Stay Classy (Action) Clay Bennett
Posted on Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 12:44 pm by Mr. Baker (thinking good thoughts for George Karl))
As part of my lunchtime series of Sonics (legal) Court action I may have to take Monday, January 25th, 2010 off for the big show.
Maybe I will, again, see Clay Bennett testify, the last time was entertaining. Will he bring Sideshow Brad Keller along for “moral” support?
I am not a party to any of this, other than as a fan of the game.
Get your class action, action, here:
Seattle Supersonics
In this class action matter, plaintiffs are members of the Seattle Supersonics Emerald Club who renewed their season tickets packages for the 2007-2008 season. Many, but not all, members of the Emerald Club are members of the class certified by the Court in this matter in its Order dated July 1, 2009. This website is to provide information regarding this matter to both Emerald Club members who are members of the class, and to those who are not members of the class. For more information, please see the “Notice of Class Action, Status of Case and Pending Trial” below.
The litigation is proceeding before Judge Richard A. Jones of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington state. Trial is currently set for January 25, 2010.
A well written column telling the story up to this point can be found here, at TheSunBreak.com The Little Sonics Lawsuit That Could.
I think these people were ripped off, let’s see if a jury agrees.
September 27th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I received a letter saying I was not part of the lawsuit. I renewed my season tickets under false pretense that the team would be here through the 2010 season. I am not sure why they are not suing based on this rather than the cost difference of the season tickets in Oklahoma Vs. here. If that is the case than add on the price of airfare from here to Oklahoma for all the games. I don’t care about my personal gain, I just wanted to hit clay in the pocket as much as possible with EVERYONE who was wronged being a plaintiff.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
There’s a letter from the NBA to the PBC saying the Emerald Club is a bad idea? God I wish Seattle was better represented last summer. An old sock could have done a better job against the PBC. It still amazes me, after all the information and facts in our favor that the whole world knew about, that Bennett did so well in court. I guess your case is only as good as your lawyer.
September 27th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
via previous thread. I can’t handle the idea of the Thunder wearing throwback Sonics jerseys. Oh god…
September 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
They can’t wear throwbacks because they agreed to not use the colors, logos, uniforms, etc.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Mr. Baker posted this a few threads earlier. Section 6 deals with the history/logos/colors/etc.:
http://www.seattlepi.com/dayart/PDF/FinalAgreementPBC.pdf
I don’t really think Vulture City would make much use of the Sonics’ history anyway, because it would remind people that the franchise had a long and significant history in another city. Although I’m not sure most Okies realize the NBA existed before 2005.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Speaking of litigious matters, whatever happened to Aubrey’s legal problems? There haven’t been any updates on those in a while. Is he still in trouble?
September 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
until the nba deems fit for them to do so right
September 27th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
D, why did they say you are not a member of the class?
September 28th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
They can’t wear throwbacks because they agreed to not use the colors, logos, uniforms, etc.
The same way the Baltimore Ravens can’t wear Cleveland Browns uniforms.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I renewed my season tickets under false pretense that the team would be here through the 2010 season. I am not sure why they are not suing based on this rather than the cost difference of the season tickets in Oklahoma Vs. here.
That was their plan but the judge threw it out.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
To Eric E. Thanks for reading the SunBreak column. To answer your question, yes, in the summary judgement (online on sonicsclassaction.com) written by Judge Jones last February, there is this quote on page 5: Even when Mr. Bennett learned that the NBA itself was concerned with PBC’s “messaging relative to renewals,” PBC
made no change to the Emerald Club terms. Id. at 84 & Ex. 13 (Apr. 16, 2007 Bennett email).”
I highly recommend that interested Sonics parties read the summary judgement.
Best,
RvO
September 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=4512394&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines
I hope we steal OKCs new Arena Football team.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I’d rather steal their NBA team.
Maybe the Chinese can help us out with that.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:51 am
The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) currently has the Sonics Championship trophy on display. Get $2 off admission to the museum by presenting a ticket or ticket stub for “Sonicsgate” at the front desk. Note that MOHAI is caring for much of the Sonics memorabilia tho it is not available to be viewed by the public at this time. MOHAI is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and till 8 p.m. on first Thursdays (which are free).
September 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Wow, hats off to the Museum of Hist&Ind for recognizing the importance and “cultural value” of the Supersonics. I hadn’t even thought about it, but yes it is a good idea to be archiving Sonics’ material and memories, because who knows if Seattle will ever get them back, or if enough people will want them back.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
http://www.thenewstribune.com/callaghan/story/897268.html#
will new cowboys stadium make qwest obselete?
