HUGE NEWS! Clay Bennett & Co. buy Supersonics!

[Watson410]

NBA Oklahoma City Bolts, I like it a LOT!!!

[purple and white uniforms with a yellow bolt]!!!!!!!

I like the Bolts idea, but i'm not sure i would be to thrilled with the color selection, i'm not really into the whole purple thing. I really like the name Oklahoma City Surge though.... the uniforms could be electric blue and white.

[Intrepid]

That's taken by OCU as well as Dallas' NHL team. And it's lame.


I still like Oklahoma City Outlaws.

That's right, I forgot about OCU. Nevermind.

[flintysooner]

I like Hot Rod's signature line for a name "Oklahoma City Renaissance" but maybe not a good sports team name.

[jbrown84]

Eww, I do not like BOLTS.

I just picture this, and that's not good.

[CuatrodeMayo]

HAHA...I almost posted the very same thing.

I can hear the announcers now...

"Oklahoma City is nuts for the Bolts!"

[JOHNINSOKC]

Oklahoma City Jets

[metro]

Stuckey’s stock rising
FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune Published: June 28th, 2007 01:00 AM

NEW YORK – If the Seattle SuperSonics are able to get a second lottery pick in today’s NBA draft, it appears they are targeting Eastern Washington guard Rodney Stuckey.
The Sonics have offered point guard Luke Ridnour to Atlanta for the Hawks’ No. 11 pick, and if that deal goes through it would allow the Sonics to begin reshaping a backcourt that was at times dysfunctional and ineffective last season.

Stuckey has strong indications from the Detroit Pistons that they will select him with the 15th pick.

However, the Sonics recently hired Scott Perry, Detroit’s former director of player personnel, as an assistant general manager, and Perry was one of the reasons that the Pistons are so enamored with the combo guard.

With Perry advising Sonics general manager Sam Presti, it looks as though the Sonics have their eye on the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Stuckey.

Interestingly, the Sonics, who also own the second pick in the draft, originally invited Texas A&M guard Acie Law in for a workout. Law accepted the invitation because he said he was told that the Sonics were trying to move up in the draft. Law then canceled his workout.

So the only other top 15 player besides Greg Oden and Kevin Durant that the Sonics brought in for a workout was Stuckey, who has the versatility to play both the point guard and shooting guard positions, something Presti this week said was an important attribute.

A league source said there is a good chance the Hawks will agree to the trade, though they are waiting to see the outcome of trade talks with Minnesota and Phoenix that might net them Suns center Amare Stoudemire.

In those talks, the Wolves would send Kevin Garnett to Phoenix, the Hawks would get Stoudemire and the Wolves would get Atlanta’s two lottery picks (No.3 and No. 11). If that deal is consummated, the trade with Seattle would be scuttled.

But if Minnesota trades Garnett in a deal not involving Atlanta, the Hawks are likely to take Seattle’s offer of Ridnour, who is in the last few days of a contract that pays him $2.5 million. After July 1, his salary will be $6.5 million, making it more difficult to trade him.

Early in the draft process, it was assumed that the Hawks were going to select Ohio State guard Mike Conley with the third choice. But it now appears they are intent on selecting Florida forward Al Horford, leaving them in need of a point guard.

Meanwhile, two league sources said the Sonics are calling around the league to gauge interest in guard Ray Allen.

KJR-AM radio reported that the Sonics offered Allen to the Boston Celtics for the fifth pick and Theo Ratliff.

Meanwhile, there also is added intrigue involving who the Portland Trail Blazers will select as the top pick.

A month ago, it was a foregone conclusion that Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard would take Ohio State center Greg Oden, leaving Kevin Durant for the Sonics at No. 2.

However, there are divergent opinions in the Blazers’ front office about which player fits better, particularly after Oden had a poor workout and concerns about his durability were raised during a physical at the pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla.

Durant, meanwhile, had a workout that Pritchard said was the best he has ever seen, and his unique blend of size and athleticism is making Pritchard second-guess his initial inclination.

It still is most likely that the Blazers will take Oden because legitimate 7-foot centers with Oden’s skill are so rare, but Durant’s prowess is at least giving them pause.

Twelve of the top players met with the media at a hotel in Times Square on Wednesday afternoon, and during the interview session Durant actually said he thought Oden should go No. 1.

“You can see why he is going to be the No. 1 pick,” Durant said. “I can’t argue that. I think he is one of the best centers ever to come out of college. He jumps so high and runs so fast, I have never seen that in a center before. That is something that is going to separate him.”

