Another loss in court for Bennett
Posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 12:34 pm by Xteve
As frustrating as this saga has been you take comfort in the small victories.
Oh and speaking of has beens and frustrating, how about that Mariners offense? Dead last in MLB against right handed pitching and three tough White Sox right handers coming to town this weekend. It’s Faaan-tastic! 
May 9th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
And I’d like to give a shout out once again to Tat’s Deli for just making the best damn cheesesteak in Seattle. I’ve got Cheese Whiz all over my Mooby’s T-shirt again. Snoogans!
http://www.tatsdeli.com/
May 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Paseo’s for the perfect midnight cuban
May 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
If you read the actual order, you will see that the judge sent the PBC Sonics back to school. They were spanked. The judge’s underlying tone indicates that she is ticked off.
The June trial will decide whether the Sonics are locked into the lease until 2010. My guess the odds of winning is 80% in favor of the City of Seatle. The only real way Seattle can lose is if it settles before the judge rules in June.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
man this is getting so good, popcorn please…:) I wouldn’t want these okie dorks helping me with a parking ticket!!!! hard to believe they are this stupid.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
OKC is getting nervous:
http://newsok.com/article/3241363/
May 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
“OKC is getting nervous:
http://newsok.com/article/3241363/”
The best part is that once the city wins the lease suit, the relocation committee’s approval is voided anyways.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Rock Says: The June trial will decide whether the Sonics are locked into the lease until 2010. My guess the odds of winning is 80% in favor of the City of Seatle. The only real way Seattle can lose is if it settles before the judge rules in June.
So…. if the only way the city loses is a pre-trial settlement that would mean NO trial. If there is a trial then city wins, if there is no trial then the city can’t lose. So shouldn’t you be saying the odds of winning the case are 100% in favor of city??
May 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
That OKC article is great. Really they’re going to sue to keep “their” team.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you don’t sign a lease on behalf of a team you aren’t allowed to move.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
The article posted by Tahoe states that OKC will hold any new owner of the Sonics to the lease signed by the PBC, so even if sold to a local Seattle party, the team would still have to move.
However, if the PBC decides to bail, they can agree to a settlement in the Schultz suit. Schultz would not have to honor the contract between OKC and the PBC, because Schultz was not a party to the contract and he would not be a successor or assignee of the PBC. The OKC lease would be voided.
Without seeing the OKC/PBC lease, I can only guess that the PBC left themselves other ways out, such as if the NBA does not approve the move (the current approval will expire and a new application must be made if they don’t move this year). Of course, the NBA will not approve a move if no application is made or if there is a plan for an adequate stadium in Seattle area.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
So let me get this straight…If and when the Federal Courts determine that the Sonics were acquired fraudulently, the reputible Oklahoma City will then sue to ensure they benefit from Bennet’s illegal/criminal acquisition?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This can’t help. We are always fighting a up hill battle.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/362460_sonicspoll10.html
May 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
If they don’t move next season, the approval for relocation is dismissed. So if they don’t move this season and the team goes back to howard, I don’t think he’ll be applying for relocation. So there’s nothing they can do. They would have to sue the NBA, not the Sonics. And on what grounds I’m not sure. In theory, they’d have to sue BENNETT!
May 9th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Isn’t the lease between OKC and PBC, thus making the whole thing moot if PBC no longer owns the team?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Or at least moot as far the Sonics franchise is concerned…as TB said, OKC’s beef would be with Bennett’s group…
May 9th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
“This can’t help. We are always fighting a up hill battle.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/362460_sonicspoll10.html”
God, people are so stupid. everyone just assumes that any money for an arena would have to come from their pockets so they immediately oppose any arena deals what so ever, without ever listening to the facts.
why is the general public around here so ignorant?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
This is why the NBA just needs to step up and grant an expansion team to both OKC and Las Vegas, and leave us the Sonics. This whole problem goes away. The league gets two expansion fees (300 mil ea, I think) and everyone goes home happy. This is stupid
May 9th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
This is why the NBA just needs to step up and grant an expansion team to both OKC and Las Vegas, and leave us the Sonics. This whole problem goes away. The league gets two expansion fees (300 mil ea, I think) and everyone goes home happy. This is stupid
Word.
The NBA… where common sense DOESN’T happen.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I’ve actually wondered the same thing about the Oklahoma City lease. Oklahoma City has no choice but to sue, especially if they are paying to rebuild their arena. I don’t see how they could force us to play there if Schultz won his case, but they could sue for a descent sum of money.
I have never seen any legal situation like this. I will be so ticked if Seattle settles out of court. This is one of the best soap opera’s I’ve ever seen.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Rock says….
