Look, I'm all in favor of the Oklahoma City Whatchamacallits.
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The soon-to-be-former Seattle SuperSonics are moving here any year now, and I'm all for it.
But all the negotiating, stonewalling, manipulating, bickering and e-mailing have grown tiresome.
NBA commissioner David Stern loves Oklahoma City. We know this because he tells us every 15-20 minutes or so, which is a nice ego boost.
Next week, the league's board of governors is expected to approve OKC as a relocation destination. That, too, is nice.
Enough of the niceties. We want action.
Sonics owners and the city of Seattle need to join hands, reach an accord, sing "Kumbaya” and get on with their respective lives so we can get on with ours.
Get some hammers and nails, start renovating the Ford Center, come up with a mascot (I think I like "Barons,” but can be talked out of it), pick out some team colors and let's play hoop.
ASAP.
Why the rush?
Because we miss our Hornets. We need something to fill the void.
OK, they weren't really "our” Hornets.
Michael Thompson, the director of corporate communications and the public address announcer during games, was kind enough to bequeath the displaced team from New Orleans as "your hometown Hornets” while screaming his pre-game introductions.
It was a nice gesture and much appreciated. Then again, screaming out "Please Welcome The Temporarily Relocated New Orleans Hornets!” would have been a tad wordy.
In their two seasons here, our Hornets went a combined 77-87 (38-44 in 2005-06; 39-43 in 2006-07).
Though the Hornets themselves weren't thrilled with the results, it was perfectly acceptable to us, seeing how some of us were so blind with affection we forgot to look at the scoreboard.
The snakebit Hornets were battered, bruised and beaten, and that doesn't include all the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Their roster was a revolving door of personnel — young and old, good and bad, nice and nicer.
If a grumpy group like, say, the New York Knicks had to relocate here because of a wicked Nor'easter, I'm guessing our arms wouldn't have been opened nearly as wide.
Our hearts pounded for the Hornets, and it wasn't just because of the hurricane.
Media types couldn't have asked for a better combination:
•Responses from head coach Byron Scott hit you right between the eyes.
•General manager Jeff Bower is talented, yet too modest to toot his own horn.
•Owner George Shinn, bless him, kept tooting his horn.
•Former vice president of operations Willis Reed is a Hall of Fame player and person and one of the game's grand ambassadors.
•And we haven't even discussed the players, who constantly went out of the way to thank OKC, seemingly at the end of every interview.
It's hard to imagine a friendlier combination.
Now our ex-Hornets have the best record in the Western Conference.
Whenever the Sonics do arrive, they'll have a tough act to follow.
Here's hoping the Sonics arrive soon. And when they finally call Oklahoma City home, I can't wait to look at their schedule.
To see when they play our Hornets.
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As I stated jill, New Orleans did not have a city business man try to purchase a majority share of a team (hornets) nor did New Orleans go and purchase a team (sonics) to move there! New Orleans simply offered relocation incentives to the grizzlies and timberwolves, that is not stealing, it was their teams owners choice whether to move! No pots or kettles black in The Big Easy! So, you wanna try to vindicate your boys (bennett and co.) or slick mick by this crap of yours some more?
He had to keep his mouth shut for 12 months. He didn't. If Stern or Schultz come after him that one proposal won't be enough. Next time do it over the PHONE!
"The e-mails prove he defaulted on that requirement and breached the contract."...But his actions muddy that argument...He spent a good chunk of change and made a proposal that was endorsed by a senior Senator in their legislature...Would have been similar to the deals the Hawks and Mariners got for their stadiums yet his was supposedly WAY over the top..Maybe it was but that was only because the Sonics were the least favorite of the three teams
Seattle not building an arena doesn't matter. The purchase contract included language that required Bennett to make a one year good faith effort to keep the team in Seattle. The e-mails prove he defaulted on that requirement and breached the contract. Thank god the parties involved were Schultz and Bennett so Seattle cannot sue. BUT if Schultz decides to he could pretty easily get the sale revoked then we're all screwed. Let's hope Schultz keeps his $350 million and sips his coffee. So all this talk about "Seattle had their chance to build an arena" is totally pointless. Beyond that threat if Stern gets offended that Bennett lied to his face and decides the other owners should not approve the relocation then we're screwed there. So this really is a big deal and it has nothing to do with Seattle. It's whether Stern or Schultz want to make life miserable for us.