The rest of the league members are attempting to figure out what exactly they are going to do.

Boston is having a multitude of conversations regarding the fifth pick, and there is a good chance the Celtics may trade it away. Milwaukee is reportedly having discussions with Portland about swapping the sixth pick for Joel Pryzbilla. Minnesota, which has the seventh pick, is attempting to completely revamp its roster, which could mean that the seventh pick is available for the right offer. And Phoenix invited a number of lottery picks in for late workouts, fueling speculation that the Suns are attempting to get into the top 10.

Former University of Washington center Spencer Hawes had a workout with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, his second with them. If Hawes slips past the Wolves at No. 7, there is a good chance that Hawes will be taken by the Bulls, who have the ninth pick and need low-post scoring.

“I think the teams that I worked out for … I think they all would be a good fit,” Hawes said. “But I think Chicago would be an especially good fit for me.”

Tribe hires consultant

The Muckleshoot Tribe announced that it had hired a consultant, Washington, D.C.-based Brailsford & Dunlavey, to study the feasibility of building an arena for the Sonics on property they control near Emerald Downs racetrack.

[HOT ROD]

Its official:

Kevin Durant to the Oklahoma City (errr, uhh... Seattle) Supersonics!!! Also Jeff Green at #5!!!!


a one-two punch!!!



Oden goes first, to Portland.

[Nixon7]

Durant-Durant!!! Hungry like the wolf!!!

[HOT ROD]

Check this out, SEATTLESUPERSELLOUTS

I thought that was sooooo funny!

[HOT ROD]

Guys, I occasionally view the forums here in Seattle regarding the Sonics. It strongly appears as tho people here (including fans) are becoming more and more convinced that the Sonics are leaving for OKC.

I always see some sort of desparate attempts to either downplay or riddicule OKC to make themselves feel better OR pleas to Seattle people to write to officials. While we have some great OKC people joining the forums and correcting some of the bs that some Seattle people have said/thought about OKC (which is probably why they now see OKC as viable for the NBA more and more) ...

It got me thinking, "why don't OKC people also lobby the powers to be?" Hey, if Seattle people can write David Stern about keeping the Sonics, why couldn't OKC people write him to say "We deserve a team. Let it be the Sonics or Hornets or somebody."

I think we should do what we can to "counter" what is being done against us. Surely OKC is somewhat in the driver's seat, being that Clay is from OKC and very prominent, BUT I think we should not just 'sit back' while a vocal minority from Seattle appears to be a somewhat concensus of opinion.

OKC should also have a voice and should say that we deserve a team, and in all likelyhood - it should be the Sonics.

I want OKC to have a voice! Be as competitive, that way the Commish or whoever can hear both sides and know that OKC people care and are just as enthusiastic regarding GETTING A TEAM.

Here is the address of the NBA Commissioner, David Stern; as was posted on a Seattle forum. I urge you all to send him a letter (or email if you can find the address) and I will post other "officials" that I see pop up on the Seattle forums - as I think we also need to be heard, and not just potentially used as a pawn!!!!!

Attention Commissioner Stern
NBA
Olympic Tower
645 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10022

[HOT ROD]

Oklahoma City was just mentioned in the NBA Draft by commentators.

I dont know his name, but __ fom ESPN just said "Oklahoma City did a wonderful job hosting the Hornets, who will return full time to New Orleans this year. NBA commissioner and brass went to OKC on the last game this year to thank them and to show their appreciation. They did a wonderful job, and will do just fine when the Sonics - as its expected that they will move there or some other team without a home due to arena situations."

Guys, this was not the first time OKC was mentioned - and I could sort of tell that SOMETHING IS BRUIN', especially when the Sonics were UP for their picks. There was NOBODY from the Org there (that they showed or talked about) and the commentators ONLY mentioned the organization by its formal title, Seattle or Seattle Supersonics or Sonics. They didn't really have as much commentary about the drafts "going to Seattle, or whatever" like they did for Portland, other than they made ONE comment about "Durant and Oden being 168 miles away in the Pac NW."

I think if the situation were SOLID and they were going to stay in Seattle then the commentary would have been more 'seattlecentric' (like it was for Oden where they were VERY portland-centric.

They ONLY said that the Sonics hit a home-run with Durant and Green and that they appear to be rebuilding/starting over. Then there were undertones tho not necessarily oratory about the location of the team. Then during the Hornet's first pic, the commentator finally could not hold back on commenting about OKC. His plug for OKC was EXCELLENT, very class and totally appropriate!

