Despite the release of e-mails that SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett exchanged last year with partners about moving the team to Oklahoma City, NBA commissioner David Stern says he is convinced Bennett made a good-faith effort to keep the team in Seattle.
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Bennett and ownership partners Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward exchanged e-mails in April 2007 in which they discussed whether there was any way to avoid further "lame duck” seasons in Seattle before the team could be relocated.
Bennett, who had promised to negotiate with Seattle for a full year before deciding whether to move the Sonics, responded: "I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys.”
"I haven't studied them, but my sense of it was that Clay, as the managing partner and the driving force of the group, was operating in good faith under the agreement that had been made with (previous owner) Howard Schultz,” Stern said on a conference call Monday. "His straight and narrow path may not have been shared by all of his partners in their views, but Clay was the one that was making policy for the partnership.”
Stern fined McClendon $250,000 last August after he told an Oklahoma City newspaper that "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here.” The e-mails released last week as part of the city of Seattle's efforts to enforce the SuperSonics' lease at KeyArena shed further light on the ownership group's thought process prior to Bennett's self-enforced Oct. 31 deadline to determine the team's eventual home.
After purchasing the team from Schultz in July 2006, Bennett promised to spend one full year after the purchase was approved to seek a viable home for the Sonics in Seattle. The NBA approved the sale of the Sonics in October 2006.
Stern repeatedly has said that Seattle's KeyArena is not a suitable home for the Sonics, and rejected a recent attempt led by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to renovate the arena to keep the team in Seattle. That effort subsequently fell apart when it wasn't backed by the city or the state legislature.
Stern said it's too late at this point to seek other owners who would keep the Sonics in the city where they've played the past 41 years.
"I think it's fair to say that extraordinary efforts were made to seek ownership interests when Howard sold the team, including from people who became involved in the effort — the recently unsuccessful effort — to get the state to extend the sales tax for the purposes of retiring the arena debt,” Stern said.
"It happened already. There was no one who was interested in buying the team, including the very people who stepped forward at the last minute.”
NBA owners will vote Friday on Bennett's proposed relocation to Oklahoma City. A subcommittee of three owners visited Oklahoma City last month and recommended league approval.
During that visit, Stern suggested that Oklahoma City — when combined with the presence of Tulsa less than 100 miles away — could be a viable market even though Seattle has a higher population and television audience. On Monday, he downplayed Seattle's role as an entry into Asia.
"I would say that we don't ever like to leave a city,” Stern said. "We don't like to leave a city as robust as Seattle, but the Asian cities that we're tending to focus more on have names like Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
"It's disheartening simply to leave the city, as it would be to leave any city.”
A June trial is scheduled concerning the city of Seattle's lawsuit to enforce the lease and keep the team at KeyArena through 2010.
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Okie shopping list:
-1 Seattle NBA franchise
-1 Leaning Tower of Piza
-1 Great pyramid
-1 Seattle Space Needle
-1 Saint Louis Arch
Where we gonna put all this stuff?
Wonder if they would sell us that Space Needle to go along with the Sonics. It would probably be a little taller than the one we have at the fairgrounds.
Jill, the plan offered by Bennett at the Renton site was the rejected Orlando Arena design...Big deal and the $100M offer is the estimate for naming rights. Face it, the guy is a total square head. The last thing the league needs is another team in a fly-over State. Ratings are down as it is without a dustbowl division.
"And the claim that we had our chance is getting old. We did not have a chance, Bennett made sure of that with his ridiculous proposals he new would never fly." Seattle's claim that Bennett's proposal was ridiculous is getting old. $450 million for the new Orlando arena. Getting close to a billion for Brooklyn's new arena. The Muckleshoots hired an independent consultant, and they got an estimate of over $400 million for an arena on their land. The Magic are paying only $50 million towards their new arena, and they're paying only one million dollars a year rent. Bennett offered $100 million. What he asked of Seattle would have built a very nice arena, but no nicer and no more expensive than Orlando's. Oklahoma City can spend less because our building costs are clearly far less than yours. A comparable house in OKC costs a third of what it does in Seattle, so i'm not surprised that an arena there would be considerably more expensive.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Apr 16, 2008 1:00 AM
"Funny, how except for Travis, this has become a Seattle blog exclusively. And you call yourselves fans?" There's something I learned a long time ago, and keep forgetting. "Don't feed the trolls." This isn't where most of the fans post anyway.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Apr 16, 2008 12:52 AM
Even the Seattle Times writers are dismissing it as pure PR ...**After consuming the drink, however, reality settled. Schultz's dire attempt to right his wrong is the longest of all shots. And though he probably won't admit it, he's motivated in part by a desire to suppress fan anger. If Seattle becomes an NBA ghost town, he doesn't want to walk around fearing for his coffee beans.*
"much more than a PR move for Schultz's rep."...Not really...Those two letters sum up this lame stunt pretty well...Trying to save face with his community is all...Seattle is pulling out all stops to try and persuade the vote...Won't work
Schultz dumped the Sonics because they were losing money. A large part of the blame can probably be dumped in his lap because of mismanagement (including alienating players), but from what I read, the lease terms weren't particularly favorable either. As I understand it, the problem isn't so much attendance (though it has been in the bottom third of the league since the 2002-2003 season) as the money made -- or not made, in this case -- from concessions, restaurants and other ancilliary revenue sources.
