City takes a Dive, Bennett bleeds Money, Seattle Fans still get nothing
Posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 5:42 pm by Mr. Baker (thinking good thoughts for George Karl))
SEATTLE - The City of Seattle took the cash today, rather than enforce the lease for the next two years.
Statement by Mayor Nickels on the settlement of the City’s lawsuit with the Seattle Sonics
Today, I [Mayor Nickels] am announcing a settlement with Mr. Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club. Our goals for the settlement were two: To protect the taxpayers’ investment in KeyArena and have a long-term future for professional basketball.In exchange for terminating the lease two years early, Mr. Bennett has agreed to settlement package with a payment up to $75 million to the City of Seattle. Under the agreement, $45 million will be paid to the City immediately. That covers rent and loss of tax revenue, and allows us to pay off outstanding debt on KeyArena.
Our agreement calls for Mr. Bennett and his co-owners to pay an additional $30 million in 2013—if the NBA has not approved a team to play in Seattle.
The NBA was an important part of our negotiations—agreeing that a renovated KeyArena can be a competitive NBA facility. This is a crucial point for us. A KeyArena with professional basketball is a cornerstone for a vibrant Seattle Center.The NBA has committed to helping us secure a future team—informing us of any sale, relocation or expansion opportunities.
Committed local ownership is critical—and we are grateful that Steve Ballmer and his group, represented here by Matt Griffin, are working to secure a new team.
The city is ready to do its part. Local investors have stepped up. Now, the State Legislature must act. If it fails to approve public funding next year to remodel KeyArena, we will lose our rights to that $30 million payment if we do not get a team.
I believed all along that enforcing our lease would create time for a better deal. We now have that deal.
The Sonics name and history stay in Seattle. Seattle is a natural home for professional basketball—loyal fans, and a rich, 40-year tradition.
Working together, we are now in the best position to continue that legacy in Seattle.
No team for the fans, cash for the city, an IOU from Clay Bennett if we cash the IOU from the State of Washington, nothing for the fans.
We were screwed. That offer was not going to get worse with time, and with a court win, they took money from somebody that has money, but the mayor, Mayor Nickels, said it wasn’t about the money in his testimony; it was about enforcing the lease, and retaining NBA basketball in Seattle; neither happened.
Thanks for almost rising to the challenge Mayor Nickels.
I hate Clay Bennett, I watched him lie, and now I watched Mayor Nickels let him get away with it.
Thanks to Brian, Steve, Xteve, Grif, everybody that fueled SaveOurSonics.org
I have maintained that it has not, and is not, because of the fans that any of this is happening. The owners, the politicians, and especially the NBA, all have failed you.
Shame on them.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
disapointment
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
lets hit the bars
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I am crushed
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Thank you for all your hard work. Thank everybody who has shown how much the team means to this city. We have been betrayed by our politicans, and by the NBA. It is a dark day for sports fans everywhere, especially in Seattle. Not so much in OKC, but when they move in 10-15 years due to low attendance or demand for a new arena, the few diehards will be right there with us.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I believe we had the best grass roots effort to save sports in all of history but in the end the greed of a few evil men prevailed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
revolt
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
(bump from last thread)
I feel sick to my stomach. They sold out. They sugar coated it, but they basically sold out.
“The NBA will let us know if and when an NBA team is for sale”
REally? Is that it? Great, now WE’RE OKC! We’re the ones taking some cities team.
Do you think FSN will broadcast all Blazer games in this area? I could be a big Blazer fan. I wanted the Sonics to draft Bayless anyways.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
The city sold their souls to the devil without a guarantee of a team only a promise that they will be considered in the nba release it states “We would support an NBA team playing its home games in a rebuilt key arena IF IT WISHED”.
Its time to vote the jacka**es out. This include Nickels, Ceis, Gregoire and the house and senate.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Thanks to everyone who fought the good fight to Save Our Sonics. I am done with the NBA. I will not support any Seattle owned basketball arena. I will not support a replacement team in one year, five years or during my lifetime. Good Luck to you all!
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
F the Blazers, we want a team in SEATTLE
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
NBA = Failed
Local Politicians = Failed
Ownership = Failed
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I’ll watch NBA games when Seattle has an NBA team.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Thanks to Brian and the whole SOS crew. I was happy to be a part of it. Shame on everyone involved. If you have a vote, use it. Vote out everyone of the liars. No more NBA or Starbucks for any of us. We all pledge today.
I’m going to go get drunk now….
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
another lost to big oil.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Until I hear from Brian or Steve that the Schultz suit has been deemed irrelevant, I can’t let go of hope. Today’s news sucks no doubt, but until I hear Howard has let go of his suit, I’m not giving up. It sure looks grim though…
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
“Do you think FSN will broadcast all Blazer games in this area? I could be a big Blazer fan. I wanted the Sonics to draft Bayless anyways. ”
I have nothing against Portland, but after all of this there is no way I could ever follow the nba again. It would have been better if the judge ruled in favor of the Sonics and we diddnt settle.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
12:01 am
Somewhere in the future.
Thank you for calling the City of Seattle general phone number, please leave a message.
BEEP
Stern: A team is for sale. I need to know if you want it in Seattle or not. I have another buyer here ready to take it. If I don’t hear from you in the next 5 minutes I will assume Seattle is not interested. Bye.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I WANT F*CKING KILL CLAY BENNETT! FUCK YOU AND PIECE OF SHIT TOWN> FUCK. YOU> FUCKCKCKCKCKFYFYUFUFJKBHDggkljd
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
And I’m a bit pissed that they sold out for only 45 million. The city will never see the other 30 million.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Don’t read the Seattle PI editorial board comments…first of all they wrote “OKC Sonics” at the top and then had the nerve to say this was a fair deal for taxpayers. I am still holding out hope for the Schultz trial and await to hear Brian R’s comments about this. I am hoping for a injunction to be filed tomorrow.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Face it: we fans have been ownzed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
There is no way the nba expands in the next five years, and I doubt another team will move. Of course if a team does become avalible, there is no way we get it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I am in shock. What a giant waste of time. Economic reality. Goodbye Christine. Had we had a funding deal we would not be without a team. Mayor please look to parking cars for Joe Diamond because you are a sell out.
Stunned.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
What is truly distressing is this, and I will be interested to hear Brian and Steve’s thoughts… what was Judge Pechman going to rule at 4pm today?
If the PBC found out they were going to win the case, why would they agree to settle for $45m, and potentially up to $75m?
If the City found out they were going to win, why would they settle for ANY amount?
Will we ever know how she was going to rule? This thing smells BAD.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Wow. Now I see why lawyers don’t do well in Business School.
The city and the taxpayers were victorious. The fans got screwed. It was all about the money, not the team. And Clay was guilty as he opened his press conference when he said, “Well, we finally made it”. That was their perfect plan all along. And it worked and the NBA let him get away with it. SHAZZAM!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
“This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.” - T.S. Elliot
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I feel so bad, I can’t even imagine how you must feel right now…
It has been a pleasure to chat with you during all those years, I truly hope something good will happen and that you and your families will have the opportunity to watch the Sonics play Basketball in Seattle in the near future. I can’t say I won’t be back if that happens even if right now I’m disguted by the NBA and would have very little pleasure to see Balmer and Co doing a Bennett to another city’s fans.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I cried when we traded away kemp i cried when we traded payton now……but i never thought i had to cry to say goodbye to durant and green after the first year. I just got the durant fathead i dont know whether to store it or just leave it on the streets
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Unless Schultz wins his suit, which basically tells the NBA and Stern that their model is in the toilet, then Goodbye NBA.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
40 years of living in Seattle and never have I been so disgusted with the shameful actions of the city of Seattle. Praying for an injunction in the Schultz suit, hopefully he has the stones the city didn’t.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Brian and Steve,
You need to write on a new thread and explain us the whole details. Basically, we are angry, depressed, pissed, you name all of the emotions that we are going through that goes the same for you too.
You guys need to tell and explain us and give us a insight to ease some pain somehow. Probably not helpful but I know that we need to hear something from you (Steve or Brian) as soon as possible!
I have said I am out of the ball game but I can always come back into the game. But I know the last thing we have hope is Schultz lawsuit. I am still stuck with the concept of the city decision to reach a settlement.
I am going out! I know we did everything to do our best.
City of Seattle, Mayor Nickels, Councilmen, Clay Bennett, and David Stern: You all DISGUST ME!
Clay Bennett, I F*CK HOPE that the tornado or any disaster will wipe out your f^cking life! I do have a feeling but not for CLAY BENNETT!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Because the city blinked, worried that their voting base is bigger than their basketball base. It’s all about money, when you walk out with no certainty that anouther team is coming. Why did we expect from a guy who’s been to 2 games in 10 years?? He sold out because it really didn’t mean that much to him.
And, how can Key be remodeled to NBA standards now, but not when Bennett owned the team?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Is the injunction still pending, and if so, would he absolutely have to file by tomorrow (as I hear the relocation process begins tomorrow).
I’m not sure how to depict a broken heart on the keyboard, but, my daughter wanted me to express that for her.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Well that was a huge waste of my time…….why didnt they just get it over with several months ago?
Some of my favorite things growing up have been coming to an end lately, George Carlin passing away, Sonics leaving Seattle…….whats next?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
The biggest winner here is the NBA. They wade thru a little mess and come out the other side with a new team in OK, which owners + locals are paying hundreds of millions for. Now Seattle gets ready to suck up to the NBA for several years and spend hundreds of millions of dollars getting a new EXPANSION team.
Disgusting.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Right now, Stern, Bennett, Nichols, Gregoire, Chopp, McClendon, Van Dyke, Ceis, PJ (who is about to lose his job & doesn’t even know it), THEY are all laughing at us. They are sitting somewhere in a big leather chair lighting a cigar with a 100 dollar bill and laughing at us.
A part of me that has been alive and vibrant for 32 years, is now dead and bloated.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Wait a minute the NBA press release states that once funding of the Key is in place a new team could roll into Seattle.
Its Simple. Howards case now is the Key. File an injunction postponing the move. If his case was about Fraud the NBA will get a team to Seattle. It has to. They will not want this case going to court.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
i dont know whether i want to go to seattle and beat the livin sh*t out of Greg “the fat liar” nickels or going to okc and do the same to clay
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
‘Now on display at your local museum- The Seattle City Coucnils 30 Pieces of Silver’.
Chances are these are out of date now, but they’ll do until someone can provide better. Go nuts, what else can they do to you now?
dstern@nba.com
cbennet@dorcap.net
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
‘Now on display at your local museum- The Seattle City Coucnils 30 Pieces of Silver’.
Chances are these are out of date now, but they’ll do until someone can provide better. Go nuts, what else can they do to you now?
dstern@nba.com
cbennett@dorcap.net
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
well its 715 out here in billings and im bout to get piss drunk many toast to the SEATTLE Supersonics will be made
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
The city attornies argued that the team was unique and could not quantify its worth.
Nickels and his cronies apparently disagreed. They need to be recalled. They are truly duplicitous, immoral politicians. The NBA did not promise an expansion team, and basically said “If we need to screw another city and move to Seattle, we’ll call.”
