ever) There is no need to add more teams.

[RobertSwift31]

Clay Bennets first lines "We Made It"

What a grimey mother ****er

[veilside23]

Clay Bennets first lines "We Made It"

What a grimey mother ****er


clay bennet is an a$$hole :wtf:

[BlogOFfatman]

clay bennet is an a$$hole :wtf:


How is he an a$$hole? Because he wants to do something great for his howntown? Seattle had every chance to keep them, just replace the worst arena in professional sports and he would have no argument or chance to move them. All Seattles fault.

[RobertSwift31]

How is he an a$$hole? Because he wants to do something great for his howntown? Seattle had every chance to keep them, just replace the worst arena in professional sports and he would have no argument or chance to move them. All Seattles fault.
Yeah because we're going to pay for his $500 Million arena when at the same time OKC is paying only $100 million or so. Bennett set Seattle up to lose a team, not putting any of his money forth when he knows voters are going to reject a half a billion dollar arena. He just had to make it look like Seattle didn't want a team by making all of these ridiculous requests.

[RoseCity07]

OKC is just a terrible basketball city. Lakers, Portland, and Seattle are suppose to be the 3 big teams that take up the entire west coast. Now Portland is the only team truly in the North West.

THE OKC team is going to be a hated franchise in my view. I hope it fails miserably and they have to movie again (possibly back to Seattle).

[stephanieg]

THE OKC team is going to be a hated franchise in my view. I hope it fails miserably and they have to movie again (possibly back to Seattle).

Better yet they can just be deleted along with Memphis. And...

Minnesota
Milwaukee
Indiana
Cleveland
Charlotte
Toronto

I doubt it though.

[Trax416]

The next teams that will be added to the NBA, will be Asian or European, to globalize the game, attract more young kids, who will hopefully develop into more young talent.

If Stern can tap into the European and Asian market, then more little kids in other parts of the world will play basketball, more countries will fund junior basketball programs, and the amount of talented players will sky rocket in 30-40 years, as those young kids grow up, and the programs mature.

The Hornets should be bought out and moved to Seattle. NO doesn't deserve a team.

[hotsizzle]

They have to change the team name (sonics) and colors. Sweet

[Trax416]

Better yet they can just be deleted along with Memphis. And...

Minnesota
Milwaukee
Indiana
Cleveland
Charlotte
Toronto

I doubt it though.

Toronto is one of the biggest basketball markets now, and growing.

[veilside23]

The Hornets should be bought out and moved to Seattle. NO doesn't deserve a team.


you are so insensitive... after the typhoon the city rebuild and held the all star there so that the city will be revived... :banghead:

[Trax416]

you are so insensitive... after the typhoon the city rebuild and held the all star there so that the city will be revived... :banghead:

The >Hurricane< happened in 2005, and didn't affect much of the rich areas. It was generally the poor wards, ghetto's, and mid-level areas that were totally wiped out.

As bad as this sounds, the poor aren't the ones going to basketball games, and NO has more then enough people, who have homes, and jobs and a life to go see the team.

They magically sell out whenever Kobe, Wade, Lebron are in town, but most of the season people couldn't care less about the team.

I can under stand merchandise sales dropping to the floor. Thats expected. People without a ton of money are the ones who buy the posters, cards, jerseys and support the team via merchandise. However the well off people are the ones who go to the games, and they simply aren't.

If Baghdad can sell 75k $20 tickets to watch Iraq player a soccer game, I think NO could at least put a decent amount of people in the stands.

Also, what was there excuse last time they lost their team?

[Aldridge Fan]

Just heard about this while driving home. Sad day for the Northwest. :( It's like losing a brother or something. You're welcome to visit the Rose Garden Seattle. Any time. :cheers:

An Oklahoma team just sounds gay. WTF. :ohwell:

[RainierBeachPoet]

Oklahoma Twisters .... cant think of a better name ...

oklahoma RAIDERS

fu(k bennett and fu(k all the worthless seattle pols who blinked for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

too many "ifs" in this settlement


i will always refer to this team as the oklahoma RAIDERS

[RainierBeachPoet]

Oklahoma Okies? Oklahoma Hommies? Oklahoma Laters? :wtf:

oklahoma RAIDERS

fu(k bennett and fu(k all the worthless seattle pols who blinked for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

too many "ifs" in this settlement


i will always refer to this team as the oklahoma RAIDERS

[RainierBeachPoet]

perfect name veilside. perfect!

oklahoma RAIDERS

fu(k bennett and fu(k all the worthless seattle pols who blinked for the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

too many "ifs" in this settlement


i will always refer to this team as the oklahoma RAIDERS

[RainierBeachPoet]

Fits the region but Twisters arent exactly loved in Oklahoma, dont think that name would be very fond with the locals.

OKC RAIDERS

[Aldridge Fan]

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2008-w15/img.188408_t.jpg

[RainierBeachPoet]

Weak man..........

The Sonics will be back. They are already talking about a plan to have a new team in Seattle. (Kind of like what happen to the Browns in the NFL)

But what sucks is B-ball will not be in Seattle for a lil while and they will lose Durant etc.

durant's a chucker anyway

[veilside23]

Also, what was there excuse last time they lost their team?


the only season that they have a healthy peja and david west .. plus they lose 7 games to the SPURS no excuse but i wont be surprise if they will make it to the WCF next season... as long as they can make the right move to get a good backup for mo pete or a better starter than mo pete.. I hate to go off the topic but just answering your question.

[RainierBeachPoet]

Oklahoma Thieves

not bad...

but not as good as

OKC RAIDERS

[RainierBeachPoet]

clay bennet is an a$$hole :wtf:

not as bad as howard $$$$hultz

[RainierBeachPoet]

How is he an a$$hole? Because he wants to do something great for his howntown? Seattle had every chance to keep them, just replace the worst arena in professional sports and he would have no argument or chance to move them. All Seattles fault.

would you fu(king get educated? that is not the issue at all

ignoramus (go ahead look it up)

[Aldridge Fan]

Here's the new fans.

http://www.olny.nl/Research_Recherche/Memoires_Theses/okies.jpg

[RainierBeachPoet]

OKC is just a terrible basketball city. Lakers, Portland, and Seattle are suppose to be the 3 big teams that take up the entire west coast. Now Portland is the only team truly in the North West.

THE OKC team is going to be a hated franchise in my view. I hope it fails miserably and they have to movie again (possibly back to Seattle).

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

i will be be cheering so hard for their demise

[RobertSwift31]

not as bad as howard $$$$hultz
Don't speak on him too much until all of the details come out in his trial

[RainierBeachPoet]

They have to change the team name (sonics) and colors. Sweet

that is what that fu(ker bennett wanted all along

marketing fresh start

you think they wanted to be called the supersonics?

they are the OKC RAIDERS

[RainierBeachPoet]

Just heard about this while driving home. Sad day for the Northwest. :( It's like losing a brother or something.

it does feel like a big loss for me

can anyone else tell that i am pissed?

[RainierBeachPoet]

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2008-w15/img.188408_t.jpg

and he is a thief too!!!

[RainierBeachPoet]

Don't speak on him too much until all of the details come out in his trial

it will be the ONLY way for him to redeem himself

[RainierBeachPoet]

please forgive me for flooding this thread... as you can tell, i am pissed and this is my way to vent

[gts]

not as bad as howard $$$$hultz because he sold the team to bennett or?

honestly just wondering why the angst with him? (not to say it's not deserved, i just hav'nt follwed along close enough to know all the in and outs)


please forgive me for flooding this thread... as you can tell, i am pissed and this is my way to vent vent away

[Aldridge Fan]

it does feel like a big loss for me

can anyone else tell that i am pissed?I feel for ya bro. I grew up watching some of their games at Key Arena and visiting the city. Lots of precious memories.

[mlh1981]

I also feel terrible for anyone who is employed with the organization. I read that the Sonics employ over 1200 people in Seattle. For a lot of those people, it's probably going to hit them hard.