The cool thing about the Schultz lawsuit is that very likely Stern will be asked to testify if not an outright co-defendent. He will be pulled away from his safety zone and made to answer questions about those "love" emails. Very interesting. Just listened to an interview on our sports radio show with a minor owner with Schultz and he said that they are all behind the effort...much more than a PR move for Schultz's rep. There are some angry folks up here..."Sic 'em!"
Bennett & Gaylord entertainment were co-owners of the Spurs in the '90s. Gaylord Entertainment had a nice new arena built in Nashville and was hunting for a franchise to move way back then. This is part of the continued building of the Gaylord empire, which Clay married into.
Bennet was part owner of the Spurs a while back and Bennett bailed the NBA out when they needed a place for the Hornets to play. This is Sterns way of paying Bennett back for his loyality to the NBA.
Is it true that Stern and Bennett are long time friends? I saw that on ESPN.com, but haven't heard anything more about it. If that's the case, why does it matter what Stern says about Bennett's "good faith"? It's all a bunch of horse excrement. They're doing it simply because (they think) they can. There isn't any economical incentive, and every show on ESPN is ripping the NBA apart. The reputation of the NBA is going to suffer along with the city of Seattle. And you know what else, forget about Tulsa. You have to drive 100 miles to reach a total fan base of half a million people. We have that in downtown Seattle alone. Hasn't Clay noticed that people are leaving that part of the country? And guess what else! They're moving to the northwest. No one can win here.
Travis, Bennett said a Key Arena remodel was out of the question. He was offered free land by one of our Indian tribes to build an arena, he never called back. He never spoke to our mayor, despite countless calls from the mayors office. He would only approve the Renton site (the $500 million). 18 months ago Stern asked the state to consider remodeling Key Arena when Schultz owned the team. So apparently, Key Arena has become obsolete in 18 months. I can not substantiate this, but I heard that the arena plans Bennett said he paid for were in fact plans for an arena in Orlando that didn't pass down there. Our legislaotor did pass on the arena plan Bennett proposed, but only because it was so ridiculous.
Chris, I hear you and I understand you but I don't think it changes anything. At the end of the day it's the little guy (fan) that gets shyted on. No I wouldn't want to fund another large arena (I didn't want to fund this measly 100M) but that's what Stern wanted. You got shafted in 1995. The city should sue whoever decided upon those renovations. It sounds like somebody got rich. The NBA is holding cities hostage and they have to choose to pay the piper, or not. We do not have two other arenas/fields or a billion dollars worth of bond funds so we can compete. There is absolutely no way in hades that Stern would let the Sonics move from Seattle to OKC if they had a "first class NBA arena", whatever that is.
Travis, et al...the arena issue has always been a smoke screen. The citizens passed a tax on hotel and taxi's to help pay for Safeco field. The bonds are being paid off quicker than predicted. They could be paid off in just a couple of more years. Schultz and even UW have eyed that money stream for their own projects. The arena became an issue only so far as the greed to get what they thought was "free" money. It takes a legislative bill to extend the tax beyond it's proscribed target...Safeco. No legislator was willing to risk the wrath of his district voters to even put it up for debate, let alone a vote. You need to remember that Seattle funded two large projects over 1 billion dollars and a stadium fatigue is quite natural. We are still paying down bonds on the imploded Kingdome and the suddenly "obsolete" Key Arena that was rebuilt new in 1995. Arenas and stadiums have been the hostage child for owners for many years, but that doesn't mean that their arguments are true and rational. Don't buy the arena b.s.- Bennett is using it as leverage to take his new toy home with him to play...period. He has been caught in his lie and is in a bit of a squeeze. Story in a nutshell.