Unless there is a legal reason they cannot move, like a schultz injunction, we are screwwed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I just boxed up all my sonics gear (shirts, jerseys, bobbleheads, signs, season ticket sheets, etc) and mailed them to the mayor’s office. the card read “With your newfound wealth, I’m sure you can afford to throw my trash away.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
apologies for the first post, theirs a typo in the okie git’s email. use the second
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Doesn’t this strengthen Schultz’s case? I mean, if Key Arena was viable all along, doesn’t Bennet’s refusal to talk about it help make the case he always was intent on Oklahoma, thus making this a clear case of fraud?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This is like the day of the BOG vote. In reality, it meant nothing, as it was pending litigation.
Today means nothing if Howard Schultz prevails.
Still, an incredible lack of sack — but I believe we’ll see OUR Sonics, in Seattle, next season (and beyond)
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Plus the change of opinion in the NBA’s thinking has to make them vulnerable.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
This makes me sick. I really don’t know what to say. I….I dunno.
No more Sonics? No more Luke vs Earl arguments? No more going to Key Arena and cussing at the refs?
Thanks to everyone who spent so much time and effort with everything. Sure we fans got the shaft at the end but we didn’t go quietly.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I think we all know Schultz will drop in the next few weeks. The NBA is gone and will never come back. Evil wins.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
We believed Mayor Nickels when he told us that he was going to hold the Sonics to the lease and he failed us. Now our only hope is with Howard Schultz. How can we show our support for Howard now and let him know that we will be there to support the efforts to expose the NBA and PBC and get the Sonics back in Washington? When will we have word from Howard Schultz?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I don’t think anyone saw my post on the last thread, so I’m putting it on this one.
Just to play the devil’s advocate (and I do mean DEVIL for both the city and Sayton)–
Suppose we got specific performance enshrined in precedent courtesy of Marsha Pechman. How much harder does that make it for Balmer to do to Memphis or New Orleans what Sayton did to us? If neither Stern, Bennett, nor a potential Seattle owner want their investment’s upside restricted by strict lease enforcement, then the plan for all the money people has to be expansion or a relo for Seattle, not a legal precedent that keeps the “Gone-ics” by lowering the bargaining power of NBA owner/investors.
It makes cold, Machiavellian financial sense for potential local ownership to seek a relocation without using legal weapons on Clay that could be turned on them to reduce the value of the team when they either want to sell or build a new stadium.
Unfortunately, it makes for zero integrity in NBA basketball.
If the NBA tries these tactics in Memphis, New Orleans, or other cities, they’ll lose the core fan base they depend on. Even if these guys are heartless sociopaths, you’d think they’d see the long term risk to their core revenue base.
I suppose it would be amusing if Seattle got the Grizzlies, Durant bolted from OKC, and then won a championship in the Northwest with Gay and Mayo. But I don’t think I’ll be a Sizzlies (”Gone-ics?”) fan even if that happens.
After years of following the team from my former hometown despite living in LA, I’m never going to be anything but a casual fan ever again. I’ll never pay for tickets. Thanks Stern, thanks Bennett, thanks Ballmer (perhaps), and thanks to all the dithering politicians at the city and state level–your cold Machiavellian financial reasoning just made a lifelong hobby of mine into an embarrassing waste of time.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Seasontixsince69: I hope you are right about that.
I better get going and get some hard liquor and forget this day!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Seasontixsince69 Says:
Still, an incredible lack of sack — but I believe we’ll see OUR Sonics, in Seattle, next season (and beyond)
Help me. Does Howard have to file an injunction now. Does he have to post a bond that he could lose. I want to believe that there is some crediance to your statement but I am dizzy and weak from the vomitting I have been doing for the last hour.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The only difference between now and 2 years is the city has some money. Whoopie! They’ll waste it on multi-million dollar toilet paper dispensers next. Thanks for shittin’ on the people Nickels.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
On to plan B…
Among the choices for an NBA franchise in Seattle, would you prefer it to be the Griz, the Hornets, or an expansion team?
I would prefer the Hornets, but only if they are sold to local owners. Otherwise, the expansion team.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
will schultz lawsuit save us or will he take the money too and let them leave??? I hope clay gets cancer and dies in the next 2 years!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Alright, I think tonight we can be angry. I’ve already thrown a few things around the house. But Brian/Steve/Chris - tomorrow (or perhaps the day after) can we start a thread where we debate the legitimacy of the Schultz suit? Especially with the “Key Arena would be a viable arena” and “we made it” quotes. Seems to make Schultz’s suit stronger, right?
Also, we need to start a campaign where we all write letters to Schultz constantly telling him that he needs to go through with the lawsuit no matter what - NO settlements at ALL. Sure it didn’t work here, but we gotta keep trying!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
This is what happens SOS leadership when you put your faith in Nickels and give him a green light by saying “settlement is ok”.
Many here told you guys Nickels could not be trusted and that he would take the money. Many here told you guys that a settlement was not acceptable. We always heard how “the city will not take a buyout” and “Nickels is rock solid on this”.
Looks like they played you. I’m not saying this is what you wanted but I am saying that they owe you a pound (or 450 pounds in Nickels case) of flesh.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Bhong hit time. Gonna have to look up some old freinds to make that happen. Next 6 shots of Tequila. All of this to try and wash this evil taste from my mouth!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I am serious I am dizzy and weak from the vomitting I have been doing for the last hour.
We need to maintain. We now have to shift gears and force the PBC and NBA to deal with Howard. They need to broker a deal for an expansion team now. And $ 10 million a team is the price. No settlement from Howard.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
To Nate, B-Roy and the Blazers,
PLEASE, PLEASE, beat the living piss out of Bennett’s team when they roll into the Rose Garden next season!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
a terrible day for Seattle Sports Fans :(…
I will not be coming to Seattle as often anymore, my regular routine is going down to 6 - 10 sonics games a year, sadly I won’t get to do that anymore
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Nickels let us down
Assuming Shultz’s case goes nowhere I’m done with the NBA. The have blood on their hands and I no longer want to fill their pockets
No to taking another city’s team. No to an expansion team. If that means no to the NBA then fine. I am not willing to settle with sloppy seconds
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I Need a Hug
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Had Schultz dropped his lawsuit as part of this settlement, I would be PISSED. But since he flat-out refused to sign off on this and drop his suit, I view this more as the City putting a “safety net” (for themselves) under the Schultz suit. Afterall, if Schultz gets an injunction (tomorrow?) and the Sonics stay here, the City could get nothing but the lease payments - just like they would have gotten had they won the suit. Today’s settlement simply pays them off if Schultz loses and/or doesn’t get an injunction. And it’s enough to pay off the existing debt and then some. So it’s not a “bad” deal, IMO, it just seems that way. Kindof like kissing your sister.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
All i know is that teams are gearing up to pursue Lebron in 2010 so there should be a lot freed up money. Coincidently, Durant is also a FA that year. Here’s to Durant to flee OKC for NYC in 2010. Do it, Kevin.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
KJR reporting that Schultz it sounds like he is going to drop his lawsuit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
KJR now reporting that schultz is dropping lawsuit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I’m sorry but Steve was just on King 5 saying this is a win.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m sorry for you that you apparently bought into the crap that the Mayor had to say. This could absolutely not be any more of a loss. If you were taken out of context, I apologize, but if that’s not the case, then you’ve been brainwashed and we must ask you to relinquish your role immediately.
Your work on the matter has been greatly appreciated, but it would appear that you can no longer be useful.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Sorry everyone. I will actively campaign against any NBA relocation, even to Seattle. Not that my actions would make any difference, as is obvious by the admirable efforts of SOS.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’m venting my emotions with a song
(to the tune of “Romeo and Juliet,” by Dire Straits
Love struck David Stern
In the streets he’d serenade
Layin’ everybody low
With a song he wrote for Clay
Followed him into a restroom
Took a wide stance in a stall,
Said “You and me, Clay- how about it?”
Clayton Bennett…
Said “Commissioner, you want me to do you?
I’d rather have a heart attack.
But if you let me move the Sonics,
I’ll sing ‘Hey La, my boyfriend’s back’
All we gotta do is lie to Howard Schultz
Its not like he’d ever sue us about it…”
Clay and David.
The Sonics’ move was rigged real fast
on the day, the day
That Clay exploded into Stern’s…heart
It’s OK to be gay
Play that brokeback mountain song
When you gonna realize
It’s moving the team that’s wrong!
A couple more shots, and I just might come up with a second verse.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
One thing we can do now is organize this group here to vote Nickels, Licata, Gregoire, Chopp and the rest out of office when the time comes. Small consolation, I know. I need a drink.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I suppose there might be a very small bit of hope with Howard’s lawsuit…. Let’s see what happens.
But….. Nickels TOTALLY caved in - sold us out - lied. I guess we should have been less trusting of a guy who basically never goes to sonics games.
Like many of you, Last winter I wrote many letters/e-mails and made many phone calls to Olympia asking for them to support approving the 75 million to remodel the Key arena. I have been a season ticket holder for several years.
I will not give any energy in any way to support efforts to convince Olympia to use tax money to remodel the key for a “Maybe NBA Team”. No way. I suspect I am going to become an “Ex-NBA Fan”. I just can’t see caring about them anymore after the league does this. If they bring in a new Sonics team in 3-5 years - Don’t expect me to buy a single ticket.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Anyone who thinks the Schultz lawsuit will see the courtroom is fooling themselves.
My heart is broken. I feel like a childhood friend died. That’s about as accurately as I can describe what I feel.
Don’t care if that makes me a freak.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Doesn’t Clays remark of “well we finally made it” smell of no best faith best effort. The one case we still have in our corner to keep the team here? I mean how many comments can the man make and still be able to spin it? “I am a man possessed( to work things out in seattle)” Yeah, really? Do you REALLY think ANYBODY believes that Clay? That MF’er should be locked up for perjury. And the thing that pisses me off is he has so much F’ing money that he will NEVER be held liable for his comments. If it was any of us Joe Smoez’s we would be held in contempt and brought up on perjury charges. It F’ing makes me sick. F him, and F the NBA. Stern you POFS.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
fuck howard too.
i hope the whole league crumbles under the giant game fixing scandal that is about to be unveiled.
the nba doesnt deserve seattle. good riddance.
use your vote to unelect every worthless liar involved.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Brian, Steve, and all of you did an incredible job through all of this - really unprecedented grass roots action. It is tragic that the city caved in this manner when we held the upper hand. Simply spineless, clueless politicians incapable of grasping the true impact of the Sonics on the community.
Personally, I am done with the letter-writing and blog commenting and phone calls to politicians. And I’m done with the NBA. I could not care less at this point if we get another NBA team. I want no part of a deal between David Stern and Nickels if one was ever struck. Portland is not my team and I will not be a fan of theirs. From here on out it is Huskies and my kids games.
Once again I really want to thank all of you who worked so damn hard on this. Its not the death of a family member, but it feels pretty close.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
If Howard is dropping his suit - it is 100% over.
BR & Steve…. Give us your take on all this.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I just heard Steve Pyeatt on King5 News saying “We did win today. It may not be the knockout we wanted, but we did win.”