“The only real way Seattle can lose is if it settles before the judge rules in June.”
True…..
And I expect Clay & Stern will ramp up some major pressure on Seattle City council & Nichols in the coming weeks. They will offer 40-50+ million to settle this lease lawsuit before mid-June. They will scream loudly the same line we have been given since the BOG meeting that they are prepared to wait 2 more years & the team is going to OKC regardless - just a matter of when. They will say they are giving Seattle taxpayers a way out of their debt on the KEY etc. etc.
Well - Go Nichols! Call their bluff and let’s see if they mean it.
If they are bluffing I would expect this summer Clay will send up the white flag and try and sell and as a condition of sale he would get Howard to drop his lawsuit - so we can hope Ballmer & Co. are still motivated to own the team. The uncertain arena situation will still need to be solved at that point - somehow - by someone.
I think they are bluffing - but if I’m wrong - If Clay and Stern are really willing to go through 2 years of lame-duck status here and lose tons of $$$, face continuing PR headaches etc. etc. - then it is on we go to Howards case.
What a roller coaster soap opera.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
but like i said, they would have to sue Bennett. he was awarded relocation approval “pending lease litigation.” he never should have signed a lease before that litigation was final. he should be getting quite good at getting sued by that time.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I don’t see the 2-1 legislature crap holding much meaning. We all knew most weren’t in support. That’s why it never went to vote. But the reason most weren’t for it was because of the last minute nature of things and because it wasn’t on their terms. A big, “who cares?” from me.
And yes, I both love reading OKC panicing, as well as the language the judge used to tell the Okies that they were being idiots.
“PBC has also ignored the plain language of the Protective Order regarding the handling of confidential documents,”
May 9th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
i’m very into fate and signs and things of that nature. at work (i do data entry) i have been coming across a lot of documents from OK and with the name Clay on them. at first i took this to be a bad sign. but then i remembered something… i work in bankruptcy.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I would think OKC would need to go after Bennett and the NBA (mostly Bennett) over the lease/renovations done if the team ends up staying in Seattle. The relocation was pending any litigation so Bennett never should have signed a binding lease agreement with them. Go sue the favorite son if you feel so wronged. I can’t imagine given that OKC has any legal ground to stand on with that lease if Clay loses these cases.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
it’s like a little kid whose mom tells him he can go to the park when he’s done with his chores. so he calls all his friends and tells them he calls dibs on the swingset. but then his chores take all day and he doesn’t get to go to the park.
…and then his friends try and sue his house.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Does anybody else find it even a little ironic that with the amount of money PBC is going to lose, they could have paid a good portion for a new arena here?
Heck, I’ve seen estimates that they’ll lose $200M. Couple that with that $100M “naming rights contribution” and you got a $300M remodel of Key.
It just seems so stupid considering that he’ll be offering $50M to $100M for a lease buyout, but offered nothing to contribute to a new arena here.
Good faith my a$$.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Isn’t it a little early for the “kitchen sink”??
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-says-team-must-relocate-regardless-of-ownership/article/3241363/?tm=1210362074
May 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Isn’t it a little early for the “kitchen sink”??
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-says-team-must-relocate-regardless-of-ownership/article/3241363/?tm=1210362074
May 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
i don’t want to sign for the the Oklahoman’s forum, so can someone with a username there please post this?
http://backissues.cjrarchives.org/year/99/1/worst.asp
May 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Did they conduct a public survey on Hans Dumb***t’s proposed Animal Massage Bill????? How did the numbers end up with that?
May 9th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
you people are so stupid. if, as some of you say, the city of OKC’s lease is “with PBC” then why doesn’t same logic apply for Key Arena lease? You can’t have it both ways. If Bennett and Co. inherited Schultz lease with city of Seattle, then Schult or whoever would have to inherit lease with OKC.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
“and that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you don’t sign a lease on behalf of a team you aren’t allowed to move. ”
Yup.
“The article posted by Tahoe states that OKC will hold any new owner of the Sonics to the lease signed by the PBC, so even if sold to a local Seattle party, the team would still have to move.
However, if the PBC decides to bail, they can agree to a settlement in the Schultz suit. Schultz would not have to honor the contract between OKC and the PBC, because Schultz was not a party to the contract and he would not be a successor or assignee of the PBC. The OKC lease would be voided.”
Or Schultz or a new prospective owner could just buy out the remaining years on the lease for, say, $500K apiece or some amount like that and be free & clear, or they could work that amount into a sale agreement with PBC … prospective OKC lease is a non-issue IMO.
