Dynamic Weekend Reading
Posted on Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 7:22 am by Brian Robinson
Clay Bennetts entire deposition has been released. Thanks to Jim Brunner with the Times for going to the effort to make this available to people. Wordpress Wordpress CMS
So I read pretty much the entire thing and while there are no true bombshells the cumulative affect is pretty overwhelming.
These guys never intended to keep a team here. They would have you believe that they diligently explored options in Oklahoma City very early, as early as January of 2007 only as research to help them craft a competative Seattle proposal. They would have you believe that they remember clearly being “a man posessed about Seattle.” but cannot recall pretty much anything else related to their $400 million investment. They would have you believe that they truly never discussed little things like finances or planning and that use of the word “dynamic” repetatively can so mystify the common man that he will not see through their charade.
Some highlights include discussionsn that in May of 2007 the PBC lobbied the league to accelerate relocation process to allow the team to move for the 07/08 season.
In April of 07 Bennett asked Jim Couch, city manager of OKC to hold dates at the Ford Center for 07/08 in anticipation of the Sonics playing there.
Bennett repeatedly contends that he had committed to a $100 million contribution from the team but cannot produce a single person that he made this promise to. Internal documents show a projected contribution of $10M.
The PBC promised to deliver a full arena package to legislature by Feb. 1, 2007 but failed to deliver on that promise. The actual package was delivered weeks later and arguably was not completed at all as there were key elements missing(such as team contribution)
Quote of the day: “I am confounded by the focus on our contribution. At the end of the day it will be negligable.”
June 13th, 2008 at 7:27 am
X-man to be on Mitch in the Morning, shortly!
June 13th, 2008 at 7:28 am
The trials will be compelling. Might versus right. The judge’s decision, which ever way it goes, will reverberate a long time.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Yep. Thats what I keep saying.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Mike Spokane
Hey I heard you on KJR yesterday.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Let’s try & call KJR as much as possible the next 4 days 7 talk Sonics - talk up the rally.
KJR has done a great job this week of promoting the rally - let’s show them that this is appreciated and a worthwhile focus.
BR…. I’m confused by the “Quote of the Day above” - what was the context of that statement by Clay - who did he say it to? How does this jive with the 100 million he has come up with lately? Just curious.
I would love to be Howard’s lawyer
June 13th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Running a business into the ground, being stupid and making poor decisions is not illegal. Covering your bases and trying to explore viable options in case plan A fails is not illegal. While I don’t believe a word the PBC says at face value, it will be very hard to prove to an unbiased jury that these clowns were only bumbling businessmen, not felons. It’ll be a tough sell, and in the end, I thnk a judge or jury will find it difficult to “prove” otherwise. This isn’t a “reasonable doubt” type of legal decision. Until the bullets, the gun, and the trigger man is uncovered without question, its gonna be a tough row to hoe. I hope Sonic fans win, but in the end, having David Stern over for dinner is nauseating. I hate the idea of getting back into bed with his ilk.
BTW, where are the politicians for this rally? This is what the NBA wants to see, political support from Seattle and WA. It would sure be nice to get a letter of support from the Gov, Cantwell and Murray, similar to the letters they sent to the NBA with the BOG met. At least some kind of commitment reinforcing their interests.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Just a warm thought…
If Schultz wins his lawsuit then, in fact, Bennett will be an officially convicted liar.
It’ll look good on his resume.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I tried to call KJR, and I failed miserably.
heh.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Mark, this is not a jury case. It is being handled by the judge. And concerning the lawmakers, I don’t want them there anyway. They would turn it into a political thing, and the rally is supposed to be about fans who care, not politicians trying to get their soundbite on the news. The focus needs to be on the fans who attend.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:09 am
“…in May of 2007 the PBC lobbied the league to accelerate relocation process to allow the team to move for the 07/08 season. In April of 07 Bennett asked Jim Couch, city manager of OKC to hold dates at the Ford Center for 07/08 in anticipation of the Sonics playing there.”
You can’t have a good faith effort to keep a team in Seattle while lobbying the league to move them before the 12 month period is up. End of story.
On a brighter note: Xman! He was one of the first NBA players to have his awesome dunks highlighted on ESPN in the 80’s. He helped keep Seattle’s team in the national spotlight.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Mark WS you are so right. You have said it much more elegantly that I have been trying to say. While we all KNOW in our hearts that the PBC acted in bad faith, I question whether there is enough true blue “court” evidence to prove it. Out of all the thousands of emails that Clay sent, there are only a few that “hint” at their plans. If it were a real paln, there would be emails all over the place, not just a few.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Mark, Whether PBC acted illegally is not the main issue. IN the Schultz case, their intent at sale is the issue. In the city case, the issue is specific performance.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:12 am
No ya didn’t.
I did appear briefly about 6 weeks back though.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Also in the Schultz case, good faith/best efforts/fraud/breach of contract are at issue. It’s not a criminal case.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Here is an interview with Brian Robinson. He was on KPUG 1170 (Bellingham).
http://tinyurl.com/6r4dfj
KJR is also sending out email invitations to it’s email list for the rally Monday:
“Hello Brian,
Monday, June 16th marks the beginning of historic legal proceedings as the City of Seattle defends its lease to the Seattle SuperSonics in federal court hearings.
950 KJR and Save Our Sonics (SOS) are calling out to all Sonics fans to join us outside the courthouse (700 Stewart St., Seattle) throughout the day beginning at 4pm. Sonics legends Gary ‘The Glove’ Payton and Xavier ‘X- Man’ McDaniel are confirmed to attend and speak around 4:30 pm.
Afterwards, join 950 KJR for a Post Save Our Sonics Rally at FX McRory’s where Groz and Gas will be broadcasting live from 3 - 7pm. FX McRory’s is offering an awesome special from back in the day, Jack Daniels for 95cents as they were in 1979 when the Sonics won the Championship! ”
Thanks for listening and see you on Monday,
KJRam Promotions Team”
Also, KPUG has an interview with sports legal analysts Paula Duffy. I think mainly about Tim Donaghy, though she does talk about the Sonics case toward the end.
http://tinyurl.com/6ynnal
June 13th, 2008 at 8:31 am
On another thread, James said:
“watching game 4 of the finals and noticed a guy sitting courtside wearing a Shawn Kemp jersey…Sweet!”
I watched the game for about 5 minutes…Did anyone notice the huge sign right next to this guy?
“THE NBA CARES”
I howled with laughter.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Oh..I thought I heard someone named Mike, who said he was coming to the rally from spokane, and that if he is driving over for it..that people who are closer really don’t have a excuse (other than emergency/can’t get time off work etc)
June 13th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I think the Schultz can is certainly unpredicatable.
IMO the big question is this: Will Caly & Stern & NBA owners want to risk it? Anything could happen if Howard’s case goes to trial - will they want to risk the downside of losing?
Personally - I don’t think they will want to take 1-2+ years and risk losing this because the downside of such a lose is to catastrophic for the NBA. If the city wins the lease case 7 Nickels holds tough - I think Clay & Co. will fold - cave - give it up this summer or next fall & try to sell to Ballmer.
Even if they think they have 5-1 odds to win the fraud case - they simply cannot afford to lose it - so they will need to step away.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am
One more time…. Ray Allen was amazing last night - terrific line for 48 minutes. More power to Ray Ray!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Lawyer on with Ian for first part of show-discussing the lease issue.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I am hopeful that we (Seattle) win the case for specific performance. Almost everybody thinks we have a good chance.
For Howie’s suit, things are a little more split in the prognostications. I think the Judge will determine that:
1)Clay’s group clearly wanted a team in OKC, not Seattle. That is obvious enough.
2)They asked for an overpriced arena with very little of their own contribution. A proposition with a high likelihood of failure.
3)If they had gotten their pie-in-the-sky arena, they would have sold the team for a profit, rather than owned it here.
My question then is: Does any that violate the sales agreement and/or side letter? Are those 3 conclusions alone enough for fraud in the inducement, or is more necessary?
