Yup, not smart of Aubrey to talk right now, but not smart of anyone from OKC to bring it to the attention of people from Seattle. Let's lay low, guys, on the inflammatory quotes from anyone from here. You're not helping the cause.

betts...Those statements were going to be discovered anyway...No way that kind of talk would be passed over regardless of the size of the publication

Not sure why he would talk right now...But part of me wonders if it was just a simple mistake or part of some crazy strategy...Just makes me wonder since he has been completely silent for almost a year now and then throws in those gems to such a hard hitting sports publication like the Journal

Same here Easy 180. It's mind boggling. Surely he's competent enough and has advisors enough that he would only say something like that for a reason. Anyhow here is an article from ESPN:

ESPN - TrueHoop (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-27-49/Steamed-in-Seattle.html)

I'm also blown away that Bennett nor Stern has commented on this yet. If for some reason it wasn't apart of their strategy, I hope they cleverly deny the comments, etc.

Can anyone smarter than myself come up with any possible reasons why he would come out and say that at this point in time?

I can't really come up with anything

I don't know, but Clay has already come out with damage control. I don't think this was done with league or Bennett approval.

RealGM: Wiretap Archives: Owner Hoping To See Breakthrough To Keep Sonics In Seattle (http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47592/20070813/owner_hoping_to_see_breakthrough_to_keep_sonics_in _seattle/)

RealGM Staff Report -
The Professional Basketball Club is issuing the following statements today in response to comments made in an interview with a local business journal by Sonics & Storm owner Aubrey McClendon.

“As the controlling owner, I admire my fellow owners and appreciate their support," said Clay Bennett. "While they are excited about the basketball operations and the future of the team on the court, they, like me, have been disheartened by the lack of progress we have made to secure a new arena for the Sonics and Storm. Aubrey expressed his personal thoughts and, in context of the story, was not speaking on behalf of the ownership group. It is my hope we will see a breakthrough in the next 60 days that will result in securing a new arena for the Sonics and Storm in the Greater Seattle area.”

At least for the time being, this is the top story listed on ESPN.com:

"Owner: Goal to move Sonics to OKC"


Bennett's recent quotes aren't even mentioned. Incredibly foolish move by Aubrey.

Aubrey McClendon


"I support our efforts to secure a new arena for the Sonics and Storm in the Greater Seattle area. Clay is the one who speaks for the ownership group. Today's interview in the Oklahoma City-based business newspaper, Journal Record, simply reflects what has been my personal desire concerning NBA basketball in Oklahoma City. It has always been my hope that Oklahoma City would have an NBA team someday. That said, I was always aware and understood our number one goal was to work with officials to build a new arena in the Seattle area. I have supported Clay and the ownership group to use our good faith best efforts to secure a new arena and keep the teams in Seattle. I admire Clay's tireless efforts and his persistence to get an arena and keep the teams in Seattle. I support him completely. The comment about my personal hopes cannot in any way be interpreted to mean the organization has not exhaustively pursued every reasonable avenue to get an arena deal done and keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle. However, as Clay has consistently stated, a solution to the arena issue must be found

Looks like maybe Aubrey thought his comments would be buried in a bottom paragraph in the Journal Record and not seen by anyone in Seattle.

You have to watch the whole story, not just parts. One of the reasons some of the leaders in Seattle refuse to build a new arena there is they don't think Bennette and company are seriously considering moving the Sonics to OKC. Several times local Seattle politicians have said the Sonics can make more money in Seattle, and using that reasoning, Seattle shouldn't have to build a new arena. Aubrey just took that argument off the table by saying he didn't care if the team made money in OKC or not.

This comment put the powers-that-be in Seattle on notice. Build a new arena or the team is gone.

If Aubrey did say that without consent from the rest of the owners, then that just speaks volumes of McClendon's character. Not a smart statement.

Oh please.

Guys, I have to say - that was not the smartest move for OKC or Aubrey. Although we all are aware of their true intentions, its one thing to have that under the collar and another for an owner to come out and say it when they have an agreement in principle to try to work an arena here.

Bennett was doing soooo well, up until Aubrey opened his mouth way too much. Of course he would invest in a team to move it to OKC. But their agreement was that they'd work for a year to try to keep the team in Seattle, and to publicly come out and say that - ...

The ONLY 'Saving Grace' in this situation is that at least it was a minority owner (who are little more than just financial investors) who said this and NOT BENNETT HIMSELF. That would have been a true disaster, if Bennett had said it.

