Regroup at SuperSonicSoul.com
Posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 3:58 am by Brian Robinson
If the board goes down today feel free to re-group at our friendly co-conspirators site. Rafael has done a great job helping out and definately deserves the traffic.
We are seeing ridiculous volumes and I have been tipped off that Wordpress does not handle high comment count in threads very well. We may be overloading our free system here.
If I went home right now I would call the trip a success. I am certainly glad I was here. Somebody needed to represent and there has been some quality media time. I would post my agenda but think that might not be the best idea.
Good morning Clay. You know you check in…
April 18th, 2008 at 4:03 am
If Clay Bennett or his lackeys actually read this shit, then let me just say that I don’t hate any of them.
As someone who’d give one of my testicles to keep the Seattle SuperSonics in the Emerald City, I comprehend how much he could desperately want a professional sports franchise of any kind in his hometown of Oklahoma City.
The problem, though, is that we’re on opposing sides. It’s not a matter of disdain toward you, but rather a matter of selfish intentions on both ends that conflict with each other.
In the end, ultimately, my hope is that the Sonics stay at the birth of origin—since it’d make me happy as a clam at high tide. Yet, that notwithstanding, I respect your focus and diligence at taking our team away from us.
If nothing else, we call all say when this shit is all said and done that it was one hell of a ride. That’s life, though—no matter the facet.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Brian, thanks for all the work you do. It’s 4:00 AM here, which is a decent time to be awake. But you flew all the way to NYC and then woke up at the ungodly hour of 6:52 AM to help the cause. If only you looked as good on a tee shirt as Che.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:38 am
Brian, I can not thank you enough for your representative for SOS and Seattle. No matter how you do in NYC but we got the media attention! I could not sleep all night at all as I knew that the BOG will likely to rule in Clay’s favor. I guess I am restless and hoping that BOG will do something drastic to realize that it is wrong to vote in favor for Clay. All I say that I am glad that I am not in NYC because I will probably end up in jail for trying to kick Clay’s balls. But it is weird that I am having a feeling that BOG may not rule in Clay’s favor. The bottom line is that I hope that most owner will abstain or vote no. Either will work in our favor. Again, thank you Brian for what you have done to Sonics and Seattle. We all love you man! Make your day the best you can! Let us know when you are coming home and fill in with us!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Thanks for bringing the fight to them Brian!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
John McGrath is not helping.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I will post new threads once in a while to break up the files into smaller sizes.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Thanks again for all the hard work guys. I wish I could keep checking in today and through the weekend, but I’m off to get married! I’ll be in Hawaii for two weeks and I’ll see if I can go the whole time without sneaking off to find a computer. I’m bound to get Sonic Central withdrawals.
Best of luck to everyone with the vote today.
Keep up the fight!
-=cysco
April 18th, 2008 at 6:35 am
John McGrath is a contrarian bone-head.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Good morning Clay. We are not going to quit.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Gotta love McGrath and his “what have you done for me lately?” attitude towards the Sonics… not.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:59 am
John Mcgrath has not been a friend of the Sonics fan.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:04 am
We wonder why the nation thinks the Supes are already gone? Our own talking heads have given up and or betrayed us. Like Sonics fans don’t matter to these supposed sports journalist and radio guys. We are second-class citizens I guess. Call McGrath, tell him he can go to OKC.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:06 am
John McGrath
1-253-597-8742 ext. 6154
Show him how many Supes fans there are that will no longer be reading his overated column.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Does anybody know if/when Howard Schultz files his lawsuit, can he also file an injuction to keep the Sonics in Seattle until the lawsuit is resolved?
I was thinking that his lawsuit would be a lengthy legal battle that could run into the 08/09 season which in this case if an injuction is granted would mean that the Sonics would be guaranteed to play the 08/09 seaon in Seattle.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:14 am
You damn skippy Clay keeps his eyes on this site!!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Thank You sooooooooo much Brian. I can’t ever again say I’m the biggest Sonics fan out there. Ive read some past posts and agree that when the Sonics stay in Seattle and Ballmers group owns the team, you and I’m sure other devoted S.O.S. fans deserve courtside seats for life. Without your dedicated, hard, and very time consuming work on trying to help keep the SUPES from being stolen away by clay clay and the OKIES, there would be no Sonics for anybody to watch. I’m going to go a step further. If I was Ballmer I would want YOU on my staff. I think you would be great in marketing the team. I have never seen anybody with so much energy. You are on this blog all hours and meeting with people, planning rallys, AND NOW NEW YORK! You are AWESOME! S.O.S.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Mitch is teasing some ‘new’ news about the lawsuit.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:45 am
“I was thinking that his lawsuit would be a lengthy legal battle that could run into the 08/09 season which in this case if an injuction is granted would mean that the Sonics would be guaranteed to play the 08/09 seaon in Seattle.”