June 13th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I keep hearing this “what the PBC did is wrong but not illegal” argument. Lying in a deposition = perjury = felony. Clay Bennett should be in jail right next to Lil’ Kim and Renee Zelwegger.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hambone, the way I see it is this; not only did they not fulfill their 1 year good faith obligation, they never intended to. Not fulfilling the obligation is a breach of contract, which is fairly easy to prove at this point in the game. The hard part will be proving that they never had any intention to fulfill those obligations at the point of sale. If that can be proven, then that fully violates the agreement and is, in fact, fraud in the inducement.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Renee Zelwegger?????
June 13th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Zellwegger committed fraud.
http://overlawyered.com/2005/12/zellweger-and-chesney-marriage-annulled/
June 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Game, set, match - page 98 & 99. Q - Lawrence A - Bennett
Q We talked about the fact that you understood there would be operating losses with – in connection with purchase of the Sonics. Did you understand that there was an existing lease with Key Arena that ran through the 2009, 2010 season?
A I was aware of that, yes.
Q And you understood that as long as the Sonics were playing at Key Arena under that lease the Sonics would lose money?
A That was the basic understanding, yes.
Q Had you had an opportunity to review the terms of the lease at this time?
A Not in – not in great detail, but I’m generally familiar with it.
Q Did you understand that the – one of the provisions of the lease was the requirement that the Sonics play their home games in Key Arena through the 2009, 2010 season?
A I didn’t focus on that necessarily specically. I just focused on the fact that we had a lease through the 2010 term.
Q Did you – did you see that there was a specific clause in the lease?
A I didn’t really focus on that, no. I just, again, focused on the notion that we had a lease through the end of ’10.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
He didn’t read it. He didn’t care. Performance clause baby!!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Jeff Green on w Mitch NOW!!From Goergetown–he is in Summer school finishing his degree!!!!Good school
June 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I’m going to repost my comment from last night from the “Volunteers Needed” thread (with several changes) because it was in moderation for so long that I don’t believe that anyone actually read it and it has to do with the business at hand of getting the flyers distributed. I’ve updated some things because of the difference in the time:
It was a great Storm game Wednesday night. Sheryl Swoopes is starting to look like her old 3-time-MVP-self & it’s great to have Swin Cash & Yolanda Griffith on the team to give us 5 All-Stars along with Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. And speaking of L.J., she had her first double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Storm are now 7-3 for the season and in 2nd place in the West behind the L.A. Sparks, and they’re PERFECT at home at 6-0. They are living up to their theme for 2008 - “The Perfect Storm”.
Anyway, I went early to distribute flyers and had just under 100 with 48 color. I got a lot of them in people’s hands. I never ran into anyone from SonicsCentral there or at least anyone who came to pass out flyers. I talked to 4 or 5 people who read the blog pretty regularly but post rarely. There was a lot of positive reaction overall. Probably 4 people said the Sonics are gone already and I told them why that’s not true. About 8 or 9 people said “I don’t care about the Sonics” and many people said they’d like to make it, but can’t.
Then there’s the good news: several people knew nothing about it and many of them were interested. Several people knew about it and were planning to be there already - I’d say 10 or 12. Four people wanted to post them at their workplace. One was an attorney and took a color flyer (everyone wanted a color one) for his work, then came and found me 10 minutes later and asked me for 2 more to post. That was cool. At least 6 or 8 people were really happy to see that Gary Payton was going to be there. About 5 or 6 people worked close to the Federal Courthouse and said they could come.
I also taped a few flyers to the big posts (3 on each) in front of the West entrance to Key Arena (on the street) and went across the street to the MainStage Tavern and asked permission to put up flyers inside their front window. The bartender/night manager, Cat, was very accomodating and allowed me to tape one on the inside of each glass door and one in the front window. I asked her what it would mean to her if the Sonics left the area and she said that it would hurt their business a lot, and that she would have a very difficult Christmas for her kids without the Sonics here. People really need to think about that reality, too.
(to be continued)
June 13th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Jeff Green, courtesy of Vitamin Water.
figures
June 13th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Are they allowing players to talk to Seattle media all of a sudden?????Sorry for the Sp(Georgetown)
June 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
nice post Doc
June 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
“Are they allowing players to talk to Seattle media all of a sudden?????Sorry for the Sp(Georgetown)”
Looks like it. Smells desperate
June 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
(continued from above - 9:28 AM):
I handed out several more flyers inside the Key, but the Team shop said they cannot allow any S.O.S. flyers there under orders from Mgt., but one guy, Tae, wanted one for himself and said he’ll be there, as did a couple of the security guards. I gave out all the color ones and ended up with about 30 B/W ones leftover. I plastered 5 all over the inside windows of my Subaru Outback right on the street outside the Key.
For the future, we could have optimized the experience with 3-4 more people and hit almost everyone from all 4 entrances, and it would have even been better to be in pairs at each entrance, but I’m pretty happy with who I got them to, the mostly very positive reception, and just spreading the word in general. Although I only gave out 70 flyers, I offered them to 3 or 4X that many people, 200-300, & many just couldn’t go (some people just stare at you and don’t say anything - I hate that). A couple people were real excited and thankful about what I was doing, especially one guy who also knew who ZenDoc was and thanked me a lot for working so hard to save the Sonics. That felt good. This guy was pumped up about the rally!
I recommend if you haven’t done it yet to get out and hand out flyers and talk to people. Whatever you do, don’t just shove a flyer in their face w/o saying anything to them. I talk to them first - just a sentence or 2 usually (like “have you heard about the big Sonics rally on Monday - the first day of the trial”? & ask them if they would like a flyer and don’t even hold my hand out with it unless they say yes. That way they don’t feel put upon. They are asking for the flyer and they’re more likely to be serious and to attend the rally IMO.
And on another pleasant note: yesterday the weatherman said Monday the high would be 59 degrees, tonight they’ve upped it to 69 degrees - practically perfect weather for a big rally. We probably don’t want it any hotter I don’t think. We’ll have to bring some coolers with pop and water I think, if we’re allowed to.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Yup WS Tim.
“Q Did you understand that the – one of the provisions of the lease was the requirement that the Sonics play their home games in Key Arena through the 2009, 2010 season?
A I didn’t focus on that necessarily specically. I just focused on the fact that we had a lease through the 2010 term.
Q Did you – did you see that there was a specific clause in the lease?
A I didn’t really focus on that, no. I just, again, focused on the notion that we had a lease through the end of ’10. ”
Specific performance exists, it is enforceable and in the end anything that Clay says otherwise about his intent, true or not, is irrelevant.
He asks both the City of Seattle and OKC fans to believe that he spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this investment and didn’t bother to read the fine print? Either he is the stupidest guy I have ever seen lucky enough to have a billion dollars or he simply doesn’t care about his credibility or about possibly perjuring himself.
“My question then is: Does any that violate the sales agreement and/or side letter? Are those 3 conclusions alone enough for fraud in the inducement, or is more necessary? ”
After all of this mounting evidence there is NO WAY the Schultz case will ever go to trial … the mound of evidence against PBCs intentions is vast … I believe they’ll settle before this ever goes to court. I doubt we’ve even seen 1/4th of the really damning stuff yet.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Nice story so far Zen!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Are u guys listening to jeff green on kjr? impressive that he’s finishing school!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
There is a big difference between civil fraud or negligence or malfeasance, on the one hand, and anything related to criminal fraud. The Schultz suit is civil.
Also, the outcome of the City of Seattle’s lease case should have nothing to do with fraud. While it is not illegal to run a team into the ground, whether deliberately or stupidly, case law does not support granting relief for self-inflicted damages. In other words, if remaining in the Key Arena is likely to be very unprofitable, that is not that a basis upon which the court will grant relief to the PBC.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Are they allowing players to talk to Seattle media all of a sudden?????
Courtesy of Vitamin Water (plugging his event)
June 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am
The Key is a DUMP!!!
http://newsok.com/study-keyarena-doesnt-measure-up/article/3256742/?tm=1213332916
June 13th, 2008 at 9:40 am
“The Key is a DUMP!!!”