I think some of the Seattle fans just see this as fuel on the fire and are trying to run with this. And McLendon certainly did not HELP OKC's efforts any - but it might JUST backfire in OKC's face and spur some arena support here. ..

I think McLendon and everyone should have juse laid low for 2.5 months. He should have stated that he'd LIKE to have a team in OKC, and pose it like that. NOT, we always wanted a team in OKC. Reality, of course you want a team in OKC; id expect an OKC investor to have that as his intention. BUT your ownership group promised to work it out here for a year. And Aubrey coming out and saying that before the year is up, really makes for a potentially difficult situation for Bennett.

I think OKC will still be successful, but Aubrey probably doubled the chances that an arena would get built here with his comments (up from 1% to now 2%) and certainly has pissed a bunch of fans off who no doubt will make noise to the NBA.

If Aubrey could have kept his mouth shut, he could have said all he wanted after Oct 31. sometimes, Okies shoot themselves in the foot.

I agree completely, although McClendon is not a minority owner. That doesn't need to be broadcast to the Seattle folks, though. In fact, we should all think before we blithely post things on Seattle forums. It may be that that's where this mess came from. It's true that a search engine might have found the information anyway, but you had to dig through a pretty long boring Journal Record interview to get the Sonics' information. We don't need to be throwing fuel on the fire by showing this kind of stuff to the Sonics' fans in Seattle.

How could this possibly make an arena deal in Seattle more plausable? Keep this in mind when you try to answer. Whatever you say would only support Clay's effort to keep the team in Seattle.

It seems to me this will have little or no effect on whats going on.

The people that are so p*ssed off now are the ones that where going off before. This makes for a lot of talk on ESPN, but when have those people ever been right about anything.....

When you get right down to it, the people in Seattle(the majority that is) don't care if the team stays or not and are not willing to build a new arena.

This doesn't make the whole thing any easier, but I don't think the out come will be much different.

Money talks BS walks. It the way of the world.

These Seattle people get on my nerves. They act like they had no idea that this was going on. COME ON. How dumb\niave do you have to be to miss that. They are acting like this was some kinda huge secret conspiracy that leaked out. It was common knowledge that even this "dumb Okie" (as they like to point out) could see. They seem so arrogant about losing their team to the lowly Okies that they do nothing but make lame generalizations about our neck of the woods. Kinda goes against that whole west coast philosophy of complete PC robotics about being open-minded and nonjudgemental. I sense a little hypocracy. Every body with half a brain knows Seattle has more people than OKC. Big deal. They have Starbucks, Boeing, Microsoft, etc..... I couldn't care less. OKC has a few things too.
We aren't as rich or as big as Seattle but we don't have to be and Im fine with that. I'll be glad when they finally shut up and move on.

It just seems that Seattle is more concerned about who they are losing the team to rather than the fact that they are losing the team. And now they want to lash out because they are apparantly so much better than us that this couldnt possibly be happening.

Looking around on ESPN and other forums it seems the only people really upset are Seattle folks...Good amount of posts say something along the lines of blame it on your city leaders, had your chance, knew this from the beginning, Duh and so on

My guess is this blows over by Friday at the latest...I'm just glad the man himself didn't say it...Now that could have been disastrous...Not that this slip up was good by any means

Anyone want to take a guess as to how long it will be before Aubrey gives another interview? :omg:

I honestly don't see the big deal. If Seattle wants to keep their team then all they have to do is commit to build a venue. What happens is in their hands. Apparently they are just not accustomed to dealing with people who mean what they say and say what they mean.

Either way Oklahoma City is going to get a team. It is just a matter of time.

The sad thing is, I strongly believe it was a member of OKCTalk who leaked this information on the Seattle Times forum....I'm also upset about the journalist who did the interview and posted it. Come on? Think about the outcome of your actions as well as McClendon's. I almost wonder if the journalist is anti-OKC or one of the old guard that still doesn't view OKC as changed compared to 10 years ago. Hello???? Did you not think that story was going to spark alot of controversy and perhaps ruin or at least hinder OKC's chances at the Sonics? It doesn't take much thought to figure that out. Perhaps he was just trying to sell a few extra papers. Heck, if the JR was still pay only to view online, none of this would have even happened.