[veilside23]

I also feel terrible for anyone who is employed with the organization. I read that the Sonics employ over 1200 people in Seattle. For a lot of those people, it's probably going to hit them hard.
:( :cry: :cry: :cry: damn :banghead:

[fiddy]

Big deal...

[veilside23]

Big deal...

trolls not needed in this thread as of this moment... :eek: :violin:

[RainierBeachPoet]

because he sold the team to bennett or?

honestly just wondering why the angst with him? (not to say it's not deserved, i just hav'nt follwed along close enough to know all the in and outs)

vent away

shultz could have easily sold the team to local investors. he was pissed because of the revenue deal with key arena which was the worst (for owners) in the nba

it seemed like, to some of us, that he sold it to the okc guys out of spite and only later realized what could happen

[RainierBeachPoet]

I also feel terrible for anyone who is employed with the organization. I read that the Sonics employ over 1200 people in Seattle. For a lot of those people, it's probably going to hit them hard.

and you think bennett might give a flying sh!t

those are jobs that okc will pick up

[Timmeh]

Adding Euro and Asian teams wouldn't work. The foreign teams would be at a disadvantage because they would always be on 12 hour flights between road and home games and the domestic teams would also suffer with a 12 hour flight to the foreign teams.

If you're going to try to go international, put a team in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Puerto Rico, Mexico City, or Panama.

[gts]

shultz could have easily sold the team to local investors. he was pissed because of the revenue deal with key arena which was the worst (for owners) in the nba

it seemed like, to some of us, that he sold it to the okc guys out of spite and only later realized what could happen
ahh ok thanks for the incite... so he knew when he sold the team that there was a chance it would be moved for the same reasons he was having problems and instead of finding a buyer that would work with the city he just went for the cash out instead, or worse did it to punish the city...

[nosurrender]

he's done many great things for the NBA in the past (i'm talking more than a decade ago), but nowadays I think he's getting a little too old for this job. he's pulling a lot of bush league (no pun intended) moves. The NBA audience is mostly young adults. We need new blood in that front office.

I always thought stern was comparable to george bush and stu jackson to dick cheney

whenever i hear news about them, i hate them more

He knows a lot more about the sonics and their rich history more than we do. He saw the franchise grow, and now that they're not producing bucks as much as they used to, he stabs them in the back. AS THE COMMISSIONER HE HAD EVERY RESPONSIBLITY TO AT LEAST APPEAR TO FEEL SYMPATHY FOR SEATTLE. NEVER HAS HE DONE that. He was encouraging bennett all the way, AND DID SO OPENLY IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA. GET YOUR OLD ASS OUTTA HERE

fu*k david stern

[RainierBeachPoet]

ahh ok thanks for the incite... so he knew when he sold the team that there was a chance it would be moved for the same reasons he was having problems and instead of finding a buyer that would work with the city he just went for the cash out instead, or worse did it to punish the city...

if he didnt know, he is the most naive motherfu(ker in the world

[Aldridge Fan]

and you think bennett might give a flying sh!t

those are jobs that okc will pick up

Bennett is a punk b?tch.

[Scott Pippen]

wow. very sad:( Bennett is greedy money hungry pig. I feel bad for seattle fans

[Scott Pippen]

trolls not needed in this thread as of this moment... :eek: :violin:

that is lakers fan. why do you waste your time responding?:(

[RainierBeachPoet]

i started this thread over a year ago:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50272

today is a very sad day

[Da Hammer]

i'm happy about this. nothing against the city of seattle but here in texas now i can keep up more with their team the night that they are actually playing instead of having to wait till the next day because of how late they play. i like them because of my boi Kevin Durant and they are building an exciting young team. good for OKC and well bad for seattle... lol

[gts]

i wonder what the judges ruling would have been on this? since they settled seems like to me both sides were not real confident they had presented the best arguments to the court

[RainierBeachPoet]

he's done many great things for the NBA in the past (i'm talking more than a decade ago), but nowadays I think he's getting a little too old for this job. he's pulling a lot of bush league (no pun intended) moves. The NBA audience is mostly young adults. We need new blood in that front office.

I always thought stern was comparable to george bush and stu jackson to dick cheney

whenever i hear news about them, i hate them more

He knows a lot more about the sonics and their rich history more than we do. He saw the franchise grow, and now that they're not producing bucks as much as they used to, he stabs them in the back. AS THE COMMISSIONER HE HAD EVERY RESPONSIBLITY TO AT LEAST APPEAR TO FEEL SYMPATHY FOR SEATTLE. NEVER HAS HE DONE that. He was encouraging bennett all the way, AND DID SO OPENLY IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA. GET YOUR OLD ASS OUTTA HERE

fu*k david stern

stern works for the owners so i partly understand why he did what he did for bennett

but it wasnt good for the league; certainly not good for seattle

but i am with you

fu(k bennett and stern

[tsforthrees]

growing up, seattle just seemed like a team that defined the nba. they had some really great players and i loved their jerseys. it doesnt seem right that they're gone

[Hawker]

stern works for the owners so i partly understand why he did what he did for bennett

but it wasnt good for the league; certainly not good for seattle

but i am with you

fu(k bennett and stern

Is that the first time RBP has cursed on these boards?

[RainierBeachPoet]

i wonder what the judges ruling would have been on this? since they settled seems like to me both sides were not real confident they had presented the best arguments to the court

yeah, both sides blinked in this

the city was soooo confident until they hit the poisoned well drama with slade gorton and wally walker working the back rooms to perhaps get other buyers for the team after they milked bennett for $$$$$ with the court case

in the end, the seattle pols did what they thought would give them the most $$$$ and keep the door open for a team in the future.

the big "ifs" are:

if they could convince the state legislature to extend the safeco field tax

and

if they can convince the nba to get us a new team

i am not optimistic here

seems like the city just wanted to maximize the $$$$ to me and be done with it

[RainierBeachPoet]

growing up, seattle just seemed like a team that defined the nba. they had some really great players and i loved their jerseys. it doesnt seem right that they're gone
it is not right indeed

that is why i am using ish to vent right now:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

[Jailblazers7]

This is unfortunate. I think they should leave the Sonic name and jerseys in Seattle and start fresh in OKC. Similar to when the Browns moved to Baltimore. Maybe some day the Sonics can arise again just like the Browns did.

[tsforthrees]

This is unfortunate. I think they should leave the Sonic name and jerseys in Seattle and start fresh in OKC. Similar to when the Browns moved to Baltimore. Maybe some day the Sonics can arise again just like the Browns did.

yeah i agree. even tho im not a fan of the sonics, if this was happening to the nuggets my greatest hope would be that we would get an expansion team and we could start all over again, clean. if i knew any sonics fans i would buy them a drink tonight cuz this is pretty unfair.

[Zan Tabak]

My condolences to all Sonic fans (all 3 of you jk lol) ..but seriously ..I hate to see any team move..this sucks!

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

I think they should leave the Sonic name and jerseys in Seattle and start fresh in OKC.

imagine that and damn i just heard somebody get shot.

[gts]

imagine that and damn i just heard somebody get shot.???

[ForceOfNature]

This whole thing is unfortunate. The Sonics were one of the first teams I remember watching - the one that went to the 1996 Finals, and had that wonderful lineup of Kemp, Payton, Schrempf, Hawkins, Perkins. - I was just talking to my friend about this today lol. But yeah, Seattle is the most intelligent major city in the U.S. and now they are losing an NBA team. Dumber fans are coming back (not really dissing OK City, I'm just angry at the Sonics' management), and instead, the Memphis Grizzlies should have moved to OK City, not the Sonics. Maybe the Grizz can move to Seattle...