If that’s supposed to be an attempt at justification all it does is raise the question of why Bennett bought the team when he knew he’d be stuck there for at least two more years.
Oh, that’s right. By his own admission apparently Clay Bennett doesn’t know how to read.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Oklahoma is a dump!!!!!!!!! The Sonics could play at the Sealth HS Gym and still make more money than they would in white trashistan!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:45 am
We make a video at the rally except add the “ICS” at the end of “SON”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LbXjJ4OkBA
June 13th, 2008 at 9:45 am
What a stupid article.
Sure the Key is smaller than most stadiums built in the last few years. Unless the Key can magically expand every year I’m not sure how this would be any different
They’re comparing the Key to the Ford Center after it’s renovations. So they’re comparing it to an expansion which may still not happen!!
The footprint on it’s own is a BS number. I bet the additional footprint will include parking spaces which the Key has plenty of offsite
June 13th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Xteve, David Stern taught Clay Bennett how to “not read.” Of course, Stern is the master at not having read that yet or not studying it yet or having it read to him!! I wonder if he actually can read?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Talk about a lame article. They’re comparing the Key to the Ford center AFTER it is renovated. Why not compare it to the Ford Center as it is today? Oh yea, because Clay always claimed that a renovated Key Arena wasn’t an option. So of course they can’t say that the Key is nicer than today’s Ford Center or even on Par.
What a joke.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
“Game, set, match”: I like that exchange because ignorance cannot be ignored. Just because you didn’t focus on it doesn’t make it go away. He might get hung up there by the court saying, you are responsible for all aspects of the lease (Did you have your attorneys look at that contact before signing Clay?)
“Politicians”: I disagree to the point that Stern has admitted that its not about fan support, its about government support. Hence why I feel that we need some of their presence also, and not just the mayor since it is State money that the NBA wants. (You want to dance, you have to consider the uglies too
To me, the biggest obstacle is, what is specific performance mean? If you try and can’t succeed, at what point do you get to consider you other options “legally”? To me, that is PBC’s ace in the hole. Was it illegal to the point that they couldn’t investigate anything until 12 months was up. The NBA accelleration request to me is damning to them.
“Judge vs Jury” = the jury of public oppion. The more mud that is slung right now at the NBA sways the “jury” of public oppion outside of Seattle, which is where we need the most votes.
cheers!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Federal judges love to be the authors of important legal opinions. In this case, the judge is looking at the rule that generally leases are not specifically enforced. The key word is “generally.” This case provides a notable exception to the general rule. The judge will have an opportunity to write an opinion that elucidates upon the exception provided by this case.
Several factors weigh heavily in favor of the exception to the general rule. First, the lease is with a public entity and there is a public interest factor. Second, the City expended a great deal more on the Key Arena renovation than it anticipated to have returned through revenues during the term of the lease. Third, the losses that the Sonics might suffer if it remains as a lame-duck team for final years of the lease’s term were easily predictable at the time the lease was signed. The Sonics’ woes are self-created hardships or simply part of the cost of doing business. Fourth, courts are loath to rewrite contracts. Parties can bargain away their rights and the Sonics contractually waived its right to avoid performance under the circumstances presented by the facts of this case (i.e., performance is not impossible, the City did not breach, and, although unprofitable, the purpose of the lease has not been frustrated by circumstances beyond the Sonics’ control).
In conclusion, the judge will avoid all of the nasty issues that the PBC is trying to raise. Instead, the judge will be inclined to narrow the decision. She will use this opportunity to elucidate on the specific exception presented by this case to the general rule that leases can’t be specifically enforced.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Notice though that all of the comparisons to the Ford Center are for AFTER it’s remodeled………
Also Why are they comparing it to new arenas, the Key isn’t new and should be compared to other locations with similar age requirements.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Otto, thanks for the feedback. Do you have any other thoughts about what I wrote or about passing out the flyers? Did you see part 2?
June 13th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Oh and the ford center is so much better then the key?
June 13th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Every intangible factor weighs in Seattle’s favor. Publicity, demonstrations, public interest, bad faith on the parts of Bennett/PBC/Sonics, the judge is local to the area, politics, etc. Another huge factor is that the courts will avoid another separate trial on the amount the PBC must pay to move the team (the courts strongly prefer to limit the number of cases and the demands upon its time - and it is the same judge). Also, the City has a much better legal team (Yarmuth and ex-Sen. Slade Gorton).
Given the case law and these factors, the City of Seattle probably has a 75% chance of winning, maybe even 80%.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:07 am
The judge will be a local hero if she rules in Seattle’s favor. She is too far away to hear a hand or two clap in OKC.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Kpug in Bellingham had an attorney whom specializes in sports cases on before Brian Robinson yesterday. Her name is Paula Duffey, and she said she doesn’t see it ending well for the City. Does anyone know if she is from around here, or is she far away, say NY?
June 13th, 2008 at 10:19 am
“Kpug in Bellingham had an attorney whom specializes in sports cases on before Brian Robinson yesterday. Her name is Paula Duffey, and she said she doesn’t see it ending well for the City. Does anyone know if she is from around here, or is she far away, say NY? ”
I believe she’s from LA. She’s a talk show host specializing in legal advice and has been earning some cash on teh side as a “legal expert” on some radio call-in shows. She was on KJR a while back. To be polite, I wouldn’t consider her an authority on the subject. Her first appearance on KJR demonstrated a pretty clear lack of knowledge about the specifics of the case.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Paula Duffey is a hack, she is more of a actress than she is a lawyer. Honestly, she doesnt even seem to really know what is going on (she used to be on KJR several times).
And people used to freak out when they hear her speak.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:22 am
To amend my last post, she’s a SPORTS talk show host specializing in legal advice …
June 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
She’d been on KJR a couple of times. Frankly she came across as a loudmouth who really hadn’t read up on the case at all, she kept getting her facts wrong and eventually she just lost all credibility with me in regards to this specific case.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:26 am
“Damn it. I put up about 20 or so flyers in lower Queen Anne yesterday, and checking back today found ALL of them were taken down. Would the city do that?”
Either the city is super big on cleanliness, or we have some real jerks out there. I put up about 150 flyers in Ballard just last night. And on my way to work this morning noticed that almost all of the ones I put in high traffic areas were gone already this morning. My only guess is either the city has patrols that clean up the streets every morning or a couple anti-sports people went out of their way to be gigantic pricks. Very frustrating.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:27 am
her specialty is “women’s guide to loving [insert sport here]“
June 13th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Softy is interviewing guy with the Sonics jersey at last night game in LA
June 13th, 2008 at 10:31 am
“Game, set, match”: I like that exchange because ignorance cannot be ignored.
At the negotiating table, I bet Howie worked hard to contain a hearty laugh when C’lame asked, “So after the 12 months I can take the team home, right?”
Howie: “If you can settle the lease you’re on your way. Sign quickly, please.” (Big shit-eating grin as C’lame puts pen to paper)
June 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Ben Campbell, a 23yo UW graduate, who is the guy who wore the Shawn Kemp #40 jersey last night in the front row at the Celtics-Lakers game just talked with Softie on KJR. Very, very cool.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Zen, I have not read the 2nd part.
I am pretty surprised that you got more positive reaction.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Softy is asking the guy to give up his kemp jersey to ebay it to raise money for SOS or something.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:39 am
“Either the city is super big on cleanliness, or we have some real jerks out there. I put up about 150 flyers in Ballard just last night. And on my way to work this morning noticed that almost all of the ones I put in high traffic areas were gone already this morning”
Depending on where you put up the flyers, there are some people who get payed to distribute flyers and if you compete with their space they’ll tear yours down. This may not apply to the areas you were in, but be careful because it’s a really competitive “industry” and some of those guys will get physical if they catch you on their turf. Sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:46 am
BIG PROPS to Griff, his girlfriend( I think?) , and Speedcat for putting up flyers all day and night yesterday! Great to meet you guys yesterday, SOS!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
And Big props to everyone who is helping SOS go down in history! Lets keep the fight on!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Maybe Clay has his Flying Monkeys out ripping flyers down in the middle of the night.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:01 am
LET’S MAKE WTO LOOK LIKE A PICNIC! WE RALLY UNTIL SPD GETS US WITH THE TEAR GAS!