I think specific performance of the lease pretty much guarantees that with the caveat that there’s no buy out.
Where the injunction becomes interesting is if the current ownership stays the two years then tries to leave when the lease is up. That’ would be the point he’d file the injunction.
Don’t believe for aminute that the Schultz trial would be close to being complete after the 09 season.
April 18th, 2008 at 7:47 am
DURANT IS THE SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:48 am
What ‘new’ news?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
He teased it.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:00 am
There’s going to be a story on the Sonics on All Things Considered on NPR this afternoon.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
OKC believes they are the reason that the Hornets are in the playoffs…..
http://newsok.com/article/3231683
April 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Sonics GM Sam Presti addressed the media at the team’s practice facility Thursday and did nothing to dispel rumors that head coach P.J. Carlesimo’s job may be in jeopardy.
When Presti was asked why he didn’t eliminate any suspense by confirming Carlesimo’s return, he said: “Well, I think more than anything (evaluating the entire organization is) part of the process we have in place. We as an organization have taken a pretty systematic approach to evaluating our team and evaluating our direction and it’s just another step in that.”
NBA sources have intimated that Carlesimo’s status as coach of the Sonics is not as secure as it was a few months ago. — Seattle Post-Intelligencer
# Players have grumbled about the coach’s abrasive personality and his way of berating players at times. And the players seemed to give up on Carlesimo in certain games, particularly during an embarrassing, 168-116 loss at Denver. — Tacoma News Tribune
April 18th, 2008 at 8:11 am
LOL, If anyone hasn’t seen or heard this, this is classic.
http://www.withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=5379
David Stern: “Why are you such an American!”
Also, I guess charter planes don’t go through customs or they don’t have to worry about what type of criminal records the people on the plane have.
While I can understand his vision, How does having a team in OKC compliment that thought process?
Bennett and Stern are delusional. That is the only way to explain it.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Sorry if this has already been posted, but great guest column by Brian today in the Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004356861_sonics18.html
Love this graph “Instead, the story has become that of a rich outsider who thinks his money allows him to steal an important and irreplaceable part of our city’s cultural identity. His e-mails among his partners and Stern reveal not only a sickening display of fawning cronyism, but also smack of arrogant privilege and disregard of what the Sonics mean to our city.”
Thanks Brian.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:12 am
oh now… we can pat ourselves on the back alittle…
i know its alittle overboard, but… the success they had here had to have contributed at least some…
April 18th, 2008 at 8:14 am
King 5 just said there are 7 owners already on board ready to vote yes. It is now up to clay to convince the others.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:19 am
The 7 are from the relocation committee who toured OKC last month.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I have said this before and i’ll say it again, for Clay’s benefit.
I think OKC deserves a team, just not this one. I have been through your city and know the history of relocating a huge amount of Native Americans to your state and feel as an American that a great injustice has been done to these people. I don’t know if you, yourself actually give a shit about them but i do know that a lot of them like basketball. The Sonics belong in Seattle. Other than that I , like AK stated earlier have nothing against you and your city getting a team. As a fan we have watched this team rock and the last ten years stink.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Correction, 3 of which toured OKC…
April 18th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Aren’t those the same 7 owners on the relocation committee? We knew they’d be Yes’s already I think
April 18th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Honestly, if he only has 7 that’s a shock to me. Can only be seen as good news, although 7 has him almost half way there.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:23 am
“Sonicsman Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
OKC believes they are the reason that the Hornets are in the playoffs…..
http://newsok.com/article/3231683”
That’s right NewsOK.com, I’m sure it has zero to do with the best point guard in the game, Tyson Chandler, or David West.
Just like how if you got Kevin Durant he would be nothing until had your support. I mean how many luney pills do the writers at this paper take before they write columns?!
I honestly lose it everytime I read their garbage. Little did I know that when Mike Gundy (OK State football coach) went off (”I’m a man, I’m 40″) on the editor of the Oklahoman that he was 100% dead on. They are garbage. Between that newspaper and the motion PBC filed yesterday, I am convinced that Clay and company cannot comprehend anything higher than 2nd grade english.
