Who has the edge?
Posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm by Brian Robinson
Man the roller coaster:
I am as good at keeping myself level through any of this and honesty the roller coaster is crazy. As mentioned in earlier threads you simply could not write this kind of soap opera. The twists and turns of it have been amazing.
On Friday there was a sense that we had been fighting an absolutely valiant battle, but also that the plodding methodical process was simply moving along regardless. Then I felt like, while we had done a good job Clay simply held all the cards and that it would take a miracle to avert the inevitable.
Now today I feel like him and Stern have got to be asking themselves what they have gotten into.
You simply read that case and it makes sense. It sounds like a winner.
As my hotshot attorney told me today “People may say it’s a long shot, but its a lot less of a long shot than Clay Bennett’s case against the city.”
So as of this exact moment who is more afraid.
I wonder aloud if the city may now ask to defer its case pending the outcome of this civil case. Obviously Schulz is asking for an injunction against moving the team until his case is settled.
People have been offering their praise for Slade Gorton’s strategic mind. Seriously he is unstoppable. Truly a great mind. Listen to what he says and remember he is one of 10 people who were asked to assess what happened to our country on 9-11. Sure the administration did not listen to his recommendations, but do you think they would have asked if he wasn’t brilliant?
The case seems to be getting stronger. As I read it Howard’s good faith clause was a covenant in the purchase and sale and the contract stipulates that either party may terminate the agreement if any covenants are broken. Another Specific Performance section states that if a covenant is broken then the terminating party can seek an injunction against the other.
Amazing. I think we may have a case where Bennett’s people tried to make the language of the letter very weak, but Schultz had better attorneys working the contract. It’s all in there.
This is one of those amazing cases where if people had just been ethical they would have gotten exactly what they wanted. Sadly, had Clay Bennett taken the team, gone through a realistic good faith effort, done a reasonable job, but not gone great guns he could have probably proven good faith and reasonable effort, failed, and been approved to move the team. Likely he could have even slid out on the lease. Instead he goes dirty, leaves this amazing paper trail of his terrible intentions, and is left trying to explain his half-assed job. In the end honesty is the best policy.
This e-mail trail is amazing. I can’t believe that they kept these. The other NBA owners have to be fuming. What the hell happens to Stern if Schultz wins his case. Is this the end of him?
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I think the Mo is on the good guys side tonight…who knows what it is tomorrow.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I go to Vegas for a few days and all hell is breaking loose. Wow, Howard’s lawsuit look’s like it’s starting to show some legs. Howard maybe the hero in all of this. Good for him for doing this. He could have just said it’s not my mess anymore, whatever happens happens. I’m glad he’s stepped forward.
Sported my SOS shirt in Vegas
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
No case Batman…get a arena deal, otherwise…
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
If Stern doesn’t back off he is going to be named as a co-defendent. That is the hold card. We haven’t begun to disclose any of David Stern’s emails. Slade announcing that he would consider a settlement was just his way of opening dialog with the NBA who now has alot of incentive to settle this before it gets worse.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Go get ‘em, Howard!
SAVE THESE KD-LED SONICS!!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
No case Batman…get a arena deal, otherwise…
Actually, a big part of that is already standing in the wing. Ballmer’s offer is still viable. All it needs is the authorization for an already tax that is in place for the remaining $75M. And Ballmer’s group makes Bennett’s group look like paupers.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
With the mounting evidense, it sure seems like collusion between owners, Stern, etc.
When do the the senators step in and ask tough questions of the league? If they can bring steroid users to the hill, than it shoudl be a slam dunk to bring the NBA in for question on extorting tax payer money from cities.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
SEATTLE SONICS BABY!!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I wonder what CB’s wife is telling him as I type this???? its not good I can tell you that!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
ML I like how your thinking sounds like Collusion to me
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
filing is up, pretty straight up
BTW, press conference came back to bite them, see page 9.
Sweet!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/04/22/2004366926.pdf
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Get Bennett’s hands off OUR sonics.
Next, push David Stern and his head which is buried in sand which coincidentially is also up in his corrupted @ss (visualize that people.) out of office.
We better have more e-mails in the chamber.