I agree with Phillip, the fans of Seattle have done nothing wrong. You can let up on calling us okies, hicks, etc. They have always supported the Sonics. Question: Was there not ever another option than a 500 mil new arena outside of Seattle? Has the City or State ever offered taxpayer money to renovate the Key or has the NBA (Stern or Bennett) ever proposed/considered that option? Sure they wanted an new arena and they would obviously start there. When that failed, did they move to renovate the Key with taxpayer money? Right or wrong, that's what it takes to keep/attract an NBA team. I am under the impression that the dirks in your legislature have refused all taxpayer money.
According to Schultz, his defineition was not "good faith" but "best effort". I am not a lawyer, but a laywer on local radio here said that is a big difference. Could be more bad news for Bennett.
I wonder how long the NBA and Stern are going to be willing to be drug through the Publicity Storm they are involved in. It seems that everyday some new negative story about Bennett's Group or Stern or the NBA is in the National News. More and more people are speaking up about the move in a negative fashion. With the finals starting, and all NBA owners praying and probably scheming for an LA/Boston final for the ratings this is all bad news. I wonder what the ratings will be if San Antonio and Cleveland will bring this year. Another all time record low? I wonder if Bennett and Stern could have foreseen the mess they would find themselves in and the personal humiliation they are subjecting themselves to they would still repeat the buyout of the Sonics. My bet is that they are both looking for anyway out they can to save what little face and reputation they have left. Expansion team for OKC and the Sonics stay in Seattle. It will be spun as the plan all along and smiles will be in abundance.
Rose, how awsome would it be to have Rose running the point and feeding KD or Wilcox down low? Green and Collison banging down low, grabbing boards and resetting the O? Man, I think I'm gonna cry again.
If the team ultimately moves at least it will be virtually radioactive by the negative press it is going through now. It will be the pariah of the league for many years...enjoy!!
David, I think the BOG may just put off voting until things calm down. Man its painful to be a sports fan. I wish I could be discussing who the Sonics should take in the draft instead of who should sue Bennett next. Couple this with the product the Sonics put on the floor this year and the $2200 I shell out for season tickets every year won't be close to the therapy I will need to pay for after this.
So much for the clue Daniel said I lacked... Didn't I tell you guys we are out of the frying pan and into the fire here in OKC? I said it... Common sense said something was going to stop this move from ever happening. Now with the emails, and this Schultz fella, things are looking worse and worse for OKC's chances... Common sense told me at the LAST MOMENT, something would fly and cripple any further chances. This is it... My realization coming to fruition that come Saturday morning, when it is all over Oklahoma news that the BOG said NO, and we won't get a team, my clue will be complete. It really all boils down to common sense, and the fact OKC has no luck when it comes to anything. You Seattle citizens never needed to worry, but like you say Clay is scared, you guys are acting just as scared. OVER NOTHING! Your precious Sonics won't be ours. I wish humans would quit showing such foolish pride that makes us inferior in all aspects, and just drop the name calling, and 2nd grade school antics (fighting.) Sonics will remain in Seattle. Clay will sell the team back, or lose it. Us OKC citizens can get back to brushing our snaggle teeth, and picking our corn in the fields. Stick a fork in OKC, we're done.
Phillip, this isn't Wikipedia. Just because the, so called, majority in Seattle say that this is not in "good faith" that doesn't make it so in the eyes of the court. I seem to recall that everyone used to think the world was flat, obviously this is a dramatic example but you should get the point!
Howard Schultz offered $18 million in a $100 million dollar renovation of Key Arena that was turned down by the city council. He got frustrated and sold the team. So Bennett, knowing that the city wouldn't pay $86 million for a renovation of an existing stadium immedialtley asked for $500 miilion for a new, not in the city, 100% publically funded stadium where he gets to keep the profit. That is why the city is up in arms. Sure our elected officials are short sighted idiots and were always picked last in school for dodgeball, but they were smart enough to smell BS when it presented itself. Bennett was just smart enough to pretend to do what he could to save basketball in Seattle, but not smart enough to use the phone instead of emails. And the $26 million offer to pay off the remaining lease amount doesn't cover the lost jobs and wages from around the Key, and it definetley doesn't keep the team in town. The stadiums for the MAriners and Seahawks are using a tax that was not extended to the Sonics due to the amount Bennett wanted. Both stadiums had private money pay a portion of the cost, and the city gets a protion of the proceeds. In Bennetts offer, the arena wasn't even in Seattle, and he got to keep all the money. The proposals were apples to umbrellas. That is why it was never discussed.