Whoever gets their information solely from NewsOK.com, consider yourself brainwashed. (I bet Clay gets a smile when he reads this one as he thinks to himself “You nailed it!”)
April 18th, 2008 at 8:25 am
“That’s right NewsOK.com, I’m sure it has zero to do with the best point guard in the game, Tyson Chandler, or David West.”
I was thinking to myself, imagine how Chris Paul feels knowing that it was being in OKC that made the Hornets win 20 more games, not you know…his play…
April 18th, 2008 at 8:26 am
The seven consist of the three on the relocation committee, and other owners who’s own relocation requests were granted. And a couple more.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:29 am
what time is the vote today?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Who are the seven? Do they have any national business interests we can boycott? Or in the case it is Herb Kohl, a political opponent we can donate to?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:42 am
The reason PJ’s job is in question: If the team moves to OKC, he’s gone. If they stay here another year, he stays. Simple as that.
Anybody here on KJR something about Paul Allen abstaining from the vote? That he doesn’t want to vote yes, but also doesn’t want to vote no and piss off everybody. Apparently Stern has made it very clear to all owners that anybody to votes against this thing will feel his wrath. And we all know how Stern holds a grudge. What a colossal douche.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am
What website was giving a play-by-play on the BOG meeting?
April 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
I think OKC did influence the Hornets win total, just not in the direction they think. With Shinn playing New Orleans off OKC as a threat to leave for the first three months of the season, and OKC pretending that any NBA team would do (though we know the fix was in) it could not have done anything but distract the players. OKC, if anything, cost a very good team a couple more wins, if they had any influence at all.
Constant reminders that the entire team may relocate next year doesn’t help, believe it or not.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Uhm if Stern threatens them to vote a certain way I could see even further legal ramifications if there is any proof on this.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:50 am
“Anybody here on KJR something about Paul Allen abstaining from the vote? That he doesn’t want to vote yes, but also doesn’t want to vote no and piss off everybody. Apparently Stern has made it very clear to all owners that anybody to votes against this thing will feel his wrath. And we all know how Stern holds a grudge. What a colossal douche.”
-And here all this time we’ve been told that Stern works for the owners.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
mrcysco Says:
I wish I could keep checking in today and through the weekend, but I’m off to get married! I’ll be in Hawaii for two weeks and I’ll see if I can go the whole time without sneaking off to find a computer.
Hey, Dave managed to check in on his wedding night. Do your part man.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
If you have a BallHype account, hype up the link for the Op-Ed piece Brian wrote - http://tinyurl.com/4hkckn Let’s get this on the front page of BallHype and other places!
Big Chris
April 18th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Mitch is reading the side letter right now. He also says that the same terms and clause is also in the sale contract itself. The only reason for the side letter was so that it could be made public, whereas the contract couldn’t be.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Well that is great news then. If all those clauses are in the actually contract and not just in a side letter you’d think that makes the case even stronger.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Mitch says that he think that Ed Evans could be the key to breaking this case open. Evans was originally apart of Clay’s group and was the one initially reaching out to the Seattle market on the radio and such. Apparently there was a struggle of some sorts between him and Clay and he was booted from the ownership group shortly after. Since then he has not been heard from.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:59 am
So who wants to jump on a plane and go find Ed Evans?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:00 am
“Mitch is reading the side letter right now. He also says that the same terms and clause is also in the sale contract itself.”
I wonder how strongly worded they are and if their is a diffferent form in the letter and the contract.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:00 am
We have got to get a hold of Mr. Evans!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I wonder if David Stern thinks all of the security thoughout New York City for the Pope’s visit to the U.N. is actually for him and the NBA owners.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
From 2006:
One other thing: Ed Evans, the guy who put the original deal together, has dropped out of the ownership group. Clay said he did not know all the specifics but he thinks Evans simply made another telecom investment instead of this investment.
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/sonics/?title=post_clay_interview&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
April 18th, 2008 at 9:07 am
“Apparently Stern has made it very clear to all owners that anybody to votes against this thing will feel his wrath. ”
That’s called extortion.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
This is from the Seattle PI on Wednesday, July 19, 2006:
“Investor G. Edward Evans, top negotiator for the new owners, said they intend to honor the current KeyArena lease, which requires the Sonics to play there until 2010. Evans said the group is willing to lose money for a “period of time” while negotiations for a new arena occur. Evans said the investment bank handling the Sonics deal approached his group six to eight weeks ago about possibly buying the team.”