[RainierBeachPoet]

Is that the first time RBP has cursed on these boards?

its the first time the sonics have ever moved

[Dasher]

**** him with this:

http://www.neu.edu/aac/images/fist.png

[kobedaman24]

This is unfortunate. I think they should leave the Sonic name and jerseys in Seattle and start fresh in OKC. Similar to when the Browns moved to Baltimore. Maybe some day the Sonics can arise again just like the Browns did.
That's what's going on...

[browntown]

The NBA well come back to Seattle within another 6-10 years. But I agree with you guys Sterns should step down in the near future.

[RobertSwift31]

shultz could have easily sold the team to local investors

False

[Trax416]

the only season that they have a healthy peja and david west .. plus they lose 7 games to the SPURS no excuse but i wont be surprise if they will make it to the WCF next season... as long as they can make the right move to get a good backup for mo pete or a better starter than mo pete.. I hate to go off the topic but just answering your question.

I am talking about the Jazz.

I know NO is good, which is why the fact nobody supports the team is pathetic.

Imagine they moved to Seattle? The support they would get is mind boggiling.

[veilside23]

RBP .. i wonder how much money clay bennett gave to stern to get the approval of moving seattle to OKC ... :confusedshurg:

[veilside23]

its all about the benjamins stern probably knew that his time to be changed is near that's why he agreed to approve the movement just for him to have $$$ before he sits his a$$ off... talk about a life insurance :banghead:

[Raj Da Dodge]

well it appears that after a few days in court because the two parties couldn't reach a deal, today before the judge made her ruling both sides realized they could come to some form of understanding...lol
ok what parties and what court, i'm talking about the whole story? like I don't know what happened at all, why did they have a hearing at court, what happened originally? I'm wondering the whole story:confusedshrug:

[veilside23]

ok what parties and what court, i'm talking about the whole story? like I don't know what happened at all, why did they have a hearing at court, what happened originally? I'm wondering the whole story:confusedshrug:


reading is something go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Supersonics

go to the Relocation to Oklahoma City you will see the answers

In 2006, the Sonics were sold to an investment group led by Clayton Bennett, who said the team would stay in Seattle if a new arena complex was built. Yet, in August 2007, Sonics co-owner Aubrey McClendon announced publicly to The Journal Record that, "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here." After receiving a private warning from NBA commissioner David Stern, Bennett responded, assuring Stern that, "As absolutely remarkable as it may seem, Aubrey and I have NEVER discussed moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City, nor have I discussed it with ANY other member of our ownership group or better yet go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_SuperSonics_proposed_relocation_to_Oklahom a_City

[RobertSwift31]

ok what parties and what court, i'm talking about the whole story? like I don't know what happened at all, why did they have a hearing at court, what happened originally? I'm wondering the whole story:confusedshrug:

The sonics have always had a bad lease on the Key Arena with Seattle. Howard Schultz, former owner, was losing too much money, and sold the team to Clay Bennett and a group from OKC. Clay promised to make a "good faith" effort to keep the team in Seattle. This "Good Faith" Effort consisted of complaining about the lease, getting Stern to deem the Key Arena unsuited to play basketball in, and propose a 100% Publicly funded arena in Renton, WA (South of Seattle). Seeing that this arena would cost $500 million, and not one cent would come from Bennett, it was shot down in the vote. To Bennett, this meant that Seattle wanted no part of the NBA. However, he still had a lease with Seattle until 2011 to use the Key Arena (From old ownership). Realizing the outrage that would come up if the city did nothing, the city sued Bennett for trying to break the lease early, trying to keep the team in Seattle for two more seasons (This trial). Today, the two sides settled out of court.

Howard Schultz also realized that Bennett never had any intention of keeping the Sonics in Seattle. He is now suing for Breach of contract, hoping to get the team back. This trial will probably start at the end of the summer (rough guess).

[Valliant13]

please forgive me for flooding this thread... as you can tell, i am pissed and this is my way to vent

If Toronto had it's team stolen I'd be smashing up cars with a baseball bat. Any fan that really feels a connection to their team has to empathize with the sonics plight. Vent away.

[Valliant13]

The NBA well come back to Seattle within another 6-10 years. But I agree with you guys Sterns should step down in the near future.

Stern was pretty hardline during the stadium negations. He might just keep another team out of there as prove of his wrath when cities don't capitulate to a stadium shakedown.

[lovethetriangle]

Sorry sonics fans. Must be like losing a family member.

You're welcome to jump on any team without being called bandwagoners.

[Rockets(T-mac)]

This is just sad, they have so much history... the Payton/Kemp era the Ray Allen era... Damn

This is sad. Sad day for the NBA and the Sonic fans.

[silencespeak]

**** clay bennett and **** david stern. those ****ing ****heads should've never pulled the **** they did. screwing over all of seattle and damaging the league. **** them.

[sonicman]

**** clay bennett and **** david stern. those ****ing ****heads should've never pulled the **** they did. screwing over all of seattle and damaging the league. **** them.

I agree

cant believe the supersonics aren't going to be in the NBA any more?
its not right that someone can buy the team and just move it wherever the **** they want

[DKLaker]

OKC RAIDERS


Please No, I'm an Oakland Raiders fan......lol

[tsforthrees]

whatever team name that could possibly be associated with okc will indubitably be much worse than the supersonics. this alone should have persuaded those idiots to stay in seattle

[Howard Schits]

According to KJR (sports radio talk) here in Seattle; Seattle is the only major sports team in recent history that won a champion and then left the city.

Shame on you, NBA.

[Kumo]

Rip :(

[Howard Schits]

$45 millions, egh? The city can blow that in 2 months for some dog poop trainning park.

[jaydacris]

sonics definitely gave seattle a nice finale game

[Lakers Legend#32]

The deepest darkest sewer pit in hell is reserved for Clay Bennett, David Stern and Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols for selling out to these Oklahoma scum bags.

[DJ Leon Smith]

Can someone photoshop David Stern's head onto this pic?

http://www.stevemandich.com/uploaded_images/blogxavier-705767.jpg

[ShawnieMac06]

The sonics have always had a bad lease on the Key Arena with Seattle. Howard Schultz, former owner, was losing too much money, and sold the team to Clay Bennett and a group from OKC. Clay promised to make a "good faith" effort to keep the team in Seattle. This "Good Faith" Effort consisted of complaining about the lease, getting Stern to deem the Key Arena unsuited to play basketball in, and propose a 100% Publicly funded arena in Renton, WA (South of Seattle). Seeing that this arena would cost $500 million, and not one cent would come from Bennett, it was shot down in the vote. To Bennett, this meant that Seattle wanted no part of the NBA. However, he still had a lease with Seattle until 2011 to use the Key Arena (From old ownership). Realizing the outrage that would come up if the city did nothing, the city sued Bennett for trying to break the lease early, trying to keep the team in Seattle for two more seasons (This trial). Today, the two sides settled out of court.

Howard Schultz also realized that Bennett never had any intention of keeping the Sonics in Seattle. He is now suing for Breach of contract, hoping to get the team back. This trial will probably start at the end of the summer (rough guess).

That's all well and true...but, let's not forget earlier in the decade, the city of Seattle and the state of Washington spent about $1 billion building new stadiums for the Mariners and Seahawks, as well as pouring in millions more years eariler in rebuilding what eventually became KeyArena. In that alone, I can't blame the folks in Washington state and the Seattle area for having to foot the bill for another new or rebuilt sports facility.

It's going to be different for sure not having Seattle as a NBA city. At least Bennett and his goons had what little decency to leave the history, name, and colors where they belong.

[ukballer]

The conclusion reached unfortunately is the one nobody really wanted except the business heads :(

I've never followed Seattle much since watching the NBA, though I loved watching Ray and Rashard playing together, especially that playoff year a few seasons ago. Obviously they have a lot more pedigree and history than that but I've only been watching the NBA for about 6 years now, but its so sad its come to this.

I feel awful for the Sonic fans and I hope you get an expansion team as early as possible if thats any consolation, which it probably isn't.