Mickey in Sumner, I would never, EVER, have an Al Gore, Hillary or Obama sticker on anything I own. I vote republican, so bumper stickers are not my thing, I leave that to the Subaru driving liberals in my neighborhood. And I don't consider Sumner central Washington. I'm talking about towns east of the Cascades. And seriously, I am sure you have been out there. Washington has its share of hicktowns, just as every state does. Lets not pretend we don't.
Try this again after I had time to stop and type:
Let's go back and remember why the team was sold. The previous owner's could not get any help in funding any improvements from anyone, he said he was tired of fighting and hoped a new owner would have better luck. So along comes the new owners and they buy the team for a pretty penny. They also have no luck and begin working on details to move the team to OKC. Then the city of Seattle gets up in arms and goes to court to stop move. New owner’s offer to pay reaming lease off, but no, have to take them to court and waste city dollars fighting a law suit. Mayor comes on a week or so ago and says any funding that needs to be done the city can't help with. So as I see it both parties are to blame. What I don't understand and I am not from the Seattle area is how did they decide to fund a new stadium for Seahawks and Mariners, but no go on Sonics? Not a dig just trying to understand the issue from Seattle's view
Hey Mike in Oklahmoa...OUR STATE POLITICIANS SAID NO...NOT THE FAN BASE.get it right. we have supported this team through thick and thin....we cant help it that out state government sucks...well we can cause they got voted in..but i guarantee you they wont be reelected. Stern is screwed. And of coarse he is going to keep saying he back Bennet. He has come to far to back track. He knows it so all he can do is stick with it.
Let's go back and remember why the team was sold. The previous owner's could not get any help in funding any improvments from anyone, he said he was tired of fighting and hoped a new owner would have better luck. So along comes the new owners and they buy the team for a pretty penny. They also have no luck and begin working on details to move the team to OKC. Then the city of Seattle gets up in arms and goes to court to stop move. New ownser offers to pay reaming lease off, but no, have to take them to court and waste city dollars fighting a law suit. Mayor comes on a week or so ago and says any funding that neeeds to be done city can't help with. So as I see it both parties are to blame. What I don't understand and I am not from the Seattle arear is who did they decide to fund new stadium for seahawks and mariners, but no go on Sonics? Not a dig just trying to understand the issue from Seattle's view.
Wrong again, Travis..."Howard Schultz doesn't have a dog in this fight anymore. He sold the team, knew they were going to move, and is now trying to save face. If he didn't know they would move then he is a moron, which I don't think he is."...Whether he is a moron or not for believing Bennett had no intention of moving the team after he bought, the fact is he got it in writing. That in itself shows distrust. Bennett is the moron for signing it and thinking he could get away with not honoring his promise. Hope and spin will not get the Sonics to OKC...you'll have to pry them from our cold dead hands.
Doesn't sound like your 300 million dollar upgrade to Key arena has much of a chance. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AgnVF0TvZIPi1Y.q9gv7dUu8vLYF?slug=ap-supersonics-keyarena&prov=ap&type=lgns
The private investors who are offering to participate in a $300 million KeyArena upgrade in hopes of saving professional basketball in the Seattle area have given the state Legislature a final plea and a firm deadline. In a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire and key legislators, the four prominent Seattle businessmen said the Legislature has until April 10 to approve the $75 million in tax authority being requested from the state, or they are walking away from their offer of $150 million toward the renovations.
“At some point, the people of Olympia have to lead,” Seattle developer Matt Griffin, one of the four, said Monday. “They should realize we just don’t plan to sit around. We have lives to lead, jobs to do.”
But lawmakers quickly indicated Monday that there’s no way they can consider the offer before the legislative session ends Thursday, and suggested that Seattle cover the millions currently hoped for from the state.
Here come the Crusader Rabbits again, out of Washedupton. Oh holy grail that is our Supersonics, please grant us that you not depart from our midst. We were blind by not improving your quarters. We were in the grasp of the devil and deluded. But, we can save our team by posting on the OKC website. We can do it, by the grace of Nike!