- WTF? What was that about? Steve usually has intelligent things to say but that was absurd. Talk about being a Spin Doctor. But WHY is he trying to spin this?? To what end? I don’t get it. I hope he doesn’t convince Brian that “we did win today.” That’s just SAD for the co-founder of Save Our Sonics to say that.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Schultz is essentially forced to drop his lawsuit because of this part of the settlement:
“The agreement also includes language regarding a lawsuit filed against PBC by the Sonics’ former ownership group The Basketball Club of Seattle, headed by Howard Schultz. Under terms of the settlement, if PBC is prevented from playing home games in Oklahoma City in the 2008-09 or 2009-10 seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, the City will repay PBC $22.5 million for each season. In addition, if PBC is required to play in KeyArena in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, PBC is released from its obligation to make the $30 million contingent payment.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
“Clay was guilty as he opened his press conference when he said, “Well, we finally made it”. That was their perfect plan all along. And it worked and the NBA let him get away with it. SHAZZAM! ”
Lets hope the loose lips continue… more fuel for Schultz.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
The former Sonic fans need to band together and start planning the best way to do $45m worth of damage to city property.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Great song (and band) Bruin, I like your version though
now that I’m 21(for a week now) I may head to the local sports bar. cry it out with other fellow drunken sonics fans
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I’ve looked at this site everyday for two years and this is my first posting. I just wanted to thank everyone here and at SOS for doing everything they could to keep the Sonics. You didn’t have to do what you did and you should be applauded for your effort. I feel devastated and betrayed by the NBA and the city and I’m sorry for all of us.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
6:33 p.m. - KING 5’s Chris Daniels reports former Sonics owner Howard Schultz will not file a restraining order to keep the team here, which means Bennett can begin the moving process now. That doesn’t neccessarily mean he is giving up his lawsuit.
………
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I gotta say, I’m with grumpyd. I don’t want ANYONE to go through what we’ve gone through. The only way I want the NBA back in my life is if we (the Schultz case) stand up to the NBA and beat them.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 pm
The Sonics fans have been prostituted by Nickels, Gregoire, Chopp, City Council, Stern, NBA and Bennett.
I guess this is how it feels to be pimped out and thrown aside like garbage. Thank you Nickels for your so-called “support” of the Sonics.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Shultz is dropping the lawsuit???
OH MY SHIT..
NOOOO>>>>>>>>>>>
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Thanks to Brian, Steve, et al who worked above and beyond the call of duty to save our Sonics. There wouldn’t have been a ghost of a chance without your work.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
never thought I’d see the day… F4CK YOU CLAY!
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
So we sold Kevin Durant and the Sonics to Clay Bennett for $75 million and no guarentee of an NBA team in the future. We let a man lie and cheat his way out of a binding lease for what will amount to chump change for him. Oh, and he got Kevin Durant. Way to set the example, Seattle. Washington.
What a f****** joke. F you, Greg Nichols and Chris Gregoire. I’m never voting democrat again on the state level.
Way to lead the charge on tv today, too, Steve “Selling Our Sonics is a Win” Pyeatt. Way to prove that SOS = Settle Our Sonics.
BUST
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Well, that’s it. Schultz drops his lawsuit and the NBA is dead to me. I do not want somebody else’s team. I do not want others to feel what I’m feeling now. Everything (with the incredible exception of Brian, Steve and SOS) has been handled in an absolutely disgusting manner. Just awful. Think about all the villians. Schultz, Bennett, Stern, Gregoire, Chopp, Licata, Nickles, EVERY MEMBER of the City Council who voted for this deal, Ceis, Keller and Byrnes (may they forever be remembered for their treachourous acts), Prentice, the list goes on and on.
So what are the ultimate lessons here? Money can substitute for integrity, our politicians have no backbone, and the game as we know it is dead. The NBA: where the fans continue to mean nothing.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Folks, this town is SCREAMING for an NHL team!! Trust me, you’ll love it!
The worst part of this: NO appeal! I thought this morning that the bad thing happening would be losing the suit, but appealing it and keep them here another year. Clay was desperate not to have another BOG vote and facing that mob again.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
How long before Horsey draws a cartoon depicting Bennett, Stern, Nichols, etc.. all in line waiting to kick the fans in the balls again & again.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
wow.. this will supposedly be the last time I ckeck out nba.com…
Thanks to everyone who is involved putting my love forthe game six feet under ground.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
BR on ESPN news right now
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Hey, thanks guys for trying. I feel frustrated but I’m glad I tried to make a difference. I’m proud of us. There wasn’t much else we could do beyond lowering ourselves to violence. It’s unfair but we I think we can hold our heads up high.
Pretty sad it all came down to nothing but money. I was hoping that Seattle was different. We were the team that sued Major League Baseball and got a team out of it.
This isn’t the city I grew up in anymore. It’s being replaced by townhouses and condos and other things that don’t make a damned bit of sense to me.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
wow.. this will supposedly be the last time I ever ckeck out nba.com…
Thanks to everyone who is involved putting my love forthe game six feet under ground.
I´m not living in the US, I can not vote anyone, but in my view policy has done it´s job pretty close to the worst case. They simply did not made their job and the liars from OKC are getting away with this.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Just joining this thread at the end so I haven’t read what’s been said yet.
The City is trying to make us think they understand basketball based on their attempt to pass the “ball” to Schultz and the legislature.
Once we all get through our anger at the city (we hold the power, NONE of them will be in office after the next election, you can be sure of that), we need to refocus our efforts on backing Howard Schultz and keeping pressure on the legislature. We can do this but we need to rally.
To quote Eminem, success is our only motherf****** option, failure’s not.
Lets do this.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
In honor of Season Ticket Holder, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, and the Seattle Supersonics who will live forever in each and every one of our hearts…..
If I keep holding out
Will the light shine through
Under this broken roof
Its only rain that I feel
Ive been wishing out the days
Ohh ohh oh come back
I have been planning out
All that I’d say to you
Since you slipped away
Know that I still remain true
Ive been wishing out the days
Please say that if you hadnt gone now
I wouldnt have lost you another way
From wherever you are
Ohhhh ohh ohh oh oh come back
And these days they linger on
And in the night ive been waiting for
The real possibility that I may meet you in my dreams
I go to sleep
If i dont fall apart, Will my memory stay clear
So you had to go, And I had to remain here
But the strangest thing today
So far away and yet you feel so close
And Im not gonna question any other way
There must be an open door
For you uhh uhh uhh…. To come back
And the days they linger on
And every night when Im waiting for
The real possibility that I may meet you in my dreams
Sometimes you’re there and you’re talking back to me
Come the morning I can swear that you’re next to me
And its okayyyyyy
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
What about the I-93? It says the following
“Whereas, from time to time, the City of Seattle leases facilities and services to for-profit professional sportsorganizations; and
Whereas, for-profit professional sports organizations have vacated sports arenas in other municipalities and damaged the people of those Cities; and
Whereas, the economic cost to the City of Seattle and its taxpayers caused by a for-profit professional sports organization vacating the leased premises earlier than the term provided for in such leases is impossible to measure because of intangible items such as goodwill, cultural and general economic benefit to the City; and
Whereas, a for-profit sports organization may seek to offer compensation to the City of Seattle in exchange for being allowed to vacate a lease early and remove a professional sports team from the region; and
Whereas, any compensation paid to the City of Seattle by a for-profit professional sports organization could not be reasonably or fairly distributed to all affected business and property owners; and
Whereas, the Supreme Court of the State of Washington has determined that such leasing of facilities or other goods or services by a jurisdiction of the State of Washington may be for consideration of any value provided that such value be agreed to by an appropriate legislative authority, and the terms of such are not subject to judicial review; and
Whereas, the Charter of the City of Seattle expressly reserves legislative authority for the City of Seattle to the People of the City of Seattle;
Now, Therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
A new provision of the Seattle Municipal Code is added to read as follows:
Sec. 1. All leases of goods, services, real property or facilities by the City of Seattle to for-profit professional sports organizations or to any other public entity, or non-profit organization, which may in turn provide such goods, services, real property or facilities to a for-profit professional sports organization, must be for a term certain and be specifically enforceable.
Sec. 2. The City of Seattle shall not enter into a lease with any professional sports organizations, nor amend or take any action with respect to any such existing lease, which in any manner would allow vacation of the leased premises prior to the end of the term of such lease.
Sec. 3. Nothing in this resolution shall prevent the leasing or providing of goods, services, real property or facilities to a for-profit professional sports organization provided such lease or governing document is for a term certain and contains a specific enforcement provision.
Sec. 4. Notwithstanding any of the language contained in sections 1 through 3 of this initiative, nothing in this resolution shall be interpreted or applied so as to limit or restrict any Washington State legislative or constitutional grant of power to the legislative authority or other officer of the City of Seattle, and the reach of this initiative is expressly circumscribed and limited by any such legislative or constitutional grant of power.
Sec. 5. Any resident of the City of Seattle shall, by virtue of his/her status as a taxpayer in the City, have legal standing to challenge, in King County Superior Court, any act, lease, ordinance, or resolution taken, entered into, or enacted by the City of Seattle which allegedly violates this initiative, within ninety (90) days of such act, lease, ordinance or resolution; such a resident shall be entitled to injunctive relief preventing said act, lease, ordinance, or resolution from becoming effective, without the necessity of any bond being posted, so long as the elements necessary to obtain injunctive relief pursuant to RCW 7.40.020 are established to the satisfaction of the Court.
Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
See Section 5, shouldn’t we be able to challenge this?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
LETS DO IT
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I-93 never went up for a vote.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I hope Balmer gets a team and we win the championship and basically say FU to OKC and the NBA. See everyone in a few years.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
The other thing they said on King5 was that Howard Schultz has said that he will not file an injunction to keep the Sonics here unfortunately. If this is true, then does that mean that he will drop his lawsuit and leave us all in the lurch? I sure hope not. I pray not. That lawsuit would be incredible - it would reveal what a sham this whole affair was and all the behind-the-scenes manipulation that David Stern is responsible for. The whole world needs to know about this.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
God, I hope so, griff. It just seems like we’ve all been sent down the river paddle-less. this is unbelievable. stuff that happens in KC, and Montreal, and Charlotte, but not Seattle……
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
6:33 p.m. - KING 5’s Chris Daniels reports former Sonics owner Howard Schultz will not file a restraining order to keep the team here, which means Bennett can begin the moving process now. That doesn’t neccessarily mean he is giving up his lawsuit.
Wanna bet? Give him a couple of days.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
ALRIGHT, new objective. We could roll over, but let’s show everyone what we’re made of! We don’t give up the fight until it’s completely over. And it’s NOT.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Im devastated….. this summer has been totally ruined for me.
I can only wonder now how much Clay Bennett will pay his pal David Stern for making this possible…. or will it come from Oklahoma tax payers?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
F**** NHL no disrespect but it has NOTHING to do iwth the Sonics or NBA. Settlement was the worst possible outcome of this lawsuit. No verdict = no CHANCE to win, no CHANCE to appeal. the city just f***** decided not to compete. spineless selfserving #$%^&*()@! they’re as bad as schultz was in 2006. i am sick. devastated. have hope for schultz suit but he is not going to file a TRO so who knows… he was too f**** cheap when he owned the team… signing off can’t do this anymore.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
NHL?
maybe now isn’t the time to sell people on loving a sport while the one they have has be sold out from under them.