[Kumo]

Can someone photoshop David Stern's head onto this pic?

http://www.stevemandich.com/uploaded_images/blogxavier-705767.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/BentleyCntlGT/stern-1.jpg

Its a little rough...but I tried :)

edit - put in a new one, just a tiny bit different, blurred his hair a little more to match.

[Darius07]

Hey Rainer Beach Pilot if Seattle gets an expansion team would you watch them? I remember you saying a while ago that you would never support another team coming to Seattle.





well any sonic fan for that matter

[Kumo]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/BentleyCntlGT/stern2.jpg

Changed it again...put a filter on, so his face looks a lot more fitting. I think this ones better..not as recognizable though.

[RobertSwift31]

That's all well and true...but, let's not earlier in the decade, the city and the state of Washington spent about $1 billion building next stadiums for the Mariners and Seahawks, as well as pouring in millions more years eariler in rebuilding what eventually became KeyArena. In that alone, I can't blame the folks in Washington state and the Seattle area for having to foot the bill for another new or rebuilt sports facility.

I completely agree. Thats why I called Bennett's $500 million dollar, publicly funded arena a "good faith" effort which actually was just an excuse for him to get out of town. He knew that the proposal would be rejected, giving him a reason to leave. I'm not blaming the public for rejecting the offer, I'm mad at him for making an unreasonable offer.

Another amazing thing about all of this is that the league (Stern) said Key Arena was not suitable for an NBA team, and Bennet said renovating it would not be an option. Now that the team is gone, All we need to do is renovate Key Arena to get back on the NBA's radar. Stern said that the NBA could thrive in a renovated Key Arena, for just $75 Million public dollars (Still a lot, but reasonable). Why didn't you give us that option before you took our team, *******?

[Sharas]

i just imagined my hometown football team moving away (yeah i know, they don't do such stuff in europe), and guys, i do feel for you, honestly.

a sad, sad day for the sonics fanbase. their finals with jordan bulls were one of first playoff series i ever watched, and i always rooted for the underdog.

[MaxFly]

I can't shake the feeling that Seattle got swindled out of an NBA franchise.

[JellyBean]

sad day for all sports fans..

I so agree. Man, I feel like I have caught my wife with my best friend right now. I am just hurting big time right now.

I have been a fan of the Sonics for 30 years!!! So you can just feel my hurt right now.

I gotta step away from the NBA for awhile.

[JellyBean]

I can't shake the feeling that Seattle got swindled out of an NBA franchise.

We, fans and friends of the Sonics, got screwed. And then to have David Stren make a comment like "if the city can come up with $300 million to fix up the Key, you get your team back." WT?? David Stern knows good and darn well that the Seattle legislature has spent the last year denying Bennett, McClendon and Stern this taxpayer money. That is adding insult to injury.

I am a little pissed at the NBA right now.

[mamba314]

I'm not even from Seattle and not even a Sonics fan, but this is disgusting. That team belongs in Seattle and to have them swindled out of that team to go to Oklahoma City of all places just sucks.

[HaNdLe ThE RoCk]

RIP.

Jersey to Brooklyn is next

[crisoner]

Well................

Let s just hope now Stern and the NBA do put a franchise in Seattle with in the next 5 years or so. I feel bad for Sonic fans....but I know it will be a happy day when the franchise comes back to Seattle and yall will have a new stadium etc.

Keep your heads up Seattle fans.

And to OKC........welcome to the NBA.

[Posterize246]

Bennet should have to leave Kevin Durant in Seattle too.

[Raj Da Dodge]

reading is something go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Supersonics

go to the Relocation to Oklahoma City you will see the answers
or better yet go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_SuperSonics_proposed_relocation_to_Oklahom a_City
Aite thank you for the article, I actually now understand what's going on and know what happened, so thanks:)

[Raj Da Dodge]

The sonics have always had a bad lease on the Key Arena with Seattle. Howard Schultz, former owner, was losing too much money, and sold the team to Clay Bennett and a group from OKC. Clay promised to make a "good faith" effort to keep the team in Seattle. This "Good Faith" Effort consisted of complaining about the lease, getting Stern to deem the Key Arena unsuited to play basketball in, and propose a 100% Publicly funded arena in Renton, WA (South of Seattle). Seeing that this arena would cost $500 million, and not one cent would come from Bennett, it was shot down in the vote. To Bennett, this meant that Seattle wanted no part of the NBA. However, he still had a lease with Seattle until 2011 to use the Key Arena (From old ownership). Realizing the outrage that would come up if the city did nothing, the city sued Bennett for trying to break the lease early, trying to keep the team in Seattle for two more seasons (This trial). Today, the two sides settled out of court.

Howard Schultz also realized that Bennett never had any intention of keeping the Sonics in Seattle. He is now suing for Breach of contract, hoping to get the team back. This trial will probably start at the end of the summer (rough guess).
aite thank you so much for explaining it to me, I actually now understand what's going on and what actually happened, thank u again:)

[rufuspaul]

The Sonics were there for 41 seasons. Nothing is sacred in this league. I think they'll get another team though. It's a similar situation that happened to us in Charlotte.

[RainierBeachPoet]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/BentleyCntlGT/stern-1.jpg

Its a little rough...but I tried :)

edit - put in a new one, just a tiny bit different, blurred his hair a little more to match.

:cheers::cheers:

thanks-- it will be my new screensaver

[RainierBeachPoet]

I completely agree. Thats why I called Bennett's $500 million dollar, publicly funded arena a "good faith" effort which actually was just an excuse for him to get out of town. He knew that the proposal would be rejected, giving him a reason to leave. I'm not blaming the public for rejecting the offer, I'm mad at him for making an unreasonable offer.

Another amazing thing about all of this is that the league (Stern) said Key Arena was not suitable for an NBA team, and Bennet said renovating it would not be an option. Now that the team is gone, All we need to do is renovate Key Arena to get back on the NBA's radar. Stern said that the NBA could thrive in a renovated Key Arena, for just $75 Million public dollars (Still a lot, but reasonable). Why didn't you give us that option before you took our team, *******?

because stern works for the nba owners; they all would like the type of leverage that bennett received from this whole charade

[RainierBeachPoet]

The sonics have always had a bad lease on the Key Arena with Seattle. Howard Schultz, former owner, was losing too much money, and sold the team to Clay Bennett and a group from OKC. Clay promised to make a "good faith" effort to keep the team in Seattle. This "Good Faith" Effort consisted of complaining about the lease, getting Stern to deem the Key Arena unsuited to play basketball in, and propose a 100% Publicly funded arena in Renton, WA (South of Seattle). Seeing that this arena would cost $500 million, and not one cent would come from Bennett, it was shot down in the vote. To Bennett, this meant that Seattle wanted no part of the NBA. However, he still had a lease with Seattle until 2011 to use the Key Arena (From old ownership). Realizing the outrage that would come up if the city did nothing, the city sued Bennett for trying to break the lease early, trying to keep the team in Seattle for two more seasons (This trial). Today, the two sides settled out of court.

Howard Schultz also realized that Bennett never had any intention of keeping the Sonics in Seattle. He is now suing for Breach of contract, hoping to get the team back. This trial will probably start at the end of the summer (rough guess).

shultz could have gone forward with an injunction to have the trial earlier and force the sonics to remain in seattle if he thought that his own lawsuit had a reasonable chance. he did not do that because then he would be financially responsible for the losses incurred by the sonics if he lost the lawsuit

therefore, the shultz lawsuit will be next spring

most people dont give the lawsuit a snowball chance in hell to win

it is on the books so that shultz can try to save face here in seattle with the fans

he has bigger fish to fry with the losses that starbucks is facing now and the store closures. he really doesnt give a rat's ass about the sonics and the fans

boycott starbucks!!!

[RainierBeachPoet]

Sorry sonics fans. Must be like losing a family member.

You're welcome to jump on any team without being called bandwagoners.

sherman alexie's quote was:


"there's death and divorce that are numbers one and two in terms of stress and grief-- and this is number three"

[Sonic R]

I feel terrible for Seattle and the fans of the SuperSonics

[Sonic R]

boycott starbucks!!!