If Mr. Evans was the top negotiator then he has to be involved at least in the Schultz case right?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Stern must have a really sore jaw from all his last minute “lobbying” on the owners to vote yes.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’m here at the owner’s meeting at the St. Regis Hotel, and it sounds like they’re putting a wrap on things and will have a press conference to discuss the vote on the Sonics relocation application, among other things, in the next hour or so. But again, that’s not an official announcement by the league.
-Eric Williams, TNT
April 18th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Its nice to see us finally getting some press in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/sports/basketball/18sandomir.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin
Lets hope for something good to come out of the BOG meetings today. I doubt anything will but you never know.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
The BOG meeting is a closed meeting, so nobody is “following it”. Everyone has to wait until they end the meeting. The vote is also a process - meaning everyone doesn’t just walk in, pull a lever or lift their hand and then walk back out. There is more going on behind the closed doors than any of us would imagine I suspect. Oh to have had a microphone planted in that meeting room…
Big Chris
April 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Does anyone know if it will be released which owner voted what? Obviously if the vote is 29-1 we will know who voted against the move but if there were more than just 1 then I would really like to know who it was.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:15 am
According to my little bit of research, Ed Evans is the CEO of a company called Syniverse Technologies (www.syniverse.com).. and, if the email naming convention of their other people in the company is any indication, his email address is probably ed.evans@syniverse.com (but don’t quote me on that).
April 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Again a reminder - make http://tinyurl.com your friend. It really helps with the formatting of the blog for some readers.
Big Chris
April 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Aha! Found his email:
http://www.icc.illinois.gov/industry/utilityProfile.aspx?id=2709
April 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
1.813.637.5000 is the phone number for the corporate headquarters of Syniverse Technologies.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Whoops sorry Chris - I read that right after I posted my last one… here’s the TinyURL version of that link:
http://tinyurl.com/555v7b
April 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
This feels like a John Grisham book.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
G. Edward Evans
One Tampa City Cntr., #700
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 273-3386
E-Mail: ed.evans@syniverse.com
April 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Just as a note: The e-mail could be edward.evans instead of ed.evans. I doubt it’s short for Eduardo or Edwina or something like that, lol.
Please keep us posted, adp!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:23 am
TB - I think you and I were tied for first in the inaugural Ed Evans Information Scavenger Hunt.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Probably not the greatest idea to be contacting someone who is involved in the lawsuit. The city of Seattle and their lawyers know who he is. I don’t think sending him a bunch of e-mails is going to help stregthen any cases.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Thanks Alex and TB.
I just email Mr. Evan’s contact info to Mitch at KJR.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Ed Evans was on the City of Seattle’s witness list for the court case on the Key Arena lease. If he has any dirt they aren’t saying.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Great. Evans is not tied into OKC
April 18th, 2008 at 9:31 am
“Ed Evans was on the City of Seattle’s witness list for the court case on the Key Arena lease. If he has any dirt they aren’t saying.”
I don’t think they’ve deposed the witnesses yet, though.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:31 am
apparently you haven’t heard Mark, the KeyArena lease case isn’t real. Just ask Bennett.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:39 am
it’s all an elaborate ruse.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:40 am
OKC believes they are the reason that the Hornets are in the playoffs…..
http://newsok.com/article/3231683
- I mean seriously…do you even have to go to journalism school to write for this paper? Here is my favorite part…we here about how great of a market OKC…how they simply showed as much support as they possibly could. And yet, their support only brought them into 11th place in the league attendance figures.
I’d also like to see someone do a quick math check on:
- How much a local sponsership costs in Seattle. $1.5 million doesn’t seem like all that much.
- In OKC they essentially sold 4,000 more tickets a game then they did in NO. Yet, they say that lead to $800K more in revenue. So apparently, every single extra person spent a total of $200 on average per game. Doesn’t seem to check out in my head at least.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I thought Stern was going to be having a press conference at noon Eastern to announce the results. Did they mean noon our time?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
i heard 2pm NY time.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Myk, it really is unreal what goes on there at the Oklahoman. That editor really should be fired or at least recommend people double check their articles for more than just grammatical errors.
Then again, the editor is probably Bennett’s cousin / nephew / uncle, so as the wheel spins…
April 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
The press conference is supposedly within the next hour. Eric Williams over at the Trib said ‘in the next hour or so’, and that was at Noon ET, 9am Pacific.