I am being as nice as I can about that.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Griff, I wish I lived in Seattle so I could test #5. Someone better try.
I can’t imagine that if the team plays in OKC, that any judge will overturn the sale, unless there is much more evidence of fraud than I have seen. That’s my ignorant opinion.
Schultz wanted to get back his good name by having people say “at least he tried.” Could be too little too late.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’m drunk enough now to think we have a chance with this Schultz deal (I’m in Boston for the next 2 days, so I started drinking at noon out here, which would’ve been 9am your time). LET’S GET ON IT! We need to let Schultz know how we really feel. Anyone have an address where we can reach Schultz? I personally pledge to write him a letter EVERY DAY until this is over.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
The saddest day of my life as far as sports go. I cant believe the city settled when they had the upper hand. It just doesn’t make sense. I will not be able to support another team the same way I did this team. I’m sure if we did get another team I would watch and be somewhat interested, but will never spend another dollar on anything nba or anything in seattle again. I have a feeling I am done with pro sports all together.
I guess I still got the Huskies. I dont care if they win any games next year except for the game against oklahoma. I hope we run the score up like never before.
Thanks everyone for the past year of trial talk and good luck with your hopeful team. Im out, pro sports will never be the same for me. THE PASSION IS GONE FOREVER
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I would F’ing love it if now that Clay got his team, he fired Carlesimo who was told to sandbag last season. And then Carlisimo admitted as much in his press conference. We all know what was up anyways. I bet they spend money on free agents now. You watch, they will have a contending team on the floor THIS year!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Gasman to Elise on KJR: “In 17 years of doing this show, I’ve never felt like this before - I’ve never signed off the show feeling like my heart’s a little bit broken.”
And he said “we’ve never had a fan response like this before - the emails - the phone calls - the emotion. There is no fan base in Seattle that runs deeper than the Sonics’ fans - it may not be the biggest, but it’s the most passionate.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Actually, the city got a win here. They got paid now. Plus, they get either a team OR more $$$ if they get no team in the future. This PROVES that they really didn’t give a crap about the Sonics’ history/legacy. More money now goes to the Mayor’s battle against global warming, the viaduct or whatever.
The losers, the B-ball community - all us fans and businesses that cared about the Sonics. The truly sad part is that if the majority of the populace really cared as we did, the settlement would not have happened. The Mayor acted in accordance with the will of the people.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
There has to be a lot more money floating around then what is being reported. Somehow check Nichols personal bank account, and the personal accounts of the City council.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I’d hate to add…
This is yet just another confirmation that the Seattle body of government is a bunch of pus*y’s.
PS this is not Xteve but I know he would be so proud that I said it!
-t
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Here in Southern California, the LA sports radio stations are buzzing with talk of….
Baron davis coming to clippers. The Seattle-OKC thing not even mentioned as far as I could tell.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Last I checked, SOS stands for Save Our Sonics. This isn’t saving OUR Sonics. This is saving basketball, maybe, in Seattle. This is complete bullshit. We didn’t put up with the losing seasons only to lose out on all that.
A new team in place is not the same team. It’s not our Sonics. Brian, I applaud your work, as well as the rest of the SOS team, but I whole-heartedly disagree with your main sentiment. Who cares if NBA comes back within the next 20 years? The damage is done. Our team, as we know it, no longer is ours. Any other team coming in, is just an impostor.
The City of Seattle, The PBC, and the NBA can go sodomize itself with a hot iron pole for all I care. All of them are liars. Filthy, disgusting, lying, bastards. Not only will I never watch another NBA game (whether the games are fixed, draft picks are fixed, etc.) I may even move from this state. The leadership shown, or lack thereof, is very, very disheartening.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Nickels screwed the fans, and lied to them.
I hope to never run into the mayor on the street, I’m not really sure I could control what I say to him.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I would be loving the day that the team comes back into town after being in OKC. Would love to see the look on Bennett’s face. I just hope that the Schultz case makes it to trial. Obviously he is not looking for $$ in this but you know Clay and the NBA are going to try and strike a deal with him. It had better be a guarantee of a team…..now!!! This whole thing makes me sick. Fall and winter w/o the Supes is going to be horrible. : (
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I feel for you guys, I’m sorry it had to be like this. At least Seattle still has an incentive and now more funds to remodel the Key and pursue a new team (Sonics v2) Again sorry guys, you put up a good fight and are truly good fans. I wish the best to all of you.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
@grumpyd
Yeah, but as a Seattle sports fan I’m used to the rest of the country forgetting that we exist.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I am in NYC. I am done. I will not watch, attend, support or look at anything to do with the NBA. I will not post on this board.
Thank you Brian, Steve and Griff. Your efforts were huge. Really. I need to move on. I have my memories.
Good luck to all.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
David Stern’s comment on the situation: http://www.newsok.com/link/2358
quote: “given the lead times associated with any franchise acquisition or relocation and with a construction project as complex as a KeyArena renovation, authorization of the public funding needs to occur by the end of 2009 in order for there to be any chance for the NBA to return to Seattle within the next five years.”
So, unless a renovation is publicly funded by the end of next year = no NBA in Seattle for a LONG time.
Stern = jackass
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
now i wont be able to drive down to seattle to see the sonics…:(
I think I will go down to Portland for a game next season
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
So disappointed right now..
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Not only have they ruined basketball for me, but also Independance day. Every 4th of July I will curse the names of all the evil players in this game.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
“”We understand that city, county, and state officials are currently discussing a plan to substantially rebuild KeyArena for the sum of $300 million,” Stern said in a statement. “If this funding were authorized, we believe KeyArena could properly be renovated into a facility that meets NBA standards relating to revenue generation, fan amenities, team facilities, and the like.”
However, Stern added, “given the lead times associated with any franchise acquisition or relocation and with a construction project as complex as a KeyArena renovation, authorization of the public funding needs to occur by the end of 2009 in order for there to be any chance for the NBA to return to Seattle within the next five years.”
”
300 million? by 2009? By this State’s political leaders? Not likely. I think Bennett just saved himself 30 million.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
how fitting. thunder storms
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I admitt - I am surprised - I did not think Nickels would cave in - I thought he would hang tough - I actually thought he would do what he said he was going to do.
Someone above noted…. Maybe we need to remember that Nickel basically never went to Sonics games. He does nto really have a clue about the value of a pro sports team.
He let Stern and clay bully him - intimidate him.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Come to think of it, this was reallllllly stupid timing by the city. There are explosives for sale all over the region. Duh.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN STATEMENT ON TODAY’S SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE SONICS AND CITY OF SEATTLE
“We are pleased that the Sonics and the City of Seattle have settled their litigation. While the decision has been made to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City, the NBA continues to regard Seattle as a first-class NBA city that is capable of serving as home for another NBA team. In order for this to occur, a state-of-the-art NBA arena must be funded and constructed in the Seattle area, a subject that has been extensively debated — but not ultimately acted upon — by local political and business leaders over the past four years. We are pleased that the City remains committed to
addressing this fundamental requirement for the return of NBA basketball to Seattle and we hope that other elected officials critical to a solution will support the City’s efforts.
“We understand that City, County, and State officials are currently discussing a plan to substantially re-build KeyArena for the sum of $300 million. If this funding were authorized, we believe KeyArena could properly be renovated into a facility that meets NBA standards relating to revenue generation, fan amenities, team facilities, and the like. Assuming the funding can be committed, the league is willing to work with the City on the design and construction of the re-build to facilitate this result. Under these circumstances, if an opportunity arose in the future for an NBA team to be located in Seattle, we would support that team playing its home games in a re-built KeyArena, if it wished. However, given the lead times associated with any franchise acquisition or relocation and with a construction project as complex as a KeyArena renovation, authorization of the public funding needs to occur by the end of 2009 in order for there to be any chance for the NBA to return to Seattle within the next five years.
“We are pleased that Steve Ballmer has expressed the continuing willingness of his group, Seattle Center Investors, managed by Seattle developer Matt Griffin, to be a part of the solution for returning NBA basketball to Seattle. The NBA will keep SCI and the City informed if opportunities arise in the next five years for franchise sale, relocation and/or expansion. Under the circumstances outlined above, the NBA would be happy to return to the City of Seattle.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I-93 is law. Let’s go SOS, we still have some work to do!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I wonder about Ballmer & Co….. I wonder if they actually prefered an expansion team… they amy have prefered that over having to buy the team now and play the final 2 years of the lease that is indeed bad for the owners.
This gives them a chance to get a whole new team - starting fresh with a new building and lease. If the building is not re-done… then they simply do not buy a team and are done. But this way they only buy a team when the new guildign is actually done.
Even if the tax money comes in in early 2009 - it would likel then take a year to design & permit the renovation and another 1-2 years to build it - then what if no new team is available?????
Crazy.
I think Nickels is thinking… OK…. This team goes but maybe this gives us the best chance to get the private money of 150 million and re-do the key. We pay off the debt now.
The 2 real variables is this…. In 3-5 years….
1. Can seattle get a team?
2. What will happen to NBA fans support here? Will fans be eager to come back to the NBA in 4-5 years with a shiny new arena? Or will this experience ruin a significant portion of the current NBA fan base and cause a growing apathy about getting a new team?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I just somehow stomached watching Satan Bennett’s press conference. As far us keeping the name and “history”, according to him, Seattle gets to keep the name, the history and stats and the original banners and championship trophy. But at the same time, they are also going to use the history (including records and stats) and are also going to make duplicates of the banners and trophy! WTF is that? What kind of settlement is this? We got SCREWED!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Was I-93 passed by city council?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I thought it was a sick feeling when the SEATTLE Sonics lost to the Nuggets in ‘94.
Nothing compared to this…
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
This is the worst possible scenario. Nickels lied and sold us out. We had a much better chance of keeping the nba if we won the lease case then we do now. we dont have a guarantee we have a promise of “oh well let you know IF theres a team availiable.” so basically we wont have a team any time soon and guess what I dont want any one elses team. After going through this whhy would any of us support taking another city’s team. This is wrong. I didnt think it would end like this. Didnt even get to say goodbye with one or two last seasons….they are leaving tomorrow. sad day.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
p.s. i hope that kevin durant jeff green and the other sonics get out of oklahoma the second they have a chance. bye kd jg and all the sonics. thank you for some great memories.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
No. In 4-5 years I will be apathetic to the league, as I am now.
Receiving an expansion franchise in 5 years all but guarantees that there will be no competitive* basketball in Seattle for nearly two decades. Check the history of relocations/expansions in all of sports and the NBA specifically.
At 27 I am unwilling to “hope” that by the time i’m 40, I’ll be “rewarded” with a .500 team.
I have no desire to watch, root for, endorse or support in anyway a league associated with this atrocity.
I grew up watching Sonic basketball. I cried today when it died.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I’m going to try #5, and hope for this schultz thing to happen… but at noon this morning i was 85% that this team was going to be Saved now I’m 5% this is just a $hitty $hitty day.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Sonics Warrior Princess says above…
“After going through this whhy would any of us support taking another city’s team. This is wrong.”
