OKC Mayor Race 2014

[shawnw]

We wouldn't have an NBA team if it wasn't for Mayor Cornett. That is not saying he did it on his own or was the only factor but his work to get the Thunder here shouldn't be marginalized in any way.

Maybe it's minor, but I feel like the insistence (presumably by Cornett, but I don't know) on a temporary name change to "New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets" played a role in getting everyone used to the idea that we could have an NBA team in OKC, so that future mentions of NBA and Oklahoma City in the same sentence no longer seemed that preposterous...

[OSUFan]

Really great point Shawn that I hadn't really thought about much. Although he didn't have a vote in the deal, Cornett was also very insistent they be called the Oklahoma City Thunder and not the Oklahoma Thunder.

[mkjeeves]

How old was Mick in '92 and what was he doing? Nothing to do with this. It wasn't his idea. He had nothing to do with the idea. He had nothing to do with Maps 1 where the voters committed to collect and spend money on an arena. Credit where credit is due. He is due some, but not all that much in the grand scheme of effort, planning, and millions of dollars spent by the people.

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise

February 1992

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise; Arena Due Study | News OK

[warreng88]

Really great point Shawn that I hadn't really thought about much. Although he didn't have a vote in the deal, Cornett was also very insistent they be called the Oklahoma City Thunder and not the Oklahoma Thunder.

I remember when the name came out and all my Tulsa friends wondered why it was the OKC Thunder and not the Oklahoma Thunder. My reaction was, "Who paid for the arena to get built and renovated? People who shop in OKC. What ownership group bought the team? All OKC business men. Where is the arena? OKC..." I would always hear back that the Utah Jazz are in SLC and they aren't called the Salt Lake City Jazz and would reply with and what other team can you name that is named after the state? Minnesota and Washington and that is all in the NBA. And that is out of 30 teams.

[OSUFan]

I won't say he had nothing to do with MAPS 1. I have no clue. He might have voted. That being said I must have missed the claim someone made that Cornett was responsible for MAPS 1. A lot of things went into the Thunder coming here (MAPS, Cornett, Hurricane, Bennett). Take one of those things out and the Thunder don't end up here. MAPS was crucial to getting the Thunder here. Still, MAPS without Cornett and we don't get the Thunder. Just like Cornett without MAPS no Thunder.

[warreng88]

How old was Mick in '92 and what was he doing? Nothing to do with this. It wasn't his idea. He had nothing to do with the idea. He had nothing to do with Maps 1 where the voters committed to collect and spend money on an arena. Credit where credit is due. He is due some, but not all that much in the grand scheme of effort, planning, and millions of dollars spent by the people.

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise

February 1992

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise; Arena Due Study | News OK

But he had everything to do with getting the arena tax passed to get it updated and the Thunder here. That is what we are trying to say. What was Ed doing in 1992?

[mkjeeves]

I won't say he had nothing to do with MAPS 1. I have no clue. He might have voted. That being said I must have missed the claim someone made that Cornett was responsible for MAPS 1. A lot of things went into the Thunder coming here (MAPS, Cornett, Hurricane, Bennett). Take one of those things out and the Thunder don't end up here. MAPS was crucial to getting the Thunder here. Still, MAPS without Cornett and we don't get the Thunder. Just like Cornett without MAPS no Thunder.

I said substantial upthread, meaning his individual effort acting as a leader to bring the team here. He was a bit player in the big picture of the long term effort and most of what happened to bring them here was handed to him.

[OSUFan]

Mayor Cornett was anything but a bit player. To say that shows a complete lack of knowledge to how the Thunder got here.

[betts]

More importantly, what was Ed doing in 2008. And if Ed were Mayor during those years, does anyone think the Thunder would be here today?

[CaptDave]

Pretty clear the next tactic from Hudson & 7th is to attempt to diminish the successes Mayor Cornett has either led or helped bring about during his service as mayor.

Remind your friends to not be complacent and vote on March 4th.

[betts]

I said substantial upthread, meaning his individual effort acting as a leader to bring the team here. He was a bit player in the big picture of the long term effort and most of what happened to bring them here was handed to him.

Wrong. Aren't you the person promoting getting all the data, even if it might conflict with your preferred world view? You need to read "Big League City" too. Without Mick Cornett, we would still have a Ford Center and no Thunder.

[mkjeeves]

Wrong. Aren't you the person promoting getting all the data, even if it might conflict with your preferred world view? You need to read "Big League City" too. Without Mick Cornett, we would still have a Ford Center and no Thunder.

Without the Ford Center and the prior studies and ground work, where was Mick going to put a team? Nowhere. He wouldn't get his foot in the door.

[OSUFan]

Without the Ford Center and the prior studies and ground work, where was Mick going to put a team? Nowhere. He wouldn't get his foot in the door.

Of course and I don't see where anyone has even come close to disputing that. That doesn't diminish his role in the move.

[catch22]

Without the Ford Center and the prior studies and ground work, where was Mick going to put a team? Nowhere. He wouldn't get his foot in the door.