Seattle not building an arena doesn't matter. The purchase contract included language that required Bennett to make a one year good faith effort to keep the team in Seattle. The e-mails prove he defaulted on that requirement and breached the contract. Thank god the parties involved were Schultz and Bennett so Seattle cannot sue. BUT if Schultz decides to he could pretty easily get the sale revoked then we're all screwed. Let's hope Schultz keeps his $350 million and sips his coffee. So all this talk about "Seattle had their chance to build an arena" is totally pointless. Beyond that threat if Stern gets offended that Bennett lied to his face and decides the other owners should not approve the relocation then we're screwed there. So this really is a big deal and it has nothing to do with Seattle. It's whether Stern or Schultz want to make life miserable for us.
This blog is starting to stink. "jill said" Who cares what "get a life" jill says. All crazy home cooking and from a chic no doubt! Bennetts girl. Mom. Wife. Girlfriend. Something. An $85 million dollar facility does not become a $200 million dollar facility just because you put 100+ million in RENOVATIONS!!! The renovated ford center will still be a lesser arena than even New Orleans arena, which is in bottom half of league. Putting a new motor in your old cutlass does not increase the value of the car, it just makes it viable. Jill is a simpleton. Speaking of simpletons. How about ronde. Like tramel, funny stuff. "NBA comish David Stern loves okt" Why do you say that? I can hear the comish now, "i love that town in the middle of no-where to house one of my NBA franchises. Now if we can only figure out a way to get a team into demoine?" How about this zinger from ronde "sonics moving here any YEAR now" These bennett paid writers are too entertaining. P.S. I have been to most NBA arenas and to ford center. You could "dump" 200 million into existing building and it would still be one of NBA"s lesser facilities. Typical okt, think you were getting Hornets and you were wrong. Dead wrong. Not happening. Now you are wrong about your arena. (within 5 years, talk of new building or leaving-you guys would know this kinda stuff if you ever had major league sports. NBA ready arena means only one thing-pulling millions more out of fans, period) And finally, you guys are wrong about sonics. And believe me, Stern is not a big fan of existing small market teams, including my New Olreans. Why would he give a -you know what- about okt? Seriously. Comments from a bennett paid newspaper writer "stern loves okt" simple b.s. and weird wishful thinking. Again, Seattle is a world class city and NBA's #1 goal is to keep team in Seattle. Obviously! And with e-mails and money for vote in okt, longshot move is officially dead. You can thank childish ownership group for that. WHEN this does not go down you will be saying "should have listened to New Orleans guy, he told us to go after hockey, now we have nothing!!!" Off to French Quarter festival. Enjoy
jill says: The million dollar remodel of the Ford Center brings it up to about a $200 million facility, and when you consider the fact that houses in Seattle cost three times what they do in OKC, our contribution is not that far off. Construction and land cost up there must be a pain.....................Jill, there are no land costs involved in Seattle's arenas. The Key is already owned by the City so the remodel will not involve purchasing new land. The Muckleshoots offer of 40 acres for free in the middle of the population base did not involve any land costs. The Arena in Renton also did not involve any land costs as Bennett never bothered to ask the owner if he wanted to sell the land before asking the State Legislature to build his 400 million dollar Arena on it.
Wow this is truely some prize winning journalism. I'm thankful we have such talented people to write these well research and factual stories. These people deserve raises for their literary genius!
Chris, I didn't say Bennett was right to lie, just that it didn't make any difference, couldn't make any difference because no one knew about them until recently. They didn't change the fact that no one in Seattle was willing to build an arena, the one thing Seattle was told from day one was required to keep the team there. If you look at other cities that want to keep their teams.....Charlotte, Memphis, Houston, Orlando and even Oklahoma City, the city government has worked fairly tirelessly to get arena deals done so that the team would stay....or in Charlotte's situation, since they hated Shinn, worked to get one done for a new team and owner. Seattle government was the picture of indifference during that year, and they were given a deadline at the beginning of it. The city was figuratively spitting in the eye of the NBA, Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett. Now they want to make a big deal about a few e-mails, in what looks to me like an attempt to obscure the fact that the city and state dropped the ball. It is an election year, after all. And Albert, you're ignoring the fact that New Orleans went after both the Timberwolves and the Grizzlies before they got the Hornets. In Seattle, they call that team stealing. Pot, meet kettle.