RALLY! RALLY! RALLY!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I emailed Softy and offered to compensate the guy with a SOS shirt, wristband and the Robert Swift autographed game jersey if he would give up his Kemp jersey. I am sure I could get a few bucks for it in our EBay store!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Good luck TiM!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:06 am
SeeJ, lets keep it classy and respectfull. Anyone who plans on attending and creating havoc, I urge you to reconsider. If you do plan on creating a disturbance, I am sure you will be pointed out by those of us who want our message to be support, not violence, and removed from the premise. Do not forget that this takes place on Federal property, SPD does not patrol the grounds, the US Marshalls do. Anyone getting out of line may welcome teargas compared to what the marshalls may do to you. And I’m not picking on you SeeJ, I am just warning anyone who plans on geting out of line.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Depending on where you put up the flyers, there are some people who get payed to distribute flyers and if you compete with their space they’ll tear yours down. This may not apply to the areas you were in, but be careful because it’s a really competitive “industry” and some of those guys will get physical if they catch you on their turf. Sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
- Ha! I always dreamed of being a Flyer Pimp…ordering around all my little Flyer Hos and making sure they protect their corners.
The world really is an interesting place sometimes.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Yeah, The tide of public opinion will go against us, if there is violence.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Page 89-90
He states that he firmly believes Schultz trusted them when they bought the team.
All the more reason to believe Schultz really was duped.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I’ll be at the rally in my 1977-78 Sonics Playoffs t-shirt!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I don’t have any sonics gear, because I’m a really big dude, and its hard to find.
So I’ll be there with my Bigger dance shirt.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:21 am
“I put up about 150 flyers in Ballard just last night. And on my way to work this morning noticed that almost all of the ones I put in high traffic areas were gone already this morning. My only guess is either the city has patrols that clean up the streets every morning or a couple anti-sports people went out of their way to be gigantic pricks. Very frustrating.”
I put a bunch up along Market and 8th NW, also in Ballard; this morning nearly every one I put up on Market last night was gone. Grr.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
“LET’S MAKE WTO LOOK LIKE A PICNIC! WE RALLY UNTIL SPD GETS US WITH THE TEAR GAS!
RALLY! RALLY! RALLY! ”
If that’s how you want to act, for God’s sake do the cause a favor and stay home.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:25 am
No one has a sense of humor anymore
June 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Otto, talk to Big Lo. Maybe he’s got something you can borrow.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Maybe we need to make one more flyer…Everything stays the same….Except it says…TODAY!!!!! We put them up starting at 12:01 Monday morning(or late Sunday night) and don’t stop until around 2:00pm Monday…They can’t pull them down THAT quick!!!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Sorry SeeJ, no offense intended … but after some of the posts last week it’s getting hard not to read everything literally.
Like the banners say: Keep It Respectful, Keep It Positive.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:30 am
this morning when i got off the bus, the first thing i saw was a flyer on the mcdonald’s at 3rd and pike!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I put a bunch up along Market and 8th NW, also in Ballard; this morning nearly every one I put up on Market last night was gone. Grr.
Unless it was someone with the city removing them, if I honestly saw someone tearing them down, I would be very tempted to smack them in the mouth.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am
or we could just write “Today” in big letters ourselves and the current ones and go out late Sun and early Mon. All current flyers up we need to write “today” on if we see them early Monday.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
SeeJ, i know you have a sense of humor, it’s the people that read your post and think it serious that freighten me!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I don’t even know why we waste our time reading articles from the NewsOK website anymore. We all know it’s controlled information that is skewed towards the positive for Clay. Outside of comedic reasons, there is no use for that paper.
Also, I noticed how they state the Key’s current footprint vs. a renovated Ford Center. Wha?! They don’t make any mention of the dimensions the Key would be based off of the renovations that were put forth by the City and Howie’s group before and how THAT would compare to a renovated Ford Center. I know others have mentioned it, but I couldn’t hold back.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
For some reason this line in Simmons’ article today made me laugh:
(By the way, it’s a good thing I didn’t go to this game — I would be losing my freaking mind. The Lakers fans would be beating me up with chardonnay glasses right now.)
Gotta love those LA fans.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:35 am
anyone going to the Safe this weekend….hand held signs advertising Monday’s Rally.??..
June 13th, 2008 at 11:36 am
For all who put up flyers. even if they are taken down, I am sure that someone saw them before they were removed. You are geting the message out, and thats whats important. If anything, we may get 50 city workers to show up since they definetley know about the rally!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I don’t even know why we waste our time reading articles from the NewsOK website anymore
I like reading the articles. It helps me to get more fired up about the issue. I realize it kind of puts us into a ‘us’ vs ‘them’.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Is wearing my “Screw Clay” t-shirt out of bounds for the rally from the “keep it positive” standpoint? If so, I have a game worn Bart Kofoed jersey on the backburner ready to go.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Was this thread closed earlier to posting? I tried but it says the thread was not accepting comments
June 13th, 2008 at 11:50 am
No way Screw Clay T-shirts are great!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I have to give a shout out to Ray Ray for helping beat those Lakers last night. He wants that ring and he is going for it and helping his team! : ) Love ya Ray!
I hope there is lots of green and gold on Monday. I found my old school Gary Payton T-shirt and I think that will be perfect!
Save our Supes!!
June 13th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Define “Specific Performance”
June 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
SONICS WEBSITE HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN. No links work anymore.
What’s up with that?????????
June 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I find it humorous how many times Aubrey McClendon and Clayton Bennett claim not to ‘recall’ or not to ‘focus’ on the details of their $400M purchase or the terms of their Key Arena lease with Seattle. Reminds me of Olliver North, who practically coined the phrase “I don’t recall” (kind of the “If the glove doesn’t fit…” of 80’s legal defense).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug0IL7k3elQ
I also wonder if Key Bank is starting to regret buying the naming rights for the arena - not exactly the kind of publicity they would want associated with their corporate image. Maybe they can sue the PBC as well
June 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Define “Specific Performance”
http://tinyurl.com/66o583
June 13th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
SONICS WEBSITE HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN. No links work anymore.
What’s up with that?????????
Its working for me?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
the sonics site works for me too
June 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I will wear my “Remodeled KeyArena” T-shirt that they gave away at the first game of the next season after the remodel.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Xteve Says:
Like the banners say: Keep It Respectful, Keep It Positive.
Even if you run into Apostle?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
nba.com/sonics ??? no
June 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
luvmySupes, absolutely man. Ray-Ray was great. He’s playing great defense! And he was the Celtics Iron Man playing all 48 minutes! He scored 19 and grabbed 9 boards! On one play I really thought he was K.G. skying for the rebound - he jumped so high - then when he came down with the ball - I thought “that was Ray”!!!! I know it’s probably not hard for a Pro to blow by Sasha Vujacic for a lay-up, but jeeze, did Sasha even try to stop Ray? I bet that he thought that Pau Gasol would bail him out and block Ray’s shot but give Ray credit for staying away from him.
The even better play was when Ray drove from the left side and started a lay-up on the near side, but it would have been blocked by Gasol, so he pulled the ball back in mid-air and while still hanging, coming down, he kissed it off the far side of the glass with just enough spin to send it through the hoop. Now that was a pretty play. It’s great to see Ray has finally caught fire just in time. Pierce and Ray are playing Kobe great on D - I don’t know how they could do better.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
supersonics.com
June 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Hrmm I dunno, its working for me.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
S.O.B(Save Our Barons)…rally at the Ford Center Monday at 4:30…shake Clay’s(for $500million)and Aubrey’s hands(for $250,000), get a free autographed picture of Stern!!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
i’m in horrified anticipation of this trial, as the City appears to have made a few missteps and antagonized the judge, but the Truth certainly appears to be on our side. as it always was.
was hoping to see the Finals go further so the Sonics trial would be in the news at the same time, but i no longer think that would have any effect either way. it’s in the hands of the lawyers and the judge.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
i’m in horrified anticipation of this trial, as the City appears to have made a few missteps and antagonized the judge, but the Truth certainly appears to be on our side. as it always was.
was hoping to see the Finals go further so the Sonics trial would be in the news at the same time, but i no longer think that would have any effect either way. it’s in the hands of the lawyers and the judge.
and hey: did everyone see the guy in the road Kemp jersey in front-row courtside seats last night? awesome.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I saw the Kemp jersey too. Nicey.