““This can’t help. We are always fighting a up hill battle.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/362460_sonicspoll10.html”
God, people are so stupid. everyone just assumes that any money for an arena would have to come from their pockets so they immediately oppose any arena deals what so ever, without ever listening to the facts.
why is the general public around here so ignorant? ”
It’s the P-U y’all. What do you expect from the Silliest Circle Jerk Chronicle-Wannabe fishwrap on the West Coast?(TM)*
* the preceding statement concerning the hilariously irrelevant Seattle paper with the initials P-I in its title was in fact made by me, Xteve X, who is not Steve Pyeatt nor to be confused with him. The epithet “SCJCWBE” is a trademark of Smartassbloggersthinktheyknoweverything LLC and is not to be reproduced without the implied oral consent of Xteve X and Major League Baseball.
PS Art Thiel and Gary Washburn are both exempted from the previous statement for their respective coolness.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
oh, look, another document with the name Clayton on it…
May 9th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
OKC can sue but it all hinges on NBA approval of a move.
What do people think is going to happen to a Key Arena with no anchor tenant? It costs money for an empty arena or to even tear one down. The city will be stuck with $26M for letting the team leave plus a much more often empty building.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
“Did they conduct a public survey on Hans Dumb***t’s proposed Animal Massage Bill????? How did the numbers end up with that? ”
No, because one glance at their SoundOffs shows the P-I is very good at catering strictly to their anti-sport base of elitist liberal dingdongs (and I say this as a lefty myself, I’m definitely no Hannity-spouting Repub) whose only memories of sports are getting the snot beat out of them at 3rd grade kickball. If it wasn’t for the JOA between them and the Times keeping them on life support they would have gone under years ago.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/311795_joa17.html
/offtopic rant
May 9th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
OKC should not take its lessons from Richie Sexson-when the pitch is OVER the plate -DON”T CHARGE THE MOUND THROWING YOUR HELMET AT THE PERSON DOING THEIR JOB!!!!!!!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
“you people are so stupid. if, as some of you say, the city of OKC’s lease is “with PBC” then why doesn’t same logic apply for Key Arena lease? You can’t have it both ways. If Bennett and Co. inherited Schultz lease with city of Seattle, then Schult or whoever would have to inherit lease with OKC. ”
No. You can have it both ways … depends on the contractual language of the lease. Remember that this team hasn’t played one game in OKC yet booboo so the lease in essence hasn’t even started yet because the tenant hasn’t “moved in.”
Keep at it though, maybe some day you’ll get that pic-a-nic basket.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I love that they took the time to survey people who live in Walla Walla and Spokane to find out if they supported building an Arena. Is there anything that is to be built in Seattle that someone from Walla Walla would support??
May 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
They surveyed state wide because the legislature is state wide. The Legislature has to if the county gets to levy the tax. Makes sense to me.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
you people are so stupid. if, as some of you say, the city of OKC’s lease is “with PBC” then why doesn’t same logic apply for Key Arena lease? You can’t have it both ways. If Bennett and Co. inherited Schultz lease with city of Seattle, then Schult or whoever would have to inherit lease with OKC.
- Because the PBC doesn’t rightfully own the team??? If someone stole your car and sold it to a dealer for a $1 do you think that you should have to live up to that bargain?
May 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
you people are so stupid. if, as some of you say, the city of OKC’s lease is “with PBC” then why doesn’t same logic apply for Key Arena lease? You can’t have it both ways. If Bennett and Co. inherited Schultz lease with city of Seattle, then Schult or whoever would have to inherit lease with OKC.
- Because the PBC doesn’t rightfully own the team??? If someone stole your car and sold it to a dealer for a $1 do you think that you should have to live up to that bargain?
May 9th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
“OKC is getting nervous:
http://newsok.com/article/3241363/ ”
No, OKC is declaring war. What a bunch of small —- piles of —-. I hate that place with a passion now. The city of Seattle should sue OKC for trying to undermine our lease and for trying to steal our team.
We also need to boycott Sonic Drive-Ins and other businesses from Small D— City.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I don’t think OKC suing somebody/anybody over the location of the Sonics does Bennett any good. In effect, they are stating publicly that they recognize the increasing possibility that Bennett and friends will not own the Sonics when the dust clears. I think they just wounded the very guys who are doing the heavy lifting (spending their money and time on this) for them.
OKC is turning this into a free-for-all at just the moment when the current owners need a clear path to their goal. The OKC leadership seems to making things worse for Bennett, and themselves.