:cheers:
I already have

[Darius07]

[QUOTE=Sonic R]:cheers:
I already have

[DJ Leon Smith]

I thought this was great, it's from http://www.supersonicsoul.com:

[QUOTE]Amount of money spent by Clay Bennett to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City:

City of Seattle, June 2008: $45 million
Additional money, 2013: $30 million
Relocation fee: $30 million
Losses, 2007-08 season (est.): $20 million
Losses, 2006-07 season (est.): $20 million
Moving fees (est.): $15 million
Legal fees (est.): $2 million

Add it all up and you come to a total of $162 million.

Why is this important? Because the cost of renovating KeyArena is now pegged at around $300 million, but, back when the team was sold, Howard Schultz was looking to spend about $225 million to renovate the building. After purchasing the team, Bennett indicated

[RainierBeachPoet]

art thiel's article was good this morning:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/369455_thiel03.html


here is part of it:

As has been written here before, the biggest culprits in this deal have been the NBA and former owner Howard Schultz. However unfairly, the mess they created fell to the city and the business community to clean up. But by neglecting to put more resources in front-end imagination instead of back-end litigation, the game was lost.
Bennett is still a liar, Stern is still unconscionably remorseless, and the Sonics are gone.

[RainierBeachPoet]

i started this thread in 2006!!!

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14256

[Mateo]

I don't feel bad for Seattle at all. I guess I'm the only one. The team wasn't willing to pay, and Ok City was. That's the simple fact of it. If I go to a store and try to barter with the salesman, they might not give me the price that I want. Then someone else might come around and offer the asking price. I don't ***** because I didn't get the product on the cheap.

[RainierBeachPoet]

I don't feel bad for Seattle at all. I guess I'm the only one. The team wasn't willing to pay, and Ok City was. That's the simple fact of it. If I go to a store and try to barter with the salesman, they might not give me the price that I want. Then someone else might come around and offer the asking price. I don't ***** because I didn't get the product on the cheap.
perhaps you missed the point of this earlier post:

Amount of money spent by Clay Bennett to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City:

City of Seattle, June 2008: $45 million
Additional money, 2013: $30 million
Relocation fee: $30 million
Losses, 2007-08 season (est.): $20 million
Losses, 2006-07 season (est.): $20 million
Moving fees (est.): $15 million
Legal fees (est.): $2 million

Add it all up and you come to a total of $162 million.

Why is this important? Because the cost of renovating KeyArena is now pegged at around $300 million, but, back when the team was sold, Howard Schultz was looking to spend about $225 million to renovate the building. After purchasing the team, Bennett indicated – repeatedly – that he had no interest in contributing any of his own money to the project (which eventually morphed into a completely new arena in Renton, at a price tag of $500 million).

And yet, Bennett has now committed more than half of that total just for relocating his new toy to Oklahoma City. If Bennett had just offered two-thirds of that figure - $100 million – while in Olympia fourteen months ago, yesterday would never have happened, and the state would have easily passed the bill to either build a new facility or renovate KeyArena. Further, by indicating that he was interested in helping the team, the miserable attendance figures of the past two years would have been considerably better.

Instead, Bennett kept his money in his pocket, because all along he had no interest in doing anything to keep this team here and a major interest, obviously, in getting a team for Oklahoma City.

$162 million goes a long, long way in this world. Apparently, though, just not in Seattle.

[bagelred]

Seattle residents should be happen. Think of all the tax dollars saved plus the settlement dollars they can use to do things for the city of Seattle.

How bout free health care for every Seattle resident? Wouldn't that be nice? They can call it the "Supersonic" health care plan.

[JordanL]

I don't feel bad for Seattle at all. I guess I'm the only one. The team wasn't willing to pay, and Ok City was. That's the simple fact of it. If I go to a store and try to barter with the salesman, they might not give me the price that I want. Then someone else might come around and offer the asking price. I don't ***** because I didn't get the product on the cheap.

Bennett's demanded price for Seattle arena: $500 million, all public money
Bennett's demanded price for OKC arena: $120 million, partially funded

You're a ****ing tool.

[RainierBeachPoet]

Seattle residents should be happen. Think of all the tax dollars saved plus the settlement dollars they can use to do things for the city of Seattle.

How bout free health care for every Seattle resident? Wouldn't that be nice? They can call it the "Supersonic" health care plan.

i wish!!

seattle has replaced san fran as the pinko capital of the usa

[RainierBeachPoet]

Bennett's demanded price for Seattle arena: $500 million, all public money
Bennett's demanded price for OKC arena: $120 million, partially funded

You're a ****ing tool.

thanks for being clearer than i was!!

[bagelred]

i wish!!

seattle has replaced san fran as the pinko capital of the usa

What are you, in the 1970's?

Pinko? You mean liberal politics?

Liberals are the GOOD guys, remember?

[Dasher]

What are you, in the 1970's?

Pinko? You mean liberal politics?

Liberals are the GOOD guys, remember?
Neither liberals or conservatives are good. They are just in the pockets of different special interest groups that don't necessarily have our best interest at heart.

[RainierBeachPoet]

someone in the paper said, it (losing the sonics) feels like watching your dog get hit by a car

[bagelred]

someone in the paper said, it (losing the sonics) feels like watching your dog get hit by a car

It just means your dog is in a...better place....just like the Sonics! :lol :lol

[JordanL]

It just means your dog is in a...better place....just like the Sonics! :lol :lol

Name a single way that OKC is better than Seattle. :P

[bagelred]

Name a single way that OKC is better than Seattle. :P

Less rain.

Done.


End thread.

[JordanL]

Less rain.

Done.


End thread.

Rain is much better than tornados. :sleeping

[D-Rose]

Seattle will probably get the Grizzlies or the Hornets (If business sucks) down the line.

[bagelred]

Rain is much better than tornados. :sleeping

I said end thread. Done.

[Raj Da Dodge]

ok I'm wondering what does Starbucks have to with this???

[JordanL]

ok I'm wondering what does Starbucks have to with this???

Howard Shultz owned Starbucks.

Howard Shultz owned the Sonics.

Howard Shultz sold the team to a guy who obviously was going to take a long piss all over Washington State residents.

[Raj Da Dodge]

Howard Shultz owned Starbucks.

Howard Shultz owned the Sonics.

Howard Shultz sold the team to a guy who obviously was going to take a long piss all over Washington State residents.
oh ok, I didn't know he owned Starbucks too

[veilside23]

http://newsite2.ddbseattle.com/blogs/dan_miller/assets/p1_stern_bennett.jpg


NBA WHERE "Relocation" HAPPENS :banghead:

[el_locoteee]

The Grizzlies will be the new Sonics back to Seattle.

[kentatm]

This blows.

Only Mark Cuban and Paul Allen voted against letting Seattle break the lease among the owners.

All the others should be publicly kicked in the balls for this. Stern should be put in a stockade and have tomatoes tossed at him for a week.

Of course, we should have seen this coming no matter what. After all, Stern is the one that let George Shinn actively kill the fan base in Charlotte so he could leave and didn't do a damn thing then. Why start now?

[kentatm]

It just means your dog is in a...better place....just like the Sonics! :lol :lol

having been to both several times I can tell you OKC is nice but doesn't hold a candle to Seattle.

OKC is like if you took Forth Worth, Texas and moved it away from the Dallas Metroplex area away from everything of substance.

[ElPigto]

This blows.

Only Mark Cuban and Paul Allen voted against letting Seattle break the lease among the owners.

All the others should be publicly kicked in the balls for this. Stern should be put in a stockade and have tomatoes tossed at him for a week.

Of course, we should have seen this coming no matter what. After all, Stern is the one that let George Shinn actively kill the fan base in Charlotte so he could leave and didn't do a damn thing then. Why start now?