You Dean, are an idiot. Don't equate buying the Sonics to your trips to Walmart. You don't buy anything from Walmart with the requirement that you must not intend to take it out of the store. Bennett bought an NBA franchise with the right to operate the team in Seattle. Stop crying that you don't have an NBA franchise in OKC. If you want one so bad why don't you become a more attractive city to market the NBA in instead of trying to steal someone else's all the time?
"Shinn took the attendance clause out last month and they are working on a long term lease with the city."...Sonics having rights to OKC probably has something to do with that...Really not any other attractive cities out there for Shinn to move to that would warrant a sizeable buyout of his current lease
That jill is what gives okc a bad name now a days, bennett and co. sought out a team to buy so they could move them here. Shinn used the arena game to relocate the hornets, he was not from New Orleans, he did not buy them to move to New Orleans. Like the lady said just because we bought into "it's our hornets" to keep a smart businessman in business until he return to New Orleans dose not mean that they were "our team" in any way! Shinn took the attendance clause out last month and they are working on a long term lease with the city.
jill, there is a difference between a owner wanting to move their team and using building a new arena or we are going somewhere else and (as bennett did ) trying to buy a majority of the hornets so he could move them here or as he has done...buying the sonics to move them here! So your last post is crap!
The owners can do whatever they want, they BOUGHT THE TEAM it's not Seattle's, man you guys are a bunch of crybabies...waah...wah. All OKC did is show support for NBA basketball and are still going too. You Seattle fans act like it is literally your team, it's not, none of you ponied up 250 plus million for it, but OKC fans did pony up money for the renovations, showed more support than Seattle. Like I said you are all crybabies, if you just be patient both cities are probably going to have the NBA. Bennett and company didn't steal anything, it would be like you going to Walmart and buying something and the store charging you with stealing. I'm sorry it's probably pass your nap time and you guys need your diaper changed!
I agree 100% with the article. Get our team to OKC as soon as possible. I think the OUTLAWS would be the perfect name and Bennett and co. would make a nice pot of gold with merch. over the next several years.
It's not OKCs fault that the people of Seattle didn't support the Sonics so I do not feel bad about taking the team away from them.
Oh yes, and I would like to add: Governor Gregoire, if you've never lied to your constituents or a person you've done business with, then you have the right to be outraged at Clay Bennett's e-mail "lies". However, given your chosen profession, I'd be shocked if you have the right to outrage.
Dominique, the Hornets would only leave New Orleans if they weren't supported, per the agreement with George Shinn. If you all support them, they'll stay, and that's what most of us Hornet fans wanted for them. It looked pretty grim at the start of this year, but it's improved. Now, I don't know what will happen when they're bad again, as all teams are in the cyclic world of sports, but for now, you all are doing right by them. But I would like to remind you that the Hornets were taken from Charlotte by New Orleans for a similar reason.....Charlotte wouldn't build George Shinn an arena, and I distinctly remember New Orleans trying to get both the Grizzlies and the Timberwolves prior to that. Cities without teams are usually anxious enough to have one that they don't care too much about the feelings of the city the team is leaving, and New Orleans is no exception. Kansas City is willing, you are right, to take the Sonics or the Hornets from New Orleans, Seattle or Oklahoma City....they're not picky....and Las Vegas would do the same. Let he that has no sin cast the first stone.
Dominique, the Hornets wouldn't even be around if it weren't for OKC. Their cash supported the team way better than anything "New Orleans" ever did. It was only New Orleans in NAME. And that is the truth and you know it. So don't come on here now making like you are all that, remember - OKC might not get the Hornets back but that doesn't mean that Kansas City wont get them in a year, now does it?
As a New Orleans Hornets fan, it hurts to see our former baby-sitters try and take posession of our team. Memo to OKC, the Hornets were NEVER your team. Let me repeat: the Hornets were NEVER your team. I'm sorry that your announcer tricked you into thinking that. I'm thankful that yu took in our team in our time of need byt trying to take our team is down right wrong.
If yu want to know why people hate ya'll, this is why. You outwardly covet the Hornets and outwardly covet the Sonics even though it's not set in stone that the Sonics will be moving. Who's to say that the NBA won't find KC more appealing?