I honestly think OKC is in the driver's seat - something big is being held back. Apparently, the commentators were told to try to refrain from speaking negatively against Seattle but a few slip-ups did come through and it bodes very well for Oklahoma City.

I think OKC definitely will have a team in a year, most likely the Sonics but definitely some organization (just as the commentator basically said). Very good news.

[Intrepid]

Sonics silent on arena study

By GREG JOHNS
P-I REPORTER

The Muckleshoot Tribe has hired a Washington, D.C., firm to do a feasibility study on the potential of building a professional basketball arena on its Auburn property, but the move was met with public silence Wednesday from Sonics ownership.

Team spokesman Tom Savage said he could provide no response or statements from anyone in Sonics management on Wednesday, though majority owner Clay Bennett will be in town for Thursday's draft. Savage also declined to comment himself.

The Muckleshoots sent a letter on Wednesday morning to Ralph Morton, executive director of the Seattle Sports Commission, indicating its interest in "exploring options for the development of an events center" that could host the Sonics and Storm franchises.

The Muckleshoots' first official move in that effort was to hire Brailsford and Dunlavy, a facility planning company, to analyze the potential of placing a multipurpose arena on the tribe's land adjacent to Emerald Downs racetrack off state Route 167.

Tribe spokesman Rollin Fatland said the decision is just the next phase in the Muckleshoots' initial efforts to decide if such an undertaking is realistic.

"It's another step in that it brings in analytical firepower needed to look at market analysis, drive-time distance, financial feasibility, those sorts of things," Fatland said.

Whether Bennett has any interest in such a project is unclear. Bennett apparently hasn't spoken with the Muckleshoot group since an introductory meeting in February, but has maintained that he's open to alternative suggestions after his proposal for a multipurpose facility in Renton died in the Legislature.

Fatland said he didn't know if Bennett has had further communication with Muckleshoot representatives, but "when this information becomes available and the tribe decides if it's feasible, then a conversation would be appropriate."

Brailsford and Dunlavy has performed similar market studies for the Everett Events Center, the Seattle Center and the proposed Kent Events Center in this region.

Jason Thompson, the project manager for Brailsford and Dunlavy, said his company had just been hired and thus a time estimate was impossible, though the company's prior work in the region "allows us to boot up a little more quickly."

Bennett has said if an arena solution isn't firmly in place by Oct. 31, he will apply to the NBA for relocation at that time.

Morton met with the Muckleshoots earlier this month for the Seattle Sports Commission and said he's impressed by the group's businesslike approach.

"They've gone to an expert in the field to do due diligence to see if this is a viable opportunity for their site," Morton said. "They're trying to make an informed decision. And from our end, we're looking to exhaust all options to make sure we keep the team in the region. We're trying to assist everybody to see if there's a good option, whether it's the Muckleshoots or reconsidering KeyArena."

In the letter to Morton, Muckleshoot CEO Jerry Henke wrote: "While the Tribe's property immediately west of Emerald Downs appears to be an ideal candidate for siting an events center that could accommodate an NBA team, a more thorough analysis of the property attributes and related factors is needed before moving forward."

The Muckleshoots spent $73.6 million in 2002 to purchase a 185-acre parcel of land that already houses Emerald Downs and its accompanying parking lots. The plot under consideration for the arena is an undeveloped portion of the property located between state Route 167 and the track.

Henke said Brailsford and Dunlavy's study would include a market analysis comparing facilities in similar suburban markets. The study would also examine site construction and transportation issues, parking requirements and an estimated budget and schedule.

P-I reporter Greg Johns can be reached at 206-448-8314 or gregjohns@seattlepi.com.

[HOT ROD]

Nothing to say.....

So the Muckelshoots are doing a study if an Arena in Auburn WA makes any sense. Big Deal.

Im sure the study will come back and say it doesn't make any sense, Auburn is even much worse than the Renton location.

Of the study areas: market analysis (peer suburban markets), site construction, transportation issues, parking requirements, estimated budget, estimated schedule.