Really, folks, pass the popcorn…
May 9th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
“I’ve actually wondered the same thing about the Oklahoma City lease. Oklahoma City has no choice but to sue, especially if they are paying to rebuild their arena. I don’t see how they could force us to play there if Schultz won his case, but they could sue for a descent sum of money.”
They would have to sue Clay Bennett. He is the one committing fraud here. He does not rightfully own the Sonics because he violated the contract. When the team is returned to Schultz, all the debts and dumb decisions under the big liar’s reign will be his own problems.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
“We also need to boycott Sonic Drive-Ins and other businesses from Small D— City.”
do we have a choice? i was unaware there were any Sonic Drive-Ins closer than Spokane.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
“I love that they took the time to survey people who live in Walla Walla and Spokane to find out if they supported building an Arena. Is there anything that is to be built in Seattle that someone from Walla Walla would support?? ”
Didn’t the Leg already vote to let similar funding source be used to build the Lynnwood and Spokane Convention Centers?
May 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Don’t forget about the sprawling $85,000,000 horse center near Winlock.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
http://www.cafepress.com/teetastic.13947988
May 9th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but how can it be legal for Clay to enter into another binding agreement, when he is already tied to an existing binding agreement.
Reminds me of Tommy Boy, when they found out new mom (R. Welch) was already married to another man (Rob Lowe). So the second marriage was not legal.
I would doubt the validity of the second agreement if the first one is already in place…….and Tommy just sold a half million brake pads.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
ML, that was Bo Derek, man.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I got some waaaaay better ideas for anti Small D— City T-Shirts. I won’t break them out unless they are successful in stealing our Sonics.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Doo! I knew that.
Oh, bees…..bees….oh the humanity. Sorry for the second Tommy Boy reference.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I have never read the PI sound off. The people on there are crazy. Producer is thoughtful and makes some sense. I think he is wrong, but he is not crazy. Those Sound Off folks are just runnin off at the mouth with no thought behind it.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I think the OKC lease states that it goes into effect AFTER THE TERMS OF THE KEY LEASE ARE UP. If we win in court for the lease being in tact and Howard wins and the SONICS renew the lease at the KEY. doesnt that mean they(OKC’s Ford center) are SOL till next lease needs to be renewed..
May 9th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I juut speaking for myself. but I live on the eastside of the mountains and I have no problem paying a tax that targets me. I attend at least 3 games of each[Sonics-Mariners-Seahawks} with my kids usually spending the nite and eating a couple meals. As a child I loved going to the Seattle Center and my kids love it. Professional sports teams, Seattle Center, the pier, market, and zoos are all part of the fabric of the state as a whole.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
By sending the letter to Schultz threatening a lawsuit several things are apparent.
1. Bennett is getting desperate and looking for anyway to strike back no matter how far fetched it may be.
2. Bennett is colluding with the city of OKC and its officials to defraud Schultz and steal Seattle’s team.
3. OKC is aware Bennett’s ownership in the Sonics is in doubt. Any money they spend to implement their lease with Bennett for the Ford Center is on them if it turns out he does not have legal title to the team. They took the gamble and lost. He has to have BOG approval and be free of all legal issues in Seattle before he is able to move. They jumped the gun with their Ford Center lease signing.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
“Of the respondents, 67 percent lived outside King County. The taxes only would apply to county residents, but the initiative proposed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels needed statewide approval from legislators in Olympia.”
So… 67% of respondents don’t even matter as this would have ZERO impact on them.
What a crock of shit poll.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Oliver Miller apparently really down after Warriors rejected him for roster spot:
http://tinyurl.com/5weoef
May 9th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
“This can’t help. We are always fighting a up hill battle.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/362460_sonicspoll10.html ”
This poll says it all.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Am I missing something here?
Are we binded to their if we win?
May 9th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Am I missing something here?
Are we binded to their lease if we win?
May 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
“juut speaking for myself. but I live on the eastside of the mountains and I have no problem paying a tax that targets me.’
I appreciate your support, problem is too many “anti-sport base of elitist liberal dingdongs” live on the west side.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The taxes being levied are considered visitor taxes. So, people from outside of KC will be paying them. However, that was not the point. The Ballmer group, not the PI, had the survey done so they could find out what the overall climate was in the state because the state legislature has to OK the tax.
“Griffin agreed to unseal this particular document after it had originally been designated as “confidential” during the discovery process.”
This is the scary quote. Did they allow this to be unsealed as an out as potential owners? Could they have let this be released to let the public know that this fight is big and they are not planning on being involved in a fight against “the people”.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
OLIVER MILLER!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
May 9th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Yea the tax is in King county , but most of it is towards ammenities that out of towners use [food lodging and car rentals] . In my opinion money well spent. I think after all the publicity of the screw job being done to Seattle that a poll done now might have a better result. And what really pisses me off is the damn tax is going to be collected anyway its just a matter of who gets it [isn't that right MR. Choop?].