If you're trying to say that Cornett ran with the vision of his predecessors, I would agree. He took the torch and ran with it, and now we have a booming downtown, a healthy city overall, and an NBA team that has launched us into international status. I'd say he's done a good job of expanding on the groundwork that was laid down by the leaders and citizens before him.

[mkjeeves]

Yep. I'm saying "Mick brought us the Thunder" is about as accurate a statement as "Al Gore invented the internet" with one major difference, Al Gore was involved in the early stages paving the way. Mick wasn't.

[betts]

When Mick took office, he did have the rudiments of an NBA arena. And what he did was go to David Stern's door, of his own volition, and beg for a team. So often that, as Capt. Dave said, Stern called him "the mayor who wouldn't go away". Basically, the mayor who wouldn't take "no" for an answer. The mayor who saw his opportunity when Katrina damaged the Hornets' arena and within hours was again talking to David Stern about getting us a team temporarily. The mayor who fought to get the arena improvements MAPS tax passed, without which we would not have a permanent team. I stand by my statement, "Without Mick Cornett, we would not have the Thunder." You can also say without Ron Norick, and Kirk Humphries, the taxpayers and Clay Bennett. They all deserve credit. But, if any of those elements were missing, we would not have a team. Mick Cornett was a key element. Ed Shadid was NOT a key element and I stand by my statement that had he been mayor at the time, we would not have the Thunder.

[betts]

Yep. I'm saying "Mick brought us the Thunder" is about as accurate a statement as "Al Gore invented the internet" with one major difference, Al Gore was involved in the early stages paving the way. Mick wasn't.

And I call complete and unEDucated bs on this.

[mkjeeves]

And I call complete and unEDucated bs on this.

Okay. Where was Mick in '92 and what was his involvement with the plans at that time to bring an NBA team to OKC?

The link from upthread I'm referring to. http://newsok.com/city-plans-netting...rticle/2383994

[OSUFan]

I've tried to take you serious mk but it is pretty clear you are being obtuse on purpose. Again, no one is saying Cornett is the sole reason the Thunder are here and yet you keep arguing that people are saying that. However, Cornett was key player in the Thunder making the move. To somehow diminish his involvement either means you haven't been paying attention the last decade or simply refuse to give the man any credit for whatever reason.

[warreng88]

Okay. Where was Mick in '92 and what was his involvement with the plans at that time to bring an NBA team to OKC?

The link from upthread I'm referring to. City Plans Netting NBA Franchise; Arena Due Study | News OK

Good Lord. No one is saying Mick was alone in bringing the Thunder here. Not one person is saying that. What we are saying is that without him there is no way there would be a Thunder team here. None.

[mkjeeves]

Really. Some other mayor with an empty arena built for an NBA team and all the other planning and economic factors in play, "no way" would there be a team here. Right.

[Dubya61]

How old was Mick in '92 and what was he doing? Nothing to do with this. It wasn't his idea. He had nothing to do with the idea. He had nothing to do with Maps 1 where the voters committed to collect and spend money on an arena. Credit where credit is due. He is due some, but not all that much in the grand scheme of effort, planning, and millions of dollars spent by the people.

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise

February 1992

City Plans Netting NBA Franchise; Arena Due Study | News OK

If he voted as a regular citizen, he had more to do with it than his primary opposition.

[catch22]

Really. Some other mayor with an empty arena built for an NBA team and all the other planning and economic factors in play, "no way" would there be a team here. Right.

With all of the things we had, we needed a mayor who would go and get us a team. Cornett was a corner piece in the large intricate puzzle that led to us getting a team. Yes, him, along with many others contributed, but he was a cornerstone to getting it.

Anyways we are off topic, Thunder is doing great, and so is our city. I'm voting for Cornett again.

[betts]

Seriously, are you just an Ed plant spouting the party line? Why did the Hornets come to Oklahoma City? They were likely going to play in Baton Rouge initially. George Shinn didn't even know OKC had an arena. Who told him we did? David Stern. How did David Stern know that? Read "Big League City". Kansas City has a much prettier, empty arena that was NBA ready in 2007. Why didn't the Sonics go there instead? People who were paying attention know the answers to these questions. Mick Cornett is the answer to all or part of each question.

[warreng88]

Really. Some other mayor with an empty arena built for an NBA team and all the other planning and economic factors in play, "no way" would there be a team here. Right.

Most Mayors would not have gone to the lengths that he did to get the team here. He traveled back and forth to NYC to talk to David Stern personally about getting an NBA team and wouldn't take no for an answer. He talked to Clay Bennett personally about getting the Sonics because CB had expressed interest in buying the Hornets from George Shinn to get them to stay in OKC instead of going back to N.O.. He pushed to get an arena renovation done to lure the Sonics to come here. He personally did all of those things. So, no, I don't think most mayors would spend the time, effort and money to do all those things to bring a team to the 45th largest TV market and the 29th largest in population.