I would personally kick Les Alexander in the balls if given the chance. And then pull a Nelson Months.

[BlogOFfatman]

Less rain.

Done.


End thread.

It actually rains more down here... up in Northwest it drizzles, they dont get the tremendous dounpours of the thunderstorms we get here.

[BlogOFfatman]

having been to both several times I can tell you OKC is nice but doesn't hold a candle to Seattle.

OKC is like if you took Forth Worth, Texas and moved it away from the Dallas Metroplex area away from everything of substance.

What is wrong with Fort Worth?

[Lakers Legend#32]

http://newsite2.ddbseattle.com/blogs/dan_miller/assets/p1_stern_bennett.jpg


NBA WHERE "Relocation" HAPPENS :banghead:


Words cannot express how much I hate these two S.O.B.'s.

[blazerftc]

Words cannot express how much I hate these two S.O.B.'s.

Wow, I'm marking this day in my calander. This is the first time I can ever say I strongly agreed with anything a laker fan says! :lol

Sorry, j/k.

But I do agree, these two have just opened the door for rich carpetbaggers everywhere to come in and do whatever they please.

[ChrisKreager]

Will this new team still play in the Northwest Division or will they get switched to another division?

[blazerftc]

I would imagine that Sac. would get shifted to the NW.

[kentatm]

What is wrong with Fort Worth?


nothing is wrong with Forth Worth. I have a good time whenever I go. However if you took it away from the Metroplex it would lose quite a bit of its appeal. None of the Metroplex attractions are there. They are all in Dallas, Arlington and Frisco. Its downtown really isnt that big either. Unless you were all about the stockyards, if you moved FW out to say West Texas, it would be rather dull overall.

Same for OKC. Its nice and all but there really isnt all that much to do and its in the middle of nowhere.

[RainierBeachPoet]

http://newsite2.ddbseattle.com/blogs/dan_miller/assets/p1_stern_bennett.jpg


NBA WHERE "Relocation" HAPPENS :banghead:

gotta love that authentic smile of bennett

[Aldridge Fan]

http://newsite2.ddbseattle.com/blogs/dan_miller/assets/p1_stern_bennett.jpg


NBA WHERE "Relocation" HAPPENS :banghead:Looks like they're in love. :oldlol:

[bigboi_baller]

Did the players (Durant & co.) take sides in this issue at all? Did anyone attend the rallies or give quotes (other than generic ones that sound scripted)?

[Ian]

Oklahoma Thieves

Haha..perfect. :lol

[Howard Schits]

Did the players (Durant & co.) take sides in this issue at all? Did anyone attend the rallies or give quotes (other than generic ones that sound scripted)?

Active players cannot and are not allowed to say things that are damaged to the players, teams, and the league. Unless they want to get fined or worst, having their big fat contracts nullifed.

[final.wrath]

how sure are they that this team will actually make more money than it did in seattle... the hornets had tickets at reduced prices when they were there

[RainierBeachPoet]

Did the players (Durant & co.) take sides in this issue at all? Did anyone attend the rallies or give quotes (other than generic ones that sound scripted)?

publically they kept quiet; privately, it was said that most grumbled about the possible move and wanted to remain in seattle

but they know who writes their checks-- they are not dumb


it would have took an extraordinary person to go against the management

damien wilkins had some melancholy reflections in yesterdays paper:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/369577_sonx04.html

[RainierBeachPoet]

Looks like they're in love. :oldlol:

they are both in love with:

http://www.thesilvercurrencyexchange.com/Currency/1000-dollar-US-bill-front.jpg

[RainierBeachPoet]

is glove_20 still around here?:confusedshrug:

he hasnt weighed in on the sonics....

[lawlerslaw100]

I hope Howard Schultz's lawsuit derails this move.
The fans in Seattle deserve to keep the Sonics.
The NBA is abandoning 41 years of tradition for Okieland:banghead:

[RainierBeachPoet]

I hope Howard Schultz's lawsuit derails this move.
The fans in Seattle deserve to keep the Sonics.
The NBA is abandoning 41 years of tradition for Okieland:banghead:

ll100-- long time no see-- you just been lurking? how is that baron davis rumor evolving?


shultz' lawsuit is a longshot but we'll see. my heart is moving on right now and dont want to get my hopes too high

we just consider his lawsuit a p.r. move to improve his name in the seattle area so

we are still

boycotting starfu(ks

[Meticode]

Payton and Kemp were on The Best Damn Sports Show and they totally disagree with the move. The mentioned whenever they get their numbers retired they don't want them to get retired in OKC in front of fans they didn't play for.

[lawlerslaw100]

Shaun Kemp needs child support $$ for those kids so watch him show
up in Ok. Too bad for the fans of Seattle again including those
on the board.

Hey Rainier Poet, I dont drink starbarfs anyway. There is better
coffee out there especially in LA.

[JordanL]

Hey Rainier Poet, I dont drink starbarfs anyway. There is better
coffee out there especially in LA.

:wtf:

Speaking as a Northwest native, I just about puked the coffee I was drinking back up in LA. Californian's don't know how to do coffee at all.

EDIT:

RBP, I have two season seats at the Rose Garden for the Blazers next season. During the OKC games, I will be wearing Seattle colors, booing the Barons, and holding signs. If you want a free seat to those games, let me know. You can take the second seat I have to both enjoy a game of basketball, and help me protest the move.

[RainierBeachPoet]

from ron judd of the seattle times!!

Things Ahead of "Finding a New Team for Seattle" on David Stern's To-Do List:

[RainierBeachPoet]

Payton and Kemp were on The Best Damn Sports Show and they totally disagree with the move. The mentioned whenever they get their numbers retired they don't want them to get retired in OKC in front of fans they didn't play for.

they might be waiting awhile...as owner of the "basketball club", bennett has the rights to a "shared history"

from todays seattle times:

According to the agreement, if Seattle is granted an expansion team in the next five years, that franchise will share the Sonics' history with the Oklahoma City team.

If Seattle lands a team through relocation of an existing franchise, most likely the Oklahoma City team will retain sole possession of the Sonics history.



read the article:



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2008035531_soni06.html






given the reluctance for expansion, gp might be waiting awhile to see that jersey raised:banghead:

[RainierBeachPoet]

:wtf:

Speaking as a Northwest native, I just about puked the coffee I was drinking back up in LA. Californian's don't know how to do coffee at all.

EDIT:

RBP, I have two season seats at the Rose Garden for the Blazers next season. During the OKC games, I will be wearing Seattle colors, booing the Barons, and holding signs. If you want a free seat to those games, let me know. You can take the second seat I have to both enjoy a game of basketball, and help me protest the move.
peets coffee in berkeley can compeet (pardon the pun) with anyone

man--- what an offer regarding the :bowdown::bowdown:seat at the blazers game. i always thought you portland folk were some of the most generous in the country! remind me once the season schedule comes out and we can see the dates. i may or may not be able to make the drive down

if i do, pick your favorite restaurant-- dinner beforehand is on me--- drinks included!!

your offer moved me a step closer to adopt the blazers!

[RainierBeachPoet]

Shaun Kemp needs child support $$ for those kids so watch him show
up in Ok. Too bad for the fans of Seattle again including those
on the board.

Hey Rainier Poet, I dont drink starbarfs anyway. There is better
coffee out there especially in LA.

hahaa

shawn might even get a new market of baby-mamas out there!!

[RainierBeachPoet]

they might be waiting awhile...as owner of the "basketball club", bennett has the rights to a "shared history"

from todays seattle times:

According to the agreement, if Seattle is granted an expansion team in the next five years, that franchise will share the Sonics' history with the Oklahoma City team.

If Seattle lands a team through relocation of an existing franchise, most likely the Oklahoma City team will retain sole possession of the Sonics history.



read the article:



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2008035531_soni06.html






given the reluctance for expansion, gp might be waiting awhile to see that jersey raised:banghead:

also from ron judd:

There's Slimy, and Then There's Just Pathetic:

As part of the deal, Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma henchmen got approval to make duplicate KeyArena championship banners to display in OKC.