Ready to fire son.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Damn this has more twists and turns than 24.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Having more coffee at Howard’s again tomorrow. Forgot how much I missed the place.
It’s as though Slade, the City, & Howard knew exactly what the NBA would say and how they would react recently. Stern has to be messing his pants by now.
And Bennett is just plain dumb.
Give em’ enough rope…..
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
“What the hell happens to Stern if Schultz wins his case. Is this the end of him?”
We can only hope. The only way this could go in a worse direction is to have either of Isaiah Thomas or Kevin McHale put in charge of the league. Maybe all three of them could work together and it’d be the moder day version of the Three Stooges.
Big Chris
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Save Our Sonics Howard!! The Sonics belong in Seattle!! SAVE OUR SONICS!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
The following is an excerpt from the court documents filed today. (top of page 10) It’s pretty interesting…
“BCOS does not know, for example, the amount of loans incurred by defendant, the amount of losses sustained by the Sonics since the sale by BCOS (which amount is alleged to be much larger than expected as a result of the Oklahoma City group having intentionally mismanaged the Sonics to improve their case for breaking the lease)…”
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Producer Says:
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
“No case Batman…get a arena deal, otherwise…”
This is not up to stern, this will be up to a judge. what happens after the judge makes a ruling is a whole other thing.
The former owner was ok with the remodel, Stern went to bat for him over it, and they have 2 years to get funding for it done to the liking of the owner, in that case it will be Howard, or the third party. Ballmer had the remodel independently reviewed and it was found to be acceptable.
Many people have said, and it is true, the NBA can not force an owner to sell. Once in Howard’s, or the third parties hands, it is up to that owner to secure a long term solution.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
“With the mounting evidense, it sure seems like collusion between owners, Stern, etc.
When do the the senators step in and ask tough questions of the league? If they can bring steroid users to the hill, than it shoudl be a slam dunk to bring the NBA in for question on extorting tax payer money from cities.”
Seems to me like this is part of the nuclear option. Slade is likely trying to turn to negotiations now, as he has put maximum pressure on the OKies, and can show Stern that he is next.
The key is to leave Stern an exit strategy that allows him to save his skin. If it really hits the Hill, the issue becomes essentially unstoppable by a negotiated solution in Seattle. Good for pressure, but not so good for a negotiated solution.
Now, if the OKies, and more importantly Stern, don’t take the hint in the next 30 - 60 days, then you do 2 things:
1. Move to join the two cases, and delay the City case trial, condeming the OKies to at least another year of gray, rainy hell (with very low season ticket sales), and
2. Pull the trigger on the nuclear option (because at that point, Stern is clearly not getting it). This option includes adding the NBA and Stern as co-defendants, and beginning a movement towards congressional inquiry.
But, remember, for this strategy to work, we need:
a. Credible threat from the congressional delegation, and
b. An arena solution! Funny how it all comes back to this. See Slade’s quotes in today’s papers.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
“guest”, thanks again for the insight posts!
Out of curiosity, are you a lawyer by any chance?
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Now that this email is public record the city, being public, can they demand emails from further back to before the sale and include Stern’s email’s?
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
insightful, i mean.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I’m no lawyer, but I just finished reading the lawsuit and it seems very strong and compelling. I really think one way or another we keep “THESE” Sonics!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 pm
generally supportive
I love our gov.. again! she won’t wear a skirt above the knee!
come on patty put those tennis shoes up stern ass, once you get clay’s head out!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Posting here while writing a closing argument.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
guest, i really appreciate your legal insight. thanks.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Posting here while writing a closing argument.
- No offense…but the person you are representing might want your attentions focused elsewhere
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
In the press conference Bennett said “WE” tried the best we knew how to, then it seemed he caught himself, & said I put forth my best effort, or something like that. Saying “WE” contradicted what Stern said that maybe the other owners weren’t on the same page as Clay, but then again the emails also contradict Clays’ statement that “WE” did the best we knew how to.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Agreed!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I can’t believe the Producer’s OKC-loving ass hasn’t been banned yet
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Everyone should read some of the Okie comments on NewsOk.com about this lawsuit. It’s amazing to see so many delusional people. Most of them seem to think Bennett is just a smart business-man, and the people of Seattle are just being sore losers. I understand they just want a team to call their own, but are they that much in denial about how truly shady Clay-Clay is?
