NBA in OKC Today.

[metro]

I heard a preview on KOCO last night that on their morning show today 5-7am, that they and the city were going to have an official public party today to show our support of the NBA. I don't get up that early so I didn't catch the details this morning but if someone did, please post. Also, I know the city and NBA team is having a press conference here (I'm assuming at Ford Center) at 4:30pm this afternoon to report on what they thought today.


NBA in Oklahoma City: Making the pitch
Oklahoma City's sales pitch to get an NBA team has an audience today as league Commissioner David Stern and members of the relocation committee visit to get the official pitch from team owners and city leaders. The Oklahoma City-based ownership group of the Seattle SuperSonics has filed for relocation to Oklahoma City. The committee will make a recommendation to the NBA Board of Governors, which will vote on the proposal next month.



Who will be here

•Sonics owner Clay Bennett.

•NBA Commissioner David Stern.

•Lewis Katz, owner of the New Jersey Nets and member of the relocation committee.

•Herb Simon, owner of the Indiana Pacers and member of the relocation committee.

•Peter Holter, owner of the San Antonio Spurs and member of the relocation committee.

•Jeanie Buss, VP of the Los Angeles Lakers and member of the relocation committee.


Why they're here
•What: The presentation will include a tour of the Ford Center. Points Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett may emphasize: Success of the Hornets, vote on the Ford Center, history of MAPS and local ownership.
•When: A court case between the Sonics and Seattle begins June 16. Seattle wants to hold the Sonics to their lease, which would keep them out of Oklahoma City until 2010.


Inside
•A Q&A with Mayor Mick Cornett.
Page 1C

[okclee]

I saw a long long line of very expensive Mercedes Benz outside the Ford Center. All of the news channels were outside as well. Looked as if the news reporters were waiting to get a shot of the NBA people as they came out of the Ford Center. Hopefully it all goes well.

[okclee]

Press conference today at 4:30 pm, live on the Sports Animal radio AM 640, FM 97.9.

The Sports Animal

[Easy180]

Another David Glover sighting at the city council meeting of a city he doesn't live in

[solitude]

Another David Glover sighting at the city council meeting of a city he doesn't live in

Yet, way back when, you made the argument that his numbers weren't right (using just the city residents in his calculations) because everyone in the metro will be paying the tax at stores all over OKC proper. So, we're all in this together - until it comes time to talk to the city council?

[Easy180]

Yet, way back when, you made the argument that his numbers weren't right (using just the city residents in his calculations) because everyone in the metro will be paying the tax at stores all over OKC proper. So, we're all in this together - until it comes time to talk to the city council?

He can gripe just don't feel he should be able to address a city council he doesn't even live in

[solitude]

He can gripe just don't feel he should be able to address a city council he doesn't even live in

I was thinking when he leaves the Village to shop, maybe he should just shop, but not have to pay the sales tax for a city he doesn't live in.

Everybody touched by decisions made by Oklahoma City's municipal government has every right to be at council meetings.
Clay Bennett lives in Nichols Hills - maybe he should never be allowed to address the city council.

[Easy180]

I guess you are right

But there should at least be an ordinance forbidding media whores

[TStheThird]

Good logic considering Clay owns the effing team that has filed to relocate to OKC. Maybe Glover shouldn't shop or make any income, then he wouldn't have to pay taxes at all.

[andy157]

Good logic considering Clay owns the effing team that has filed to relocate to OKC. Maybe Glover shouldn't shop or make any income, then he wouldn't have to pay taxes at all.

Without any income... shopping would be out of the question.

[Pete]

NBA exec: 'No question ... they're coming'
By Darnell Mayberry
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma moved a major step closer in its bid to lure the NBA after a who's who of the state's business, civic and government leaders wowed league owners and executives Tuesday in downtown Oklahoma City.

An NBA subcommittee will now make a recommendation to the league's seven-member relocation committee to relocate the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, NBA Commissioner David Stern said after a daylong visit that included a Ford Center tour, business meetings and presentations.

The relocation committee will then make its own recommendation to the NBA's Board of Governors during league meetings April 17-18 in New York. The Board of Governors has up to 30 days to vote on the Sonics' application request with a simple majority of the 30 owners needed for approval.

But the outcome now seems to be a foregone conclusion.

"There's no question in my mind that they're coming. It's just a question of when," said New Jersey Nets part owner and relocation committee member Lewis Katz.

Sonics chairman Clay Bennett, who categorized Tuesday as a proud day, stopped short of saying Oklahoma City sealed the deal with the NBA.

"We made important progress," Bennett said.

The question of when will be decided by a federal court case to begin June 16 in Seattle between the city of Seattle and Bennett's Oklahoma-based ownership group. Seattle officials are seeking a ruling that the Sonics are obligated to fulfill the remaining two years on their arena lease only by playing in Seattle until the lease's expiration in 2010. Bennett's group is attempting to fulfill the lease through a buyout that would include paying off the remaining rent as well as other incentives for the city of Seattle.