Agree
If 3-5 years from now Ballmer & Co are trying to buy a team to move them and the city fans of such team are trying to save their team - I will support their efforts. It seems to me it would be hypocritical of anyone in Seattle that has felt screwed by Clay to even consider supporting Seattle trying to take another cities team in a few years.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
p.s. again…the fact that shultz isnt filing an injuction sucks. he will probably settle too. thanks a lot.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
The worst part of this whole situation is the feeling of being nothing. I have spent over 2600 days of my life paticipating because I love the game. I love the game because growing up I learned to love the game because my Father loved it. Now because of this I am 40 years old and done with the NBA. The NBa could have had me for many more years, but because of this development I will no longer take part, & my 2 kids will not become fans of the NBA. The ripple effect of this decision will be far reaching, more than anyone guesses.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
FACT — The Settlement Statement has been posted on Seattle Times and section 4B requires legislature to grant the $75M (plus construction CPI increases) towards a $300M renovation (plus construction CPI increases) of Key Arena, OR the city never sees a dime of the $30M. REGARDLESS of whether a replacement team every shows up or not. A lot of folks seem to be missing this fact, and the Seattle Times article doesn’t clarify it well. At end of day, this is only a $45M settlement (most likely).
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
haha
how appropriate is it that it’s raining right now?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I have spent over 2600 days of my life participating and the nba views me as nothing. Insignificant.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
“If 3-5 years from now Ballmer & Co are trying to buy a team to move them and the city fans of such team are trying to save their team - I will support their efforts. It seems to me it would be hypocritical of anyone in Seattle that has felt screwed by Clay to even consider supporting Seattle trying to take another cities team in a few years.”
DITTO
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
“Come to think of it, this was reallllllly stupid timing by the city. There are explosives for sale all over the region. Duh.”
hahahaha!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
this whole situation goes a long way towards proving that rich people can get away with pretty much anything they want.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Was I-93 passed by city council?
Nope. An ordinance was passed in it’s place that had much softer language (no teeth).
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
$45 million. Any guesses what cra*p the city will spend it on? Manicures for the homeless? A nice pleasure cruise/workshop for the city council?
Oh wait. If the Sonics are somehow forced to stay while the Schultz suit is going on (seems doubtful) then they’ll lose 22.5 million for each year the Sonics stay. I don’t see how this could have been better for PBC, or worse for the fans.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Yes Vinny - my two kids and I will also be setting aside the NBA for something else. It hurts to bury something I loved so dearly…
Sometimes in life, you have to be willing to lose. Too bad the City doesn’t understand that. Cowards.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
“We believe it’s baseless, has no merit. We will fight it vigorously,” Bennett said of that lawsuit.”
(shultz lawsuit)
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Hey i went and got drunk after the announcement…… I was pondering this why not take your chances on LEASE enforcement then negotiate! You have those OKC boys by the testicles! So we win the lease then we use that leverage on OUR terms…. We have gotten F-ed…… It makes me so sad that I grew up a sonics and …… my kids will not have the opportunity to go to games and watch tv games…
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Holy jumping christ this pisses me off… look at this:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-supersonics-seattletrial&prov=ap&type=lgns
– Bennett said he and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed a binding agreement Wednesday, which would be formalized later, that keeps the SuperSonics’ name, logo and colors available if Seattle gets a replacement franchise. Bennett said his franchise would create duplicate championship banners and trophies, leaving one set in Seattle and using the second set for undetermined purposes in Oklahoma City. –
“…and using the second set for undetermined purposes in Oklahoma City”??? So, the f-ing carpetbaggers are going to claim our records, trophies and championships as THEIRS?!??
How much you want to bet that it’s SEATTLE getting left with the copies of our banners and trophies??
MOTHERF—ER!! Mayor McCheese, you are a F-ING IDIOT~!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
MLS here I come. Fuck you NBA and fuck you Seattle Center.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Davis Stern says the NBA may come back to Seattle if “funding” is in place by the end of next year. Any idea as to how likely that is? The public is NEVER going to vote for funding. It will all have to be privately done (Ballmer).
We are the Cleveland Browns!
THIS FRIGGIN BLOWS
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
KING 5’s Chris Daniels reports former Sonics owner Howard Schultz will not file a restraining order to keep the team here
Really, what a shock. Why not file a restraining order? Because Howard is all talk just like our Mayor. What a sellout. Brian and Steve believe this guy. They must be sick now that they trusted this guy. They have egg on there face. And we are all the fools.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
WTF Steve talking about that it is a win? I watched the news and he said that and I was thinking how is that a win? That is why I have requested Steve or Brian to summarize the whole b.s.
What effect does Howard Schutz lawsuit do if he is not going to file injunction? As KJR reported that Howard is dropping the lawsuit? Please get a reliable source over KJR….They need to hit the gym more often….
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
sorry, i don’t have the energy to look right now… but didn’t the seattle’s econompy witness state that the region benefits in the $150M range??? per year by having the sonics in the region? HOW can they settle for so little when they testified otherwise, besides on all the intangibles.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Schultz case is just for show now. With no injunction the team is going to OKC. No judge in the world is going to make the team go back to Seattle after it has started playing games in OKC. Without an injunction there is no hope, sorry to rain on anyones parade.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
There is NO WAY that this can be viewed as a win. There are no guarantees here of a new team in any time frame.
THIS IS A LOSS STEVE, AND A GIANT STEP BACKWARD.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
You know, I don’t expect any of the Sonics to watch me learn what stocks to buy, when to short, or when to sell the way I’ve watched them learn to pass out of double teams or avoid chasing the ball too much on defense. I do expect the NBA to respect the money I’ve spent on tickets by honoring the relationship to the team that is implied in the price of the ticket. That relationship is supposed to be part of what they’re selling.
If a publicly owned corporation treated their customers this way, I’d be shorting it right now.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I agree Paul… I would like to know if Howard is dropping his case - or just choosing NOT to file an injunction.
Also - I can’t believe Steve P. would say this is a win? BR?
What’s up in your heads?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Well, it looks like I was TOTALLY FUCKING WRONG about everything in this matter…
New predictions:
1. Schultz will drop his lawsuit for some BS reason or another,
2. The NBA will not come back to Seattle.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Just left an angry screaming message at Mayor Fat Ass…..WTF, y would Steve P. say this is a win? Was he paid off by Nickels?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
as much as I don’t want another city’s team there is a difference between a team that has been somewhere 41 yrs say vs 10 yrs or less. They don’t have the same fan support or the history in the community. I am very upset like everyone else but I can’t guarantee that I won’t go to NBA games if and when a team comes back. That being said I am so sad that this team is leaving….it sucks so bad. I am in denial still I think. : (
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I’m sooooo sick to my stomach. I left messages with both the city and Dino Rossi. I hope these idiots are all torn from their jobs and we get people in charge who understand how to balance civic priorities and finance.
I WANT TO PUKE!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Steve and BR where are you??? Care to say something? Sorry if I am being Blunt to you guys. You owe us an explanation, especially Steve.
I do recognize your dedication and everything. But this settlement DOES NOT make sense to me at all!!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I can’t believe BR and SP would say this is a win, either. I’ve read the five-page Settlement Agreement that is downloadable from Seattletimes.com and Stern’s statement. There is no guarantee of another team and basically any hope of getting a new one within five years is not at the mercy of Frank Chopp. I know City wants an anchor tenant for Key Arena, but keep in mind that if legislature doesn’t approve the funding next year, they lose $30M… but effectively gain back the $75M they had previously committed to a renovation. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Key Arena demo’d at end of day as part of a broader Seattle Center remodel
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Seatown: what is the phone number?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Should have said “now at the mercy of Frank Chopp”!!! With the team gone, what sort of leverage against Chopp remains?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Unbelievable - the city caved … I can’t believe anyone would try and spin this as a win. Waking up this morning and thinking we are in good shape, to having the rug completely pulled out from under us and the Mayor completey reversing his very public stance of the last year. Hypocrits one and all.
We have been sold out … plain and simple.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
ABSURD, Mayor says that NOW Key Arena is a solution??? THEN WHY THA F#CK they had to leave in the first place??? they can´t even lie with any coherence
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I suppose it was one thing to know a businessman like Schultz had a hissy fit and sold to an out-of-towner who had no interest in keeping a team here. And another to know that we were lied to by Clay while his boyfriend Stern helped hold the gun to our heads.
But to finally realize that our gutless Mayor would line the city coffers with a settlement after repeatedly saying a buyout was unacceptable is the worst feeling of all.
It was a great day a couple weeks ago at the Courthouse rally. I had the feeling then that there was no way we would lose our team. In the end, we weren’t done in by a judge’s ruling or thieves like Stern and Bennett or even a crybaby like Schultz. We were done in by our own elected officials, who took the easy way out of a tough fight. They are shameless cowards and I hope they choke on their 45 million.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
BR’s silence tells us everything we already know.
THIS SUCKS.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
goddammittt!!!!!!!
Something needs to happen tonight!
If nothing happens tonight then all of our efforts have meant nothing!
We have been shat upon by every person we trusted to protect us.
Brian & Steve included.
By the looks of things everyone has been paid off.
Fans get the shaft.
Something needs to be done about it tonight!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Just answer me one question…
How can Stern think that the Key Arena footprint is NOT good enough for the NBA yesterday, but today, all of a sudden it IS?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Has the roller coaster ended??? I’m still expecting something to go our way….Am I in denial??? This sucks…it hasn’t hit me yet because i feel Howard will save us…man this sucks.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Wow. What an AWFUL day in the history of Washington State (not just Seattle, the whole F’ING state)! Nickels backdoored us just like Clay did! Nickels said that he wanted the Sonics to stay in Seattle (his actions prove he lied). Bennett said he wanted the Sonics to stay in Seattle (his actions prove he lied)! I want to thank Brian, Steve (not a win though, by NO MEANS a win) and the rest of the SOS crew. We got screwed and the people who screwed us all smiled afterwards. I HATE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY AND THE NBA LOST A FAN!!!!! I hope KD and JG end up being studs SOMEWHERE ELSE other than that shithole OKC!
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Well, maybe the Mayor is the Man that Sold the World, I guess you all wish to find him face to face in a lonely alley
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I am sure Brian and Steve are face down in a gutter drunk and reeling from the verdict. I am sure they will address us tommorow, so wait till than. They can’t be on this forum at all times.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Well, for what it’s worth, at least it made the front page of the ESPN site. It will be on there for approx. 1 hour till the Brett Favre story gets complete.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Mayor Gridlock 206 684-4000
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Big Tuna - Stern would say the Key is OK IF - IF - IF it is remodeled.