Legislator sees little hope that Sonics will remain in Seattle

By Darnell Mayberry
Staff Writer

A Washington legislator who led an unsuccessful bid to secure state funding for a new arena said Monday she sees little hope that the SuperSonics will remain in Seattle.

Washington Sen. Margarita Prentice's comments came one day after a published report in which a member of the NBA team's Oklahoma City-based ownership group said "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle.

"We hoped to come here,” Aubrey McClendon, co-founder and CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, told The Journal Record. "We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even, we'd be thrilled.”

In a statement released Monday, McClendon softened his stance, saying he supports a new arena for the Sonics and WNBA Storm in the Greater Seattle area.

McClendon said his published comments reflected his personal desire that Oklahoma City will someday have an NBA team.

Prentice, whose legislative district includes Seattle and the suburb where Sonics owners have proposed a publicly-funded arena, said she can't understand the negative response the proposal has received.

"I just think it's part of Seattle's elitist attitude that somehow or another we're too cool for sports,” Prentice said Monday in an interview with The Oklahoman. "It's just never been allowed to get anywhere, and that's a darn shame.”

Prentice, a Democrat, had sponsored a bill that would have authorized $278 million in hotel, car rental, and restaurant taxes to help fund a new arena. It never came to a vote of the full senate.

"I would hate to lose them, and if they go to Oklahoma you're going to enjoy them,” Prentice said.

Sonics chairman Clay Bennett has said he will ask the NBA for permission to relocate the team to Oklahoma City if an agreement for a new arena is not reached by Oct. 31.

In a statement issued Monday, Bennett said the ownership group has been "disheartened” by the lack of progress but hasn't given up hope.

"Aubrey expressed his personal thoughts and, in context of the story, was not speaking on behalf of the ownership group,” Bennett said. "It is my hope we will see a breakthrough in the next 60 days that will result in securing a new arena for the Sonics and Storm in the Greater Seattle area.”

But with 78 days days remaining before the deadline, Prentice said she doesn't see many viable options.

"Clay Bennett could have had an agreement, and they would have been here,” Prentice said. "And there was a sliver of hope, and I don't know if it's all gone now. But Clay Bennett went to great lengths to try to reach an agreement. And he agreed to a lot of things that he was never even given the chance to present to the legislature. He and I know that's true.

"We should have had it. We could have had it. And I guess it's still possible. Barely. If anybody's in the mood to talk.”

Among the remaining options Prentice suggested still available to get an arena deal done is a pending meeting between Bennett and Washington governor Chris Gregoire, who Prentice said has shown interest in keeping the Sonics in Seattle. But the proposed deal from the Seattle-area Muckleshoot Tribe, which has offered to build a nearby arena adjacent its casino property in suburban Auburn, is not a feasible option, Prentice said.

"Well, they have gambling and the NBA has made it clear that the NBA and gambling don't mix,” Prentice said. "So there's just some possibilities here that just won't work.

"What we really needed was somebody higher than me to have come out (in support) for it,” she said. "Because I've said more than once... people above me needed to show some energy behind it, and it seemed as though just about the time we were going to get it, somebody else would flake off.”

The sad thing is, I strongly believe it was a member of OKCTalk who leaked this information on the Seattle Times forum....


Why do you think this?

Anyway, ESPN has it as the Top Story. It wouldn't have mattered if it was posted on the Seattle board or not.

Ask Betts, a moderator of another sports board.. fans can turn truly hostile towards other cities when they feel threatened. They will dig up anything to further their cause.

Why do I think that?? Because I read the Seattle Times forum almost everyday. I know several members of this forum who post on there, several of them post links to articles such as this as well as add fuel to the fire. I must say, I know it's hard not to want to post stuff like this, sometimes I feel like it, but heck, I know better than to post an article like that, that could ruin our chances. I follow the Seattle Times enough to know it was a fellow Oklahoman that did it. Heck, some even keep their same screennames as OKCTalk. They post just like they post here on OKCTalk, it's obvious who they are. There are only like 10 or less regular posters on their forum, Oklahomans and "Okie posers" who claim to be from Oklahoma but obviously are not are the ones giving them fuel. Go read the times Karried, you'll see what I mean. The regulars rarely post and do not give 2 cents about Oklahoma. They are very rude and ignorant and don't even care enough to look at Oklahoma websites until someone posts articles and then they check the validity of it and send it out to politicians and the media. Karried, I'm 99% sure ESPN and FOX Sports ran with this story, because it broke on the Seattle Times website.