September 30th, 2009 at 12:45 am
Sure it will eventually lead to Seahawks begging and one day the Mariners will too.
I look forward to those days as I can’t wait to give to them (and their fans) the same support they gave us. None to negative.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Pter, that article hits very close to home!
September 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Look at the stadium they want to build in LA.
http://www.losangelesfootballstadium.com/images
Football is like a side note at that stadium. Look how deep the suites go, look how much shopping there is. It’s a shame what Goodell and Stern are doing to their respective sports.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Have you played with Google Sketch Up yet?
I’m designing a new Sonics arena. It’s a bit tough, but I have some really fun ideas.
September 30th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
The most pathetic sitting governor in the lower 48 already playing CYA for when Boeing moves its second 787 production line to SC. You better believe Gregoire when she says she won’t give up on something folks. She’s tenacious. She’s got all the focus and tenacity of a 3 year old with ADD in a room full of TVs and shiny toys.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009968083_webcharleston29.html
Gregoire clearly is prepared for the possibility South Carolina may win. While vowing not to give up, on Tuesday she repeatedly played up how robust the state’s aerospace industry would be without a second 787 line.
“If we should, beyond my control, lose that second 787, I’m not throwing up my hands,” Gregoire said.
Beyond your control … hm. So when does the hand throwing start governor, I’m curious. When they move all the 787 production there, the 737, the whole company?
September 30th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
As long as tax dollars aren’t involved-who cares how elaborate the stadiums are-it’s no ones business but the communities they are built in. If tax dollars ARE involved-the whole community must benefit.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I got quite a kick out of this headline
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/09/are-oklahoma-students-really-this-dumb.html
even if the answer is no . . . they are not in fact that dumb.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:45 am
OKC Mayor coming to Seattle next week….We should let him know he is number 1 in our book!!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2009967161_nickelstohost60.html
October 1st, 2009 at 11:27 am
He’s staying at the Westin…
http://www.ihateclay.com/get-your-popcorn-ready/
October 1st, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Ray Nagin was re-elected Mayor of New Orleans after the way he botched the Katrina evacuation? Wow. Never underestimate the idiocy level of the voting population.
Sonicsman, #1 over Seattle’s soon to be former Mayor Dickless? Never!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Be nice dbf, ya’ll know the Sonics will be back as soon as the NBA gets straightened out.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Does anyone have League Pass. LP website says the Denver pre-season game is being Broadcast. Anyone know for sure.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Most of the owners voted to take the team out of Seattle, so can they revote for a team to return if there is a “good faith agreement” to renovate Key Arena or build a new facility? Anybody talkin with Ballmer or BR behind the scenes?
October 1st, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Somebody on this website has mentioned how live nba games can be watched on http://atdhe.net/
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 am
I think I have watched NBA games there, but there is also a different site that works really well that I am trying to find again.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
I got this in the email from SIFF today. Hopefully they won’t kill me for posting it here.
Free Screening of More Than a Game with Director Kristopher Belman in Attendance!
An exclusive offer to E-News subscribers.
VIEW MOVIE TRAILER
SIFF invites you and a guest to a special preview screening of More Than a Game with Director Kristopher Belman in attendance!
Five talented young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, star in this remarkable true-life coming of age story about uncommon friendship in the face all too common adversities. Coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player’s father, and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, the “Fab Five’s” improbable seven-year journey leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship. Along the way, the close-knit team is repeatedly tested-both on and off the court-as James’ exploding worldwide celebrity threatens to destroy everything they’ve set out to achieve together. More Than a Game combines a series of unforgettable one-on-one interviews with rare news footage, never-before-seen home videos and personal family photographs to bring this heart-warming and wholly American story to life.
More Than a Game is written by Kristopher Belman & Brad Hogan and directed by Kristopher Belman. The film features LeBron James, Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, Romeo Travis, and Coach Dru Joyce II.
Wednesday, October 7, 7:00pm, SIFF Cinema
Click here to RSVP: http://morethanagame.eventbrite.com/
You must RSVP to attend. RSVP is valid for you and one guest.
Please arrive early. Seating is first-come, first-served and is not guaranteed.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 am
I’m playing in a basketball league and there’s a team named Save Our Sonics. I haven’t played them yet but I like them already
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Nice one, five!