He sucks I know - just clarifying.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
This “shared history” really pisses me off. WTF is that? This settlement sucks completely. These OKC mofos have nothing to do at all with any of our history, and it really pisses me off that Nickels sold us out to these OKC mofos.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=080702munsononsonicsmoveQA
FRONT PAGE ESPN, kind of what I needed after this f’ing bullshit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
EVERYONE OF YOU:
call this prick and give him a piece of your mind:
Mayor Gridlock 206 684-4000
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I am a bit devestated. I knew it was a possibility but never thought it would actually happen. The fact that Bennett can come in here with his $$ and lie through his a** to get a team to his hometown and get away with it just pisses me off. My son is just reaching a point where he is really getting into watching the games and paying attention to the draft, etc. He just asked me what we were supposed to do now. I didn’t have much of an answer for him. The easy thing would be to root for the Blazers and go catch a few games each year. They have a bunch of players that I wanted anyway. It just isn’t the same though. I find myself wondering when the game became slmost strictly about money. You used to actually have teams stick together and have players that the fans could connect with and root for that would stay with the team. Now, you have to be ready to become a fan of a new player at a moments notice. You pretty much have to resign yourself to becoming a fan of the team and as a by product a fan of their players. Money and greed has become such a huge part of the game. I make a good wage and can barely afford to take my son to the game unless I want shitty seats. What to do now? Follow the Blazers? You have to figure that they will be televised here now. Too much $$ not to. Years of them being a hated rival melting away. They are building a very solid team and possible contender for years to come. Follow the Griz, Hornets or Kings in preparation for the next team that relocates? Hope for Balmer to become the next Bennett and get a team back for us? Get NBA league pass and pretend that the team is still in Seattle? I wasn’t able to get to many games anyway. The worst part may be that half of my wardrobe is now obsolete.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
if there is no statement from the fans TONIGHT, then all the snide coments about nobdy caring will be correct.
TONIGHT people.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
check out munson
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I only wish I had taken my son to more games.
Fans bendover and spell R-U-N
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I just burned my old GP jersey. I urge you all to do the same.
No NBA ever again.
Bust.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I would give Brian R. & Steve P. some benefit of the doubt in terms of not getting online right now. I think they were going to be at the courthouse today - they may have interviews and other things - I’m sure they are emotionally busted up just as everyone else is… If they do not get online until tomorrow we need to give them some slack.
I did not hear Steve’s interview calling this a “win” - but I give some benefit of the doubt until I hear an “Official” SOS response from these guys.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
SHARED HISTORY??? THIS IS NOT OK!!! no pun intended….. but still….
NOT EVEN SLIGHTLY OK!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Right, turn on Brian and Steve, the guys who have given more time and energy to this cause than anyone on here. That’s misdirected anger.
I’m angry too — it’s 30+ yrs as a sonics fan for me, and now there’s just this empty feeling of disbelief. Someone posted earlier that this whole episode underlines the point that really rich people can pretty much do what they want. That seems more true every day.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Stern said a remodeled is okay now because it suited hia purpose to say so. ie the settlement with the city.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
My Uncle played for the Sonics a long time ago. I can’t figure this out. The nba said you will get a team if you do this, this and this. They basically said f U. If Shultz said he was defrauded then he was. He needs to go forward. Save this with a settlement that includes a team. Otherwise its fu fans, players and employees of the team and busniesses on QA hill.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Worst day of my life.
Bye fellas….
Seattle Supersonics for life.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Why would Steve Pyeatt say that this was a WIN for us today? What kind of absurdity is that? What in heaven’s name was he talking about? Does he even know? The NBA and PBC just kicked our asses today. Seattle has no Stones - they chickened out and backed down from David Stern’s intimidation tactics. I’ll bet Stern and Bennett are laughing their asses off right now and David Stern is saying to Clay “see I told you that Seattle isn’t that tough - I knew they’d fold - a little bit of intimidation goes a long ways in Seattle.” Clay responds “Yea they sure ain’t no cowboys there. They really are a bunch of P#ssies.”
I heard a fan on KJR say “What does S.O.S. (Steve Pyeatt) think they’ve won here? That’s really sad.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
MONEY WALKS
on front of espn.com
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I’ve enjoyed reading and sharing with everyone on this board. I am incredibly depressed right now and still sorting out my feelings. Today has been worse than I could have imagined. A horrible, horrible settlement.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
And our Culpable Gov chimes in…
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the negotiated settlement between the city of Seattle and the ownership of the SuperSonics:
“Like all Sonics fans, I am very disappointed that the team is leaving Seattle. While it is a sad day for the city and region, I am pleased that the agreement keeps the Sonics history and brand in Seattle, and leaves open the possibility of an NBA team locating in the city. I am heartened by the news that the NBA is committed to helping the local ownership group led by Steve Ballmer bring a basketball team to Seattle, and that it believes the KeyArena is a viable stadium for that team. Now it’s time for the state Legislature to get to work.”
Right Christine, NOW it’s time for the state Legislature to get to work.
The time for action passed months ago. GREAT TIMING!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Its really over now. Schultz will not file a injunction for his lawsuit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
“Commissioner David Stern sent the city a warning Wednesday, saying officials have less than 18 months to come up with a funding plan for a KeyArena renovation if there’s hope of an NBA return within five years.”
-ESPN
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
get off your asses and riot people.
otherwise you all are just as big of pussies as the mayor.
Tonight is the last night that matters.
anything after tonight is meaningless.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, issued a statement saying that a deal isn’t certain in 2009.
“We don’t have a replacement team ready to step into the breech.
Is this person a joke. We had a team and they didn’t do anything. We have to get these people out of here. We are the laughing stock of the World. We let a wessel Bennett come into our town and steal our team. We will never live this down.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Worst day in the history od Seattle and my life.
Somebody shoot me.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
“They [Schultz & Yarmouth] have decided not to seek a court order that would stop the move to Oklahoma City for the season that begins in a few months” - Munson
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
We need to burn down the Key arena tonight!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
AND YOU… Mayor Backstsab. Look as guilty as Bennet.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Stern is lying…..again.!
Scortched Earth, Scortched Earth.
Game Over! NBA
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I think god is pissed he letting the city have it
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Steve and BR where are you??? Care to say something? Sorry if I am being Blunt to you guys. You owe us an explanation, especially Steve.
I do recognize your dedication and everything. But this settlement DOES NOT make sense to me at all!!!!!
They might be busy, you know talking to different parties and members of the political leadership. I am sure they will let us know what is going on as soon as they can.
Shessh.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Munson says…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=080702munsononsonicsmoveQA
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS!
everything that has been done, all of the thousands of hours of effort have resulted in zero.
I drove over 3300 miles to go to that courthouse rally.
It meant nothing.
Tonight the Key arena needs to be burned to the ground.
If I knew where nichols lived that would be torched as well.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Tonight the Key arena needs to be burned to the ground.
If I knew where nichols lived that would be torched as well.
Dude I feel your passion but calm the F down. Nobody should be endorsing arson come on man. I’m pissed off just like everyone else here, but nothing is gained by that.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
There is no God but Bennett and Stern are Satan incarnate.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
BTuna:
Because Stern is a twerpy, manipulative, lying piece of crap who abuses his authority and will say and do what he needs to to get his own way.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Well it could be worse, it could be like when the colts left baltimore in the middle of the night to sneak away.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Munson:
– Although they had a powerful legal position in the language of the arena lease, mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council somehow reached the conclusion that $45 million was preferable to two years of lame-duck, NBA basketball and $11 million in rent from Bennett. Most legal experts agree that the city would have prevailed and could have held the team in Seattle for two years. –
There it is. Sold down the f-ing river.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
so schultz is not going ahead with his lawsuit??…that epsn article says that schultz is still going to take bennett to court??…
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
so schultz is not going ahead with his lawsuit??…that epsn article says that schultz is still going to take bennett to court??…
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
After reading the Munson article. It is weird to know that Sonics plays in OKC for one season and may be back to Seattle for rest of the seasons to come? That will be a weirdo but if that is what is going to happen. Then I hope so…
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
i did a bad thing
http://tinyurl.com/55acnb
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
why not otto?
where is your line?
our elected officials just scerwed us after months of swearing they would never.
you just gonna lie there and take it?
TONIGHT!
after tonight it will not matter.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Reading the responses from all these OKC jackasses on the times makes me sick.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Otto is right man…
domestic terriosm is never the answer
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
the supes aer gone
shultz not settling is just a way of letting us down easy.
he will relent and withdraw after a week or so.
2 weeks from now it will be as though we never had a team.
after tonight no one will care.
after tonight none of us matter.
I guess we never did.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Haha Kyle, that is hilarious…
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Paul: once OKC gets the team, It will be 1000% more difficult to get the team back. No way does the judge rule the team to come back to seattle, after playing a year in OKC.
why not otto?
where is your line?
our elected officials just scerwed us after months of swearing they would never.
you just gonna lie there and take it?
TONIGHT!
after tonight it will not matter
dude seriously you need to relax man. Arson? come on.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I will say this about the Schultz lawsuit. It is probably best that he doesn’t file an injunction. If he did a couple of bad things would happen:
1. City would lose money and like it or not the old key debt has to be paid
2. The NBA would likely blame the city and not Schultz if they were holding them hostage.
3. Howard does risk losing money if he kept the team here. The city screwed him here by taking the settlement. No to save his money if the suit doesn’t work out he is just protecting himself.
I do hope that they do everything they can to win this lawsuit and to get the team back but keeping the team here in the meantime.
Don’t get me wrong though, Howard is on the top of my blame list.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
“After reading the Munson article. It is weird to know that Sonics plays in OKC for one season and may be back to Seattle for rest of the seasons to come? That will be a weirdo but if that is what is going to happen. Then I hope so… ”
I would not put much stock in Munson. The City would not have settled if they were sure they were going to win. Think about it, even if they lost, the worst case scenario was that they go to trial to settle damages. With a Seattle jury, heck they could have done pretty well.
No, I think they had doubts and decided to settle. Bennet saved a few months of another case.
With the Sonics moving to another city, Yarmuth and Shultz have a very, very difficult sell.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
This is the scenario I envisioned, remember? I cannot impress upon you how much difference committed ownership can make with botomless pockets. I had to sit though the early years of slow but steady progress and when we finally had a winning season Sam Schulman trades Lenny and we’re back to square one. Fast forward to 1980 and he breaks up a championship contending team by trading Dennis Johnson, a move both he and Lenny regretted for years to come. Then Ackerley HAS to put his stamp on the team (why are owners such egomaniacs), which he does by trading Gus Williams to Washington and cutting Fred Brown, resulting in twin 31-51 seasons. Then there was a rennaisance of sorts with some fortuitous draft picks, trades and savvy free agent signings. After that came a 41-41 campaign where we made the lottery on the last day of the season and lucked out on the #2 pick which became GP. Next came an incredible run where high postseason expectations became the norm, but there were head scratching disappointments as well. Coaching changes and mediocrity prevailed the next few years followed by Schultz’s clueless reign where 8 players and a coach were all allowed to become free agents at the same time.
I want deep pocketed ownership that can play with the big boys. Who will hire the best evaluators of basketball talent that money can buy. Who will win bidding wars over the premier free agents and coaches and then lock them up for long term contracts. Who knows how to work the salary cap and draft players who play together like a well oiled machine; not necessarily with superstars, but teams like the ‘79 Sonics or ‘84 Pistons. To be able to sign or trade for the player who puts the team over the top in any given season. That to me is exciting and worth waiting for. In other words, to have an owner where the love of the game trumps looking ahead to the sale price of the team.