I predict the following:

Market Analysis: B for Auburn. The wealth of the region is located 35 miles NE. Auburn is akin to say, Mustang; very far away, ok suburb but not too posh. It is also in the shadow of Mt. Rainier (North America's largest and most dangerous volcano), so there's problems associated with that. the S. King County region has about 500K + Tacoma's 700K, but its not very well connected.

site construction: B- for Auburn. I believe the Muckleshoot area is some sort of swamp or wetlands, there will be environmental issues to deal with. May need serious reinforcement due to potential liquification or mudflow == costly.

transportation: D for Auburn. The city is located on the commuter rail line, but I would HARDLY call "the Sounder" a truly utilized system as it is today. It's just basically exists so Seattle/Tacoma can say they have commuter rail. The route itself does not hit any populated areas as it is truly set up as a commuter line to/from downtowns of Seattle and Tacoma. Does not run to the lucrative Eastside wealth base, they'd still have to drive to Renton then hop on (might as well keep driving). There are two freeways that bisect there but both are ONLY 4 lanes (one has HOV as well) and both are already significantly taxed. Access from Tacoma is a little better but is still a huge chokepoint, even today.

parking requirements: A+ for Auburn. This is the ONLY area where Auburn beats OKC, Renton, or any other candidate for the team. There's plenty of land there since it is a far removed suburb in a non-downtown area. And because it's Indian land, ........ anything goes.

Estimated budget: B- for Auburn. I think the total budget might be iffy due to construction and transportation concerns. This is the problem with Puget Sound, things always cost so much here because of the way business happens here. There is a HUGE lack of accountability, especially on publicly funded projects in transportation, which would definitely need to be fixed for the site to be viable. (For example, we're getting a $2B 14-mile light rail line that is already $1.5B over budget. Nobody knows why nor cares to ask the qu, we just want to get it done already!). I'd say a $500M arena that would go in Renton would itself need a 30% margin, which would need probably a 20% margin in Auburn by comparison - a little better but that depends upon what the base cost would actually be in Auburn [might cost $600M as a base in Auburn??? and you'd need 20% on top of that to cover your bets].

Estimated Schedule: A for Auburn. This is probably another area where Auburn beats OKC or at least ties us, since the Sonics would be the principle tenant they control the scheduling. I'm not so sure the Sonics would get COMPLETE control over scheduling in OKC (probably will get first dabs unless the arena is already scheduled).

Let me add up the score: 3.0 + 2.7 + 1.0 + 4.0 + 2.8 + 3.7 = 2.8667 GPA

OKC, by comparison:

Market: B- (mainly due to primary tv market not as large and relatively smaller Metro area)

Site: A (since arena already exists, but upgrades needed to suite Bennett)

Transportation: B+ (no mass transit options but OKC has wonderful freeway access, and its downtown in the center of the region)

Parking: B- (since in a major city's downtown and people WILL have to drive, there might be some issues here. Games MUST be scheduled after CDB business hours.)

Budget: A (since arena is complete and no doubt the city will foot the bill for the upgrades to the Ford Center and the practice facility. Since Bennett already has his offices downtown, office space for the Sonics is a non-issue. there might be a lease issue along with other leasing of retail space [otherwise this would be an A+]).

Schedule: A (Im not too sure the city would grant the Sonics 'exclusive' control over scheduling at the Ford Center. Im sure they will get first dibs but if dates conflict, the Sonics may need to schedule around major annual OKC events. This probably would only be an issue for the first year or two tho).

Comparisons:
OKC: 2.8 + 3.7 + 3.3 + 2.7 + 3.7 + 3.7 = 3.3167 GPA
M C T P B S
KC: 3.0 + 4.0 + 3.3 + 2.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 = 3.0500 GPA
Vegas: 3.5 + 0.7 + 3.0 + 4.0 + 3.3 + 3.5 = 3.0000 GPA
Renton: 3.7 + 3.0 + 1.0 + 3.5 + 3.0 + 4.0 = 2.9667 GPA
Auburn: 3.0 + 2.7 + 1.0 + 4.0 + 2.8 + 3.7 = 2.8667 GPA
Seattle: 4.0 + 2.5 + 2.5 + 2.0 + 1.0 + 4.0 = 2.6667 GPA


As you can see, OKC isn't perfect but we score the best even though we ranked highest in only one category (budget)! The Sonics should definitely move away from Seattle since it scored the lowest, but not to Auburn - 2nd worst score of all locations.

[OKC PATROL]

Guys, I occasionally view the forums here in Seattle regarding the Sonics. It strongly appears as tho people here (including fans) are becoming more and more convinced that the Sonics are leaving for OKC.

