Eric Williams covered the Sonics' last season in Seattle. A Tacoma native, Eric graduated from Mount Tahoma High and the University of Puget Sound.
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Here is Clay Bennett's response, along with a clarification by minority owner Aubrey McClendon, on comments he made in today's Journal Record on wanting to bring the Seattle Sonics to Oklahoma City.
Clay Bennett
“As the controlling owner, I admire my fellow owners and appreciate their support. While they are excited about the basketball operations and the future of the team on the court, they, like me, have been disheartened by the lack of progress we have made to secure a new arena for the Sonics and Storm.
"Aubrey expressed his personal thoughts and, in context of the story, was not speaking on behalf of the ownership group. It is my hope we will see a breakthrough in the next 60 days that will result in securing a new arena for the Sonics and Storm in the Greater Seattle area.”
Aubrey McClendon
“I support our efforts to secure a new arena for the Sonics and Storm in the Greater Seattle area. Clay is the one who speaks for the ownership group. Today's interview in the Oklahoma City-based business newspaper, Journal Record, simply reflects what has been my personal desire concerning NBA basketball in Oklahoma City. It has always been my hope that Oklahoma City would have an NBA team someday.
"That said, I was always aware and understood our number one goal was to work with officials to build a new arena in the Seattle area. I have supported Clay and the ownership group to use our good faith best efforts to secure a new arena and keep the teams in Seattle. I admire Clay's tireless efforts and his persistence to get an arena and keep the teams in Seattle.
"I support him completely. The comment about my personal hopes cannot in any way be interpreted to mean the organization has not exhaustively pursued every reasonable avenue to get an arena deal done and keep the Sonics and Storm in Seattle. However, as Clay has consistently stated, a solution to the arena issue must be found by October 31.”
COMMENTS:
From this last paragraph it appears that Mr. McClendon is attempting to cover his perverbial butt. Mr. Bennett must have reminded him that legally they are bound to make a "Best Faith Effort" to find an arena deal in the Seattle area. By making his original comments, it would confirm that they did not make their best effort since their original intent was always to move the team.
"Hey now, they're just being good republicans. Why is anybody surprised by this?"
This is not a R vs D political issue. This is a civic issue. There are a lot of Republicans in the Northwest who are part of the effort to save this team. Why in the world would you want to alienate them?
We need to stifle are poltical attacks. If a good liberal like Howard Schultz wasn't the guy who sold us out you may have a leg to stand on...
Stop the politics crap. Now!
Having said all that, all this was apparent over a year ago - what took the rest of you so long to figure it out.
But I don't think whether Presti owns a place or not reveals the Sonics ownership's true intentions.
These dudes don't disagree on anything. They haven't from the time they ponied up an exorbitant sum to become NBA owners. They were united in seeking a franchise for their hometown, OKC.
Face it, the Sonics are gone. They were gone when Walker/Schultz conned Bennett and company out of $350 million for the privilege of dickering with David Stern about the future of the league and the viability of their franchise, wherever it may eventually settle.
As much as I consider Seattle and King County government to be bumbling idiots, this is the smoking gun. Turns out that they never wanted to be here at all. I don't blame them for not wanting to be at the Key, but their failure to produce anything meaningful as an alternative and sit back and wait for a deadlinem plus this latest news, tells us what the real plan is.
That being said, David Stern is smart as a whip. I can't imagine him being happy about this. Whether he knew about this or not doesn't matter. What matters now is that he will have to deal with it, and maybe that is a good thing for all of us.
It's a shame that a Starbucks boycott wouldn't work........
Do we have a Slade Gorton ro step up? Somebody who will tell Stern, fix this or bye bye NBA's anti-trust exemption? While I'm a Dem myself, somehow I don't see Murray or Cantwell going there......
"Thank you for contacting me regarding the Seattle Supersonics and the Seattle Storm. It is good to hear from you.
For forty years, Seattle and all of Washington state have enjoyed cheering for the Sonics, and sharing in their victories and defeats on the basketball court. The Sonics franchise has created jobs for surrounding residents, provided hours of entertainment for Washingtonians, and enriched the cultural landscape of Seattle and of our state. The addition of the Seattle Storm in 2000 only enhanced these assets.
As you know, the Sonics and the Storm were sold last year to a small group of investors based in Oklahoma City. Although decisions relating to the location of the Sonics and Storm's stadium are not federal matters, I will follow this situation closely.
I appreciate your contacting me about this matter and I hope to hear from you again."
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