It's funny how NBA.com and the official Sonics page have nothing to say on this matter. Stern can't hide forever. So far in the last year he has dealt with a lot of issues that I was dissapointed in the outcome. I guess this won't be any different.

Somebody needs to lay down the law. If Stern doesn't, then maybe the courts will.

People from Ok. just don't get it...

The city was blindsided by the sale of the Sonics, and then Good ol boy Bennett ,a out of state owner, gives us basicly a little over a year deadline, makes "effort" by saying if we pay for most of it he will stay?

And that idiot from The Daily Ok. says the ball is in our court? LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER!!! Bennit has had the ball the whole time. Ballhogging I rather say, Like Koybe on game night!!! Stern if you really think Key arena is so bad...THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING BEFORE THEY RE-MODELED IT!!!!

The guy from New York has it right. Hopefully the city of Seattle can make this go on for awhile until The Good ol Boys start losing money and just want out. Then someone on a white horse can buy the team and keep it where it belongs...

Rant over...

Paul

um...I am the worst speller...obviously...I mean BENNETT...I wish I could go back and change that...*hint hint*

Paul

Hermann22 you're wish is my command. Bennett has been corrected.

You the man Eric...thanks for your great work...

It never ceases to amaze me how party lines are drawn. NYSun columnist had a pretty bipartisan and completely accurate artical. Bonehead from OKCity spoke as if he had Bennett quoting the column in the background for him. We all want our Sonics to stay, but I would offer them up in a second in lieu of keeping this ownership in Seattle on their terms.
I am now waiting on Stern to do the right thing...and we all know what that is.

I totally agree with you about Okcity idiots, Fuzzy...

Stern isn't going to let them leave and maybe thats something the city KNOWS and maybe they pull that card out to Bennett behind closed doors...

Isn't anyone listening to the citizens of Seattle? Doesn't the NBA know that we don't want our team to be hijacked by a bunch of rich country boys? WTH! If this goes through and the team is moved, it is going to be a sad day for basketball. I don't understand how the important guys like Stern can just sit there and not say or do anything. I know that there are problems that owners have with the Key but that doesn't mean that those things can't be addressed.

Stern obviously has bigger things to worry about right now BUT that will change when the Good ol boy deadline looms and the Okies are ready to say "well we tried." When that time comes I think Stern will step in and say either get a arena deal done or sell the team to a local owner.

Eric, in the past have such a thing happend? Where a team is trying to be moved by ownership and the leauge makes them sell the team to a local owner who will not move them? I want to say "yes" but I can't come up with anything...

help...

As the commentary in the NY Sun stated, the commissioner and the league (team owners) itself will have plenty to say about a team moving to a smaller market creating the possibility of losing (more) money. Nobody (team owners) wants to now have to share...or shall I say lose revenue to a team that is losing money. This issue is a long way from over, and I hate to break it to Barry Trammel (bonehead from OKCity) but the ball is not in our court, it is in the accumulative court that is the NBA and its owners. But, the bottom line for Seattle and the Key Arena is DO NOT LET THEM OUT OF THEIR LEASE UNDER ANY CONDITION!

When do we vote on the deals a deal prop?

i believe they are planning to have the measure on the February ballot for voters who live in Seattle city limits.

Hollinger misses that McClendon's remarks provide a ammunition for a possible anti-trust lawsuit against Bennett & Co. and against the NBA, if they approve moving the franchise before the lease is up. The threat of an anti-trust lawsuit is significant, in that it allows for demanding treble damages.

Hollinger handed them owners their asses.

I think this quote from the NY article is huge,

"The former is hurtful because the terms of the Sonics sale to the current group from Starbucks founder Howard Schultz require the new owners to make a good-faith effort to keep the team in Seattle before moving it. By McClendon essentially admitting that the new owners never intended to keep the team in town, he opens the ownership group to legal challenges to an attempted move that could drag on for years"

I hope the city of Seattle has the brains to use that.

I also hope the initiative requiring the city to hold the tem to the lease passes. I don't live in Seattle, but anyone who does, please vote for it!

Eric, thanks for the link to the NY article.