May 9th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
That poll says nothing
67% of the people outside of king county did not want the legislature to approve key arena renovation, When they are not even being taxed. This is what happens when people do not even know what is going on, a typical knee jerk reaction from elitist sport haters.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
“This can’t help. We are always fighting a up hill battle.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/362460_sonicspoll10.html ”
This poll says it all.”
A lot of talk. Wait till the Sonics are free of Bennett. Sentiment will change.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I take a look around, I don’t like what I see
A bunch of people who don’t know shit about Unity
I see right through your skin, you say you see through mine
Then please explain to me why we fight all the time
I can’t take it anymore, this is bothering me
Got people killing each other
Why does this have to be?
I wish I knew, I really wish I knew
How people can see there’s no real difference between me and you
It’s a bomb with a short fuse
And I know it seems like no use
The tension’s building a reaction
This is a call to action…
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
Man’s inhumanity towards another man
It’s man’s insanity and ignorance again
And now the time had come to stop what’s going on
The hatred’s building up, exploding like a bomb
It’s a bomb with a short fuse
And I know it seems like no use
The tension’s building a reaction
This is a call to action…
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
The bomb is gotta stop…the bomb is gonna pop!
The bomb is gotta stop…the bomb is gonna pop!
The bomb is gotta stop…the bomb is gonna pop!
The bomb is gotta stop…the bomb is gonna pop!
It’s a bomb, it’s a bomb!
It’s a bomb with a short fuse
And I know it seems like no use
The tension’s building a reaction
This is a call to action…
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
S.O.S. we need help
Drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop, drop!
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Regarding the city’s letter to Schultz threatening to sue to enforce a lease in OKC:
This only matters if Bennett sells or loses control of the team. Damn, who would have thought that OKC would throw Bennett under the bus before the NBA did? (Not that they mean to do that to Bennett, but they are legitimizing Schultz’s lawsuit by threatening to sue him. Wild stuff.)
I’m sure this is a coordinated response from Bennett/OKC but how desperate do you have to be to make a public case that the party that is suing for fraud might win? Is the city suggesting they think Bennett defrauded Schultz when he bought the team? If not, then they have no reason to threaten Schultz…
May 9th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I wish Stern would just give his buddy Bennett an expansion team - this whole mess would be over.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
“TB Says:
May 9th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I take a look around, I don’t like what I see
A bunch of people who don’t know shit about Unity
I see right through your skin, you say you see through mine”
Hey, that was pretty good.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
i wish i could take credit. it’s by a band called Suicide Machines. http://www.suicide-machines.com/
May 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
i just found it fitting
May 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
“I wish Stern would just give his buddy Bennett an expansion team - this whole mess would be over. ”
It would to an extent. It does not solve the arena issue. We need a great owner that knows what he is doing basketball wise and can spend some money. Will not happen if we do not get an arena.
My opinion; anyone who checks the pulse with a poll like Ballmers group did is not the kind of ownership I am looking for. I never believed Ballmer was for real and I still do not.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
” wish i could take credit. it’s by a band called Suicide Machines. http://www.suicide-machines.com/ ”
Yikes, I guess I just exposed my age banding
May 9th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
“I wish Stern would just give his buddy Bennett an expansion team - this whole mess would be over.”
I wish it were that easy. This whole mess is due to a lack of what Stern deems a lack of an acceptable NBA arena in Seattle. He’s just trying to make an example of our city to scare other cities that are on the cusp of experiencing similar arena funding problems…
SAVE THESE KD-LED SONICS!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
maand1, if David Stern was half as smart as he thinks he is, that’s exactly what he would do to save some face across the country and still help his buddy out. But I think that his arrogance will be his undoing. He thinks he’s untouchable. He may end up losing his job over this because the owners are going to need to save face for the NBA.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
a lack of a lack?
May 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
producer
i’m one of those elitist liberal dingdongs who is going to vote you neo con murdering warmongering republican pukes out of office in november.i would love to play this game but let’s please stay on point.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
So will Stern accuse OKC of using a scorced earth policy if a Sea group somehow buys the team back, and OKC sues them to enforce the lease?