D_G: “”Communist and Republican”" LOL!!! You just made my morning.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
Thanks Jeremy!
I am so going Wednesday night, I’ve heard a lot of good things about this film. Really wanted to check it out.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
phenom Says:
October 1st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
“Most of the owners voted to take the team out of Seattle, so can they revote for a team to return if there is a “good faith agreement” to renovate Key Arena or build a new facility?”
I’m pretty sure they can vote as many times as they want to, within the bylaws of course.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Speedcat, I’ve been trying to study the bylaws, but haven’t been able to find the answer. We’ll probably have to wait for an expansion team to arrive in 2010.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Watching Chicago vs Indiana right now on http://atdhe.net/.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Replacement refs don’t seem to be making many calls except out-of-bounds and time-outs….cool!
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
phenom,
where did you get the info about the supposed reason the owners voted to move the team? i haven’t heard this.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
“We’ll probably have to wait for an expansion team to arrive in 2010.”
Come again? Expansion team? 2010?
Every once in awhile you drop one of those posts that make it seem like you’ve spent time on another planet.
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 am
2010 is way too soon. We won’t even sniff a team until after the lockout. The more I dig in on the lockout the more I’m convinced that its going to last more than one season and we’re going to end up with less teams.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
“2010 is way too soon. We won’t even sniff a team until after the lockout. The more I dig in on the lockout the more I’m convinced that its going to last more than one season and we’re going to end up with less teams.”
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Kev for bringing that up. I wrote an article in which I included that…didn’t seem to get much pub. Sad really, 1-8 teams are going to be gone, and at least 1 or 2 will be moved.
This is David Stern’s “bad”. Sadly the owners are following in stride.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 am
Crazy thing is going to be this isn’t going to be your typical labor battle of players vs. owners.
This is going to be players vs. agents vs. owners vs. owners.
Agents were a big factor of why the last lockout lasted so long. They wanted the guaranteed money, the bigger contracts. The players went along with it and got just that. Thus new arenas weren’t good enough and teams moved.
Now it’s set up like a texas tornado match.
Stern and company are going to want lower contracts and a set salary cap and a small lowering of the revenue sharing so the NBA itself can profit a bit more. Rehire some staff, league executives get raises. Plus a hard cap on the salary cap right around $35M. The Lakers currently sit at $91M. Not sure what the proposal for the luxury tax is.
That doesn’t sit well with the players because the profit sharing went to help some of their incentive bonuses, also allowed the owners to spend more lavishly on player amenities. Plus the agents do not want to give up any room what so ever on the contracts. They like the high prices, they get more money, more money they make their current clients, the better high earning clients they can get from college and over seas.
Now that is only the first big problem.
This is what is going to cause the most havoc unless all the owners get on the same page. New Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, thought Jerry Jones’ idea of eliminating profit sharing was a good idea and allegedly, he’s not the only one. This is going to cause a huge rift in the brotherhood that is NBA owners. If they can not agree on a CBA, how can the present it to the NBAPA?
They can’t.
There is two years to work this out before they even get to the players issues. They’ll have to get all on the same page. I do believe they need an 80% vote to clear the CBA before its presented to the players. I need to go back and read the bylaws, too tired to do so now.
But say by chance the rich owners of the NBA get their way and they most likely will because Stern will side with the guys who bring the money into the NBA.
If there is a lockout it will kill franchises in Charlotte and New Orleans, but save the Bucks and Pacers. George Shinn relies on the current profit sharing to keep on going. He loses a lot of income if the lockout happens. Same thing in Charlotte.
Other teams saved are Sacramento, Memphis and OKC. Owners save paying players salary.
But no profit sharing, say good-bye Sactown, Memphis, OKC, Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota, possibly Utah and maybe another team or two.
Say hello again to Seattle, Vancouver, Kansas City. And hello to Louisville, San Jose, Montreal, maybe Mexico City.
I really expect this to be the ugliest labor battle in all of sports. Stern has his idea in his head of what he wants going forward. It’s too bad it’s going to take a long time to get the owners on that page and even longer to get the players and agents on board as well.
Once the 2012 season is over pro basketball in the US is going to be non existent well into 2013, maybe 2014. If it comes back at all.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 am
I don’t know how much truth there is to this but I hope to god there’s a lockout and teams are eliminated, and as many as possible teams move. I want the entire world to realize what a joke David Stern and the NBA is. F the NBA. It is dead to me. FOKC
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Great thoughts Kev. The NBA is in trouble. I don’t think that the Sonics situation had to happen, but because it did, I am glad that it can be a nail in the coffin of Fuhrer Stern.