I would guess around 1:30-2, eastern time.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Stern is UNAMERICAN! What a joke, arguing with the media just for questioning his “ideas”. Stern thinks he is the most powerfull person in the world and acts like a spoiled brat that has to have it his way or he’s[going to leave and take his ball with him.] What a Fu–ing Jerk off. If the Sonics leave then F–k the NBA all together. Even if they stay, I don’t know if I want to support anything involved with that asshole anyways. CLAY LOVING BITCH!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
by “cousin/nephew/uncle” you mean all at once, right?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
The meetings have wrapped up so the vote is already done or delayed, likely they did vote to approve the move. Yesterday they said the press conference would be at 2pm Eastern time but then this morning the reports were that it would be 12:30pm Eastern so we will see what happens.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
The Oklahoman gives hope to those who couldn’t cut it at their High School newspapers. It’s a place where dreams come true!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
http://tinyurl.com/6zqdzf
April 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am
How much traffic are you getting daily? Monthly? Uniques? Google is a pretty good revenue stream…….but they aren’t the best. Have you guys talked to any ad networks?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Clay Bennett tongues David Stern’s pooper
April 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Percy Allen:
“Outside the elevators a security guard stopped me and redirected me to a second floor media room. Before leaving, I saw Clay Bennett and Commissioner David Stern emerging from a conference room together. They both wore comfortable smiles.
Bennett and I exchanged greetings, however, Stern avoided eye contact.”
April 18th, 2008 at 10:03 am
http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/pdf/4-Lawrence-exhibits3.pdf
12 month good faith in page 15 of sales contract (page 37 of pdf).
April 18th, 2008 at 10:04 am
The sad thing is that when the press conference takes place and they announce that the move was approved this will lead to widespread celebration in Oklahoma city including lots of drinking and cousin on cousin/sister/brother lovin. Then in June when the city of Seattle wins its lawsuit all Oklahoma city will have to show is a bunch of imbread screwed up children on the way.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Question:
Does anyone know if anyone from Seattle (Nichols, Slade Etc) asked for or is receiving a chance to address the owners today?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Percy Allen Talks With Brian Robinson:
Brian Robinson, co-president of Save Our Sonics, also made the cross-country trip to New York. He’s standing outside wearing a Sonics green and gold jacket. It’s quite a scene.
“We don’t expect it to go our way and we don’t have a lot false hope, but we also think it’s terribly relevant to be here,” Robinson said. “We haven’t based our actions based on what the NBA is going to do for a long time.”
“I make a good point of standing in the middle of the sidewalk. They (the owners) avert their eyes and walk around me. I said hello to Jerry Buss. Larry Bird was in the bar last night. They’re aware we’re here and we’d love to talk to them.”
April 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
People need to not be so shocked at the crap that the Daily Jokelahoman spews on on a daily basis.
Do a google search for “worst newspaper in america” and this article comes up first:
http://backissues.cjrarchives.org/year/99/1/worst.asp
April 18th, 2008 at 10:07 am
JJ:
The Gov sent a representative (Mark Rupp) to the meetings, and he said he expected the move to be approved.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Mark Rupp Comments:
Rupp expects the NBA owners to approve the Sonics’ relocation bid, but said the governor wants to begin conversations of having a team in Seattle.
“We definitely want to have conversations with the NBA about getitng a franchise in Seattle,†he said. “My general understanding is that they are looking to go international, but Seattle is one of the most international cities in the world.”
————–
Dont like the sound of that. Its Sonics or bust. We suffered too long and deserve Durant more than OKC deserves anything.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I don’t know about anyone else but with all this crap going on I’m struggling to get excited about the playoffs. I forgot they started tomorrow
April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
“I simply won’t subscribe to The Daily Oklahoman. They skew the news,” says one of the local defectors, junior college professor Frank Silovsky.
“I’m always encouraging my students to read newspapers,” says former Oklahoman city editor Randy Splaingard, a journalism professor at Oklahoma City University, “but I never require that they read the Oklahoman. The Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment.”
“I have to read it,” says Oklahoma Democratic political consultant and former Oklahoma City reporter Mike Carrier, “but it is without question the worst metropolitan newspaper in America.”
