HUGE NEWS! Clay Bennett & Co. buy Supersonics!

[HOT ROD]

metro. Judging from a sample of these comments on the PI, Im not the only person in Seattle who thinks we are small time.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Sound Off

#274780
Posted by zorro6204 at 10/25/07 7:06 p.m.

So how will the short-sighted do-nothing local government bozos spin this? It's not like the league commissioner had any ax to grind here. If we listened to these clowns there would no major league sports in this city of any kind, and here we are letting them lose the third franchise. Can you imagine 50 years from now, a father sitting with his son in Safeco and explaining how they almost lost the baseball team because of the cost? Can you imagine how little $500 million would mean in that kind of hindsight? So the commissioner shakes his head, thinking "what fools". No kidding.

#274788
Posted by bigCon at 10/25/07 7:15 p.m.

Thus, Seattle proves once again they are not a world class city and will never be one. Just keep voting the left wing whackos into office and see Seattle continue to go down the hill.

#274908
Posted by preacher at 10/25/07 10:38 p.m.

Seattle has never been or will never be a Major city like New York or LA

Seattle has always been a small time town with Big City dreams, but it will never really be able to compete with the "Big Boys". By Bye NBA to bad the people didn't have the heart to compete,in the Big Leagues

#274911
Posted by Lord Sauron at 10/25/07 10:42 p.m.

Goodbye overpaid, whining, drug addict, professional athletes and their corrupt owners. Don't let the door hit your arse too hard on the way out....

This one below is great, and really is my feelings as well (Seattle is sooo pretentious!!!)

#274917
Posted by Snowbound at 10/25/07 10:45 p.m.

Anybody that routinely spends $5-7 bucks a day on lattes
can surely handle the cost of another arena whether your team wins or loses. The westside of our state has been screwed up for a long time. Winning or losing basketball games isn't the reason, it's your blend of limp wristed political activism.

#274939
Posted by Iulianus at 10/25/07 11:13 p.m.

To echo others on this.

Go.

Get thee gone.

Please spare us any more of this nonsense.

Go to OKC where you all want to be. And just leave us all be.

No one care. Get it?

[traxx]

Here's a link to the Oklahoman from today:

NewsOK: Anti-Sonics feelings in Seattle keeps Stern on sidelines

Basically it sounds like Stern will grant a relo if the Sonics can get out of their lease. He actually sounds pretty pessimistic about things working out in Seattle.

[BDP]

Yeah, it sounds like this has all boiled down to lease negotiations. The 10/31 deadline only applies to petitioning the NBA for relocation, which seems to have the support of the commissioner. I'm not sure whether the owners will vote on such a motion before or after the legal issues regarding the lease are ironed out.

I really don't blame anyone in this whole scenario. Basically, Seattle is done subsidizing pro sports, and I can respect that, especially when you consider that the market is in good shape even after the Sonics leave. It wasn't working for the Sonics in Seattle as of late, so they wanted some help and that help was not forthcoming. The only real mess has come from the few zealots whose egos are reeling a little bit from their team being moved to what is perceived as an inferior market. So, they are filing law suits out of spite and so that they don't look impotent in the process. They want to make it hard on the Sonics and they want to hurt the current owners. It's clear that they certainly want to do that more than they want to help the team stay in the Puget Sound. Now that is hard to respect, but I think HOT ROD has made it clear that this is a few over zealous politicians trying to save face more than it is a community that wants to enforce a lease on an organization that they're not real fired up about to begin with.

[traxx]

Yeah, it sounds like this has all boiled down to lease negotiations. The 10/31 deadline only applies to petitioning the NBA for relocation, which seems to have the support of the commissioner. I'm not sure whether the owners will vote on such a motion before or after the legal issues regarding the lease are ironed out.

I really don't blame anyone in this whole scenario. Basically, Seattle is done subsidizing pro sports, and I can respect that, especially when you consider that the market is in good shape even after the Sonics leave. It wasn't working for the Sonics in Seattle as of late, so they wanted some help and that help was not forthcoming. The only real mess has come from the few zealots whose egos are reeling a little bit from their team being moved to what is perceived as an inferior market. So, they are filing law suits out of spite and so that they don't look impotent in the process. They want to make it hard on the Sonics and they want to hurt the current owners. It's clear that they certainly want to do that more than they want to help the team stay in the Puget Sound. Now that is hard to respect, but I think HOT ROD has made it clear that this is a few over zealous politicians trying to save face more than it is a community that wants to enforce a lease on an organization that they're not real fired up about to begin with.