“Say hello again to Seattle, Vancouver, Kansas City. And hello to Louisville, San Jose, Montreal, “
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
Chicago is OUT?!? Madirid is in!?!? Tokyo is IN?!?! What a sense of entitlement by CNN anchor.
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=EuE60mq0r1Q&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3DEuE60mq0r1Q
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
Kevin’s analysis about the how teams could be affected by a lock out and/or no profit sharing is interesting.
I am though trying to figure out more beyind Kevin’s thinking that a lock out would kill Charlotte and New Orleans, but save the Bucks and Indiana.
Also, how absent profit sharing would Louisville or even Kansas City be better markets for the NBA than say SAC or Minnesota? (It strikes me that Louisville could be a long-term “problem market” for any major pro sports league.)
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:07 am
The thinking behind killing saving the Hornets is this. It was late and I accidentally added the Bobcats in there. Bobcats would be one of the teams saved.
Shinn is the poorest owner in the league and actually makes some of his money through the NBA profit sharing model which allows him to barely afford the team. You take away that income he is looking to sell it. He’s tried to bring in people to help co own the team in New Orleans, he does one guy in there own 20-25% of the team. He’s not very wealthy either. So if Shinn sold he would be able to do so to whomever he wanted or he simply my fold the team or sell it to the NBA. It would be a Phoenix Coyote situation. You’d have a lame duck team in a lame duck city.
Bobcats, Bucks and Pacers would be saved because those owners would save money by not having to pay the rent to their buildings. This works high in the Pacers advantage as their current rent situation is the worst in the NBA and is extremely hard for them to turn a profit in their building, even though a lot view it as the best place to view an NBA game.
Louisville I think would be an okay market. It would encompass the whole state of Kentucky (Kentucky is a huge basketball state, pro ball, we’d have to see), you also get Cincinatti in that mix as well.
If Kansas City got a team, it’d pull in from St. Louis, who would also make a decent NBA city as well. It would all be the same market.
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
“Once the 2012 season is over pro basketball in the US is going to be non existent well into 2013, maybe 2014. If it comes back at all.”
I LOVE your “If” line. I would give anything to see the league fail as a whole and vanish for awhile. It could come back later bigger and better.
My wife is into gardening. She often prunes back trees, roses, etc. down to nothing and the next spring (sometimes it takes a few springs) it grows back with a vengeance and is bigger, fuller, etc.
The sports world needs pruning and I’d love it to start with the nba. The nba is full of fertilizer (might as well stay with the theme).
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Peter, research colors to find atleast one theory.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I want to go to that film on wednesday! If I don’t make it, does anyone know if any other way to see it?
October 4th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Times are truly tough for Stern…in this article, http://tinyurl.com/cqf66h
He admits the NBA is bleeding money now while the WNBA is posed to break even this year.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
“He admits the NBA is bleeding money now while the WNBA is posed to break even this year.”
Salaries, salaries, salaries.
The Knicks payroll is probably larger than the entire WNBA payroll combined.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Wow Patrick that article really blows Stern.
“Stern is widely viewed, by players, management and fans, as the best commissioner in US sports.”
Let’s see the NBA
October 4th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Getting a bit fat fingered. Let me finish my comment.
___________________________________
Wow Patrick that article really blows Stern.
“Stern is widely viewed, by players, management and fans, as the best commissioner in US sports.”
Let’s see the NBA is 5th overall in popularity behind the NFL, MLB, College Football and auto racing. It’s barely ahead of the NHL and college basketball in terms of popularity.
So what makes him the best commissioner? The fact that the NBA has the on the average highest priced tickets and the highest paid atheletes of any professional sport?
October 4th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Wheedle’s Groove: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2009977717_wheedles04.html#
WTF?
October 4th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13951#
scroll down for interesting news on Payton
October 4th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
http://www.ticketnews.com/NBA-teams-continue-to-sell-tickets-despite-tough-economy1009671#
supposedly the NBA ticket sales are strong despite the economy.
OKC numbers listed here as well, gotta wonder as to their accuracy.
October 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Reggie Evans. Let the arguments begin.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/evans-already-making-his-presence-felt/article1306437/