The "chance" Bennett gave us was a $500 million dollar arena 20 miles outside Seattle. It was to be funded 100% by the public and he was to keep all the profits. When he bought the team Key Arena was going to need some updates, but it was never "unacceptable" as it is now. The ongoing debate over the $300 million to renovate the Key Arena is not an option accordeing to Bennett. This is something that another group put together that wants to renovate the Key and buy the Sonics from Bennett. It is not in Bennetts plan.
Tim, this one you are absolutely wrong. There is no way you have more backwards towns then we have. But there is a couple things that we don't have anymore....Mexicans and gay terrorists (Thanks to Mrs. Kern).
How did you not have your chance? Did you not know what they were asking? You or your representatives chose no. I'm not saying it was fair or reasonable. Could the Key Arena be updated for what the Ford Center could and did the City of Seattle choose not to fund those improvements?
This is the last thing the BOG want to see. Litigation. I hope they postpone their vote so they won't look silly if the suit wins. They may wake up and see that the "gateway to Asia" is superior than the "gateway to Arkansas".
OKC "ponied up" less than 25% of what Bennett wanted us to. Also, less than 2 years ago Stern claimed that Key Arena just needed to be updated. The only reason it isn't good enough now is that Bennett doesn't want it to be. And the claim that we had our chance is getting old. We did not have a chance, Bennett made sure of that with his ridiculous proposals he new would never fly.
It is clear that Stern is a co-conspirator in the fraud case. Drag them both into it and watch them sweat. It takes two to tango. Would love to see the emails from Stern back to Bennett, complete with the all the XXXX's and OOOOO's.
Oklahoman, I would bet we have more backwards towns than you do. I have been through central Washington, I don't recommend it. If you have seen the movie "Black Sheep", as bad as it was, it depicted some of our "little towns" quite accuratley.
I feel sorry for the Washington area Sonics fans and understand their frustration. We put a lot of ourselves into our sports teams. We are fanatical to our sports teams here also, we have even been know to rip off a scroat or two. But, David Stern said the Key Arena is not a viable NBA arena. Bennett knew in advance that Seattle would probably not agree to build a new arena nor would they make the necessary changes to the Key Arena to satisfy David Stern and the rest of the NBA. That allowed Bennett to claim good faith. I don't think the emails change anything. Of course they wanted to move the team, they can still claim good faith based upon NBA (David Stern) requirements. Seattle knew in advance, no matter how unfair, what was necessary to keep their team and they chose not to oblige. OKC chose overwhelmingly to pony up the money. Howard Schultz doesn't have a dog in this fight anymore. He sold the team, knew they were going to move, and is now trying to save face. If he didn't know they would move then he is a moron, which I don't think he is. This is who the Seattle fans should be upset with.
Good job approving that tax subsidy before your chickens were hatched. Now you'll have a world class venue when Bon Jovi and the Stix come back to town!
Mmmm mmm. I love me some Starbucks. Venti American for me thanks! But I might try one our independent bean houses if this silliness keeps up. What? You didn't know that they coffee craze is taking place in Oklahoma too? We also have high speed internet and indoor plumbing. Seriously! Get some education about the rest of America people. The entire nation is a modern country. Yes, we still have some small little towns, just like Washington and everyplace else where people do think differently. But, as far as "dust bowl" type commentary--it would serve you well to not show off your complete lack of intelligence.
BUY STARBUCKS...Buy as much Starbucks as you can! Shultz has redeemed himself. It's over for you Bennett. You just blew it. Sorry OKC, we're getting our team back!
The discovery process should be interesting - imagine all of these folks being deposed under oath (that means you too Aubrey and Mr. Mayor) - should be fun. PS- I doubt Stern is enjoying this soap opera right before the playoffs. Someone is probably getting a talking to behind the shed. Check to see if Clay is able to sit down without discomfort in the next few days...
Yeah its getting messy and messy means bad news for OK. Bennet should have done what the Colts did and moved in the middle of the night. Too late now. Take your anger out on him and his buddies for being idiots
Just an FYI... Schults is also suing for the attempting to break a lease and that is proveable due to the buy out offers. May not lead to more credence in this case. This is really getting messy and I think it is now a 80/20 chance that Seattle will keep it's team. The NBA is getting a lot of slap in your face media attention, which they really do not want. Fix your Ford Center, the Hornets should be coming soon after completion. We up here in latteland know you supported the Hornets and I would bet most would rather have them than the Seattle SuperSonics. We support you there!
first of all...you can say youre a lawyer till youre blue in the face in this blog...doesnt mean I believe you so lets just get that straight. Majority of people (all sorts,politicians,legal people,sports analysts)have read these emails. Now..they can be viewed diff by everyone...but if the majority say that good faith never happened...wouldnt a person be incloned to say...hmm..maybe they have a point since majority are saying it. I dont know...Im just stupid prob.