BTW, is Bennett thinking of selling the team? Why would they even bring this table if he isn’t? They’re probably just trying to discourage ANYONE from putting forth any further resistance to their thievery of OUR team of 41 years. Nice…
May 9th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
“murdering warmongering”
Shut up dude…you are an awesome guy bro, but don’t you dare bring the war into this man. It’s easy to spew reckless garbage when all you see is the CNN/FOXNEWS/MSNBC side of things. Noone is telling what is going on over there…
May 9th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
can we not have this debate? this is neither the time or place.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
That’s what’s I’ve always been worried about.the ballmer group backing out.that wld hurt a lot. Really though why would they want to continue to be a part of this whole mess.hopefully im wrong.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Yeah, sorry, that’s a touchy topic for me…my bad marko.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
“i’m one of those elitist liberal dingdongs who is going to vote you neo con murdering warmongering republican”
I actually borrowed the characterization frome XSteve, but I guess I disturbed you…you are disturbed??…oh I don’t know…
May 9th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
“I take a look around, I don’t like what I see;
a bunch of people who don’t know shit about unity…”
May 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
“i’m one of those elitist liberal dingdongs who is going to vote you neo con murdering warmongering republican pukes out of office in november.i would love to play this game but let’s please stay on point. ”
Producer was referencing my original comment which was intended to be tongue in cheek … mostly, since the left up here as represented by Chopp and his ilk tends to talk a lot and accomplish jack sh&t. In Producer’s defense I didn’t see anything in his comment that inferred a political bias one way or another so let’s just not go there any more than I already did. Sorry to drag the whole thing down.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Nice TB. The Suicide Machines are one of my old faves.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
the only war i want to talk about is Seattle vs. Bennett.
and the only parties i want to talk about are the ones we’re going to throw after we get our team back!
May 9th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Dick Tate - you have all the documents. any chance you have the contract the PBC signed with OKC?
May 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
On the whole PI “Poll” maybe I’ve seen my son’s play “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” too much this week, you know the song in there ‘”Think Positive”. But doesn’t “Somewhat Oppose” mean you’re not dead set against it? Doesn’t it mean you just need more info before making the decision? So if you add that to the other 2 categories there are more who would possibly vote for it instead of against it once all the facts are out and a informed decision can be made?
May 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
RE: David Stern
“He’s lost his fastball. It’s just that he doesn’t know it yet”
John Clayton
May 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100202310>1=31036
Maybe if we can get enough candy bars the OKC owners might barter with us, it seems candy bars may be more important to them than basketball. They would be hailed by the citizens of OKC for brfinging more candy to the region, although maybe not making them a big-time City, they will be BIG.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Here’s the letter OKC’s Municiple Council sent to Schultz.
http://downloads.newsok.com/documents/PDF_of_letter_to_Schultz_lawyer_5-8-08.pdf
May 9th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
That OKC letter to Schultz sounds like they are trying to first woo Schultz into sticking with the move if he wins the team back. Then they do a little CYA for themselves in respect to Bennett and his handling of things in Seattle. Then they threaten.
If Schultz wins the team and OKC wins this and the team must leave it would be funny if Schultz would just pull a Bennett and drive the team into the ground over the first few years. Attendance would fail which would then activate the ‘get out of lease free’ card Bennett had put in the lease in 4 or 6 years (whatever it was). Then Schultz could move back here. Would suck to wait but would be poetic justice for all those a-hole fans.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Well actually Schultz would have to make the OKC team stellar for the first 2 years to set the attendance bar high, then gut the team. All the better.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
If Schultz wins his case, it would seem that by default PBC had no legal right to enter into the contract thus, it would be void.
I skimmed the contract. Does it say anything about the NBA OKing a move. The permission to move was only for one year. I can’t see how a contract can force the NBA to make a particular decision.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I just read the letter, and its a joke!!! funny they keep talking about hearing our case via the media. funny the media is owned by dum a$$’s wife… lol there is no way this is going to be inforced. this is so funny it almost hurts.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
In short, it was their own damned fault.
I love it when we keep our teams, knowing that OKC is outta money because they jumped the gun and bent over for a criminal…and the only guy they can sue is their own butt buddy.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Why can’t a tornado just hit that shit hole city and settle this once and for all?
May 9th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
To me the letter just seems to be OKC’s way of stating that if any deal is struck they want to be part of the process. Obviously the city would not sue if part of the deal was that they’d get a team to take over the lease.
Which I imagine is why they made it public.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Exactly Malaman, if he has to reapply for relocation, then he won’t even have permission from the NBA to move the team until he’s free from the lease here.
If the city wins the case through 2010, then it seems he’d have to reapply then, but if Schultz wins then how will the NBA approve relocation again after that? Especially, since there’s no way in hay that Schultz applies to relocate there.
It seems that OKC won’t even have permission from the NBA, let alone the courts(if Schultz wins).