We have such ownership in the wings but the question is do we have the patience to wait for it or will our need for instant gratification prevail?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Schultz hasn’t thrown in the towel yet has he? I can’t find anything saying that he has (been on the road all day and could not get any news of this). I’m feeling very low right now but this isn’t over if Schultz is going ahead with his suite.
Is there any possibility for a class action suite against the PBC based on the false premises that organization was operating under? I’m doing my best to be adult here and not simply write a string of obsenities.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Well, I brushed all this off for a few hours shooting around at the Y. I think tomorrow I’ll head on over to Green Lake to do the same.
I would really like to see a mural done as an account of what’s transpired here over the last couple of years. Put it up somewhere around town that’ll get plenty of exposure. That’d be something to see.
What’s done is done, guys. Done and dusted.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
KJR says…
1. Howard has announced he will NOT seek an injunction to block the team move.
(If he did it would oppose the cities settlement - Howard is in a weird position)
2. Howard still has his law suit going - could hit trial in a year… Let’s see what he announces offically in the next day or week or so - he will need to decide if he is going to move ahead with this or not & maybe he is not sure.
I hope he moves ahead - hope he wins - and hope he screws Clay and stern in the process
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
NHL anyone? The NBA to me is now an absolute total joke, on par with WWE and the XFL! They might as well just leave out a city name….i.e. Paul Allen Blazers or Maloff Kings, b/c obviously money talks. I’ve about lost confidence in all pro sports at this point…..
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
this was posted over at the ussmariner.com site. those guys are pissed too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW19D4qXStI
put tears in my eyes.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Honestly though, I would be interested in one last SOS party, we could get together and burn sonic items and gear in front of city hall.
I think that would be fun.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
We all need to do what is necessary come November at the voting booths.
One GREAT positive out of this for me is that it has truly opened my eyes to the local politics.
I will forever do my homework on each candidate going forward.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Why would Steve Pyeatt say that this was a WIN for us today? What kind of absurdity is that? What in heaven’s name was he talking about? Does he even know?
Kool-aid must’ve been served at their 4pm meeting today.
I will say this about the Schultz lawsuit. It is probably best that he doesn’t file an injunction. If he did a couple of bad things would happen:
Where would the team play? The lease has been terminated.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Kyle:
Dude, don’t trash your Sonics trinkets, they’ll be worth an Ebay fortune in 50 years! WTF is wrong with you?!
Maybe burn your Joseph Forte uni, mmmaybe.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Screw the cities deal, File the damn injunction!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I agree otto - a protest to this settlement - Good idea
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
so the sonics will be playing in OKC before schutlz case goes to court, what judge is going to order them back to seattle after playing in OKC? i don’t see it happening..
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
You know the more I think about this the more I think there has to be some kind of backroom deal going on.
I think we’re missing something in the subtext of all this.
My reasoning, Steve and Brian have been too quite. They’ve been on a couple programs and I know they’re working on getting on a couple other’s but I just think there is something that’s missing in this. Something being missed in all the sensationalism of the Headlinf “Sonics Move”.
Bottomline… Stay Tuned.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I have a 40th anniversary sonics keychain in my room to remember all the good times I had going down and seeing sonics basketball at the Key since the mid 90’s
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Otto: Paul: once OKC gets the team, It will be 1000% more difficult to get the team back. No way does the judge rule the team to come back to seattle, after playing a year in OKC.
Why do you say it is 1000% difficult to get the team back? Is it because Howard did not file injunction?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
In the unlikely event that Schultz prevails, OKC will sue to keep its team….and their lease has heavy monetary penalties for early termination. I don’t see how any new owner would not be stuck with the bill as a condition of sale, maybe I’m wrong.
Time for a few drinks.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
4020, lets hope. I see what you’re saying and it really just seems like there’s NO WAY the city/Nickels could be so stupid to take a deal as horrible as what we got today.
But I juts don’t know man.
and amen to having a few drinks. just ran to the liquor store about an hour ago
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
To any and all wealthy individuals who may be angry about this, please contact high powered attorneys to check into filing a class action lawsuit to retreive the Sonics. This may be a ludicrous request but times are desperate so what the hell.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Bennett is making replica banners and a replica trophy? For the part of the team’s history he bought? These people are truly messed up. More power to the idiots. Can they make a replica banner for the “Championship” they won this year by stealing My team. He really cried at His conference. What a pansy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I was born 1990. Always…ALWAYS loved the sonics. Favorite player of all time is GP. I just can’t believe it. Forget the injuction i will always blame Schultz for taking Payton from me and will always blame Clay for taking my first love for sports, the Supersonics, away from me
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
That just made me suck listening to him cry during the conference. Boo hoo Clay.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
And once again the rich, ignorant bastards with all the money buy their way out of punishment.
Question: If there is a renovation to the Key Arena and we don’t have a team within 5 years, wouldn’t that cost us more than the 30 million that Bennett would pay as a fine?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Clay can go to hell. I bet even those damn tears were fake. That guy is a lying SOB and he will pay down the road when all his superstars tell him to pack sand and move to better markets. I bet Durant will not get the endorsements he deserves being stuck in a dustbowl.
Sooner=theif look it up
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Is Clay going to retire Gary and Shawn’s Jersey’s too? I mean, he did buy the team and went to Seattle like 30 times. Did the Baltimore Ravens replicate Browns banners and trophies. I thought leaving name, colors and history means just that. What a Joke.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
The city got scared of the NBA. They blink first. The NBA told them that if they fight this they will never get another team. The joke is on you city of Seattle. You believe another lie.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Jared. From what I understand there will be no renovation until there is a commitment of a new team. They are just trying to get the funding in place… yeah… good luck with that city. Plus who knows if when it’s time to get another team that another city wont come up with a better arena and a better deal than what Seattle can bring to the table. It’s all BS. NBA is gone
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
It’s yet another testament to what is wrong with this country. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and nobody does a thing to stop it.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, the Seattle I was born and raised in is long, long, long, long dead, and I couldn’t be happier knowing that every day I wake up more than a thousand miles away from the trash that infiltrated and destroyed what once was a pretty nice place to live.
Thanks to all of the people at this website for your tireless efforts, truly, your spot is retained our hearts.
The NBA, regardless of what they do to appease that city in the future is dead to me, and, while I can’t speak for you, it’s my hope that you feel the same.
It’s too bad major college sports are more corrupt than the pro game, otherwise I would champion basketball in that fashion.
Truly, local prep sports — and I mean below high school — because ESPN’s filthy hands just bought out the right to exploit those kids as well, are the last remaining speck of decency that sports are supposed to represent.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I Thought time is the best remedy.
ahh. not for Anger. Unadulturated, pure, boiling anger …..
Fuking Nickels, what a spineless sell out.
I’m really tempted to let him have it on the phone.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Just poured a glass of scotch. Cheers to the memories.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I just can’t believe that I won’t be going to see sonics games in Seattle anymore…I feel pretty sad about that
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Just sent an e-mail to the Canucks asking if they were going to bid on FSN’s open nights.
I can’t deal with watching the Blazers. Nothing against them, but I feel like the NBA wins if they still get a presence here.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
cheers Rob
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
For the last 3 years Nickels has pissed me off… he has let developers come into Seattle neighborhoods, push out the working force so they can convert apartments into posh, luxury suite condos. The monorail was a scam, and the Sonics settlement is the nail on the fucking coffin, the city gets cash and the fans get nothing… right at that! Depressing day…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I remember the sound of that place during a playoff game…. never again will we feel that passion for basketball….
I am SAD
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I remember the sound of that place during a playoff game…. never again will we feel that passion for basketball….
I am SAD
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
we’ve got to make Nickels pay NOW! He is to blame for what has happened. Should have a rally to recall Greg…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I am at a crossroads. I love basketball with all my heart, I’ve been watching the NBA since I was a child seeing Kareem and Walton battling it out when my family lived in Southern California. Battling it out on tv at 11:30 p.m on tape delay. That love of basketball eventually turned into a love for the Sonics.
Now I sit here sad as hell, like a girlfriend that walked out on you, but you don’t want her to leave. You want to let go, but you’ve had so many good memories, that you think somehow, someway you can get those back. I feel like a part of me died tonight. And I’m just trying to cope with all these feelings, and what do I do next? I tried drinking, but now I’m even more sad.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Ugh.
UGH I HATE THE CITY’S SUITS.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
and I’ve come to the realization that the already depressing Seattle winters will be much worse this coming season…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Oh dont bring up winter…. this is going to be a horrible winter. Just imagine what we will do in Feb???? Yikes!
Good thing we have college bball but thats only thurs and sat and doesnt have the issues like NBA.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I will never, ever support any funding for another team here or ever watch or be a fan of any other Seattle NBA team…you let us down and you will never get me back.
If Paul Allen is smart, he will have the NorthWest Trailblazers play some games in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. I would only watch the NBA if that happens.
Anything else, the NBA is dead to me. Any Seattle team is dead to me. Just think of all those folks in OKC and what they now have over us forever!
We lost…we are the losers.
Goodbye SOS, thanks for all your efforts.
I am done with the stuff. Good luck to everyone.
BuhBye!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
easy there rage
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I will never, ever support any funding for another team here or ever watch or be a fan of any other Seattle NBA team…you let us down and you will never get me back.
If Paul Allen is smart, he will have the NorthWest Trailblazers play some games in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. I would only watch the NBA if that happens.
Anything else, the NBA is dead to me. Any Seattle team is dead to me. Just think of all those folks in OKC and what they now have over us forever!
We lost…we are the losers.
Goodbye SOS, thanks for all your efforts.
I am done with the stuff. Good luck to everyone.
BuhBye!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Poor Clay, too bad all the good free agents this year pretty much locked up the past couple days. Boo-Hoo
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
CALL nickels office, tonight, guys.
206 684-4000
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Is there a more tortured sports city than seattle? I love the M’s, and they are run by idiots. I love the Hawks and they get the shaft when they make the superbowl. My Dawgs are garbage and now my hoops team was stolen…. what a terrible day.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
CALL nickels office, tonight, guys.
206 684-4000
DONE! Left the bastard a very angry message! We need to fill his voicemail box..
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Really wish Brian would post something so I can start mourning.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
This is the problem with sports today. The business aspect overrules the heart and passion aspect. Its a good ol boys network that has nothing to do with the fans. Except for that small thing called money!!!! And its really sad that as a child you build these love affairs and they can be snatched away from you at any moment. Thats why is impossible to understand any of this. We the fans are thinking with our heart and emotions. The NBA, City and players are concerned only with $$$$. We are the ones who bend over and take it. And then the teams question why they dont have support when they are losing. Loyalty goes both ways. My heart is heavy with sadness today. A dark cloud is over our city. There are so many people to blame. But all in all its us fans who get screwed!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
We are faced with the realization that the City of Seattle’s stance at the trial that they only wanted the Sonics to fulfill their obligation on the lease and no amount of money could make them whole was AS BIG A LIE AS PBC’s STANCE THAT THEY ACTED IN GOOD FAITH TO KEEP THE TEAM IN SEATTLE and, in fact Clay Bennett was A MAN POSSESSED TO KEEP THE SONICS IN SEATTLE. Both sides lied through their teeth. The City of Seattle had no interest in keeping the Sonics in Seattle - they just wanted a little more money AND they were TOTALLY INTIMIDATED BY DAVID STERN’s THREAT THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE ANOTHER NBA TEAM IN SEATTLE IF THE SONICS WERE FORCED TO PLAY OUT THEIR LEASE!!!!