I always see some sort of desparate attempts to either downplay or riddicule OKC to make themselves feel better OR pleas to Seattle people to write to officials. While we have some great OKC people joining the forums and correcting some of the bs that some Seattle people have said/thought about OKC (which is probably why they now see OKC as viable for the NBA more and more) ...

It got me thinking, "why don't OKC people also lobby the powers to be?" Hey, if Seattle people can write David Stern about keeping the Sonics, why couldn't OKC people write him to say "We deserve a team. Let it be the Sonics or Hornets or somebody."

I think we should do what we can to "counter" what is being done against us. Surely OKC is somewhat in the driver's seat, being that Clay is from OKC and very prominent, BUT I think we should not just 'sit back' while a vocal minority from Seattle appears to be a somewhat concensus of opinion.

OKC should also have a voice and should say that we deserve a team, and in all likelyhood - it should be the Sonics.

I want OKC to have a voice! Be as competitive, that way the Commish or whoever can hear both sides and know that OKC people care and are just as enthusiastic regarding GETTING A TEAM.

Here is the address of the NBA Commissioner, David Stern; as was posted on a Seattle forum. I urge you all to send him a letter (or email if you can find the address) and I will post other "officials" that I see pop up on the Seattle forums - as I think we also need to be heard, and not just potentially used as a pawn!!!!!

Re: Sheattle. Yeah I have seen your comments. At first that forum was going hill billy crazy/ grapes of wrath to white trash. Your comments seemed to calm and provide information to those nuts.

[HOT ROD]

Here is the email links for the NBA. We need to be emailing and mailing the hell out of them to counter what the Seattle fans are trying to do.

Show your support for OKLAHOMA CITY - THE RENAISSANCE CITY!!! WE DESERVE THE SONICS, SEATTLE DOESN'T WANT THEM!

The National Basketball Association
Attn: Fan Services
645 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Email form:

Send an E-mail to the League Office

[metro]

I sent my email to the NBA, come on everyone!!!

[OU Adonis]

what are some good seattle message boards?

[HOT ROD]

what are some good seattle message boards?

The Seattle Times: View Forum - Sonics

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Basketball Forum

These two forums are by far the best for the sonics. there are others, but these are the most colourful.

Sonics Beat
sonicscentral.com - We Bleed Green and Gold


I hope you all can join on and DEFEND Oklahoma City and YOUR right to an NBA team. I've contributed a LOT of information about the city (along with a few others) which has turned an ignorant and arrogant Seattle fan base into a realistic bunch withoutregard. But the more intelligent people we can get from OKC to come on these boards from time to time, the better!

OKC is the Renaissance City, a city on the move. And the NBA is OKC's biggest ticket - and the Sonics are OKC's. Seattle knows this, but there are many who are pulling all straws (nothing wrong with that, just as long as they dont say anything bad about OKC anymore!!!) That's my whole point.

Seattle isn't all that, you know. It's just another american city, just like OKC.

[HOT ROD]

Reality is setting in in Seattle! this is taken from the Seattle Times with their discretion.

Steve Kelley
We've been duped by Bennett

By Steve Kelley
Seattle Times staff columnist

We've been duped.

We thought Sonics owner Clay Bennett really cared about staying when he brought Lenny Wilkens into a position of authority inside the franchise.

We thought he really meant it when he and Wilkens went to lobby the Legislature and ask for a new all-purpose arena that would benefit one and all.

We thought he really wanted to protect the Sonics' gold-plated first-round pick Kevin Durant with a reliable, veteran scorer like Rashard Lewis.

We thought he was serious about finding the right head coach for his young team when he interviewed the best candidate out there, former Sonics assistant Dwane Casey.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong.
This must be what a basketball apocalypse feels like.

We've been duped.

First, the Sonics botched the Rashard Lewis deal so badly, it made his decision to go to Orlando as easy as choosing a vacation destination.

And at a noon news conference Thursday, the Sonics will name the absolutely wrong choice to be their new head coach.

They had a 50-50 chance of getting it right and they muffed it.

They picked P.J. Carlesimo, San Antonio's assistant coach, over Casey, the former Minnesota coach.

These San Antonio guys — Sonics owner Clay Bennett, a former Spurs minority owner, and Sam Presti, a former Spurs assistant general manager — took their security blanket over the common-sense choice.

They sucked all the joy out of draft night, when Presti made all the right moves — picking Kevin Durant and trading Ray Allen to Boston for the fifth pick, Jeff Green, along with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak.