The sad thing is, I strongly believe it was a member of OKCTalk who leaked this information on the Seattle Times forum....I'm also upset about the journalist who did the interview and posted it. Come on? Think about the outcome of your actions as well as McClendon's. I almost wonder if the journalist is anti-OKC or one of the old guard that still doesn't view OKC as changed compared to 10 years ago. Hello???? Did you not think that story was going to spark alot of controversy and perhaps ruin or at least hinder OKC's chances at the Sonics? It doesn't take much thought to figure that out. Perhaps he was just trying to sell a few extra papers. Heck, if the JR was still pay only to view online, none of this would have even happened.

I guess you are assuming that not one of the hundreds of thousands of Sonics fans from the Pac NW read this thread since it was posted first on here for all to read...Also assuming not one member of any of the sports staffs in Seattle check on this thread from time to time

This was going to get out regardless of who was alerted first...It is a HUGE stretch to believe these statements could have been hidden somehow...No way no how

Sounds like Aubrey knows more then we do, therefore he was speaking freely. Aubrey probably knows that there is no way that an arena deal is going to get done in 78 days so it doesn't matter what he says at this point. Not to mention if Seattle or the state of WA come to Bennett with a proposal , Bennett and Aubrey could easily just say no that they don't like it.

I am guessing that the Seattle Sonics bags are already packed for Okc, that is why Aubrey had the slip of the tongue.

Again I don't see the big NEWs in what Aubrey said, this is no surprise to anyone.

I'm going to agree to disagree with you on this one Easy 180. Honestly these people do not care enough to even consider looking at our boards unless someone seriously pisses them off about a certain topic first. Ask HOT ROD, he lives there. There are so few (again less than 10 regulars from Seattle) that post there. There are more from Oklahoma, New Orleans, and elsewhere that post there that only stir up fire. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you a regular poster there??

I'm going to agree to disagree with you on this one Easy 180. Honestly these people do not care enough to even consider looking at our boards unless someone seriously pisses them off about a certain topic first. Ask HOT ROD, he lives there. There are so few (again less than 10 regulars from Seattle) that post there. There are more from Oklahoma, New Orleans, and elsewhere that post there that only stir up fire. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you a regular poster there??

3 mil in Seattle...Not one of them is bored enough at work to see what the Okies are saying about their team on here...Get real

If you are talking about the Times yeah I am...Didn't post it there if that's what you are getting at

You are focusing on just the Times?...Is that the only publication in the Seattle area?...Do they not have any tv sports staffs?

This thread has been viewed over 20,000 times...Please come back to reality metro if you think that not one person from Seattle checks in since we post every single OKC based Sonics news stories on this thread....It was plastered all over for all to read

Puhleaze with the accusations

Not to mention, there are many of us Seattleites living in OKC. I also have a subscription to The Journal Record. That being said it wasn't me because I could honestly give a rat about the NBA, other than being for the move.

I might change my tone when Durant comes to town, though.

wsucougz is a spy I tell ya :whisper:

The plot thickens :LolLolLol

If the Sonics get a new Arena deal because of McClendon's comments, I blame the poster that leaked the information... not McClendon. Metro, are you serious? This story was going to break. He is on record making those comments.

The story and the discussion of it appears to have been deleted off Newsok unless I'm just missing it somewhere

Watching Channel 5 news last night the sports guy spun it as validating what many Okies hoped was the case...Didn't mention the Seattle uproar at all

Anyone see any different coverage of the story on the other local news stations?

Actually, I think it was West Coast Hornet who broke the story on the Seattle Times. He's the crackpot who hates OKC and has lived in New Orleans and Seattle in the past. He may have posted it himself, or he may have posted it using one of his many identities that appear to be from Oklahoma. He makes up screennames in order to make it look like OKC posters are over there being obnoxious. But, he didn't break the story on the seattlep-i forum, although he may have read it there. That came from someone from Oklahoma. It was also on the Hornets Nest forum, and he occasionally stops by there as well. I sincerely doubt he reads on this forum.

Nonetheless, responding to him, whether it's his identity of couillion, Doug Barebacker, Doug Dawg, shawn rooker, justin willmett, pd22, poobottle or some of the others he's assumed that I'm currently forgetting just gets him more riled up. You cannot argue with him, as it generates six to ten more posts that just worsen the situation. If you see the word "meth" or any other slurs towards OKC you can be pretty sure it's WCH. Ignore him and he just might go away. We can only hope. Argue with him and it makes the honest Seattle forum members think we are worse, as he almost always uses his assumed OKC personas to make things worse.