I like to have faith in our case and the legal system.
r kelly found innocent today. Can our lawyers stretch out these cases 6 years like Kelly’s did?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Anyone going to the M’s Games this weekend.
Please make a handheld sign that say’s…
“Blower’s please bring some Rally Fries to the Courthouse on Monday! Save Our Sonics!”
That will have the best chance of getting on air I promise.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Some guy with Papa John’s will be bringing down pizza for the fans!
So you can get some food while you are cheering!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
ZenDOC!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
He’s on KJR right now, right?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
or was..
June 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Does anyone know if there are gonna be Screw Clay tees for sale at the rally?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Reminder: Paul Scheniderman taking YOUR CALLS
from 1:20-2pm on Ian’s show
June 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Did he ID himself as being with SOS? I didn’t hear . . .
June 13th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
For some reason this line in Simmons’ article today made me laugh:
(By the way, it’s a good thing I didn’t go to this game — I would be losing my freaking mind. The Lakers fans would be beating me up with chardonnay glasses right now.)
Gotta love those LA fans.
A couple of my friends went to the game and saw three Celtic fans get beat down…just for wearing Celtic’s jerseys and saying “Kobe sucks.” Guess those three guys forgot where they were…
June 13th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
That would make sense. but who knows.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
“Does anyone know if there are gonna be Screw Clay tees for sale at the rally? ”
SOS didn’t make Screw Clay T-shirts, nor would we.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Did he ID himself as being with SOS? I didn’t hear . . .
I think he said he was zendoc from sos, but I dont know for sure.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I’m pretty sure Hey this is ZenDoc from SonicsCentral.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
tx fellas.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Ian said “Monday could be a watershed moment in Sonics history”
Lets bust this up.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Tim Russert has died!!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Yeah, I heard that. I liked him.
RIP.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I’m trying not to get my hopes up on how many turn up on Monday, but I’m cautiously optimistic. There was a good turn out on short notice for the Olympia rally, and that was in Olympia! This is right here in Seattle, and the weather forecast looks to be in the 70’s, so there is no excuse for a lousy turnout!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
ZenDoc~
Nice to see someone share my enthusiasm for Ray Allen’s play! And you’re right that one lay-up from one side of the basket with his left hand and it came up around and in. That was sweet!! I think you described it better than me though.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
For the record…I’ve been all about the lakers this year but after last night im switching teams.lakers don’t deserve this ring…but ray,kg,and paul pierce do. So go celtics! Lakers next year though….
June 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I’m very,very happy for Ray. I was a little concerned that we were seeing the beginning of the end.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Did anyone see Kobe punching Vlad?
June 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Oh and ill be at my daughters swimming the exact time the lawyers gonna be on ians show…so pleeease recap on here!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
We should have someone (several someones) hitting the office buildings around the courthouse on Monday morning/early afternoon with STACKS of flyers. If several of the companies would simply let their workers off a little early we could really pump the attendance numbers at the rally.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
facebook group has 665 confirmed, 667 maybes and 3,228 pending!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
facebook event has 665 confirmed, 667 maybes and 3,228 pending!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Ian starts the show by saying that the upcoming trial “could spell the end for the Sonics in Seattle after 40 plus years”
June 13th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
sorry, i tried to change it from “group” to “event” but the first post had already gone through i guess.
I am telling everyone the time is from 4 to 5. That way we can concentrate the people around when GP and X are there.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Xteve, I just got on for 2 minutes max, I think. I ID’d myself as being “ZenDoc” from SonicsCentral.com to which Softy / Softie said “I Love It, Man!!” I would have liked to have given props to Save Our Sonics, but I’m not an official Core Leader, so I could not. They wanted me to talk about David Stern exclusively, but I got a good plug in for the Monster Rally Monday!!!! Softy said he’d like to see 150,000 people there - I said that 5,000 would be great!! But I wouldn’t have any problem with MORE!!!
I talked about David Stern’s first year as Commissioner in 1984 when he said either publicly or it was overheard that he wanted the Celtics playoff series to go 7 games and Larry Bird went off on him for talking like that. Bird said that that was unprofessional and that is not the way a Commissioner should talk. He was trying to teach the “Rookie” how to be a Commissioner and Guess What? Larry Bird did not get fined for that comment - not one penny! I think that David realized that he had crossed the line with that comment, and didn’t want to risk a bigger blow-up with the league’s biggest SuperStar (along with Magic) that could have exposed Stern’s intentions and methods for accomplishing them.
Stern has been like this from the beginning as witnessed by the 1984 Playoffs statement and his 1985 creation “The Lottery” that he could manipulate in order to award the biggest prize (Patrick Ewing - projected to be the best center in a decade or more) to the biggest market (New York).
I do not believe for a minute that the owners as a group have clean hands in this either, at least the group that was around in 1984 when the decision was made to hire Stern. Or at least a core group of the owners - maybe only 3 or 4 Major Market owners. They needed help to rescue their league from a lack of profitability. They needed a “tough” Commissioner who could use his influence to affect certain outcomes in subtle ways to enhance profitability for everyone. The owners wanted and needed the bigger market teams in the playoffs as much as possible and they needed to maximize the series out to 7 games whenever possible.
Now it’s not the WWE, so they knew he still had to make it look completely respectable and above suspicion, so it’s been a series of subtle moves for David, and sometimes things don’t always go his way. But he absolutely tries to manipulate as much as he possibly can and get away with it, and for that he’s been rewarded with a $10 Million annual contract and job security for 25 years. If anyone thinks that Clay thought this theft up on his own, I think you are being incredibly naive. Anyway, Paul Schniderman, Attorney for S.O.S. is on KJR right now explaining what is going to happen at the trial. Tune in.
SAVE OUR SONICS NOW !!!!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I find it amusing that in Bennett’s deposition, everytime they take a 5 minute break, it’s at least 15 minutes before things get going again.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
facebook group has 665 confirmed, 667 maybes and 3,228 pending!!!!!
I saw a SOS rally, and I rsvped, but it said I was only the 2nd one to RSVP to the event. I Could not find it for the life of me.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
oh man really? I’ll send you the link.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Are we showing up just Monday or everyday of the week?
June 13th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I am bringing 3 to the rally. Let’s be positive, respectful and family oriented. That will get us the most pub. If we act like idiots, it will detract from the cause.
Should be fun..see ya all there.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Vancouver fan, Monday is the event, but some have said they will attend everyday. I think that would be a stretch for most people, but feel free to show up any day!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Schneiderman says Bennett’s “unclean hands” defense is a stretch and the city has very good claims.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Let’s be positive, respectful and family oriented. That will get us the most pub. If we act like idiots, it will detract from the cause.
Agreed!!
I am going to send a message to all the people invited to the facebook event that we are expecting good behavior and a positive message only. I also am going to tell them that Bennett will use any negativity we show as part of his justification for leaving.
IF things do get a little dicey that’s fine with me though. I want the nation to know we really are pissed about this and we really do care.
And if Citizens for more important things shows things could get pretty interesting.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Why can’t the new Key Arena footprint get some publicity, is it still under wraps (pending of course the financing, but still, why can’t it be out there with capacities, sqft, etc.?)
June 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Sounds like Paul doesn’t the PBC has much chance in winning the lawsuit against the city.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
On second thought. PMs are weird on this site. Can you just add me?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10727111
I’m reluctant to directly link the group because I don’t trust the NBA and Bennett.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Mark, because OKC doesn’t care, they like to compare apples to road apples (nice WA vs OK analogy, I crack me up!)