April 18th, 2008 at 10:12 am
“I don’t know about anyone else but with all this crap going on I’m struggling to get excited about the playoffs. I forgot they started tomorrow”
I could give a shit myself. Welcome to my future level of caring about the NBA once/if the Sonics move.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Thanks ADP…
Follow-Up question….
What I want to know is… did anyone from Seattle get to SPEAK TO to NBA owners at the meeting today? Was the SOS cause represented to them?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I’ve already soured on the NBA. I’m a Sonics fan unless/until they move. By the time an expansion team comes around, it’ll be too late for me to care.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
JJ:
As far as I know, it was just Brian there from Seattle. I dont think he got to speak with anyone in particular or anything. More of a rally type of thing.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Same here… I’m an NBA fan because I’m a Sonics fan. If they move the NBA can lick my balls.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Agree grumpyd….
If the NBA says us in the Pacific NW: “We’re going to take this Sonics team to OKC and if you are nice to us we’ll get you another team in the future.”
I will respond with: “If you take this Sonics team and move them to OKC, don’t bother, I won’t want you back in Seattle. Good-bye forever.”
April 18th, 2008 at 10:20 am
With Stern wanting to move to other countries w/o expansion, how long until the USA only has one team?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:21 am
JJ-
My guess is that there was no one representing Seattle, sounds like it was just stern and Bennett telling their own story.
EJ-
Thanks for confirming what I suspected about the Oklahoman. Between Clay and his wife, they have some very well respected business ventures.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Yeah… I have not heard of anyone from Seattle speaking to the BOG. That is sad to me but probably a tactical decision by Nichols & Slade Etc. to not address this group at this time.
If Olympia/Gregoire has not dropped the ball I would assume Nichols would have initiated an opportunity to get the SOS cause in front of the owners today.
If this team goes I place 90% of the blame on Olympia/Gregoire/Sims.
BUT…. I agree with BR’s excellent article in the Seattle Times today… there is a long way to go in this journey. IF Nichols hangs tough - Clay will abandon his request to get out of the final 2 years of the lawsuit - or he will lose it - and the Sonics will have 2 more years here & we have more time to try and get the arena funding finalized and grind through our legal options.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
next thread, purchase agreement, if you would like to have a feel good story today.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Once again the politicians from WA. demonstrate that they have no idea what the citizens of WA. care about or desire.
Inside the head of WA state leaders
April 18th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Inside the head of WA state leaders:
“The will of the people? Who cares, I know what is best for them.”
April 18th, 2008 at 10:30 am
It will really is amazing if Stern is not called out by the owners on this whole situation. How is the NBA stronger with making this franchise move?
If Paul Allen voted “Yes” or abstained i will be very disappointed.
I expect the vote to be about 27-2 or so.
Got to love Mark Cuban
April 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Abstaing is a good move.
It sends a message of “I will not even dignify that question with an answer.”
Followed by a hefty “Harumpf” in disgust.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:39 am
if [when] Bennett loses the court case, he’ll sell. he won’t want to hang around for 2 years. and even if he does, mclendon and ward won’t.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Just heard about 20-30 minutes until the press conference. They’re getting everything set up right now.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:42 am
The last thing we need is the gov. or her representitve there telling stern how she respects him and hopes he will bring a team to seattle in the future. She just plain don’t get it!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I’m buzzed about the last 3 games the supes played and the draft picks. The reason i’ve been so nice to AK is that he was right about Earl and Nick and those 2 came on strong and showed the most heart, they are now part of the foundation. I totally disagree about Durant though, this kids going to be a superstar. A rookie Hitting that many game winners. And he’s still a boy, Jeff Green Will probably be pretty damn good too. I’m proposing with the 6 first round picks that would be a pretty bright future. That’s the thing about dreaming we hit another 1 or 2 pick. While i’m at it, I propose that should David Stern get released of his duties one day, That We try as hard as this to get Mark cuban in as a replacement. Nobody would bring this game to a new level than having a commissioner who does what is right and calls it likes he sees it. He’s always getting fined by Stern and in light of the referee scandel, I wonder how many were for speaking up about a game being obviously thrown.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Bennett Will sign the lease the minute they approve the relocation.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