"We're prepared to engage in the trial, and we're prepared to abide by the ruling," Bennett said.

Stern said the league will hold the vote at its scheduled time despite the pending court decision, making the ruling contingent on when the Sonics are legally allowed to move.

"If in fact the committee recommends it to the board, and the board votes in a positive fashion, they will do so recognizing that everything is subject to the terms of the lease in Seattle," Stern said. "So the approval will be with respect to whenever the team is free to move, they will be approved to move."

Stern, already familiar with Oklahoma City because of the temporarily displaced New Orleans Hornets the past two years, said he and the committee learned more about the state of Oklahoma and how the state would successfully support a permanent NBA franchise.

A unified front by Oklahoma leaders at the Skirvin Hotel impressed the relocation committee enough to give Oklahoma City the thumbs up. NBA executives were greeted by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, Gov. Brad Henry, Oklahoma State House Speaker Chris Beng and former Gov. Frank Keating.

Leading businessmen and Sonics part owners Aubrey McClendon, Tom Ward and Jay Scaramucci also attended the meetings as well as Jeffrey Records of MidFirst Bank, Everett Dobson of Dobson Communications and Bob Howard. OSU President Burns Hargis, OU football coach Bob Stoops and OSU athletic director Mike Holder also represented the state.

"There's just something about being in the room with all of the people who are in charge," said Stern, adding that Oklahoma City would have "no chance" of landing an NBA team if voters didn't approve $121 million in tax funding on March 4 to go toward renovating the Ford Center.

"I think in its totality, the way it was presented, it had a great influence on the committee members. It was very impressive, and one understands why it's more than Oklahoma City. It's Oklahoma."

Said Henry of the relocation committee: "They're impressed with the cohesiveness of this community and this state. I just can't imagine that the owners would turn down our request for a team on April 18."

[Karried]

ahhh Pete, I wish you could watch all the news coverage first hand... it's very exciting.

[bornhere]

What is Frank Keating doing in that mix?

[okclee]

Where was Mike Gundy in that mix??

[TStheThird]

He is a man and he is 40 and he doesn't like the NBA because it is garbage. It makes him want to puke. That is all I have to say about that.

[OSUFan]

Stern was asked if the vote failed would the Sonics be coming to OKC. Stern said "No Chance". I thought David Glover said they would come if the vote failed. I guess David Glover also think the average family of four in OKC spend $60,000 taxable goods in OKC also.

[metro]

I was thinking when he leaves the Village to shop, maybe he should just shop, but not have to pay the sales tax for a city he doesn't live in.

Everybody touched by decisions made by Oklahoma City's municipal government has every right to be at council meetings.
Clay Bennett lives in Nichols Hills - maybe he should never be allowed to address the city council.

Clay Bennett also doesn't attend OKC City Council meetings and parade around for attention at the meetings. He also owns/has interest in several of OKC's highest paying companies.

[metro]

Where was Mike Gundy in that mix??

and Jenny Carlson.........

[wsucougz]

•Jeanie Buss, VP of the Los Angeles Lakers and member of the relocation committee.

I'd hit it.

[bornhere]

Clay Bennett certainly does attend council meetings occasionally and speaks at them as well.

Read the Oklahoman's team coverage today, which could be summed up as 'rich white guys from out of state very impressed with local rich white guys.'

The Oke used to run stories like that all the time in the ELG days – usually in connection with the Rangers or Opryland or luxury hotels or the fairgrounds or Enterprise Square, USA (the Disneyland of free enterprise!) or half-baked revivals of 'Bonanza' – which were inevitably cited for their 'solid management' and 'visionary leadership.'

I still would like to know how Washington insurance lobbyist Frank Keating fits into this.

[MikeLucky]

Clay Bennett certainly does attend council meetings occasionally and speaks at them as well.

Read the Oklahoman's team coverage today, which could be summed up as 'rich white guys from out of state very impressed with local rich white guys.'

The Oke used to run stories like that all the time in the ELG days – usually in connection with the Rangers or Opryland or luxury hotels or the fairgrounds or Enterprise Square, USA (the Disneyland of free enterprise!) or half-baked revivals of 'Bonanza' – which were inevitably cited for their 'solid management' and 'visionary leadership.'

I still would like to know how Washington insurance lobbyist Frank Keating fits into this.

Well Keating was the Governor during MAPS, was he not? Is it not okay to assemble as many influential Oklahomans for this effort as we can? I don't understand the problem.....

[John]

I still would like to know how Washington insurance lobbyist Frank Keating fits into this.

He carries a lot more weight (especially in dealing with people such as Stern) than good ol' boy Henry.

[andy157]

He carries a lot more weight (especially in dealing with people such as Stern) than good ol' boy Henry.

How do you know that to be true? Did Stern tell you that?

[metro]

andy, I just think he means overall politically Keating carries a much greater weight than Henry. Most people don't know who Henry is nationwide. They do with Keating. Keating is a regular contributor to FOX News, CNN, etc.

[jbrown84]

He was also a candidate for Bush's VP and later Attorney General.