Also, I’m wondering how the lawmakers/politicians in OK are gonna react to this. They may quickly start to realize they made a deal with the devil.
The saga continues…
I LOVE IT!!! GO SUPES!!!
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
page 10, the “mismanagement” part, would the season ticket holder’s case expose to the public fraud and mismanagement, concealed intent, therefore providing evidence of intended inflation of losses to support its application for relocation.
Maybe they are not going to lose 30 million this coming year, and even if they are it is of there own intended action?
How would the league owners take having the “facts” given to them for the relocation application be shown to be either lies, or created to support the application?
How much rubber is on the rubber stamp they plan to use next year should the team be compelled to stay two more years?
Maybe stern doesn’t mind being lied to, but driving down revenue with intent to deceive the BOG might not be a popular action. Just my guess, Mark Cuban might flame a few emails tonight.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Regarding the Schultz trial, I’ve felt that the people who are saying it’s a longshot is based upon how the trial looks on the surface, but none of those people saying that seemed to have any insight into the actual case itself. I don’t think HS does all of this if there isn’t a good case underneath the surface imo. He doesn’t seem to like headaches, that’s one of the reasons he sold the team in the first place…
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Somewhere in heaven, Bill “The Beerman” Scott is yelling–SAVE OUR SONICS!!
“SAVE OUR SONICS”
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Also, this deal that everyone’s talking about could be made next year as well, so it seems premature(due to the trials) to cave in, or negotiate this year unless we come out on top in the deal.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=3362659
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I love it. Thank God this suit is real, I couldn’t have taken another dissapointment. Thank you Howard.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
What a rollercoaster indeed… amazing. The Schultz lawsuit, now that is official, is a very big deal indeed. Just another log on the fire of public opinion. Interesting that the filing says “recent discovery” of the “sweet flip” email. If that discovery was made in the pre-trial of the City suit, why hasn’t it been revealed until now? Are there equally pertinent emails that we don’t know about?
One date to keep in mind: May 22. The SEATTLE SUPERSONICS will be in the Draft Lottery. It will be a bizarre scene, with Presti sitting up at a desk with a green-and-gold ball on it. Imagine if the Supes get the first or second pick, and how much pressure that would add on all parties involved…
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
i don’t think the schultz case is a longshot at all, for gods sake all the evidence is there. you have to be braindead if you think clay ACTUALLY intended to stay in seattle at the purchase of the team. judges aren’t stupid, i think at this point its just whether they rule that the team be un-bought or schultz receives cash compensation
i’m pretty optimistic about this whole thing
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
EVERY scenario we talk about has a common theme. We need a new arena or updated Key Arena. With all of the other stuff going on we tend to forget to stay on the politicians. I just emailed Sims and Gregoire. (Mainly to tell Sims what an idiot he is) We have a bigger bargaining chip with arena plan in hand. Let’s get it done.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I am taking a Contemporary American Discourse class right now. I am having to do a lot of close readings, puzzle/solution exercises. I am not seeing any loose ends in reading this. Every assertion has a quoted reference, the good faith part of the story looks like it turns on the email to the “NBA official” that things are tough in Seattle but OKC would be a great place, and the only show in town kind of talk. It just did not look like anything in the city’s group of emails, but in this context it just hammers home that they quit early.
The good faith is really just the half of the case though, even if they could prove that, they are still stuck with their lies used to take control of the team from Howard’s group.
Fraud and misrepresentation.
This is going to take some heavy lifting to counter the arguments with facts. This is going to take time, they are asking for discovery, they are asking for it to be in Western Washington. An existing case is already here, they used Washington State law in showing that they had the right to court engagement.