June 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Rachit, It takes Clay a long time to pee!
Vancouver Fan, several people are coming everyday of the week for the trial. It would be nice if there were several more.
Can you make it daily? There’s no other rally planned at this time as far as I know, but there will be an organic gathering of people. I think that a lot of people will be there by noon on Monday or even in the morning, especially if they want to be in the lottery to enter the courtroom.
The Legal Preview with Paul Schneiderman, SOS Attorney, for
THE BATTLE FOR THE SONICS IN SEATTLE ON KJR RIGHT NOW!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I think the goal is to have as many people there at once. That will give the best impression.
But yeah, If I can go another day I might. I just don’t know that I can. Monday’s THE day.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Eric E:
Send me a email with the link please
superdeluxe@livejournal.com
June 13th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Just sent it!!
668 confirmed
June 13th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I can’t access Facebook from work, but both my wife and I will be there. Looking forward to it!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
So Mr Stern, how did you come up with an even 1 mill??? Why not $1,242,098 or $879,897. Did you not keep your receipts??How much did the investigation costs exactly??You rounding up or down is more suspect than your game officiating.
Good article by Thiel:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/366899_thiel13.html
June 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Xteve, I was suggesting SOS makes the Screw Clay tees. I was hoping the guy that makes them make would be on here.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Someone, ANYONE go to the M’s Games this weekend.
Please make a handheld sign that say’s…
“Blower’s please bring some Rally Fries to the Courthouse on Monday! Save Our Sonics!”
That will have the best chance of getting on air I promise.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Paul really pumped me up!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Who’s Paul?
June 13th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Paul Schneiderman. atty who was just on KJR
June 13th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
ah. Thanks!!
June 13th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
“Paul really pumped me up, Audrey, let’s buy us a team!!” -
June 13th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
The House is starting to sniff around the referee scandal:
“The scandal has attracted the attention of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which plans to draft a letter of inquiry to the NBA in the next week, Newsday reported, citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation. The committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., will then decide whether to proceed with congressional hearings.”
And Stern double talk:
” ‘We had some idea about what was happening because we made available, and they went out and sought, interviews with many officials, past and present, who informed us of those interviews,” Stern said. “So we know that something had been said by Mr. Donaghy, and the FBI was investigating a variety of claims. That’s what happens — someone comes in, they made a variety of allegations as they seek to demonstrate their cooperativeness with respect to reducing a sentence, and then you identify people. But guilt by association is not something that we engage in.’
Two nights earlier, Stern was asked by ESPN.com whether he was aware of any ongoing investigations of other referees. His response: “I’m going to repeat the question because I want everyone to hear it: Are we aware of any open investigations by the government? Only possibly of Mr. Donaghy, nothing else.”
http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3439554
June 13th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I’ve been gone all day & catching up but wow - WSTim… Thanks for the post at 9:10 on the Q & A with Clay.
Hello? He is saying under oath he spent 350 million but was clueless about the details of the lease and did not pay much attention to this??????
First… He is lying again - off course he looked it over & knew about it and the core components (If I’m wrong here they he is simply the biggest idiot ever - you don’t spend 350 million without knowing the details of the lease inside & out.)
Second… If he did not read the lease well this is HIS problem. I cannot imagine a judge letting him break a lease the he signed on for with the purchase because he says he was too lazy or clueless to investigae the details of what he was buying.
This is why people sign contracts and lawyers review them etc. - because you are committing to what you sign. You can’t come back later & say my signature should not bind me to this because I did not really read what I signed.
I know he did not sign the lease - but he signed the purchase papers to buy the team that had the lease.
Amazing - Absolutely amazing.
Clay is toast.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
“Mr Stern, your smugness you show others in the media won’t work in this hearing”….”Yes Sir, Mr. Chairman”
June 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I’ve been gone all day & catching up but wow - WSTim… Thanks for the post at 9:10 on the Q & A with Clay.
Hello? He is saying under oath he spent 350 million but was clueless about the details of the lease and did not pay much attention to this??????
First… He is lying again - off course he looked it over & knew about it and the core components (If I’m wrong here they he is simply the biggest idiot ever - you don’t spend 350 million without knowing the details of the lease inside & out.)
Second… If he did not read the lease well this is HIS problem. I cannot imagine a judge letting him break a lease the he signed on for with the purchase because he says he was too lazy or clueless to investigae the details of what he was buying.
This is why people sign contracts and lawyers review them etc. - because you are committing to what you sign. You can’t come back later & say my signature should not bind me to this because I did not really read what I signed.
I know he did not sign the lease - but he signed the purchase papers to buy the team that had the lease.
Amazing - Absolutely amazing.
Clay is toast.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Anyone know where I can listen to KJR’s promo commercial for the rally?
June 13th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Just wanted to remind everyone here to enjoy the “calm before the storm” today and this weekend. I have a feeling things are going to get very emotional and heated over the next couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see how everyone handles things.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
RmcD…
Thanks for the tiel link - good article - and good point about how the nBA comes up with a clean million - shows some more stupidity on their part. But even more than that…
The NBA demanding any money from Donaghy to pay for their investigation was simply stupid. Stern is an idiot. They just bought more aggravation on an issue they want to get away from. They should have eater the money and moved on.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I think someone here said once that Bennett didn’t read the lease before buying because he didn’t have time. He had to act fast for Stern. If I remember correctly that person got that info from someone in the PBC.
June 13th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
On the Monday rally - I agree with comments to keep it passionate but also respectful & positive. Good word.
SOS!
June 13th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
The House is starting to sniff around the referee scandal:
“The scandal has attracted the attention of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which plans to draft a letter of inquiry to the NBA in the next week, Newsday reported, citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation. The committee, chaired by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., will then decide whether to proceed with congressional hearings.”
- It will be interesting to see when all of this starts to focus on Dick Bavetta. He quite honestly is the single commmon denominator for all of these games in question (including Game 7 of 93 WCF). In today’s article Bill Simmons links to an old article he wrote questioning the officiating and the common link to those big games was again: Dick Bavetta…
June 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Another bash at Stern, and an observation about Clay-Clay and Dave-Dave:
“And let’s not forget this is the same Stern who doesn’t seem to mind all the bad publicity he’s taking for allowing deceitful owner Clay Bennett to hijack the Sonics from Seattle out of pure greed and laziness”
I don’t care if its ESPN page 2, its national pub and becoming more obvious to neutral fans.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/080612
June 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Bennett depo, pg 263
Bennett lies to Senate. I assume that is what someone on here has been talking about for months concerning RCWs and blah blah blah. So why not get him for lying to public officials?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
If the Sonics stay, which station has the radio rights for games in Seattle?
I understand KOMO is dumping the Mariners.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
That’s a great article by Art Thiel in the P-I about how the “Vengeful” Stern may have gotten the better of the “Crafty Manipulator” Stern and he is fully responsible for bringing the Tim Donaghy story to light at this time by pissing off Donaghy and his attorney. Donaghy was not planning on releasing any of the info until Stern told him that he wanted Donaghy to pay him $1 Million dollars for his expenses. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a great, quick read:
http://tinyurl.com/4mb6er
Ian Furness says we ALL need to show our support for the Sonics on Monday with a Huge rally at the Courthouse and to get there by 4:00PM at the latest. Good for Ian. Groz and Gas are broadcasting from FX McRory’s from 3-7:00PM on Monday and will host an after-rally party. Where is FX McRory’s? Is it near the Courthouse? There’s also a Storm game after the rally at 7:00PM where we can meet and talk about the day.
.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I’m guessing the same station as last year?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Xteve Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 9:32 am
“After all of this mounting evidence there is NO WAY the Schultz case will ever go to trial … the mound of evidence against PBCs intentions is vast … I believe they’ll settle before this ever goes to court. I doubt we’ve even seen 1/4th of the really damning stuff yet. ”
I think they will settle, but I would not say there is “NO WAY” they go to trial in the Schultz case. If they give up the Sonics before then they lose a team, if the lose the Schultz case they lose a team, the only way to keep the team is to fight and win. Setting for them at some point will have to be not just giving up this team but avoiding giant costs with no team to show for it.