If by "Multiple chances" you mean a "$500 million dollar arena outside of the city limits paid for 100% by the public and Bennett gets to keep all the profit" as "multiple chances" and "good faith", well than, I feel sorry if you actually get the Sonics. Bennett will have you over a barrel faster than you can say "fait accompli".
Phillip, the key word is "acting" in good faith. Show me where his actions towards Seattle were not in good faith. He gave you multiple chances. He and the other owners probably did want, subjectively, to bring the team to OKC. However, that does not mean that they somehow sabotaged Seattle or slighted them. With the way Seattle had acted even prior to his buying the team, it would be reasonable to think it was a fait accompli. That doesn't mean that Bennett did not try. I am a lawyer and the law makes a distinction between someone's actions towards others and his personal subjectivity. You can't say Bennett "acted" in bad faith just because he may have preferred to come to OKC. You can't conflate his actions as an owner with his personal wishes as a man. I say you can't loosely, of course, as you have and will continue to, as a testament of Seattle's character.
I think some of you miss the point in that even if Howards attempt fails, its one more lawsuit that Bennett has to deal with, and it keeps the Sonics in Seattle a little longer. Plus, some of us season ticket holders have filed a complaint with the state AG, as our original renewal letter stated the same intentions of the team, to do everything possible to keep the team in Seattle. I am not a litigious person, but when the only recourse you have is to fill a lawsuit, than thats what you have to do. I do wish there was a better solution to this, where both cities get a team. OKC has shown they deserve one, and have done more politically than we have. I see a resolution coming soon, I can't believe that Stern wants all these court cases to cloud the NBA Finals. Something will be done, and I would think soon. But this sure has been fun, hasn't it? And I've learned a lot about OKC, so I guess this is a good thing in one respect. Good luck to OKC, I hope you get a team, I just don't want it to be mine.
Lynn, I like your Clipper idea. Hell, LA stole the Clippers from San Diego. And the Lakers from Minnesota, and the Giants from NY, and the Dodgers from Brooklyn, and the Raiders from Oakland, and the Rams from Cleveland. Apparently only hockey is indiginous to LA. Man I hate LA!
Exactly..this whole thing is sad...even for OKC. I feel bad if they end uip not getting an NBA team period. But I dont feel bad if they dont get our Sonics...thats right..OUR SONICS.Clay is shaking in his boots right now...so is Stern. You can bet that.
One more thinf Philip. It doesn't matter if the BOG approves the move or if Stern doesn't see any bad faith. Bennet signed a contract with a clause. It's up to the courts to decide. Courts located in Washington state. sorry
I am not a lawyer but mu mom is in the legal field and know many lawyers who have seen these emails and have examined them. They were a smoking gun in themselves...but now with Schultz throwing his 2 sense in..it has just gotten worse for Bennet and group. If you come on here and try to dispute this..you should really go and bone up on your US law. Things such as a handshake or even a simple "YES" can be binding agreements in a court of law. Again..I am not a lawyer..but the Sonics arent leaving any time soon. With the way court trials play out and long they take...this could o on for awhile.
Stereotypes are funny. Most people who live in Washington State are blue collar Boeing workers are who supported the sonics the last 40 years, not Microsoft and Starbucks. If you need to hate go ahead, but if you can read Bennets' emails and still believe he was acting in good faith then you're in denial. The sonics are our team not yours and Bennet was obviously not acting in good faith.
I don't understand how some of you just dismiss this. Schultz has the purchase contract with a one year good faith agreement. He has emails that prove the agreement was violated. Soon he'll have depositions from Couch and Cornett that prove the agreement was breached. He has a lawyer that has already won several suits in this area of law. This is way more than some stupid law suit from a season ticket holder. For wealthy guys Bennett and his group sure look dumb right now. Their stupidity is going to cost us a team. We better start getting used to that conclusion because it's coming.