I don't know if this would have ended up in the national media or not, but I sincerely believe people from OKC have no business posting anything on the Seattle forums that implies that OKC is getting the team, or even that the owners want the team here. It adds fuel to the fire, gives them reason to write David Stern and complain. Does anyone honestly think the Save our Sonics or SonicsCentral administrators have any compunction about alerting the national media? The media that is always looking for stories to write? We are not helping ourselves by giving them ammunition, and we are not being kind to the true Sonics' fans in Seattle by rubbing their noses in any news that is pro-Oklahoma. Keep it here, please!

This is my only soapbox, but I feel pretty strongly about it.

Actually, I think it was West Coast Hornet who broke the story on the Seattle Times. He's the crackpot who hates OKC and has lived in New Orleans and Seattle in the past. He may have posted it himself, or he may have posted it using one of his many identities that appear to be from Oklahoma. He makes up screennames in order to make it look like OKC posters are over there being obnoxious. But, he didn't break the story on the seattlep-i forum, although he may have read it there. That came from someone from Oklahoma. It was also on the Hornets Nest forum, and he occasionally stops by there as well. I sincerely doubt he reads on this forum.

Nonetheless, responding to him, whether it's his identity of couillion, Doug Barebacker, Doug Dawg, shawn rooker, justin willmett, pd22, poobottle or some of the others he's assumed that I'm currently forgetting just gets him more riled up. You cannot argue with him, as it generates six to ten more posts that just worsen the situation. If you see the word "meth" or any other slurs towards OKC you can be pretty sure it's WCH. Ignore him and he just might go away. We can only hope. Argue with him and it makes the honest Seattle forum members think we are worse, as he almost always uses his assumed OKC personas to make things worse.

I don't know if this would have ended up in the national media or not, but I sincerely believe people from OKC have no business posting anything on the Seattle forums that implies that OKC is getting the team, or even that the owners want the team here. It adds fuel to the fire, gives them reason to write David Stern and complain. Does anyone honestly think the Save our Sonics or SonicsCentral administrators have any compunction about alerting the national media? The media that is always looking for stories to write? We are not helping ourselves by giving them ammunition, and we are not being kind to the true Sonics' fans in Seattle by rubbing their noses in any news that is pro-Oklahoma. Keep it here, please!

This is my only soapbox, but I feel pretty strongly about it.

I hear ya...Just disagree is all

This does't come down to who leaked a story to another forum. Like was mentioned, it was in a newspaper, "in print". This story was going to get out at some time.

This story may play for a while, then it will die just like the others.

Seems to me CB and AM are pretty smart guys. This sounds like a last minute stunt to light a fire under the people of Seattle, to see if they are going to do anything to keep their storied team or not...

If they get the deal they want from Seattle it will be the end of a long strangle hold the city has had on the team, which prevented the team from growing and progressing, ie increasing revenue. If not the team loads up the trucks and moves to OKC.

The story and the discussion of it appears to have been deleted off Newsok unless I'm just missing it somewhere

Watching Channel 5 news last night the sports guy spun it as validating what many Okies hoped was the case...Didn't mention the Seattle uproar at all

Anyone see any different coverage of the story on the other local news stations?

Easy 180, first off, I wasn't stating you broke the story on the Times, but you are a regular poster that sometimes pisses them off with more info than they need to know.

I do agree with you about the Channel 5 spot last night. That was a fluff spot. That guy is clueless to how this city or anything is run for that matter. He even called the Journal Record the Journal World. He spun that story so bad it made me puke. And I'm in OKC's favor!!!

metro. I saw the story on Channel 13 news last night and it wasn't actually very bad or one sided. They just reported that OKC minority owner Aubrey McLendon wants to move the team to OKC, basically that was it. There was no crying or no political posturing. In fact, It seemed as tho the news was from New York or Chicago, somewhere other than OKC or Seattle, who would not give a care at all where the Sonics end up.

I for one, was very happy to see the story. My fiance looked up at me when it broke and I said, "like we didn't all know that. .." And then we went on,

Seattle made it clear (with the passage of I-91) that they dont want a team. No way Bennett will settle for anything less than an arena in Seattle (or his site in Renton, which no longer exists by the way, so renton is OUT).