FUCK NO we don’t want another team. This is our team and Durant is our savior. Don’t give in for expansion. I would never watch or support another team. It would be the same thing as if my dog died and someone brought me another dog and told me to love it the same as my loyal dog that just died. Give me a fucking break! FUCK YOU STERN AND CLAY CLAY! BED BUDDIES!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I know that there’s some difference of opinion on this, even though we all want to keep the Sonics in Seattle. I think that we need to make it abundantly clear that we want Our Sonics in Seattle and that is the only acceptable choice here. We are all fighting to keep the Sonics, which is great, but there are a few people who are comforted by the fact that we MAY get an expansion team here IF we lose the Sonics and that THEY can keep the Sonics name! To me that’s a load of crap - not that the NBA couldn’t do it - they probably wouldn’t though, even if they said they would (to appease a few people). I do not think that “we” should even consider that in any negotiations. I really think that S.O.S. and SC.com should take a strong stance against accepting an expansion team in Seattle, even with the Sonics’ name. It’s like taking 1 step forward and 10 steps back. We should really be saying “Seattle wants the Sonics or NO NBA” - or “S.O.S. says It’s Sonics or NBA Boycott” period. That is how I feel and I know a lot of people here feel the same way. What do you feel about making that our official stance. If we lose the Sonics, we need to hurt the NBA big-time. They need to feel the sting of our saber. We don’t want crap from them. We’ve done expansion and we’ve paid our dues. Some people would say we’ve got an expansion team now, but it’s one with a very bright future.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:48 am
what i think a lot of people forget, Bennett AGREED to the lease when he bought the team. So if the team goes back to Schultz or Bennett sells, the new owners do not have to agree to a lease in OKC.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
i’m not even sure legally Bennett can sign a lease with an impending lease agreement-based court case looming.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Bennett and Stern looking smug? Ugh, pisses me off.
Any word on when the vote will be announced?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
“12 month good faith in page 15 of sales contract (page 37 of pdf).”
Dick Tate - I couldn’t see the link very well and every time I tried to skip through the pages it froze up. What’d you gather from the pdf? Did it look like the details of the “good faith” were outlined pretty well?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I would bet that if it was actually being voted no in larger proportion that Paul Allen would definetly cast a no vote as well. I think his abstaining is more of a protest than anything.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Balloholic Says:
April 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
“12 month good faith in page 15 of sales contract (page 37 of pdf).”
“Dick Tate - I couldn’t see the link very well and every time I tried to skip through the pages it froze up. What’d you gather from the pdf? Did it look like the details of the “good faith” were outlined pretty well? ”
Ballaholic, I transcribed they paragraphs into the next thread.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Don’t get too caught up in this vote. I think most people, including me expect us to fail. I will consider it a victory if there are more than 2 votes on our side.
The last two relocation votes, together, passed by a 59-1 margin.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Oh yeah. Anything above +1 even. A 25-5 vote would be a victory for Seattle, no question.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Yeah but this is a totally different situation and is unpresidented, moving to a way smaller market.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
You guys might enjoy this. We just asked this during a Miami Herald Dolphins Chat:
Submitted by The South Florida Fa from Boca Raton, FL
Q: We’ve been leading a very active campaign in Miami to try and help Save the Sonics. We were wondering what your thoughts were on the whole thing, especially as we’ve been through stadium-relocation nightmares with the Marlins for years?
Answered 04/18/08 13:58:09 by Greg Cote
A: A save the Sonics campaign in Miami is a great idea. Can you start a save the heat-dolphins-marlins-panthers campaign in Seattle?
See the link here:
http://www.miamiherald.com/qna/forum/miami_sports_chat/index.html
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Today means nothing to me except to see just how corrupt the NBA is. A delay vote would install a little more confidense in me.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I know that there’s some difference of opinion on this, even though we all want to keep the Sonics in Seattle. I think that we need to make it abundantly clear that we want Our Sonics in Seattle and that is the only acceptable choice here.
We are all fighting to keep the Sonics, which is great, but there are a few people who are comforted by the fact that we MAY get an expansion team here IF we lose the Sonics and that THEY can keep the Sonics name! To me that’s a load of crap - not that the NBA couldn’t do it - they probably wouldn’t though, even if they said they would (to appease a few people). I do not think that “we” should even consider that in any negotiations.
I really think that S.O.S. and SC.com should take a strong stance against accepting an expansion team in Seattle, even with the Sonics’ name. It’s like taking 1 step forward and 10 steps back. We should really be saying “Seattle wants the Sonics or NO NBA” - or
“S.O.S. says It’s Sonics or NBA Boycott” period.