The city should postpone until they know if they have a case since the ownership is in question.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
How many people are in the OKC ownership group? I wonder if they will need to prove that a majority of the group wasn’t acting in “good faith”.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Wow how a few hours can change everyones outlook. At 3pm I disputed the fact that matthew thought Schultz sucks. I guess that shows what emotional roller coaster this is and still will be.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
The reality of this case and new information that pre-dates the sale changes everything. While I was thinking that negotiating a promise from the NBA for an expansion team in 2 years along with a buyout from PBC that was big enough to cover the $75M needed to get the Key remodeled. Now, we need to wait out the Schultz trial. This should stretch things out long enough that they will have to play in Seattle next year. Then, we are back to the state legislature.
Clay and Co. really had no idea what they were getting into.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Regarding the point “guest” made about the Seattle contingent leaving Stern an exit strategy - here it is: if someone in WA can produce $75 million in the next 45 days, and bring Ballmer back to the table, then Stern can say 1) thanks to the passionate and loyal support of the wonderful fans, Seattle has committed to an NBA quality-arena (a newly expanded and remodelled Key) and therefore, 2) Bennett has honored and fulfilled the commitment he originally made to Howard Schultz to keep the Sonics here.
All court cases are immediately dropped, and Bennett slithers back to OKC with a unwritten promise from the NBA that since he “saved basketball in Seattle” he and OKC will be rewarded with the next available team in time for the 2010-2011 season.
Game. Set. Match.
And the next morning, after we all wake up from our collective 2 year nightmare, we’ll all run down to Starbucks to celebrate.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
lol, i’m on my honeymoon in hawaii right now and I couldn’t resist checking up on things. Man what awesome news! that filing by Howard is great. I can’t wait to hear Clay and Sern’s counter to it.
Keep up the pressure!!!!!
-=cysco
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
the suit is against the okie basketball club not clay bennet
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Everytime Gregoire has been asked about Howards actions she states she was recently in contact with him. I sure she’ll play herself up as the one who got him into the game.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
she is just generally supportive?
she is so gutless.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
courtsense, they do not need to get it done in 45 days, the city can ask to have their case moved out to allow enough time for the Schultz case to go through motions and discovery, arguing that the city’s case may be moot, because Bennett may not be the rightful owner, and is not incontrol of the franchise, therefore he could not act to break the lease.
I am no lawyer, but that is what I would ask my loawyer to consider arguing, the logos. This would push this out into next basketball and state political season.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
http://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/080422/bcos_litigation.pdf
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Hehe…
“I don’t trust lawyers,” said Stern, an attorney himself.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/hornets/2005-11-10-stern-oklahoma-city_x.htm
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
she asked him to consider getting involved, so, at least give her that.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Haha Gregoire has show her colors …Rossi ‘08, you’re out Chris, regardless of hte SOnics staying or going.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
“How many people are in the OKC ownership group? I wonder if they will need to prove that a majority of the group wasn’t acting in “good faith”.”
That was covered in the brief. According to Clay’s press confrence and Stern, Clay is the spokesman for the group, in the email he sent he shows that his intent was to either get the team out, or if he’s forced into a solution he’d then sell the team. All 2 days before they signed the paperwork.
Other thing to remember, there’s three main characters in the group, Ward and McClendon are the money guys, Bennetts the spokesman. All three of them are the most complicit members of the group from the emails we’ve seen so far.
I’m willing to guess the other guys haven’t been mentioned yet only because they’ve given out what they needed to in the legals so far. Gotta save something for leverage.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Can you imagine how full clays shorts will get if a judge slaps an in junction on the club. It seems that would make it easier for clay to actually lose the team.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Courtsense at 11:24…. sounds good to me
At some point in this I think Stern may look at everything and have to decide…
Do I stay with Clay and go down with him - or do I seperate myself from him and let him go down by himself. Being the deeply selfish person he is - Stern will tell Clay he either has to give up his team or Stern will throw him under the bus.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I want Clay and Stern destroyed by this. Scorched fucking earth. I’ll stop short of wanting teh NBA destroyed actually.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Mr Baker… You have a point that getting the 75 million & arena funding may not have to be done in 30-45 days …. but I think it makes sense to say the sooner this arean funding could be solved the better - for many reasons - and if the arean funding is resolved before the Cities lease court case the NBA might be more pressured to deal with us because they don’t want to go through with that case.