If we had not passed I-91 (I didnt vote for it by the way), then Im sure Bennett would have been more ACTIVE here in getting an arena built in the city of Seattle. But I-91 sent a message to him and the NBA, dont waste your time on Seattle - we dont care about the NBA. Wether those fanatics like it or not, that is the reason why Bennett is cavalier in his approach to an arena deal here. He knows it's not gonna happen, so why bother.

Now, as for Aubrey's actions, perhaps he agrees with the aformentioned, so why not let the cat out of the bag. But in reality, all it did was piss of the zelic Seattle fans (only a handfull of them by the way) who were already pissed about this or that anyways.

As for the Seattle Times forum, dont think that the posts from those 'fans' represent the majority in Seattle. You should note that those negative OKC posts are from the same old people, who have nothing better to do than to vent against OKC or Bennett to try to make themselves feel better.

All of the Seattle is bigger, Seattle market is Better, the board wont approve, Bennett is a whatever, bla bla bla is said over and over. But in reality, the board is in OKC's favor because at least they know the Sonics will break even in OKC and not continue to lose money here in Seattle. And they know Bennett very well, so I think the zelic Seattle fans are just shooting for stars, trying to say something - which usually comes out elitist or holier than thau OKC - to try to make themselves feel better. Then some other idiot joins in.

But I dont fault the OKC people who show up to defend the city. I also offer my two cents, I had to change my login because I was banned as Hot Rod given my pro OKC information. .... go figure.

Perhaps there is some truth into the conclusion "seattle fans are not as concerned about losing the team as they are to WHO they are losing it to". There might be some truth in that, Im sure there would be considerably less fiasco if it were San Jose or KC even. But that's ok, OKC needs to stand up for itself.

I dont see OKC people as boasting, most of the time, just trying to inform the otherwise ignorant Seattle fans. No harm in that. And no harm in defending your city either! This is the information age and Im sure they'd be doing the same if Bill Gates bought the Chicago Bulls and Chicago fans was calling Seattle a Hick Backwater!!!

By the way, I seriously doubt there are hundereds of thousands of Sonics fans. If there were, then an arena would have been approved. !!!

Having a bigger population doesn't mean anything as long as the majority think differently than those zelic hard-core fans.

Of course I agree with your post...Been on the PI one for a while and have established a a pretty good rapport with a few of their most frequent posters on there

You won't find anything posted by me on there that would add fuel to the fire...Basically enjoy a little defense of our fine city and discussing the situation with them in a civil manner is all

That and it's just plain slow at work these days :tiphat:

I know we like to think OKCTalk is an important part of OKC and all, but let's not try and make sports forums more important than they really are...They have and will continue to have ZERO factor in how this plays out

Guys, I found this on the Seattle PI website,


The Journal Record - Article (http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recID=80883) <--Click here!!!!

Go to the Oklahoma Journal-Record article on McClendon and POST YOUR THOUGHTS at the bottom!!!



I was wondering why the poll there shows a NO with regard to whether OKC will get the Sonics. We need to counter this and post our support for the Sonics in OKC. And if nothing else, dont let these zelics come to OUR paper and ruin OUR poll!!!!!!

PLEASE, GO TO THE JR AND POST YOUR SUPPORT FOR OKC'S MAJOR LEAGUE STATUS!!!! :congrats:

Just click the link above!!

The ESPN Truehoop threads went from 306 on yesterday's column to 77 on today's

Dying off big time already

Stern may be too busy thinking about the ref being charged tomorrow. He's not said a word, and I hope he won't. If he's quiet, it probably will die out. Hopefully.

Im positive Stern wont address this publicly. There's really nothing to address.

They all knew all along that if Seattle didn't come along within a year, nothing would get done.

Oh, by the way, Bennett bought the franchise in July 2006 NOT October. So in reality, the year deadline was over in July - Im sure that is why Aubrey is saying something now at this point; there's really no time left unless a miracle happens

that being somebody from Seattle fork over their own private money for an arena where Bennett gets all of the proceeds. Sorry aint gonna happen, and nothing for Stern to address.

Seattle's going to learn the hard way that being elitist in attitude is not good for a city that can't even back it up (by building a freaking arena to keep their team). In fact, they're all (fans that is) crying that Stern is active in Sacramento but not here in Seattle. Go figure!!!