On that night, they opened the door to the hope the Sonics could stay in Seattle. This week, they slammed it shut.

They dumped payroll like a troubled jet drops fuel.

Mayday! Mayday!

They lost 50 points per game in Allen and Lewis and replaced it with promise. Promise that almost certainly will be realized some day in some other city besides Seattle.

These past two days were a black-hearted Valentine from Bennett to the people of Seattle. A finger-waving salute to the state's legislators. An adios to pro basketball in this town. INSERT: Too funny

Bennett is sprinting away from this city's NBA legacy. He's turning his back on 40-plus years of hoops.

Rashard Lewis? Why does Bennett need a nine-year Sonics veteran who carries a $70 million-plus price tag?

Dwane Casey? He was too close to the Sonics' more glorious past.

He coached with George Karl all the way to the 1996 NBA Finals. Coached with Nate McMillan when they shocked the league and won the 2005 Northwest Division, then took Bennett's beloved role models, the Spurs, to six nail-biting games.

Casey was too dangerous for Bennett. He had friends in Seattle. He wanted the franchise to stay. And Bennett couldn't have that.

We've been duped.

Bennett couldn't have a former Sonics assistant coaching his team.

Casey has a home in Seattle, for crying out loud. He got married here.

Yikes, he might have let it slip to the media that this team belonged in Seattle.

And we already know how much Bennett hates the Seattle media. In the job interviews with both general managers and coaches, he whined about the "unfair" treatment he has received here.

Apparently he takes no responsibility for his blunders.

Not hiring Casey is the latest.

The former Sonics assistant was the guy who could have coaxed and pushed and cursed and cajoled this young team, which will have an opening-day roster that averages between 24 and 25 years old.

Carlesimo is wrong for this team. INSERT: But Carlesimo's right for OKC's team, hint hint hint!!!!!

What happened the last time Carlesimo coached a young NBA team?

The Golden State Warriors fell into anarchy during his two-plus-year tenure when the team went 46-113.

Let's not even mention the Latrell Sprewell incident.

(OK, we just did.) INSERT: try to sling mud whilst you can, Seattle.

Carlesimo is a grinder. He chews on players. He wears on them.

It will take a certain, secure veteran player, like Robert Horry or Michael Finley, to play for Carlesimo. Those are players the Sonics don't have.

With Carlesimo, Bennett is looking for the second coming of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a great coach who can get away with being cold-hearted because he has Tim Duncan and Duncan always salved the psychic wounds Popovich inflicted on the other Spurs.

Seattle is a much different team.

In terms of maturity, these Sonics are as much like the Spurs as Bellevue High School is to the Indianapolis Colts.

Maybe Seattle will win 28 games next year. Maybe the Sonics will get lucky and Durant goes LeBron on the league and they win 35.

I'm not sure it matters anymore.

It appears Bennett is counting days, not wins. He is looking to take his young team to some naïve smaller-market city that will be thrilled, at least initially, just to have a team. INSERT: Who does Kelley think he is calling OKC a naive smaller-market city???

In the meantime, this season in Seattle, for Bennett, is just an inconvenient truth. INSERT: that is, this season in Seattle is an INCONVENIENCE for Bennett

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

LOL, that was tooo funny. But it does have some truth in it. Bennett knew that Casey has Seattle ties and would easily be able to drum up some support if hired. Did Bennett hire Casey?

too funny.

I guess we should lay out the welcome mats for the Sonics. Come on OKC, show your support!!! Welcome your team.

[Doug Loudenback]

The Seattle Times: View Forum - Sonics

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Basketball Forum

These two forums are by far the best for the sonics. there are others, but these are the most colourful.

Sonics Beat
sonicscentral.com - We Bleed Green and Gold


I hope you all can join on and DEFEND Oklahoma City and YOUR right to an NBA team. I've contributed a LOT of information about the city (along with a few others) which has turned an ignorant and arrogant Seattle fan base into a realistic bunch withoutregard. But the more intelligent people we can get from OKC to come on these boards from time to time, the better!

OKC is the Renaissance City, a city on the move. And the NBA is OKC's biggest ticket - and the Sonics are OKC's. Seattle knows this, but there are many who are pulling all straws (nothing wrong with that, just as long as they dont say anything bad about OKC anymore!!!) That's my whole point.

Seattle isn't all that, you know. It's just another american city, just like OKC.