Having said all that - who knows what it will ever take to get anything helpful our of Gregoire on this.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Not sure if this link was posted or not. But this guy has seemed to change his tune a little bit. Last week he was saying the lawsuit didn’t stand much of a chance, now he’s giving it more of a shot.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=3362659
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
You almost wonder if you need to coddle Gregoire. If showering her with false credit makes her act, then why not continue it? You guys agree?
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Seems I’m always hearing about how rich the OKies are, and how in particular they’re so ridiculously filthy rich that they can easily afford to play out the remaining 2 years of the lease and lose tens of millions without blinking an eye.
Hmmm…
And yet, when they bought the team from Schultz, this group of ridiculously filthy rich civic-minded Okies were so darn excited to bring NBA basketball to OKC that they immediately went right out and…borrowed nearly $100 million from the NBA itself to co-finance the purchase.
Maybe they only borrowed the money because they got a great interest rate. Maybe every new ownership group borrows $100 million from the league every time a team changes hands. Or maybe all their ridiculously filthy rich OKie wealth was plumb tied up in oil and gas and they couldn’t get to the bank before it closed that day. I have no idea -
Or maybe, just maybe, they really are not THAT committed to risking their own money on a venture that the 2 main money guys (McClendon and Ward) have no experience in. I’ve never believed for a minute that these guys were willing to eat money for 2 more years in Seattle, and I’m even less convinced today.
Let’s see how committed, and how tough, they really are…
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
My head, heart, instincts and gut tells me….
1. Slade & Yarmuth have more. They have more evdidence. E-Mails. Witnesses waiting to give juicey depositions. They have reaveal just enough to already make their case scary to Stern & Clay.
2. Slade & Yarmuth have more. They have more threats. They have more messages to Clay & Stern that will make them lose sleep at night. They have threats that we do not hear about that make David & Clay more nervous. They will be amping up the pressure behind the scenes.
3. Slade & Yarmuth have more: The have more experience, brains and guts than Clay or any of his lawyers.
More power to Howard. This is not just a PR deal for him - he has serious stuff on Clay and is going for the throat at the right time.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Saw the old movie “Of Mice and Men” recently in school. Is it just me, or does Clay Clay remind you of the character Lenny in looks and demeanor?………..It seems like the only good move Clay has made is to marry well.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
If we’re talking movies, I see Gordon Gecko…and we all remember how that ended up. Could Schultz be Charlie Sheen?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 am
South Florida… Thanks again for all your awesome support.
The only way Gregoire will get any coddling or love from SOS fans is if she acts - does something helpful with arena funding. You would have to live here to get the full sense of what she is about - but she is as bad of a leader as I’ve seen just about anywhere.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 am
What do you guys think about going and getting a cup of coffee tomorrow now?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 am
Clay should start talking to Ballmer tomorrow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:08 am
Disclosure from one lawsuit helps the other. I love the fact that howard can threaten and dig all the dirt and the city can be a little more laid back in regards to the NBA so when the sonics stay there won’t as much animosity towards the city by the NBA after stern eats his crow.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 am
JJ,
You’re probably right. The extent of what I know of her is from interviews (I remember watching her on CNN during the Washington primary). She seems to have a knack for making herself look good in front of the cameras.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 am
slade is now the good cop and schultz is the bad cop
and of course clay and stern like to play with handcuffs?
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:40 am
I love this. Since you guys all covered and discussed the case elements already, I just want to add that I love the public trust part. That means when we win, Howard doesn’t want to own the team, and…… NO WALLY!!! The slight chance of having him back at all was scaring me a little bit…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 am
Let’s assume the chess pieces really are all in play.
Remember how Stern fawned about the Gov. and the Senators last Friday?
Perhaps Chris G., Maria and Patty are merely bidding their time to serve as the facilitators to a deal?
Now that would be brilliance. Hmm, maybe this drink is too strong. I am getting delusional.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 am
Sigh… I hate night time. No new news and few posts here.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 am
BR,
Do you serve Starbucks at your shop?
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 am
Video Post:” Till we meet again remix” coming soon!!! get ready..
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVimxmXWPR4
NEW Sonics Video.. MUST SEE…..