Seattle is a big rich market, shouldn't have to do anything here to get an arena, right?!! Isn't that what those pompass jerks keep saying that Seattle is so this and that?? Such a DESIREABLE?? and Wealthy place as Seattle should not need coaching from Stern for the team to stay here.

What would Stern say? The Leg let it be known that they will not build an arena. Renton ist dead. I-91 forbids building in the best locn, city of Seattle. what message does that give to Stern?

If Bennett (et al) are OK with at least breaking even in OKC (vs losing $$ in Seattle) than so be it. Lose the 14th largest media market. Create a new one in OKC, that actually might be more profitable! Esp with the winning team that the Sonics will be once they mature.

Like I said, elitism comes back to hurt you in the 'rear' end!!!

That's got to be the most comments ever on a JR article. lol

Funny you mention the JR article and the comments section. I noticed today the JR has already changed the policy when you post. Now the "editors" have to "review" comments before they post them.

looks like everything has died out on the Aubrey 'slip'

JUST like we predicted!!!!

No big loss, or response from Seattle!!!

or the NBA.Should tell you somrthing... :gossip:



:bright_id OKC is getting the Sonics!!!!!

There's a great article supporting Aubrey and his interview in the Journal Record last week, in the Journal Record this week. Leave a comment if you want to support him. The last article primarily had comments by angry Seattleites.

The Journal Record - Article (http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recID=81078)

I wouldn't call it a great article. I would call it something we already knew. I just hope our local media doesn't add fuel to the fire. We need to stay on the down low until Nov. 1st. THEN if no progress has been made we can start taking pride and boasting about the Sonics.

Largent on Sonics: Business is business

Steve Largent, a pro sports legend in Seattle and former Oklahoma congressman, has weighed in on the Sonics debate.
Interviewed Monday by the Seattle Times while playing at a golf tournament, Largent said that if former Sonics owner Howard Schultz wanted to make sure the team stayed in Washington, he shouldn't have sold it to out-of-state buyers.

Hoping someone smarter than myself could shed some light on this if it were to get passed

By Sharon Pian Chan
Seattle Times staff reporter

The Seattle City Council is considering passing a law to hold the Seattle Sonics owners to their lease at KeyArena and barring them from buying their way out of the contract.

Council members Richard McIver and Nick Licata are asking the city's lawyers to review the ordinance, modeled after Initiative 93, which a fan group hopes to place on the February ballot.

"We need to make it clear we don't want the owners to buy out of their contract," McIver said. "Maybe it will get the league to look at the market in Oklahoma and whether it can support a team." He plans to introduce the ordinance when the council meets next on Sept. 4.

Mayor Greg Nickels has said several times that he will hold the Sonics to their lease through September 2010.

Brian Robinson, co-founder of the fan group Save Our Sonics & Storm, which filed the initiative, said he's happy the council might adopt the measure without waiting for a public vote.

"There is universal support for this," he said. He said Sonics co-owner Aubrey McClendon's recent statement that the owners always intended to move the team to Oklahoma has galvanized public sentiment against allowing the teams to leave town easily.

The proposed law says the city cannot take any action that "would allow vacation of the leased premises before the end of the term of such lease."

Any Seattle citizen, the proposed language says, would have the right to challenge any action violating the ordinance.

Councilmember Sally Clark says she supports it. "I like the idea of saying, 'You signed a lease, and we expect you to be here until then.' "

The ordinance is unconstitutional as it would in essence compel involuntary servitude. It might drive the exit price up, but there is absolutely no precedent whatsoever for compelling a business to continue its operations anywhere it doesn't want to be. This doesn't mean they can't be forced to pay some sort of monetary damages as fair compensation and that's really what this is all about.

You can enforce the terms of a lease (such as forcing the tenant to pay rent) but you can't stop someone from moving.

The Sonics will get a very sweet short-term deal from OKC because overhead for the Ford Center is very low... So worst case, they continue to pay rent if Seattle doesn't want to be bought out.

Of course, it would be silly for them to do that because if the Sonics are still paying rent, it means they have some control on how the arena is used.

The whole thing is silly and goes to show how desperate and resigned people in Seattle have become.