I think they fight through this city case until they see the ref/judge is looking at them like they are Danny Fortson leaning on Rashweed Wallace. You are about to do something stupid and get thrown out Clay.
The city brief is to the point, WSTim points out that Bennett doesn’t know what the lease says, he use wants out of it. Once you get there in this trial it is nothing but trouble for Bennett.
Then, they have to come back to the same judge for the Schultz case? When they start asking that question they put all options on the table (what ever you want in reverse order).
June 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
When is a decision due on this trial starting Monday? Could the decision come down Monday?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I’m standing by this basic forcast….
1. City wins the lease case.
2. Clay/Stern must then decide in early July…. “We HAVE to keep this team in seattle for 2 more years and the Schultz case is very unpredictable so do we risk staying for 2 more years and losing tons of money and PR and then possibly lose the Howard anyway - which would also become the most massive sports scandal in NBA history? Do we want to risk that?
3. Meanwhile… NBA owners are calling Stern saying they do NOT want to risk losing to Howard. The cost would be to high. And the owners will be influenced by what they remember - they will remember the rally on June 16 and it will impact their resolve. They will remember ESPN talking about it and they will not want any more ESPN reports from Seattle about 1000’s of fans standing up to the NBA with follow-up discussion with the national media. The rally will help them see Nickels resolve and sonic fans passion with more clairty and respect and they will tell stern to wake up - remind him he was WRONG when he surely told the owners over the past year & in April that the lease thing could be worked out and Sonics fans did not care that much. Stern misjuedged Seattle - he thought they would accept a financial buy-out of the lease. OOPPS.
4. Stern tells clay their may not be support among owners for a move ato OKC pproval in 2 years - everyone wants this cleaned up now.
5. Clay’s co-oweners could become tired and divisive & want out. This will help but not be crucial.
6. The key is - The NBA will wake up - shift - and communicate to Clay he must sell. His move to OKC is not going to be supproted anymore. Clay will start to broker a deal to sell to Ballmer conditional on Howard dropping his law suit.
7. Ballmer buys the team this summer or fall.
8. Good bye Clay B.
PS…. The “Letter” from OKC threatening eveyone about their rights etc. related to Clay signing a lease with them is all BS.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Vancouver… the trial will go 5 days next week - take some time off & then have 1 day on June 26 for closing points etc. - then the judge will bring a ruling sometime after that.
I don’t know how long that will take - maybe some of our lawyer friends can estimate this?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
the verdict is scheduled to come june 26. the only way there will be an outcome sooner is if there’s a settlement.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
5 days to 2 weeks for a ruling most likely. The judge can pretty much take as long as she wants.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
at least that’s how i understood it from what Ian Furness said this morning.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Then we need another big rally, an even bigger one, on June 26
June 13th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Definition of Specific Performance clause from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_performance
June 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Poll: Fans Believe NBA Is Rigged
http://adage.com/article?article_id=127759
June 13th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Poll preceded Donaghy scandal
That’s especially true when taken together with the fact that the study was conducted on June 2-4, prior to disgraced referee Tim Donaghy’s allegations earlier this week that NBA executives and referees manipulated game results to boost ticket sales and TV ratings.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Hat tip to http://instapundit.com for the heads up.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Nickels first up on Monday:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ag1zfnvER7eIfGT9KDvteTi8vLYF?slug=ap-sonicstrial&prov=ap&type=lgns
June 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Clay Clay too if there’s time on Monday too. Anyone got connections at Boeing Field to see if his jet has landed…maybe send him room service Sunday night: some Kleenex!
June 13th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Clay Clay too if there’s time on Monday. Anyone got connections at Boeing Field to see if his jet has landed…maybe send him room service Sunday night: some Kleenex!
June 13th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I fully believe that this Bos-LA final was set up. The KG and Gasol trades were just too rigged and convenient for the league for it not to be.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
“I fully believe that this Bos-LA final was set up. The KG and Gasol trades were just too rigged and convenient for the league for it not to be. ”
Yeah! It must be rough to be a fan in Memphis or Minnesota right now . . . you just traded your best player away. You watch your team go on to one of the worst seasons in NBA history, while the team you just traded with goes to the championship.
Thank goodness the Sonics organization is not a party to any of this.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
This wouldn’t be the first referee scandal that has come to light in major (European) sports…
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1474909,00.html
June 13th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Lord Stern would gladly sacrifice Minnesota, Memphis, and Seattle (especially Seattle) to get his glorious Lakers-Celtics final. Screw the rest of the league is pretty much his moto.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Q Did you understand that the – one of the provisions of the lease was the requirement that the Sonics play their home games in Key Arena through the 2009, 2010 season?
A I didn’t focus on that necessarily specically. I just focused on the fact that we had a lease through the 2010 term.
Judge Judy’s ruling:
Apparently, you didn’t focus on much of anything, you delusional BLEEP. So, your FOCUS is the reality of the contract is that what you’re saying you BLEEPING BlEEP-wad?
————————————————————-
Other Clay Bennett delusions:
* Financial gain in OKC–conveniently forgetting moving fees, a lesser market, and other ideas that smarter people like Mark Cuban would not ignore.
* That snubbing any opportunity to bargain is doing business: for expansion of Key Arena, building on a site other than Renton (with the Muckleshoots), etc.
* That we’ll put on his glasses and see things the way that he does. Sweet flip this.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
What type of numbers are we expecting to attend this rally?
I’m hoping atleast 10,000
atleast 10,00 or we all failed.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I was thinking about what Clay might do with the roster after making the threat to “drastically alter [his] business strategy” if/when he loses this case.
My first reaction was that this team is as dismantled as it gets. I could see them dumping Wilcox and Collison’s contract any others just to save coin. If they pull a crazy trade, like the Gasol trade in Memphis, with the sole purpose of dumping salary, can anyone stop him because this is his business? What makes this situation unique from any other owner who’s tried to save money is that he’s gone public and basically threatened to hold out on investing on the team until he is allowed to move. Has any owner made this kind of threat in the past? I bet if Stern was asked about Clay’s threat he would respond, in his usual smug manner, that it’s his business and the city of Seattle has created this situation.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Okay, assume Clay loses. Might a scenario be that the team just doesn’t play in Seattle for two seasons? No games?
June 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
“I fully believe that this Bos-LA final was set up. The KG and Gasol trades were just too rigged and convenient for the league for it not to be. ”
WHY?? I hate David Stern as much as anyone but really the trades were rigged? I dont know how people come up with this conclusion at all.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
As far as the NBA being rigged, I tend to like the word I think Donaghy used, “manipulated”. I don’t think that they tell refs to make a certain team win. IMO, the refs are encouraged to call plays a certain way that can give a certain team an advantage.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
If Clay continues to try to put a pathetic team out on the court for us not to enjoy, as I’m sure he will, wouldn’t it be great to see this team come together and start winning, Major League style? Much like the movie, the team is probably going to be made up of a few vets with expiring contracts, and the rest with youngsters. If KD and JG, with whatever help they get in the draft, can come together to put together a competing club then the city should definitely get behind them to show Clay and the NBA that no matter how hard they try the team belongs here.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
“atleast 10,00 or we all failed. ”
we all failed if theres not 10,000??? i think we succeed if theres at least 1000. any more then that will be amazing-which i do believe there will be more then 1000.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Okay, assume Clay loses. Might a scenario be that the team just doesn’t play in Seattle for two seasons? No games?