"It is yet another example of why Oklahomans should be embarrassed about this newspaper and the ownership group"...I would much rather be embarrassed about a newspaper and a few wealthy dudes than how you should be with your politicians Steve...Ford center upgrades won't be done for two more years anyway so no real hurry
To say this piece is amateur would be an understatement. It was completely unconvincing as to why the SEATTLE SuperSonics should leave the great Pacific Northwest, and read more like a love letter to the Hornets and George Shinn. It is yet another example of why Oklahomans should be embarrassed about this newspaper and the ownership group. If you guys want to be "big league," you'll have to do better than this. Oklahoma's going to have to wait AT LEAST another two years before the NBA gets there, if at all.
I'm a native Oklahoman, about to re-locate to OKC after 20 years, and I personally couldn't care less about the NBA, since it's full over foreigners and prolific breeders of illegitimate children. That said, it still angers me to hear all the Seattle diatribe. They could have kept their team, if they had wanted to. I applaud the owners for attempting to do something to put OKC on the map, along with their other efforts, like revitalizing downtown OKC, etc. While they may be billionaires, they are civic-minded and doing good to OKC. I personally think the "lies" will all be forgotten in short order, much like the Browns' move to Baltimore has been.
"Time and time again your new owners that represent your fine city have been caught red-handed for what they are…LIARS."...I guess I missed the part where they were deemed official representatives of OKC...Were Lay and Skilling representatives of Houston?
I am a Seattle Supersonics fan, have been for decades. I have loved watching my team over the years, even worked as an usher in the newly remodeled Key Arena so I could keep going to every home game when the ticket price for anything but the nosebleed section skyrocketed way above what a regular person could reasonably spend ($160?! What?!).
But I was and am against spending hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate what is today a great facility to appease the new Sonics owners so their fat butts and fatter egos could be coddled by my hard-earned tax dollars. I'm proud of my elected officials who either wouldn't be bullied or saw through the lying ruses of your Oklahoma "Barons" (how appropriate that a definition of baron is "a feudal tenant").
While this deal is still not done, I hope that Seattle's backbone sets an example for other citizens and cities that are sick and tired of being bullied by multi-millionaire team owners and the multi-millionaires that play their games. It took over a billion dollars worth of new stadiums for Seattle to get it (see our Seahawks and Mariners stadiums), and see there are other ways to invest in our city than by building sports palaces.
But still -- I'll never forget those Sonics/Bulls NBA finals with Kemp and Jordan. Here's hoping pro basketball can someday get back to that level of skill, teamwork, and passion.
I am so sick of seeing comments like "OKC you should be embarassed" or "OKC you finally stole yourself a team". It's getting old (much like this entire situation)and i'm sick of people dissing OKC all the time. Learn who to blame. Remember OKC didn't just vote for the Ford Center just for the Sonics, but to mainly keep up with the Big XII tourneys and other big events. SO you can't really blame OKC at all.
Believe me, John, there will be very little efort by the Seattle fans to join us in singing "Kumbaya". The Seattle P-I forum is absolutely brutal to OKC and our fans. Please check it out:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/forum/boards/viewboard.asp?boardID=2
On April 18th the NBA owners will vote on relocation – If the legislature will just wait until after then to consider tax subsidies they may save Oklahoma $60-100 million, if the NBA owners votes “no” on relocation – Oklahoma City residents will discover they were scammed and still the Sonics Owners can ask again for subsidies. A simple solution that is best for Oklahoma.
Yeah we get it John. Having the NBA here is job security for your type. And yes, there is a large contingent of us who CAN wait for the NBA and its horrible image, gangsta culture and dozens of fatherless kids.