Why is everyone so afraid of David Stern? Why does no one have the courage to stand up to him and call him what he is? The Mayor and Council have just proved that they are cowards like almost everyone else. Where are the Stones? Does Howard have them? I wonder …
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
BoozeRob, you’re right. I’ve been a Seattle sports fan since I was a kid, I’m 29 now and it’s been nothing but grief with brief burst of hope. This is by far my darkest day as a sports fan. I don’t think I can ever care about any professional sport that same after this.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I know I’m grasping at straws here, but doesn’t the settlement have to be approved by the city council as well? Because if they had any integrity, they’d look at the no buyout ordinance they passed unanimously & reject the settlement.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Seattle.gov
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
vitalogist -
Seatown -
I left a message!
Still don’t know what I said.
So, very sad,
Going to watch a tape of the 96′ team and hit the bottle tonight!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I have a theory as to why the mayor settled. If Judge Pechman had ruled against Seattle on the basis of unclean hands, then the Mayor would have taken the blame for losing the team, since he was the head of the administration that caused the loss. He could not stand the thought of a negative decision.
It’s stupid, short-sighted and unfaithful if that was why the mayor settled. In the end, Howard Schultz takes more than half the blame, but now the mayor has branded himself with a sizable share.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
City Council has already approved the deal
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Bennett will keep our history.this is NOT a settlement this is a sellout! And be prepared for it to get worse…shultz will drop his lawsuit sooner then later im sure.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
What! Clay Clay lied? What a piece of crap.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Just to help people look on the bright side of life of all this…
That loud crash you just heard wasn’t just the sonics fanbase collectively breaking, it was also the sound of Nicholls political career ending.
To everybody that is upset with how the OK posters are acting and saying, just remember- they have an nba team now. that royal reaming that sonics fans just received is guaranteed to be coming to a venue near them soon. It’s the price you pay for supporting the nba.
Stern also just lost a huge market that he’ll never reclaim, in my opinion. Regardless of what he says, I personally believe that hell will freeze over before seattle ever allows the nba back into the region, and even if they do, if they thought the support they were getting from the faithful diehard fans was pathetic now, what on this green and verdent earth does he think the support will be like for a new team? He just lost a huge market for what, exactly? The city will never support a team the same way again, not even close. And I’m sorry to all those people that say an expansion would be fine, but it will not work because so many people have been crapped on by the pathetic excuse for a human being that is running the nba right now.
Oh, and for those that wish to start shredding the nba to pieces, now would be a very good time to start running with a ‘your team is next’ campaign at various message boards, becuase stern said it today with his statement that he’ll advise seattle of future teams for sale. And how do we get those teams here? by moving them from existing fan bases. So guess what sacrmento, memphis, indiana, new orleans, orlando and atlanta fans? YOUR TEAM IS NEXT.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and clean some NBA Commissioner off the bottom of my shoe.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Well said Matt. We live and die with our teams, unfortunately part of me died today and wont be coming back. What a shame.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
what’s calling the mayor at this point going to do? i’ve placed so many d*mn calls to the government regarding the sonics, and nothing got done.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=sonicsmove_080702
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Bluestreak had a point about telling other teams they’re next. Time to go to other team boards and start telling these blind NBA fans that they’re next.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Yeah, there really couldn’t have been a worse outcome today-
If they’d have let the judge rule & we’d lost, we could have appealed, that would have given us 1 more year of KD. if we lost the appeal, there would have been a separate trial to award damages. Plus by ending the lease, it iundermines Howards Schultz case.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I know this sounds horrible… but Vinny is right. If something like this happened in N.Y., L.A., Chicago, Boston or Detroit, Nickels would be dead by now, the Key would be burning and there would be riots on the streets.
I’m a portuguese(!) Sonics fan. I’ve been a Sonics fan ever since I was a kid. And even I, despite following your story from halfway around the world, feel betrayed.
An older cousin of mine, a huge Michael Jordan fan, first introduced me to the NBA. I was about 6 years old, I guess… I remember one afternoon he invited me to watch a game tape at his place with him and his friends. I probably had no idea what the hell was goin’ on, but I clearly remember liking “the green guys” better. It was a Bulls - Sonics game… And eventhough I didn’t really “understand” what a game of basketball was, I truly liked it and began staying up late every other night to watch the NBA games on channel 2.
I’ve been following the League since then, and over the years, I’ve become an NBA junkie. I realize now how Basketball is one of the most beatiful sports man has ever played and how this League (even if I have to admit that, right now, I want to bomb their offices), is the zenith of the game. My passion for it was beyond any limit… but this really only happened because I let myself create a bond with a team, because… I decided it was ok to connect in a deep, portuguese kind of way, with a team. With the “green guys”. Why? Maybe because of that afternoon. Because Michael Jordan, the greatest athlete of all time and one of my heros, wasn’t enough to keep that kid from liking the Sonics better. Maybe ’cause growing up in the early 90’s, everything I related to came from Seattle. I don’t know, I never will and really don’t care. But I care about the Sonics.
I care about MY TEAM.
And I travel thousands of miles twice a year just so I can go to a couple of Sonics’ games and that’s one of the biggest pleasures in my life… to visit your beautiful city, go to the Key and watch my Supes live.
Throughout this whole process, I always kept my faith that somehow, someone would find a solution to this problem. I never stopped believing that the team would stay… For me, it would just be morally wrong if they left. But, to be honest, I never thought you guys, as fans, knew how to handle the situation very well.
I live in Oporto. I was born and lived here all my life. I know that if ANYONE (I mean ANYONE), tried to take our soccer team away from our city, that guy would die. Plain and simple. As I said before, I know this sounds evil and morally wrong, but things here are very different. People would be out on the streets demanding that person’s head on a plate, and city officials, one way or another, would have to give it to us. Your pacifist ways didn’t get you nowhere. Maybe if you tried to actually do something yourselves (with your own two hands), things would have been different. First, you make that huge mistake trusting the Governor, then, a bigger mistake trusting the city… Even for me, THOUSANDS of miles away, it was clear what the outcome would be! I wouldn’t go as far as insulting you guys at S.O.S. - you deserve credit for your work - but it was not enough! Anyone with half a brain knew it wouldn’t. You guys had to take more action… aproach this thing with a warrior’s mentality. And you didn’t have all that. For heaven’s sake, MAKE SOME NOISE!!! Go out to the streets!!! DO SOMETHING!!! Let the world know you’ve been seriously F*****!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I hope lightning strikes some sense into Mayor Nickels.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
(…obviously, if this happened in N.Y., L.A., Chicago, Boston or Detroit, it would be their mayor who would be dead by now, and some other building would be burning, instead. Sorry, I’m just too pissed to be thinking straight.)
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Great column by J.A… at least someone gets it. Too bad its after the fact.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
“If Paul Allen is smart, he will have the NorthWest Trailblazers play some games in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. I would only watch the NBA if that happens.”
Excuse me, what is our incentive to share our team. I await the subsequent NW Seahawks games at PGE Park.
At least you’re not too far from viewing the budding dynasty three hours to the south. It’s a travesty that Seattle had its team stolen like this and it certainly leaves my beloved franchise isolated from the rest of the division.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Stern must go!
Nickles must go!
The entire Seattle city clowncil must go!
Gregiore must go!
Chopp must go!
Starbucks must go!
Now we have to resort to being dirty thieves like those lying slack jawed Okies and steal some other city’s pride and joy. FOKC.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
t said, “shultz will drop his lawsuit sooner then later im sure.”
Let’s not be cynical or give up all hope. On TV today, Bennett said that if Schultz won, the team would be brought back to Seattle.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I would like to know who Pechman was going to find for. I’d also like to know, if she was going to find for the Okies, what kind of settlement figures were rolling around in her head (I know that settlement figures wouldn’t be determined until later but bet that she was developing some opinions in the matter). I doubt that a jury would have let the Okies off easy.
Based on what Munson wrote for ESPN, the city was the odds on favorite to win. Even if the city lost, the buyout may have been for as much or more than what the city got. I’m not sure that the city didn’t have some cold feet about the implications of winning the suit. What if they won and the Sonics still left after 2 years? The city would owe tens of millions of dollars in Key arena debt.
Did the city ever really intend to try to enforce the lease or was this suit simply a ploy to get more money from the Okies to pay off Key Arena debts?
How can the city not understand that buying a new puppy for the fans - after giving the old one to the Okies - isn’t good enough?
I would like to know what Nickels and company were really thinking.
I truly hope that Seattle fans reject any attempt to land another NBA franchise. Let the NBA, a thrid rate league, populate the Fargos and OKCs of the country.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
“I know this sounds evil and morally wrong, but things here are very different. People would be out on the streets demanding that person’s head on a plate, and city officials, one way or another, would have to give it to us.”
That’s exactly what writers from Europe told Sherman Alexie on a recent trip to France. I don’t know if Schultz’s suit has any teeth without the injunction. All I want is a firm commitment for an expansion team at a specified date.
How this all went down leaves the worst taste in my mouth you can imagine.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
How can the guv. the legislature, the mayor, county executive, chopp, etc. get away with this? Because we allow them to. How can we allow France to build a tanker for the US military? Because we have horrible congressional and US senate leadership. Fricking FRance. Fire them. They represent us. They are our employess. 70 plus dates open at the key.
F the nba. Its a joke.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Why did we setttle. Why. If we lost the suit we could let a jury decide how much we would get. Thats if we lost. If we lost. So heres one lets get Maria and Paty to get a congressional hearing on extorsion from cities. Fat chance. Weak lame leadership. Why because we don’t care. Hey hows this going to fly. Olympia is going to approve an extension of taxes on a building that now has 70 open dates for arena football and swap meets. Its beyond beilief. What the Guv and the Mayor and these other nuts are saying is what I have said all along. The hate and I mean hate business. They are betting that Mr. Bahlmer and Senegal are going to fund the damm thing. Screw that.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
There will not be an expansion team. Bennett has 30 million reasons not to vote for expansion.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 pm
To me, the rivalry with the Blazers was intramural. I graduated from Michigan and usually root for any other Big Ten school in a bowl game (also helps our conference strength) and that includes Ohio State. And the folks down in PDX have been good to us and supportive of keeping the rivalry going. Plus the 12th man’s best friend Paul runs the ship.
Call me anti-Seattle for supporting black and red now. Well, going anti-Seattle ain’t wrong since the City sold us out.
It also appears to me that hatred of anything in Oregon is relegated to trickle down from UW and WSU alumni who have associated the Blazers with the hated Ducks and Beavers.
Just don’t say I’m not true Green and Gold.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
[...] lloen/EnjoyTheEnjoyment/photo?authkey=-T52ZUDdZaU#5070463756032856770″>Mr. Baker, SonicsCentral: We were screwed. That offer was not going to get worse with time, and with a cour [...]