The only way that happens is if Clay brings in the moving vans and takes the team anyways. Stern said that the team would follow the courts decision though.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I feel really bad that KD Jeff Green and the other guys are having to go through this. I know they make a whole lot of money so its hard to feel too bad but I think its sad that they have to be a part of team where there owner purposely makes them horrible. I know we want and need the city to win this case but honestly it scares me what Clay might do to the team should he be forced to stay 2 more years.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Did anyone else read this profanity laced letter about admitting Sherman Alexie?
http://slog.thestranger.com/files/2008/05/LetterToPechman2.pdf
For me personally, I enjoy Alexie’s books, and I look forward to what he’ll bring to the trial. A good demonstration and a dose of Sherman Alexie should show Pechman that there’s no apathy here in this town.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
T-
To some degree I disagree with your last post. KD and Jeff Green are being exposed to the politics of the NBA when their expectations are at the lowest possible level. Could you imagine if 3 years from now, they are a high-seed playoff caliber team and going through this?
If anything, it’s teaching them the loyalty, devotion, and importance of the fans and the community. These guys are seeing Hall of Fame players come out of the woodwork saying the NBA is wrong, corrupt, and what have you. Not to mention GP admitting he was wrong demanding his last contract that eventually shipped him out of here. So yeah, I feel bad for them - but I think if it were to happen to anyone, the circumstances couldn’t be better for these two.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Clay should worry about KD and Green losing interest in playing for this club. That is what will happen if you forget about winning and as result foster a losing attitude. I try not to take my anger out on OKC but it would be justice if both KD and Green bounced just when the team is ready to move.
I hope Alexie makes it to the stand. I remember reading his “Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” in college. It’s a great idea having an author express what this team means to him and this city. Hopefully he won’t accidentally drop some F-bombs.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
“it scares me what Clay might do to the team should he be forced to stay 2 more years.”–T.
I come at it from a very different perspective, T. I think the longer the team stays, the better we’ll get…and the harder it will be for Bennett to argue that there is apathy in this city. If we can average 13,000 fans with the product that was on the floor this season, what can we do next year?
June 13th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
John- I see your point I still feel bad for them though. KD and Green are so happy to make in the NBA and then there first year they dont even get the media exposure they deserve in there own city. They have an owner and a coach they dont like (not that you always get to like your boss), they have to deal with the move, etc. And the guys like Ridnour, Collison, and others I feel bad for them having to go through this during there prime years as players. But anyway you are right they will learn a lot from this and hopefully everyone will be in a better place soon! (by that I mean in Seattle w/new owner.)
June 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
T-
Think about this - I don’t know if you were at the last home game, but I’m sure you heard about it. Kevin Durant got caught up in the moment, there is absolutely no doubt about it. What he did (encouraging the fans in their SOS, and Bennett sucks chants) was not endorsed by the league, and obviously not Bennett. If that was a veteran all-star (Ray Allen, Rashard, whoever) they would not have reacted the way Durant did. They are all “professionals” who don’t let their emotions get in the way of business. You could call them company men. It’s almost like Durant could break the mold… it was very exciting to see.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
James B.-
I agree. I think there is a possibility the team will start getting better. BUT when Clay says if hes forced to stay hes gonna drastically alter the way he does business, what do you think this means?
June 13th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
John- Ya youre right. And I wasnt at the last game and I regret not going but I watched over and over on tv and you tube. I still get emotional watching the end where everyone was chanting and KD got into it. I was thinking how cool it is he actually did that, but youre right I dont think a veteran would have done that.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I was thinking about the postings earlier about the fliers being taken down and I have a suggestion. First of all thank you and great job to everyone taking the time to do that! But a lot of you have posted exact locations where fliers are going up, and maybe Im being too paranoid, but I think it would be a good idea not to put on here the locations you are covering because that lets “the other side” people that come on this site know exactly where to go tear them down. Or maybe Im going to far with that…
June 13th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I’ll be there Monday with friends! Brian you are a relentless, cunning, fearsome and ethical animal. I am delighted at the thought of how much Bennett and co are cursing you to the high heavens. SONICS STAY!
June 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
T, as to your 7:00PM post about how could the big trades be rigged, several people have postulated this. I never really thought about it at the time, even though I know how crooked David Stern is. I thought of the KG trade as just his demand, and a bad but not a horrible trade for Minnesota. I was pretty dumbfounded by the Pau Gasol trade and thought what they bleep was Memphis thinking? They could have gotten so much more for their All-Star. I didn’t really think about this being “facilitated” by the NBA until I read a columnist (I forget which one) and it made good sense.
David Stern’s ideal Finals match-up has always been the classic one of the Celtics versus the Lakers (actually that may not be 100% correct - his real ideal match-up is probably the 2 biggest markets in America: his beloved New York Knicks vs. LA - but it would have taken too much “fixing” to get the Knicks into the Finals and people might ’start’ to get suspicious of Stern). I think that he looks at himself as the Savior of the NBA and also that he has Carte Blanche to do anything that he needs to do to insure maximum profits for the owners, as long as it doesn’t make the news or get them into trouble.
At this time we don’t really know whether David Stern got involved in “facilitating” these trades directly or more likely indirectly by encouraging Minnesota and Memphis to trade with Boston and LA - oh yeah, and don’t forget Seattle trading Ray Allen to Boston - that’s a bonus. I don’t know what was offered to M&M - possibly a promise that the owners could move their franchises in the future with the blessing of the NBA if their profitability didn’t turn around soon. And, by the way, the 12th largest consumer market in the U.S. is about to become available and I can pave the way for you to relocate there into a brand new state-of-the-art Arena in a couple years.
Who knows, Mr. Stern may have promised Seattle to BOTH Memphis and Minnesota, without the other one knowing, in order to get the trades done. I cannot say that this is what happened. But I think that you can see how it could be done if David Stern wanted to insure a Boston - LA Finals, and that’s not even talking about the refs’ contribution to the Stern scheme.
I hope this gives you an idea of how all the pieces fit together in the Master Plan to boost up NBA profits at any cost, ethical or unethical, legal or illegal. But we are seeing David Stern’s Grand Illusion being penetrated now and some people are realizing that instead of wearing Glorious Robes, the Emperor has no clothes on. Are you beginning to see the reality now, instead of Stern’s Illusion? It’s really hard to penetrate the whole thing, because it’s hard to believe that an NBA Commissioner can actually be that corrupt. Do you believe that he actually could be?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I’ll be there monday.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I’ll be there monday.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
T, you could be right about the saboteurs being enemies getting directions on from us here. Then again, maybe not.
FYI, I’ll be putting up 6,000 flyers in North Dakota this weekend in case anyone is watching.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I come at it from a very different perspective, T. I think the longer the team stays, the better we’ll get…and the harder it will be for Bennett to argue that there is apathy in this city. If we can average 13,000 fans with the product that was on the floor this season, what can we do next year?
- Actually…the Sonics have already admitted that if they are forced by the Judge to stay in Seattle for two more years their business practices will become so poor that it will result in another lawsuit in her court. This is one of the reasons they argue she should rule in their favor…because they dont want to her to have to deal with another one of their trials.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:20 am
I have a giddy anticipation for Monday. I just want this thing to be set in motion. It is going to be the culmination of all we have struggled for these past couple of years. Whatever the outcome of the rally on Monday, I will hold my head high and be proud to be a SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Fan Again.
Nobody seemed to bring this up so:
Just wanted to give a shout-out to Haralabos Voulgaris for this little piece on true hoop.
Do you ever talk shop with other basketball stat experts?
I don’t really talk shop with other stat experts, to be honest I don’t really know of any. There are a bunch of people who post on the Sonics Central APBR board whose opinion I respect. But I am kind of of the opinion that anyone devoting all this time to the study of basketball and not willing to really profit from it, is fooling themselves in some way.
I agree 100%. There are A LOT of peoples opinions on this board that I REALLY respect! The discourse on this board is second to none. I have considered it an honor and blessing to have read this board the last few years and whatever the result of the trials I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who have stood up for my beloved sonics, my beloved memories and the significant piece of who I am today.
A great man once told me, “You don’t just fight the fights you think you can win. You fight the fights that need fighting” I can think of no more noble fight than this one we are about to undertake. Let get ready
Put the Women and Children to bed. And lets go get some dinner gentlemen!
-Splifton
June 14th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Give them nothing, but take from them EVERYTHING…
http://tinyurl.com/6ymwcb