Thank you to 2R Sonics…
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
I posted a really nice, long piece (original work) about 5 or 10 minutes ago about not compromising and not accepting a buyout, but it didn’t actually post. I’m not sure why. It didn’t have any URL’s in it and there wasn’t a message that said “Your comment is awaiting Moderation” or anything. It’s just like I never posted it. Is there a maximum length on a post that you can’t exceed or something? I did have a couple smiley faces in it and I took David Stern’s name in vain about 20 times, maybe I exceeded the maximum number of David Stern callouts for one post - there’s probably some NBA rule about that which gets monitored clandestinely, right?
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 am
Very nice video, Reid & Zonics. You guys went above and beyond the call of duty! I was only the second person to view the video - you must have been the first - I think there’s 10 now - I posted a comment - I wonder what happened to my long post? Maybe I should break it up …
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:16 am
I’m very glad that Howard has filed his lawsuit now and it’s very straight-forward & down-to-earth. It reads very well & clearly without a bunch of legalese. I don’t
know if anyone heard the final poll results from KJR on whether Seattle should accept a $50 Million buyout of the lease and let the Sonics go with a promise that we
would get another team by 2011 called the Sonics and we would keep the history, logo, etc. You had to text Yes or No to “49451″ from your cell phone. It was
interesting because initially the vote was a litle in favor of accepting a buyout tomorrow (or whenever), which I thought was ridiculous. Then it was 50-50 for awhile.
About an hour later it was 46% YES to accept the Bennett offer that he hasn’t made yet and 54% NO - or even HELL NO to Clay-Clay (although if you text anything
other than “Yes” or “No” to KJR your vote is not counted.
I was disappointed this week to see so many people talking about accepting a compromise from the OKC boys and letting them walk with the Sonics. Why would we
compromise with THIEVES and LIARS? We need to stay in this fight and keep pressure on our elected officials to do the same. We need to get more media exposure
and plan some rallies. I would be sick if we let the Sonics go without a fight. It would leave such a bad taste in my mouth about the NBA that I would not want
another NBA team in Seattle and I wouldn’t support it. I couldn’t bring myself to support it. I would not want anything to do with David Stern’s version of
“professional” basketball. I have only had Sonic season tickets for three years, but I have attended at least 20 Sonics games (usually more like 25) every year for
over 20 years now with my son and sometimes other family members. And I have personally followed the Sonics every year since 1967-1968 when they stocked the
team with the dispersal draft (Walt Hazzard, Tom Meschery, etc.).
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 am
David Stern has shown that he does not care about the fans, he does not care about tradition, he does not care about community, he does not care about loyalty. David Stern has shown that he only cares about money and power - mostly the power of throwing his weight around and having cities & legislatures kiss his rosy red bum. I have not seen anyone else abuse his power as badly as David Stern does, and he badly deserves his come-uppance. David Stern feigns innocence and
says that Slade Gorton wants to enact a “scorched earth” policy, which David just doesn’t understand. He pretends to be the unbiased, objective one in all this, and he fails to admit that HE SCORCHED OUR EARTH first - he’s scorched Seattle, Washington badly with his policies by setting up Clay Bennett to steal our Sonics from under our noses. And all the while he did his Pontius Pilate impression and washed his hands of this sin. He again feigned ignorance regarding the emails among
the OKC boys, or said that he hadn’t read them or hadn’t “studied” them yet - right, David, there’s really a lot of deep meaning to study there!
Ron Sims doesn’t want us to offend David Stern? He wants us to behave like good boys and girls so we can eventually get another NBA team of our own? What a joke! David Stern has abused his position for far too long. He’s been dirty for longer than some of you have been alive. Remember how he fixed the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery so that the New York Knicks would get the first pick and be able to draft Patrick Ewing? I believe that was in his first year as NBA Commissioner! He has
been rigging things and pulling this kind of crap for a long time, because everyone lets him get away with it. Most of the owners will not stand up to him (except Mark Cuban). Most of the owners kneel down in front or in back of him (Clay’s email indicated that he preferred David’s backside). So why on God’s Green Earth would we want to appease David Stern? Unfortunately, the man is not just a joke - he’s evil incarnate - on a heavy-duty power trip and intimidating everyone in his path. If Clay Bennett is Darth Vader (although he surely looks more like Frankenstein’s monster), then David Stern is the Emperor.