By the way, how much did Houston spend for their arena? I suspect construction costs are lower in Houston than Seattle as well. The voters there stepped up to the plate for their team.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Apr 12, 2008 7:35 AM
"Good faith effort” in OKC must mean a BS attempt to ask for a palace which no city in America would build." Orlando is getting ready to build a palace at about the same price. The one in Brooklyn will be pricier. I suspect that request for a new arena was approved by David Stern, and there are plenty of other owners who will be asking in the future. The million dollar remodel of the Ford Center brings it up to about a $200 million facility, and when you consider the fact that houses in Seattle cost three times what they do in OKC, our contribution is not that far off. Construction and land cost up there must be a pain. Nobody knew the attempt was "BS" when the legislature, Mayor Nickels and the city council ignored Bennett for a year. He'd told them they had a year to come up with an arena plan and they blew him off. Those e-mails, IMO, are the politicians' smoke screen to distract the public from the fact that they did nothing to "Save the Sonics" with Clay Bennett as the owner. We'll see how it all works out, but I saw more good faith on his part than on all the pols in Washington, with the exception of Margarita Prentice, bless her heart. She was the only one who seemed to care, and she did everything she could to just get the legislature to vote on the issue. They didn't even have to vote yes....just vote. How about the mayor and the city council? Our mayor came up with a vote and a plan in a couple of months. Nickels and the city council wouldn't even let the people decide if they wanted to keep the Sonics.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Apr 12, 2008 7:25 AM
Boy does this story have a not so hidden message or what?
Honestly, sounds to me like at least one person would be happier with The Hornets there. Is this the column the start of a campaign to bring Nawhlins back to OKC since The Current Owner's Group has stubbed their collective toe big time by showing they lied to David Stern while shooting e-mails blowing sunshine up his Armani?
Is this the start of damage control? Things starting to get tense in the OKC?
Seriously though, the thing OKC Fans need to be concerned with with these e-mails is not the back slapping that was done with each other and not what was said to Seattle Area Folks but the good faith clause that went to the Owner's to Approve the deal in the first place.
OKC Fans and People are fine, absolutely no grief with you, but this one little thread could unravel the whole sweater, for real. I'ld have Shinn's number and e-mail in my Balckberry if I were you guy's.
Oklahoma City should be embarrassed. It’s that simple. Time and time again your new owners that represent your fine city have been caught red-handed for what they are…LIARS. This is how your city is represented to the rest of the country…by a group of owners that clearly lack integrity. “Good faith effort” in OKC must mean a BS attempt to ask for a palace which no city in America would build. “Good faith effort” in OKC must mean to have owners that kiss Stern’s behind and put on a weak PR show…all while privately emailing their buddies about what their real intentions are (moving the team since Day 1). Your city should be embarrassed. So your right…enough lying niceties…congrats on getting that NBA team! Can’t wait for the Spurs to steamroll your low-payroll small market OKC Whatchamacallits.
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
It's not OKCs fault that the people of Seattle didn't support the Sonics so I do not feel bad about taking the team away from them.
If yu want to know why people hate ya'll, this is why. You outwardly covet the Hornets and outwardly covet the Sonics even though it's not set in stone that the Sonics will be moving. Who's to say that the NBA won't find KC more appealing?
But I was and am against spending hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate what is today a great facility to appease the new Sonics owners so their fat butts and fatter egos could be coddled by my hard-earned tax dollars. I'm proud of my elected officials who either wouldn't be bullied or saw through the lying ruses of your Oklahoma "Barons" (how appropriate that a definition of baron is "a feudal tenant").
While this deal is still not done, I hope that Seattle's backbone sets an example for other citizens and cities that are sick and tired of being bullied by multi-millionaire team owners and the multi-millionaires that play their games. It took over a billion dollars worth of new stadiums for Seattle to get it (see our Seahawks and Mariners stadiums), and see there are other ways to invest in our city than by building sports palaces.
But still -- I'll never forget those Sonics/Bulls NBA finals with Kemp and Jordan. Here's hoping pro basketball can someday get back to that level of skill, teamwork, and passion.
Alvin Bonnart
Seattle
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/forum/boards/viewboard.asp?boardID=2
Honestly, sounds to me like at least one person would be happier with The Hornets there. Is this the column the start of a campaign to bring Nawhlins back to OKC since The Current Owner's Group has stubbed their collective toe big time by showing they lied to David Stern while shooting e-mails blowing sunshine up his Armani?
Is this the start of damage control? Things starting to get tense in the OKC?
Seriously though, the thing OKC Fans need to be concerned with with these e-mails is not the back slapping that was done with each other and not what was said to Seattle Area Folks but the good faith clause that went to the Owner's to Approve the deal in the first place.
OKC Fans and People are fine, absolutely no grief with you, but this one little thread could unravel the whole sweater, for real. I'ld have Shinn's number and e-mail in my Balckberry if I were you guy's.