That is how I feel and I know a lot of people here feel the same way. What is your opinion about making that our official stance? If we lose the Sonics, we need to hurt the NBA big-time. They need to feel the sting of our saber. We don’t want crap from them. We’ve done expansion and we’ve paid our dues. Some people would say we’ve got an expansion team now, but it’s one with a very bright future.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I’m a supporter of the “Scorched Earth” philosophy. Our team or no team!
Expose all of those SOB’s for the corrupt A-holes they are. This is sickening
April 18th, 2008 at 11:06 am
My stance compeletly!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I’m game.
No Sonics = No NBA in Seattle
April 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am
If we lose this team the NBA is dead to me.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Follow-up:
Q: Thanks for the support, Cote. The only people who can really help Seattle are those from other NBA cities. I’ve been personally told that if you write anything in their favor, Save Our Sonics will augment you to hero status.
Answered 04/18/08 14:04:08 by Armando Salguero
A: Don’t get me wrong. I feel for longtime Sonics fans in that area. But I have enough parochial concerns and interests to limit my inclination to delve into the woes of other markets.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:09 am
“That is how I feel and I know a lot of people here feel the same way. What is your opinion about making that our official stance? If we lose the Sonics, we need to hurt the NBA big-time. They need to feel the sting of our saber. We don’t want crap from them. We’ve done expansion and we’ve paid our dues. Some people would say we’ve got an expansion team now, but it’s one with a very bright future.”
exactly how i feel. it’s the sonics or nothing for me. like people have said i don’t even care about the playoffs right now even though the west is looking exciting, we have a wizards/cavs grudge match. still can’t get excited because i’m wrapped up in Sonics stuff
April 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Eric Williams at TNT has reported that the NBA’s press conference has been post-poned to 12 our time. He said they had issues to work out. I wonder what is up?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I like this.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Guys, based on Greg Cote’s reaction (and I know for a fact that he’s susceptible to brown-nosing), I think you could get a really great article from him. He’s a big big big voice in Miami.
Direct e-mails to gcote@MiamiHerald.com
Say something like: “We really appreciate your support. Can you please help publicize the efforts to help the Sonics, such as in Miami?”
If he gets enough, he’ll write something.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Thanks South Florida. Just sent Greg and email.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Balloholic Says:
Dick Tate - I couldn’t see the link very well and every time I tried to skip through the pages it froze up.
That happened to me too. It works better if you download pdf files instead of opening them in a browser.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
The vote today means nothing. Fully expect us to lose this one. But it won’t matter much.
This fight is going to be in court a long long time IMO. Suits and countersuits……..class action suits. The ugliness is just beginning. I see the future….and it includes injunctions.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:27 am
the fans of cleveland love their browns. they fought for the future of the team. i want kids in seattle and the nw to have a team to root for. i don’t want to say “hey, here’s how i feel right now and so if we can’t have this team then forget it, forever.” fans in washington, d.c. waited 33 years to replace their senators w/the nationals. i might well be dead in 33 years, but i want seattle to have a pro basketball future connected to its past, which to me could mean keeping the supersonics legacy in trust for future generations.
ask baltimore fans how they feel about watching the horseshoe helmet on sundays. and going to the hall of fame and seeing johnny unitas in the indianapolis section.
SEATTLE made the sonics. if these shysters and liars take the team, then call it the cyclones or whatever, give us the sonics on ice, and someday, we’ll have a real team that will play those sob’s and beat them like a drum
that’s my scorched earth policy. if and when seattle plays okc, beat ‘em. baaaaad.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Not that it means much, but tomorrow is the 13 year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing
April 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
If you’re one of those people (sorry Dick, you know I love ya, but I gotta go there…) who believes Seattle should just let the current Sonics franchise go and instead negotiate to get an expansion franchise, what you’re really saying is that you love the NBA sooo much that you’re willing to let the league steal your team - the only team you’ve ever had - as long as they promise to give you another team later.
My question for those people is, if the beyond heinous act of stealing your team despite 41 years of loyal fan support isn’t enough to convince you to take a stand on principle and tell the NBA to take their business and shove it, then what in the world would it take for you to turn your back on the league that is blatantly turning its back on you?
April 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
April 18 (Bloomberg) — National Basketball Association
owners voted to allow the SuperSonics franchise to relocate to
Oklahoma City from Seattle, even as court cases are pending that
seek to keep the team in it current home.
A majority of owners voted to approve the Sonics’ move,
according to Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports &
Entertainment, which owns the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
Peddie didn’t give a vote total as he emerged from the
closed-door session in New York.