If it weren’t for David Stern, Clay Bennett would never have entered the picture. David knew that Clay wanted to bring a team to Oklahoma City. And he knew that New Orleans was going to be difficult or impossible for Clay Bennett to buy and bring to OKC, so David thought of an alternate plan. David Stern went on record in 2005 as saying that Oklahoma City would be the next team to get an expansion franchise (or to steal someone else’s team - whichever came first - that part was off the record -
). I don’t know if anyone has any evidence that it was David Stern’s idea in the first place to steal Seattle’s team (which would be reason enough to demand his resignation). Stern, of course, would deny it as preposterous, but it was Stern who arranged for Clay and Howard to talk to discuss a possible sale of the Sonics.
Who do you think was the brains behind this grand larceny? Was it Clay Bennett or was it David Stern? I imagine that David coached Clay about what he needed to do at certain points along the way to make it all look legitimate and with David’s full backing, Clay and OKC would be able to steal an entrenched team from the Pacific Northwest and finally set up shop in the dust bowl of Oklahoma. A dream come true for David Stern (a captive market - one-sport town unlike Seattle’s varied culture) and, of course, for all the home-town OKC boys.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 am
Now you see why I had to break this post up? Here’s the conclusion:
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 am
NP Doc. Did you also know the name of Howards Sonics trust Canarisie means FORT in native American dialect.
http://tinyurl.com/6d3btz
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 am
No, I didn’t - I’m still having trouble getting my entire comment to post - just the last 3 paragraghs now won’t appear, but I think I’ll just go to bed - I am bushed. I’ll see if the rest of my comment reappears tomorrow. 27 views on Reid’s video now, so someone else is up. It’s 2:30AM
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 am
Wow
This story is really going crasy.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 am
my concern is that clay could argue yes i’d sell if we found an arena deal in seattle, but this is my right and not illegal and nothing to do with good faith.
comments??….
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 am
“my concern is that clay could argue yes i’d sell if we found an arena deal in seattle, but this is my right and not illegal and nothing to do with good faith.
comments??…. ”
My understanding is that the desire to stay in Seattle was part of the deal.
The E-Mails showed they never wanted to stay.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 am
howard is pleasing of late, but in slade i trust.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 am
“No case Batman…get a arena deal, otherwise…””
Producer just bought a case of Depends. Bennett never had a better apologist.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 am
“Producer just bought a case of Depends. Bennett never had a better apologist. ”
The City could defer their case until Howard’s is decided. Howard could have a judge slap an injunction on Bennett and tie it up a year until the BOG has to vote on relocation again … the other owners have got to be seething at both Bennett and Stern this morning.
“BR,
Do you serve Starbucks at your shop? ”
LOL. SBs coffee is bootycrack headphone. BRs serves Caffe Vita, incidentally …
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Reading the article in the PI, and comments here, show that “riding the roller coaster is tough”. I feel for Brian because he does ride it and it is hard to keep an even keel and perspective on the issues. One day you are up, the next you are down, but to everyone I want to send the following message:
SAVE OUR SONICS IS NOT QUITING!
We will not take no for an answer, failure is not an option, and we will not accept anything short of a continous pressence of the NBA in Seattle. The hundreds of emails I get each day say don’t give up, keep THIS team. I still feel that is very possible despite what some others might say. We have our boot to Bennetts throat right now and he is gasping for air. Yes there is more than enough failure to lead in this region to drive anyone nuts but in the end I know we will find a solution that makes everyone happy. The NBA can talk tough all they want but there is no way they can ride out two years of lame duck with this team and it makes ZERO sense to move two teams and uproot all the players, staff, etc just because some in OKC are selfish. The goal is to have the NBA in both cities and both have to accept the fact that the current players may not be around in three years so don’t get too attached to the players get attached to the solution.
We are not even close to being done yet, more hand grenades left in the bucket, so don’t give up… WE WON’T!!!!!