I’m no lawyer though either, but these are the question marks I see…
May 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
At least Oklahoma City can take credit for being number one in something:
Regarding the Nationwide Junk Food survey -
“Oklahoma City ranked in the top 10 of all eight categories surveyed. Folks in the area like all sorts of junk food, but they’re particularly keen on snacks like potato chips and pretzels, as well as cookies and ice cream. In these categories, the market ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 2, respectively. Eating habits like these might be contributing to the city’s 27.5% obesity rate.”
I believe they are also in the top 5 States in percent of citizens who are obese and they got some recognition for being the least fit State in the Union and we all know that Oklahoma City was voted the 5th biggest Hell Hole on Earth! The biggest Hell Hole in the United States! When they don’t get their NBA team, at least they can comfort themselves with a big dish of cookie dough ice cream and a couple of Ding-Dongs. I almost feel sorry for these people. No wonder they want to steal our team so badly. There is nothing in Oklahoma City to live for. This would give meaning and purpose to their existence (like it does to many of us). I’m afraid that there are going to be mass suicides when they discover that they won’t be getting the Sonics in OKC. We may need to start a Humanitarian effort to get them an expansion team to give them something to live for.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Just saw the Utah Jazz home intro….
2 words. F**king WEAK.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
At least Oklahoma City can take credit for being number one in something:
Regarding the Nationwide Junk Food survey -
“Oklahoma City ranked in the top 10 of all eight categories surveyed. Folks in the area like all sorts of junk food, but they’re particularly keen on snacks like potato chips and pretzels, as well as cookies and ice cream. In these categories, the market ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 2, respectively. Eating habits like these might be contributing to the city’s 27.5% obesity rate.”
I believe they are also in the top 5 States in percent of citizens who are obese and they got some recognition for being the least fit State in the Union and we all know that Oklahoma City was voted the 5th biggest Hell Hole on Earth! The biggest Hell Hole in the United States! When they don’t get their NBA team, at least they can comfort themselves with a big dish of cookie dough ice cream and a couple of Ding-Dongs. I almost feel sorry for these people. No wonder they want to steal our team so badly. There is nothing in Oklahoma City to live for. This would give meaning and purpose to their existence (like it does to many of us). I’m afraid that there are going to be mass suicides when they discover that they won’t be getting the Sonics in OKC. We may need to start a Humanitarian effort to get them an expansion team to give them something to live for.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Even if the city of Oklahoma City had a strong case I doubt that there would be any danger in the Sonics being forced to move if Howard won. This is obviously why it is so important to keep the team here while these court cases is going on.
What is weird is that they are using the same logic that the City of Seattle is using. Suing to force a team to occupy a space. The biggest difference is that I can’t see a court giving an injunction to make a team move.
Although it looks like there threat is hot air, wouldn’t it be filed somewhere close to Oklahoma?
May 9th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
“Does it say anything about the NBA OKing a move. The permission to move was only for one year. I can’t see how a contract can force the NBA to make a particular decision.”
sorry i haven’t read the whole thread yet. But if an owner can just sign a contract with a city and it HAS TO BE ENFORCED, whats the point of a NBA BOG relocation vote. If that was the case, Shinn should just sign with Las Vegas and then HE HAS to move to honor the lease????
May 9th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Im pretty sure expansion is not even an option right now for stern.unless its in another country.so why does everyone keep bringing that up. If the city settles which a lot of people seem to think is gonna happen I will be extremely disappointed.I thought our fight was for THIS team.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
T, a settlement could be many different things. It’s not NECESSARILY a bad thing. It could be an agreement where Clay & PBC release the Sonics to the trust for an agreed upon dollar amount and the NBA is brought in to guarantee OKC that they will have a team within 2 years either by defection or expansion.
Also don’t assume that expansion is off the table just because David Stern says it is. It’s true that the owners don’t want it but David Stern is used to pulling a lot of strings behind the scenes, and what wouldn’t he do for his dear buddy Clay?
May 9th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Maybe David Stern and Clay Bennett will start thinking “Hell, we could buy the Memphis Grizzlies and bring them to OKC with a hell of a lot less hassle than trying to pry the Sonics out of Seattle.” Stern needs to find a bigger patsy to pick on.
Besides isn’t Memphis in the greater OKC catchment area anyway? Just another OKC suburb like Tulsa?
May 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
We are too deep into this now. I expect a flurry of NEW litigation from both sides. As I read the letter from OKC I think to myself they are so full of crud it is laughable. It is contending the very things our city is trying to say to keep the team here to honor it’s lease. Perhaps OKC and Seattle will enter into a joint lawsuit against the NBA as a response to this cluster ______!!!!