..."We need to make it clear we don't want the owners to buy out of their contract," McIver said. "Maybe it will get the league to look at the market in Oklahoma and whether it can support a team."
I guess this quote alone shows how much basketball this person has watched in the past couple of years. One would think that if this person paid any attention that this wouldn't be an excuse to try to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

I agree with what has been said, this is just a fool-hearty attempt at the city council to "show" their support for the Sonics Fans. Like was said, the law would be unconstitutional and would only need to be brought to the State or Federal Supreme court for interpretation. Im sure a quick decision would go against the city, and surely the city lawyers should not allow this to be approved.

I think McIver is out-of-touch on the situation and it really does show how 'in-the-dark' and elitist people in Seattle are. Still, most dont care and would be happy to see/hear that the city DID SOMETHING even if it were not successful.

I think Bennett should put some people here (in Seattle) to act in his behalf. But certainly, all Bennett would need to do on Nov 1 or shortly thereafter is file with the NBA board, get their approval, then show up in Seattle with the rent money thru 2010.

If the city does not accept (or cant due to the "ordinance"), then bennett just goes to FEDERAL court and files an injunction and review. I assume the court would accept and rule quickly that the "ordinance" is un-lawful and that would set a precedence that the city is not acting in good faith.

so, I actually think the city doing this ordinance actually works to OKC's advantage a big - in that, we need Seattle to act deceit-ful to counter the statements made by McLendon. We need Seattle to have some more negatives, which would prompt the NBA to certainly approve the relo and show the courts that it is Seattle who has acted in bad faith.

Like I have said, Im sure if Seattle did not tie Bennett's hands initially (with I-91 and the city not even willing to discuss an arena with Bennett at that time), Bennett probably would have been more active and vocal in Seattle in trying to get an arena. But with those obstacles (and this "ordinance"), I can guarantee you that:

Bennett will for sure move.
and that move could take place for the 2007 season, in fact.

I honestly hope the city does move forward with the stupid ordinance, maybe then it could void Bennett's Oct 31 'deadline' then, and he could file in Sept and possibly move the team prior to the start of 2007.

Im sure that would show McIver that OKC can support a team, which the league already knows. ... what a dumb-a##.

The lease has already been signed therefore a new law would have to result in a new lease in order for this to go into effect.

Nice try though.

To me this looks like the City of Seattle is not negotiating in good faith and Clay should file for relocation on Thursday morning.

Exactly what I was getting at Kerry.

It looks like the city is doing what other's accused Clay of. I think he WANTED to negotiate in good faith but the city has done NOTHING but put up road-blocks and even told him to get lost (when he first bought the team). Now, they want to talk??? Please.

I say, relo for 2007!!! Hopefully, the city will do this stupid thing and it will convince the NBA to go forward with the move NOW!

McClendon was just fined $250,000 by the NBA for his statements. I doubt he'll speak in public about the team again, but if he does, it would be wise for everyone in Oklahoma to make as little noise about it as possible.

McClendon fined $250K by NBA

From staff reports

Sonics partner Aubrey McClendon has been fined $250,000 by the NBA for comments he made last week about moving the team to Oklahoma City, the Seattle Times reports.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the fine to the newspaper.

Last week, McClendon told the Journal Record newspaper: "We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle, we hoped to come here. We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even we'd be thrilled."

McClendon is one of the partners in Professional Basketball Club, the ownership group headed by Clay Bennett.

"(Seattle has) 60 days to make some decisions they haven't been willing to make in the past year, and if they make them in a way that satisfies Clay, then the team will stay there," McClendon told the Journal. "If they don't meet the requirements he's laid out, the team will move and Clay has indicated they'll come to Oklahoma City."

A quarter of a million?? That's a steep fine for one innocent (albeit bone-headed) sentence.

I can just hear the NBA: "Aubrey & Clay, we're on your side here but you're making this hard for us! Keep your traps shut."

That's kind of funny.

I wonder what actual rule it was that his comments broke. Maybe owners can't talk about relocation without approval first, but then why hasn't Bennett been fined for talking about Vegas or Kansas City? I know the NBA didn't like that either. I mean, they can't just wake up and say "well, we didn't like what you said, here's a fine". There has to be some statutory basis for the fine, right?

Would he have been fined if this hadn't caused an uproar in the sports world?

I still wonder if his comments would even have been found, buried in the bottom of the Journal Record interview. I don't know how religiously any journalists search the internet. Would Seattle fans of the Sonics have found them? Maybe. From a couple of discussions with local sports' journalists, I think it's the message board folks who usually have the breaking news.