You hit the nail on the head. I just wonder how this will effect Seattle when another team is up for re-lo and they want that team because this squabble is not making them look good. I don't think they realize how bad this makes them look. It may ward off any future owners from moving to Seattle for fear of being held hostage like the Sonics.

[jbrown84]

The Times did report it, but they buried it at the bottom of the sports page:

Sonics | Stern is staying on sideline concerning Sonics | Seattle Times Newspaper

[jbrown84]

Well said BDP and traxx

[HOT ROD]

interesting find, and BDP - you summarized my toughts entirely!!!

We have to vote on November 7 I think, that is pretty much all of this city stuff is all about - trying to get the fans to the polls. And like you said, there are some idiots who are also trying to make it difficult for Bennett and the NBA - like an immature tit for tat.

I bet Vancouver gets an NBA team before Seattle does, especially since the NBA never really gave the Grizz a chance or the huge market there to develop.

Here is a story on that very note from the SeaTimes, the Sonics are up in Van City for an Exhibition game (the bustling streets of downtown Van ARE LOTS OF FUN, by the way)!

Sonics | Sonics Notebook | Vancouver knows what it's like to have team leave town | Seattle Times Newspaper

Sonics Notebook | Vancouver knows what it's like to have team leave town

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Walk the bustling downtown streets of Vancouver and you'll find some people who are still bothered that their NBA franchise left for Memphis in April 2001. Most have since detached themselves from the league, not aware the season starts next week and the Sonics are in town to play Phoenix, which features Canadian star Steve Nash.

Still, GM Place announced a sold-out crowd of 18,630 on Thursday. And the two Sonics players who were in the league when the Grizzlies were in town — Kurt Thomas and Wally Szczerbiak — are pumped to be back in the city.

"The citizens here welcomed the NBA with open arms," said Thomas, a 12-year veteran who played for New York when the Grizzlies relocated. "The fans, they really loved the Grizzlies."

Owner Michael Heisley blamed the move on dipping attendance, which dragged the team into debt. The Grizzlies averaged 17,183 fans their opening season of 1995-96, finishing 15-67. The attendance dropped to 13,737 their final season in 2000-01 when the team went 23-59.

But Memphis isn't drawing much better, even with a new arena. The height there was 16,862 in 2004-05 when the team, which included current Sonics guard Earl Watson, finished 45-37 and lost in the opening round of the playoffs. The Grizzlies averaged 14,654 fans last season.

"I miss it," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said of the former NBA stop. "Particularly when I [coached] in Portland, it seemed we played here five times a year. A lot of people in the league were enormously disappointed when the team moved from here."

Local reporters immediately correlated the loss of the Grizzlies to the Sonics' current arena battle and how the Pacific Northwest could lose another NBA franchise. Players and Carlesimo dodged the question, however, preferring to praise Vancouver and focus on the game.

The Sonics (1-6) are coming off two rough fourth quarters that led to exhibition losses against Golden State and Portland, but Carlesimo said he's more confident about the team than he was when the week began.

"It's the best we played all year," said Carlesimo of the past two games, one without rookie Kevin Durant. "We're nowhere near where we need to be. But hopefully we can build on that and then we have three more practices before we get ready for Denver and Phoenix again [in the first two games of the season]. I'm happy with our progress the past three days."

Got five?

Even though today's game is the Sonics' exhibition finale, Carlesimo hasn't committed to the starting lineup as the one he'll use for Wednesday's opener in Denver.

The coach plans to start Luke Ridnour, Damien Wilkins, rookie Jeff Green, Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison tonight, but alluded to rookie Kevin Durant (ankle) and center Robert Swift (knee) as opening-night starters if both recover from injuries. Swift aggravated his knee during practice Thursday.

Reuniting

Thomas will face former Phoenix teammates, but said the matchup doesn't matter.

"It's a preseason game," he said. "I'm just glad I get to see my old teammates. I was fortunate to play with those guys for two years. We had a great run those two years, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again."

Thomas became available when the Suns wanted to clear salary-cap space and the Sonics had a $9 million exception from their sign-and-trade deal with Orlando for forward Rashard Lewis.

"He's going to get quality minutes for us," Carlesimo said. "Kurt Thomas is a very good player in this league, and I think he will be for a couple more years. We were lucky to get him."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

[HOT ROD]

2 more days guys!

[Nixon7]

Are we going to get an arbitration decision today?

