Shinn wants Hornets in OKC
Big surprise: Shinn wants to stay
By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman
This just in. Dog bites man. Kids like candy. George Shinn wants to keep the Hornets in Oklahoma City.
Last weekend, the Hornets flew some OKC sponsors to Houston for NBA all-star festivities. During a private reception, in a small group setting, Shinn mentioned something along the lines of how it would be nice if the Hornets were still in Oklahoma City 10 years from now.
Apparently unknown to Shinn, a couple of fans from New Orleans were on the trip, having last spring won an auction for a road trip.
Those fans told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that Shinn indicated he wanted to stay in Oklahoma City long-term and even talked of hosting an All-Star Game at the Ford Center.
Shinn wants to stay in OKC? No kidding. That’s a revelation only to someone who hasn’t been paying attention.
The Oklahoma contingent didn’t even express excitement at Shinn’s statements, although the New Orleans fans told the Times-Picayune one Oklahoma Citian cheered Shinn’s words.
David Thompson, publisher of The Oklahoman, was at the reception and described Shinn’s statements as “just making small talk, making people feel good ... There was no innuendo or hidden signals. He didn’t say anymore than what he’s already said.”
Another Oklahoma businessman, who asked not to be identified, said Shinn merely was complimenting Oklahoma City and suggested that while the Hornets owner has been capable of putting his foot in his mouth, this was not one of those times.
Here’s the simple truth. Shinn has been dropping hints, both subtle and bold, that he wants to figure out a way to keep the Hornets here. His reasons no doubt are rooted in economics and competition.
But it’s no easy mission, for these reasons:
Legal issues with what appears to be a bedrock New Orleans Arena lease.
Political issues with the NBA, which is not crazy about the New Orleans market but also is not crazy about franchises hopping cities like a carnival. The league most wants stability, and there’s nothing stable about the Hornets going from Charlotte to New Orleans to Oklahoma City in the span of half a decade.
Sensitivity issues. New Orleans got a raw deal from nature and from the feds and from their own leaders. New Orleans is an American tragedy, and Shinn has an affinity for his home of the previous three years. Shinn doesn’t want to pile on.
But he’s a businessman. He most definitely wants to stay in Oklahoma City. The two New Orleans fans found out that in Houston.
Hal Braden said that after Shinn welcomed everyone, “he starts basically alluding to the fact that he would like to stay there long-term. He said, ‘I have my accountants looking into it, and we’re trying to figure out the best place to be businesswise, but you can only guess where I want to be.’ ”
That could be interpreted in various ways, as Shinn just pandering to his audience.
But this can’t: “In 10 years I hope to see an All-Star Game in Oklahoma City, and I’d like for the Hornets to be the host,” Shinn said, according to Braden.
Shinn can’t hold a press conference and tell everyone what he’s thinking. NBA commish David Stern would blow his stack.
But Shinn also can’t keep everything suppressed all the time; that’s not his makeup.
The Hornets’ fate doesn’t rest solely with Shinn. Stern will have a say, and I don’t claim to know who holds that edge. The NBA owners will have a say, too, although I think they in the end will support Shinn, knowing that there but for the grace of God go them. The courts might even have a say.
Shinn’s say, we know for sure. He wants to stay.
Berry Tramel: 475-3314, btramel@oklahoman.com; Berry Tramel’s radio show, the Writer’s Block, can be heard Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m. on KREF-AM 1400, KADA-AM 1230; and KSEO-AM 750.
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