May 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Cluster Fork?
May 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Forbes ranks OKC as the 8th most obese city in the country:
http://tinyurl.com/2cfwnh
They are a ‘big league’ city in at least one dimension…
May 9th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Possession is everything. If Howard wins this suit…OKC won’t convince a court to force a move.
Second, OKC signed a contract with an ownership group that will have proven to be fraudulent. Therefore the contract with OKC will be null and void.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Thank you ZenDoc. I am perfectly fine with an expansion team as long as it is for OKC not for Seattle. For some reason it just seems like Stern is too stubborn. I feel like he wants really bad to take away our team. Sad but true. But who knows what really happen.
Also I wouldnt want to steal anyone elses team why would we want to do that to someone else? But if OKC has to steal someones team it would be a little better if it wasnt a team that had 41 years of history like our sonics.
p.s. mariners suck
May 9th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Here’s the letter OKC’s Municiple Council sent to Schultz.
http://downloads.newsok.com/documents/PDF_of_letter_to_Schultz_lawyer_5-8-08.pdf
This development adds further toxicity to any potential ownership in Seattle. Ballmers group seems to be backpeddling already and this does not help. Shultz probably wishes he just stayed in his box.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
It appears to me like Clay/OKC/NBA is not confident in their court cases so they’ve decided that their strategy will be to poison the ‘prospective local owner’ pool in Seattle.
First they try to scare Griffin/Ballmer with the “attorneys eyes only” attack and now they are trying to scare Schultz/Ballmer/anyother with the lease attack.
“SCORCHED EARTH” vs. “POISONED POOL”
Thats how its going down.
So, I guess we’ll find out how serious our local owners are. If these scare tactics work and scare away any of the potential local owners then I would say they were not serious anyway and all of our time was wasted.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
The letter from OKC to Schultz shows that the OKC lease includes a specific performance clause. The idiocy of all this is that they are dealing with Bennett - a man who has already gone on record as saying such provisions could be discarded. Bennett is a cheat and a fraud who may have gotten himself into a lot of trouble. The Schultz lawsuit is a huge nightmare for Bennett. If Bennett has to keep the team here until 2010, he will be begging and have to pay any price to leave.
I can see (although I am opposed to it) the City of Seattle getting $100 to $150 mil plus an expansion team if Schultz agrees to drop his suit. The only alternatives for Bennett is to quickly come up with another team for OKC or to allow the PBC to go bankrupt, leaving its creditors holding the bag. Of course, if it can be shown that Bennett committed fraud, then the creditors can fry him.
Message to City of Seattle: Do not even think of settling before the judge decides this matter in June.
Message to OKC: Schultz is a very smart guy. He knows that he absolutely does not have to honor the lease if he wins back the Sonics. No question about it. OKC, your letter is a stupid embarrassment from bad lawyers who are soaking you for their fees.
Message to Schultz: Bless you.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:04 am
“This development adds further toxicity to any potential ownership in Seattle. Ballmers group seems to be backpeddling already and this does not help. Shultz probably wishes he just stayed in his box.”
Actually it doesn’t. IF you hadn’t noticed the BOG vote for location was P-E-N-D-I-N-G litigation. Which means that the relocation is C-O-N-D-I-T-I-O-N-A-L. If they don’t win the lease case the “re-lo” is null and void and must be revistited next year.
Bottomline, IF Schultz wins the case it doesn’t matter what OKC says or does. The team was purchased under fraudulent disposition, and thus if the ownership were to be reversed and given to a collective trust for sale to a Seattle ownership…OKC would have no grounds to make the Sonics play here.
The only person they could take to court is the PBC. Clay is the one who promised to put “a team”. He would be responsible for putting a tenant there. The only people this is looking more toxic for is OKC, the PBC, and David Stern. Don’t forget that their beloved mayor acted under false pretenses as well, so even if it came down to something where the PBC sued to keep the team….Yarmuth and Gorton(imagine those two on one legal team….wow) would simply show Cornett’s role in the fraudulent action and it would be over…..it won’t get to that point, however, so it doesn’t matter.
As far as Ballmer goes, I have seen NOTHING that shows they were ever ANYTHING less than serious about buying this team….nor I have seen anything that shows he and his group “back peddling.” Nice try Producer…..your David Stern impersonation is very good. Maybe you should change your screen name to Minion…If Satan even paying you for your efforts.
May 10th, 2008 at 7:08 am
“so even if it came down to something where the PBC sued to keep the team…”
That is supposed to say “OKC” instead of PBC…..sorry