[metro]

No kidding, I thought the judge was supposed to rule in no more than a week, it's been more than a week, nearing two weeks.

[Nixon7]

I wonder who it favors if it keeps dragging out...

[metro]

My guess is Seattle since Stern made his voice of opinion clear. The judge even though not up for election for his seat, may still be biased to try and work it out in Seattle's favor. Seems to me if it was a matter of simple contract law, something would have already been said by now.

[solitude]

My guess is Seattle since Stern made his voice of opinion clear. The judge even though not up for election for his seat, may still be biased to try and work it out in Seattle's favor. Seems to me if it was a matter of simple contract law, something would have already been said by now.

A federal court judge has other things to do besides decide a lease for a basketball team. They must consider it carefully and cross every "T" and dot every "I". My thinking is this is on the list of things to do, but the NBA isn't always the priority. Imagine that!! Let's all hope it's decided in the next couple of days though.

[Midtowner]

My guess is Seattle since Stern made his voice of opinion clear. The judge even though not up for election for his seat, may still be biased to try and work it out in Seattle's favor. Seems to me if it was a matter of simple contract law, something would have already been said by now.

"Simple contract law."

I don't use internet abbreviations an awful lot, but this deserves a big "L-O-L."

[Kerry]

I am not even sure what the judge is supposed to be deciding in this case. What did the City of Seattle ask the judge to do?

[OU Adonis]

I am not even sure what the judge is supposed to be deciding in this case. What did the City of Seattle ask the judge to do?

He is just deciding if it goes to arbitration or not. He is supposed to decide this today according to newsok.com.

[okclee]

NewsOK: NBA season has plenty of intrigue<br/><span class='hl2'>OKC is out in the cold for now, but here are 5 story lines to hold your interest</span>

It all means Oklahoma City might become home to an NBA team this time next year. Before beginning the countdown, however, the Sonics must first win their court case with the city of Seattle to escape the final two years of their KeyArena contract. A Washington state judge is expected to announce his ruling today on whether the case must stay in court or can be settled by arbitrators.

From the Oklahoman. Newsok.com

We could find out this evening, on the ruling.

[Saberman]

It's being reported in Seattle, that the case will stay in Federal Court and not go to arbitration.

They are reporting this as a victory for Seattle.

[okclee]

A victory for Seattle, would be for the city of Seattle to build the Sonics a new arena.

Here is the link for the Victory.

Local News | City wins court ruling in Sonics case | Seattle Times Newspaper

City wins court ruling in Sonics case
Seattle Times staff

In a victory for Seattle, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez ruled today the city's lawsuit seeking to enforce the Sonics' KeyArena lease should remain in federal court.

The team owners had sought to send the case to binding arbitration and are seeking permission to leave KeyArena before the lease ends in September 2010.

In his written ruling issued this afternoon, Martinez agreed with the city that the dispute revolves around the essential term or length of the lease. He called Sonics' owners arguments to the contrary "as errant as a typical Shaquille O'Neal free throw."

[Saberman]

Link to decision pdf:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/PDF/sonicsruling.pdf

[Nixon7]

2010 it is.

[Saberman]

They have been trying to spin this as a victory for Seattle, but it only means that this will be decided on a courtroom.

This decision was not about who was right or who is wrong. It only decided how they would go about deciding where the contract would be argued. There is still a lot of courtroom wrangling to do on this one, this is only the beginning.

[Nixon7]

Does this open an opportunity for them to get soemthing done in the legislature this spring?

[OU Adonis]

Does this open an opportunity for them to get soemthing done in the legislature this spring?

As in what? Build a new arena? I don't see that happening.

Can’t Clay do something like this? Hear me out.

Clay goes ahead and files now for relocation with the BOG for 2010. This will say to Seattle that no matter what they do, the Sonics will be leaving in 2010 so all their court antics will go for naught.

I am sure some will say “can someone apply to move in advance”. From what I have heard its been done in the past. If they have the support of David Stern (Which it appears they do) and the BOG then it can happen. I don’t see the BOG turning the request down. Once that happens, Seattle knows they will not keep the team past 2010 period.

Seattle stops putting up the fight, and then Clay appends is move request to start in 2008 or 2009.

Anyone see holes in my idea?

[Nixon7]

I dont know much about it, but the deadline for relocation is March 1 I think. Hopefully the court battle will be over by then so we can get them in 08/09...It just sucks that we have waited for this oct 31 date, now we will have to wait until who knows when...oh well, thats pro sports.