It's another textbook case of rich American guys mistaking wealth for achievement.

Maybe if they cough up another 500 mil, they can get forged copies of all those Celtics banners, too.

[RainierBeachPoet]

a decent summary: from jim brunner

Sonics settlement: winners and losers

Clay Bennett and his attorneys got what they wanted, while Mayor Greg Nickels embarrassed himself — and Howard Schultz became even more unpopular.


WINNER: Clay Bennett
It may have been painful and embarrassing, but the "man possessed" got what he wanted in the end.
WINNER: Byrnes & Keller The Seattle law firm — with Brad Keller as lead attorney in the case — took an unpopular client in Bennett and skillfully defended him, even coming close to painting him as the victim.
LOSER?: Greg Nickels Seattle's mayor looked dodgy on the witness stand and gave up on enforcing the KeyArena lease. But hizzoner could find sweet redemption if his plan to get a replacement team pays off in a few years.
LOSER: Slade Gorton The former U.S. senator, an attorney for K&L Gates, the firm hired by the city, violated a confidentiality agreement with the NBA. A day after a supposedly secret meeting in New York, Gorton blabbed about it in an e-mail to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and others.
LOSER: Howard Schultz Mr. Coffee sold the Sonics for a cool $350 million, and his belated lawsuit against Bennett may now only be a hindrance to Seattle's chances of getting a new NBA team.
LOSER: David Stern The NBA commissioner loved KeyArena, then hated it, and now he says it can be great again. This guy — "just one of my favorite people on earth," as Bennett cooed in an e-mail — will say anything.
LOSER: Sonics fans Do they even want a replacement team after this fiasco?

[Lamar Doom]

i'm an NBA fan at heart, i can count on one hand the number of teams i outright don't like. probably two hands (maybe 3 :) ) for the players i outright don't like. I've always liked the sonics. i haven't been super involved in this process aside from reading the infuriating updates from bill simmons. I think i'm going to hate OKC, i think that's what needs to happen. chris wilcox is the only "sonic" consider myself a "fan" of (respect to KD, cool hand luke, day wilkens, and a few others) so the transition to hatred won't be too hard. clay bennett, take a flying f*ck into traffic. long live the supersonics.

[Lakers Legend#32]

From the front page of the Daily Oklahoman (the newspaper that Clay Bennett's wife's family owns).

Welkom Home Our Oklihomi Sooopersonicks! Mishun Uhcomplished!

What the citizens of Oklahoma are saying:

Bubba: "Starbucks sure makes crappy moonshine."

Billy Bob: "Eat that you Seaddle liburul *******."

Jethro: "So how do we get rid of the darkies?"

Daisy Mae: "We's don't needs no fancy book lurnums or skools or vaxeenations, we needs the NBA."

[RainierBeachPoet]

i'm an NBA fan at heart, i can count on one hand the number of teams i outright don't like. probably two hands (maybe 3 :) ) for the players i outright don't like. I've always liked the sonics. i haven't been super involved in this process aside from reading the infuriating updates from bill simmons. I think i'm going to hate OKC, i think that's what needs to happen. chris wilcox is the only "sonic" consider myself a "fan" of (respect to KD, cool hand luke, day wilkens, and a few others) so the transition to hatred won't be too hard. clay bennett, take a flying f*ck into traffic. long live the supersonics.

the enemy of my enemy is my friend:pimp:

[RainierBeachPoet]

From the front page of the Daily Oklahoman (the newspaper that Clay Bennett's wife's family owns).

Welkom Home Our Oklihomi Sooopersonicks! Mishun Uhcomplished!

What the citizens of Oklahoma are saying:

Bubba: "Starbucks sure makes crappy moonshine."

Billy Bob: "Eat that you Seaddle liburul *******."

Jethro: "So how do we get rid of the darkies?"

Daisy Mae: "We's don't needs no fancy book lurnums or skools or vaxeenations, we needs the NBA."
ouch!!

i read in their paper, that one sportswriter argues against having the sonic memorabilia there and that the retired numbers from freddie, spencer, gus nate, lenny and sikma should not be put up and that those numbers should be "unretired"

http://newsok.com/article/3266507

clay cant have it both ways-- if he wants to own the memorabilia/trophy form 79-- you have to give them the honor they deserve

[Lakers Legend#32]

It's just pizzing me off no end that Bennett now makes a claim to a "Shared History" with the Sonics when he had absolutely nothing to do with the them for the first 39 years of it's existence, and has only been involved in the last two years, which not coincedentally were the worst two seasons in franchise history.

[RainierBeachPoet]

It's just pizzing me off no end that Bennett now makes a claim to a "Shared History" with the Sonics when he had absolutely nothing to do with the them for the first 39 years of it's existence, and has only been involved in the last two years, which not coincedentally were the worst two seasons in franchise history.

and with this new arrangement, gary payton's future HOF celebrations will be muted

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2007626#post2007626

[72-10]

and with this new arrangement, gary payton's future HOF celebrations will be muted

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2007626#post2007626

You should consider that the voters for the HOF will recognize GP's dilemna and purposely postpone his induction until the Sonics are reborn.

[ChrisKreager]

What do you think will be the win/loss record of the OKC team?

I say 26-56.

[Howard Schits]

What do you think will be the win/loss record of the OKC team?

I say 26-56.

That is a very generous assessment. Now that the Oklahoma Stealers had drafted a guard. Watch they are going to ditch either Ridnour or Watson, or both of them. Bennett wants a have a clean start, nothing reflects the old Seattle Sonics. Wilcox already played like he had no interest last year. You think he will be pumped up this season? Collison would stay, cuz Carlesimo will threaten to sleep with Bennett wife if the Stealers dump Collison. Collison was the only player played hard every game last year.

So with all (most of) the vets gone. Do you think a bunch of 20 year olds can take this team to decency?

Nope!

They might win the NCAA champ. But they ain't going to be better than any team in the NBA. I predict they will be the worst team in the NBA in 08-09 season. I wish they are they become the worst team in NBA history.

[BrianScalabrine]

OKC should name their team: Champs.

OKChamps!

[kidachi]

OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS

- this should be the name. period. fcuk barons, fcuk thunderbirds, OUTLAWS will be the shyt.

[RainierBeachPoet]

quotes from the great kevin calabro-- voice of the sonics:

"I was embarrassed for the city," he said. "I was enraged that our council members would sit up there and titter and laugh nervously and congratulate themselves over being part of a 41-year history being sold. I was deeply embarrassed and still am.
"I get incensed because people, particularly leadership in the town and the region, don't seem to have the same pride in the area that I do. They sold the legacy away for less monetarily than they should have for a promise down the road of an NBA team from a league run by a commissioner that disrespected them and the region.
"What you're doing now is going after a theoretical building for a hypothetical team. I find that failed logic."



it is all a good read:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/moore/370078_moore09.html

[RainierBeachPoet]

OKC should name their team (after bennett): Chumps.

OKChumps!

corrected

[Tracy McGrady1]

Oklahoma Bombers!:banana:

[JordanL]

quotes from the great kevin calabro-- voice of the sonics:

"I was embarrassed for the city," he said. "I was enraged that our council members would sit up there and titter and laugh nervously and congratulate themselves over being part of a 41-year history being sold. I was deeply embarrassed and still am.
"I get incensed because people, particularly leadership in the town and the region, don't seem to have the same pride in the area that I do. They sold the legacy away for less monetarily than they should have for a promise down the road of an NBA team from a league run by a commissioner that disrespected them and the region.
"What you're doing now is going after a theoretical building for a hypothetical team. I find that failed logic."



it is all a good read:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/moore/370078_moore09.html

Yeah, the Mayor just lost his ability to hold public office, IMO.