I joined one of the forums a lonnnnng time ago (shortly after Bennett's group made the purchase), just to have a look around and not to make trouble. I posted a few times, largely to say that I thought that Bennett's group was sincere about what he was saying ... both about wanting to stay but conditioned on a new facility and contract being agreed to by a date certain or leaving if that didn't happen.

But, I've not posted since last summer or early fall and see nothing to be gained by doing so today. It would problably just be seen as trying to stir up trouble.

Frankly, my preference would be for Okc to get an expansion team, but expansion seems totally pie-in-the-sky for the forseeable future.

So, if Bennett's terms are not met (only 119 days until October 31, or, put differently, 120 days until Thursday, November 1 ... "Remember, remember, the 1st of November," taking a cue from the most excellent movie, V for Vendetta), and IF, on that day, Clay Bennett's group elects to tip their collective hats to Okc (I wouldn't rule out KC), I'll surely welcome them with open arms ... I'll have to get a whole new set of gear though and enjoy every minute and dollar of it! Such a day would be a great day for our town ... schools should be closed, city offices shut down, etc., and a grand parade should immediately take place!

[HOT ROD]

I dont think anyone from OKC has been snobbish or snooty, but certainly there are some Seattlearea people who were being pompass jerks against OKC.

Now that I and a few others have informed them, that OKC isn't really that much smaller than Seattle and could pose a viable market should they go outside of the Neilson designated boundaries. ..

OKC actually looks better than Seattle in many sectors! And that is my whole point, speak up for OKC and let the cards fall as they may - in OKC's favor of course.

All of that hick, cow patty, horse manuer, small town, NBA would never leave seattle for okc bs they were saying about OKC is just that,

B.S.

[Kerry]

Maybe the Sonics can do bad enough this next season they can get another lottery pick and then work a deal for CP3 from the Hornets.

[Easy180]

hot rod..You have probably noticed I post on the SeattlePI forum since my lazy....style gives me away...Pretty sure you aren't very popular on there

I only post on the relocation threads and normally only to defend OKC or punch a few holes in their vision of Seattle being a completely perfect city

It is a story that deals directly with OKC so I don't see a problem with posting there...When it all boils down it is after all only sports

[HOT ROD]

Easy, I did.

And I probably am not liked too much by the Sonics fans, but hey - the truth hurts.

I hate it when someone picks on OKC, especially when what they are saying isnt true. Like you said, Seattle is a nice place but it aint perfect nor is it even the best city up here.

And it is very funny to see how THIN those "tough" sounding Seattleites are, when they pick on OKC then get it slapped back in their faces!!! lol.

How many straws have they pulled?

Larger Market, sure as defined by neilson - but surely OKC's market should be larger than neilson defined it. And surely, OKC has a MUCH larger region to draw from. LOSS TO SEATTLE.

Larger City, sure Seattle is a larger metro but citywise, they're basically the same give or take 30K people. And isn't it a shame that "SUCH A LARGE CITY" can't even support an NBA team. .... LOL. Loss to Seattle.

The board wont let Bennett take the Sonics away from Seattle. Wanna bet? Seattle sucks as an NBA market. Perhaps Seattle is not big enough to support 3 major league teams. Perhaps Seattle is JUST the same as Kansas City. Denver supports 6 teams (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS, and also AFL), Seattle can't even support 3, yet someone is claiming that the NBA owners would dictate to Bennett to stay in a LOSING proposition??? They can't MAKE Bennett do anyting, the only thing they can do is vote for OKC and set the terms of relocation. And surely with them ALL KNOWING Bennett and the fact that Stern loves Bennett and OKC, Im sure relocation wont be a NO issue for the NBA owners should Seattle continue with its disregard of the Sonics for the next 4 months. Loss to Seattle.

Richer City, sure Seattle and environs are richer overall; but when I pointed out disposable income specifically in regards to the cost of capital (meaning housing) - OH NO, Hot Rod got us again. OKC may not have 50,000 as median salary, but 38K per person might be just enough to support an NBA team long term, especially since OKC has MUCH MORE disposable income than does Seattle. Loss to Seattle, again.

NBA wont leave a 40 year history, wanna bet? True, Seattle was one of the original NBA markets and for that reason there should be no reason or issue for keeping the team here. But, UNLIKE New York and Chicago, Seattle can't even build a quality arena as a shrine for that NBA history. Do you really think we'd be having these discussions for the Chicago Bulls or the New York Knicks? Sorry Seattle for TRYING to be like New York and Chicago, but you aint. You might have 40 years but you dont act like it, and surely an OKC businessman owns the Sonics with the SOLE purpose of moving the teams to OKC. LOSS TO SEATTLE, and its SEATTLE's own fault.

