Re: Sonics Case Moved to Federal Court
Midtowner, I knew the diversity argument would come up. I said a long time ago, that it was very smart that Bennett et al incorporated in OKC and NOT IN SEATTLE. I brought this up on the Seattle forums and was discounted by countless people who "thought" they knew what they were talking about.
Now, how this came up is different than I thought. I thought, that Bennett would make a move to federal IF the city won at King County. And surely, such a move would expose the political good ole boy network that does exist in Seattle. It was this very network that every Sonic fan in Seattle was counting on, to 'grant them' the Sonics until 2010. Their claims of, oh now - we got Slade Gorton workin it and it's going to KingCo Superior; case closed - sonics stay.
Well, I always argued that it won't be finalized at KingCo. I even predicted it wouldn't even be heard in KingCo at all. I said, the Sonics are incorporated in OKC so there is NO WAY a Washington court would be impartial to the Sonics, and surely Bennett would be granted a case in Federal court.
Like I said, I expected Bennett to do this later; but it was the KingCo judge - perhaps a very smart move on his behalf - who requested the case immediately go to the feds. Im positive he thought about it, and said - well, I can't rule against the city since Seattle is my county seat and surely this could cost me in the elections. But, if I rule in favor of the city, Bennett will destroy us and our "network" by getting the feds involved in what we have going on. The best thing to do is remove myself from it (and the state), and let the feds decide it.
And surely this move creates a more impartial ground, since we dont elect federal judges; they serve for life. Now, all would be in question are the terms of the lease and whether a municipality can FORCE a business to only conduct business there. I honestly dont think the decision will take that long, especially after reading the so-called lease.
Bennett has so many outs, that it was very very STUPID for the city to even take this to court. Now, at bEST, Seattle will get rent for 2 years and possibly revenue that might have been made from the lux suites. I predict that to be around $5M.
And to think, if the city had sat down with Bennett and 'negotiated in good faith', admitted that we will not build an arena but that we want to be compensated, Im sure the city could have got Bennett to pay at least double that $5M amount - and probably could have also kept the name Supersonics. And surely, such a move would have shown the NBA that Seattle wants them to come back and surely Stern might have agreed to return once we build an arena (and a different franchise is in trouble).
But no.. .... Look how immature our city council was (we call them CLOWN-cil). All thoughout this, they have done NOTHING. And now that elections are closing in, they want to do a tit-for-tat against Bennett, to placate the Fans so they will show up at the polls and vote for them. That's it guys.
In reality, schrewed Businessman that he is, Bennett said - alright, I will proceed with arbitration. Then the city stupidly 'lawyers-up' when they forgot ONE THING. ... all of those past lawyering up and postering were done with SEATTLE BASED organizations; but Bennett aint from Seattle!!!!!
They forgot about that, that Bennett has no idea who Slade 'the Blade' Gorton is or that Bennett could care less what the KingCO powerbase is. The Sonics are OKC based, and they missed that one. .. LOL.
Finally, the city of Seattle is going to get a HUGE slap in the face, that you aren't invincible and that we're nothing more than just another mid-sized city. A huge reality check is being placed, and it is the city who is doing it to themselves, that's the funny part.
this so-called lawyering up has only exposed Seattle for what it is and the good ole-boys here really are nothing in the grand scheme of things. If I were mayor Nickels, I would try to do a 180 here and sit down with Bennett and try to get more settlement. After all, we will still have the Key Arena debt and no primary draw to help pay it off.
For those of you not in the know, the city renovated the old Seattle Center Coluseum (which is part of the 1962 World's Fair that was here), this was done in part to placate the Sonics past ownership. The contract says, a new coluseum was to be built but the city renovated the existing one on the advise of past ownership - who did not want to compete with the NHL. The renovation is now called Key Arena.. so, the city is using this as premise that the Sonics should honor that 15 year lease provision at Key Arena.
My argument is, well, there's nothing anywhere that says the Sonics accepted the renovation as satisfying the 'new arena' clause. Regardless whether past ownership (who was based in Seattle by the way) regardless if they verbally accepted it or the fact that the Sonics have played there, there's NOTHING in writing which indicates the Sonics ever accepted Key Arena.
Furthermore, Bennett has said from day 0, that Key Arena is unacceptable - which further illustrates that this Sonics ownership never accepted Key Arena and surely would argue that the city fulfilled the terms of the lease. And now, the way things are, with I-91 - which virtually prohibits the city from building a new arena unless Bennett agrees to split all of the profit with the city (which aint gonna happen) - there is nothing that will be agreed to that could rectify the lease.
It's October now and surely the feds will be deep into this by the end of November. I expect the decision to come by then (only a month or so from now) which should also coincide with the arbitration decision and the NBA vote.
I also expect all of which to be in favor of Bennett. Get ready for 2008 OKC!
And Seattle, thanks to the arrogance and stupidity of our city leaders, we get a huge slap on the face! A huge reality check - -- well, at least we still have Microsoft. lol
Oklahoma City, the RENAISSANCE CITY!
Originally Posted by betts
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