[RainierBeachPoet]

Yeah, the Mayor just lost his ability to hold public office, IMO.

he is very popular with the "green" folk; nichols is one of the most environmentally friendly mayors in the country

he is not popular with the "green and gold" fans though

[Lakers Legend#32]

Under Bennett's management, he is delivering a team to OKC which might as well be an expansion team. See what happens Okies when you get in bed with the devil, eventually you get f#cked!

[RainierBeachPoet]

this lawsuit got trumped in the media by the shultz lawsuit:

Sonics fans Robert Brotherson, Patrick Sheehy and Carolyn Bechtel filed the suit in November and will receive a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jones on Aug. 1 concerning whether their case can be classified as a class-action suit representing the entire base of season-ticket holders.

for the full article:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/370075_sonx09.html

[RainierBeachPoet]

a bit more:

The plaintiffs have charged they were duped into buying tickets based on a deceptive marketing plan and that the PBC breached its contract with them by failing to honor the future expectations in place at the time of their purchase.


The complaint shows a letter from Bennett to prospective ticket holders saying: "We recognize the uncertainty of the Sonics future beyond 2010. I assure you, we are absolutely committed to keeping the Sonics in the region."

[RainierBeachPoet]

sir charles chimes in on the sonics:

"The NBA doesn't need to expand," he said. "If they get a team, it will be somebody else's team. It's a travesty the way it went down.
"They always talk about the players being greedy; the owners are the greedy ones. It's really sad for me. They had the best fans. You were intimidated at that place when you went in there, and it's a great city, too."


Barkley was surprised when the settlement was announced but thinks it worked out the best way possible.


"It would be stupid to stay the next two years," he said. "It would have been a volatile situation."


The Sonics' move to Oklahoma City is hard for him to believe, too. He's familiar with the team's 41-year history and said the most intense series he ever played in was the seven-gamer between the Sonics and Suns in the 1993 Western Conference finals.






http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/moore/370396_moore11.html

[RainierBeachPoet]

ray ray blames shultz too:

"Everybody foresaw this," Allen said. "Everybody should have done something more. I always felt that there were people fighting against the team being there."


When asked who's to blame for the Sonics move, Allen singled out Schultz, saying: "The ownership that brought me in," the one that engineered the ill-fated five-year plan, prompting erosion of the team and regional support.



http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/moore/370546_moore12.html



((( sigh )))

[KNOW1EDGE]

Its just too late for Sonic fans to start caring now.

Fans and the city of seattle could have and should have done something about this wayyyyy earlier.

Seattle has plenty of professional sports teams and the sonics were forgotten about by most.

No one cared enough about them until its too late.

[RainierBeachPoet]

Its just too late for Sonic fans to start caring now.

Fans and the city of seattle could have and should have done something about this wayyyyy earlier.

Seattle has plenty of professional sports teams and the sonics were forgotten about by most.

No one cared enough about them until its too late.

the ones who didnt care emotionally left a long time ago

only those who cared stuck it out until now

that does not absolve the city and state pols for their culpablity in all this though

[RainierBeachPoet]

we might have ridden this wave long enough

i feel blahhhhh now regarding the sonics

not angry, not depressed, just blahhhhh

maybe i will visit the blazer forum for the first time

[lawlerslaw100]

New names for OKC ...why bother. F Bennett. Worst owner in the NBA
and ranking up there with Georgia Fronteire, Al Davis, Art Moddell,
and Bob Irsay, the rats who moved their NFL franchises.:banghead: :mad:

[Howard Schits]

Don't forget David Stern is the worst human being of all.

[Howard Schits]

we might have ridden this wave long enough
i feel blahhhhh now regarding the sonics
not angry, not depressed, just blahhhhh
maybe i will visit the blazer forum for the first time

Keep it up RBP. Especially comes November election, we'll kick everyone of these losers out of office.

[DieHardBullsFan]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008030229_sonitrial02.html


They just settled.

any ideas or rumors of what the name might be :confusedshrug:

[RainierBeachPoet]

any ideas or rumors of what the name might be :confusedshrug:

OKC raiders is the favorite here:banghead:

[RainierBeachPoet]

the seattle times did a great tribute edition:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/

:cheers:

[lawlerslaw100]

OKC raiders is the favorite here:banghead:

Won't happen. Al Davis owns the rights.
I still like BallChinions:lol
Got to have a bb ball reference.

[RainierBeachPoet]

Won't happen. Al Davis owns the rights.
I still like BallChinions:lol
Got to have a bb ball reference.

i didnt know al d owned the rights-- is that for all pro teams then?

ballchinions-- subtle, nice:cheers:

[RainierBeachPoet]

a good read:

http://thestartingfive.net/2008/07/03/grand-theft-hoops-the-stealing-of-the-sonics/

[SirLaker]

OKC should have taken the Clippers...(I can dream) Seattle deserves a team. Very sad.

[RainierBeachPoet]

OKC should have taken the Clippers...(I can dream) Seattle deserves a team. Very sad.

sterling is no dummy -- unlike shultz

he would not have sold the clips to OKC businessmen and think that they had intentions of keeping the team in LA

[RainierBeachPoet]

check out my blog at funkystuffmalone.blogspot.com

:sleeping:sleeping:sleeping

[StroShow4]

:sleeping:sleeping:sleeping

RBP, which bandwagon did you end up selecting?

[RainierBeachPoet]

RBP, which bandwagon did you end up selecting?

i am going to follow the clippers/knicks/blazers (not necessarily in that order)

and after a few months, the top team for me will rise to the top:D

are you still "robin"? i need a partner in crime against my newest archrival-- the OKC raiders

[RainierBeachPoet]

a last ditch effort???

The Seattle City Council voted Monday to terminate the lease early and collect $45 million from the team's out-of-state owners and allow them to move the team to Oklahoma City.

But the ordinance doesn't take effect for 30 days after it is signed by the mayor, giving residents and basketball fans time to collect enough signatures for a referendum and giving voters a chance in November to overturn the ordinance.


City Attorney Tom Carr was unavailable for comment Friday.
"A referendum is possible," said Ruth Bowman, a spokeswoman for Carr's office.


"If it gets enough votes, it would cancel the ordinance." Beyond that, "nobody knows what will happen."


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371438_lease19.html


RBP note: could this drama continue???

[StroShow4]

are you still "robin"?

yep, that's me. :oldlol:

[RainierBeachPoet]

yep, that's me. :oldlol:
we will take down the okc raider machine together then robin! at ish at least:cheers:

ps-- i just noticed that we joined ish the same month!

[paulgruber]

I can't think of anything cool about Oklahoma.

This team is only going to have local interest.

Nobody is going to wear their gear.

Every player they draft will sign for less somewhere else.

Even if Bennett thinks he is doing something great for his hometown, how is this a good business move?

[OKCNBA]

I can't think of anything cool about Oklahoma.

This team is only going to have local interest.

Nobody is going to wear their gear.

Every player they draft will sign for less somewhere else.

Even if Bennett thinks he is doing something great for his hometown, how is this a good business move?

Grub,
Are you serious? There is no groundswell of animosity outside of the pac norwest. Man get a life and start building for a new team rather than hating on another place

[RainierBeachPoet]

I can't think of anything cool about Oklahoma.


This team is only going to have local interest.

Nobody is going to wear their gear.

Every player they draft will sign for less somewhere else.

Even if Bennett thinks he is doing something great for his hometown, how is this a good business move?

I can't think of anything cool about Oklahoma.

isnt there awesome bbq in okc? thats what bobby flay said...

This team is only going to have local interest.

or be similiar to other one sport towns (san anton, sacramento)

Nobody is going to wear their gear.

there will be a few who buy durant jerseys

Every player they draft will sign for less somewhere else.

if youre drafted in the nba and good enough to make the team, you will accept the paycheck

Even if Bennett thinks he is doing something great for his hometown, how is this a good business move?

time will tell-- he has spent a ton of money thusfar to get the team there

[hawkfan]

Good names: OKC Cowboys.