What else do they try to pull. OH. ..

OKC isnt a sports market. WRONG. They mean, Seattle isnt a true sports market. Seattle is a fair weather market, if their teams do well, then they support them. If not, you dont have to look any further than the Sonics to get the answer. OKC on the other hand, supports the Sooners (and Cowboys to a lesser extent) day in and out. Seattle doesn't even really support the Huskies, and certainly NOT at the same level that OKC supports the Sooners and even Cowboys. Having two state schools, one a perinneal leader in football only 19 miles away and the other a quality annual basketball leader only 45 miles the other way, OKc is a HUGE market. The saving grace for OKC is there is NO competition for the pro dollar. Seattle has the Mariners and Seahawks, both of whom are larger draws than the Sonics. In OKC, this would not be a problem, as was proven with the Hornets - people still supported OU and OSU and heavily supported the NBA. I think when the Sonics come to OKC, there will be NO DOUBT that OKC is a much better sports town than many cities around the nation, especially Seattle. Regardless of the record, OKC will support their major league team (although I do admit that a winning team anywhere will guarantee filled seats). OKC is not a fair weather city, OKC supports its teams. Loss once again to Seattle.

More money in Seattle. This is true in total. There are many rich people up here in the Seattle area. But there are in OKC also. And, because a major league team in OKC would have NO competition, all of that OKC money can go to support one team - regardless of the record. If the Sonics were winning, do you think the arena would somehow get funded? probably. but because of late - Seattleites dont care. And no rich person from the Seattle Eastside is stepping up and either building an arena suitable for Bennett nor agreeing to pay $350M to buy the Sonics from him for the sake of "Seattle community pride." Furthermore, no one here stepped up when Howard Schultz - Starbucks CEO and billionare and former Sonics owner - offered to sell to local investors. Think any of this would happen in OKC? OKC will do ANYTHING to get and keep a major league team. Especially now, there's PLENTY of money flowing in OKC's economy (it aint that much smaller than Seattle's). TIE at best, since both have money and OKC is willing to spend it whereas Seattle aint.

Seattle is a larger regional draw. Again, WRONG. OKC has the POTENTIAL to draw from some 5-12M residents in the local area, with 6 "local" NBA teams to establish rivalries with (cities with NBA teams less than 2 hour flight away). And OKC's region is WAY more populated than Seattle's (regardless if they try
to throw in British Columbia [who could care less about the Sonics honestly], Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Seattle can't even claim the whole state of WA, because SW WA belongs to Portland. Whereas I believe an OKC team could lay claim to all of OK, KS, W and N TX outside of DFW, W AR, and portions of Missouri [a population over 13M people]. While these folks wont be bolting to every game, they would probably attend one and would watch games on cable, which would help the OKC metro area in longevity, especially if they win. And, Im sure those 6 local teams would hop a flight (or drive) to support their club when they come to OKC; who comes to Seattle other than Portlanders (and Vancouverites when the Grizzlies were there]? Big LOSS to Seattle!

"Why would a black kid want to hang out in OKC." Excuse me??? OKC has a much larger black community and culture than does Seattle, and OKC is closer to the hip hop scene and culture that is blossoming in Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York. Seattle is far away and has NO culture whatsoever, not to mention black people by comparison. The quote above was stated by someone from Seattle area who obviously must think of OKC as a small town full of white people. But in reality, Seattle is more white than OKC [whites represent over 85% of the population here, vs. under 70% in OKC]. Not that this is even something to argue, but I did want to point out, that a black kid (aka an NBA player such as Kevin Durant, that's what Im assuming that comment was referring to) would have no trouble having fun in a city full of black culture if that is what he's into because OKC has it more than Seattle! BIG Loss to whoever posted that on the Seattle forum. [basically, they got their face slapped with the FACTS]

Again, I defend OKC - I dont start trouble. All I have to do is post the facts and watch those crybabies all of sudden start backpeddling and whining. All of the name calling to make themselves feel better. Everytime they pulled strings, I showed them in a factual manner how OKC is superiour or at least in similar leagues and therefore viable. Im sure Ive provided as much information as I've probably also hurt a few egos.

But that's life, they'll get over it and probably be a much more mature poster over time - instead of this hick namecalling crap some of them keep trying to do. Like you said, EASY, its ONLY sports.