Again us Oklahomans are showing arrogance and needless name calling... Shouldn't we be the better people? Also shouldn't we not be so quick to judge that a team is indeed coming here, when this is clearly not something we are in the clear of yet? No need to jump the gun on any end. Seattle will probably NOT lose their team, and OKC will probably never get one. So until we know for sure we are, I mean 100% sure, why can't we all just get along, like good humans?
Nice. The name calling from the OKC crowd shows their arguments to be losing a bit of steam. Is it possible that the BOG defers decision pending the outcome from not one but two lost suits? It stands to reason that the more time spent on this, the more likely Seattle gets their (a)team. While Schultz maybe trying to save his reputation, I did manage to purchase my first Starbucks in a long while.
Dear Sonics fans, so Howie the coffee huckster is going to sue to get his little toy returned to him. I wonder on what Marxist, west coast theory that will be accomplished. Let's see; willing seller, knowledgeable purchaser, seller sets a price, purchaser assents and writes a check for 350 very large, seller takes check and negotiates....ooh, sounds like an arm's length transaction....Every time one of these spurned cities and its citizen-fans gets energized I just marvel at the great efforts, all spurious, to establish some basis on which they have to complain...It wasn't your asset to sell and it you did not lay out any jack to purchase it. Whining....take your west coast arrogance and have a latte.
Seattle is the land of frivolous lawsuits and publicity stunts. No wonder the people there have such a hard time figuring out whats really going on...kinda like living in an alternate universe. Let me simplify things for them. This is about to be all over. The BOG will approve the relocation of the Sonics to OKC this weekend and the Sonics will sign a 15 year lease with OKC beginning in 2010 at the latest, next week. The Sonics will move to OKC no later than 2010. Everything else is smoke and mirrors. I know you Seattle trolls don’t want to believe me so maybe you’ll list to Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times....“Schultz’s dire attempt to right his wrong is the longest of all shots. And though he probably won’t admit it, he’s motivated in part by a desire to suppress fan anger. If Seattle becomes an NBA ghost town, he doesn’t want to walk around fearing for his coffee beans.”
Ultimately, this effort only figures to get Schultz a considerable legal-fees tab and a heap of disappointment.
Later this week, the NBA Board of Governors will vote on Bennett’s request to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. It’s just a formality. It will pass.
Now, if the Tooth Fairy will testify that Bennett conned her when he was a child, the Sonics might have a real chance to stick around.”
Bummer for you guys. . . maybe just another bump on the long dusty road to OKC, but Clay Clay is looking dirty. Wonder if this will have any effect on the BOG. Probably not, they're dirty, too.
The outlook is bleek in OKC. Clay Clay is now back peddling in private. He had a sincere hope of bring a Pro Basketball team to the middle of nowhere and now it looks as if he will be lucky to provide OKC with a "D" league team. Damage control at its finest. But there is still hope there, N.O. has an easy clause to get out of there and maybe George Shinn will be willing to sell out to Bennett for an astronomical price and the Sonics can stop in on road trips.
I hope Schultz goes through with his lawsuit though I doubt he has much of a chance. If Seattle had come through with funding for a remodeled Key Arena, and if Bennett turned them down, then the e-mails would be a little more damning. It could be argued that Bennett's only reason for turning down a remodeled Key was his desire to move to OKC. As it stands now, Bennett can claim that Seattle would not even provide him with a remodeled facility which the NBA (aka David Stern) has already labeled inadequate. **** BTW, I really hate that we are doing this to Seattle, a beautiful city where several of my family members live. I wish we were stealing the LA Clippers. I really dislike LA, and it would be payback for the way California treated the Okies during the Dust Bowl migration.
Jill, I always enjoy your comments because they stay with in reality and you never blast Seattle unlike some of the other "Okies" on here. The thing with Schultz is crazy and I don't know where it will go. People are saying it is to save his rep in Seattle and that could be true but remember one thing about Schultz is he loved the Sonics. It was his dream to own them and he was a courtside owner at everygame and even travel to many road games to watch his team. I remember watching a Sonics game a few years ago in Salt Lake and Howard was their. He was standing on the court while the team warmed up and gave high 5's to all the players as they were warming up and even shared a brief hug with GP. Schultz was a passionate owner who could not stomach the political arena mess. I think he truly trusted that Clay would do right and is probably regretting ever selling.
Gosh. How silly. This is Howard trying to save face for his homies. Nothing is going to happen except he will spend a few bucks demonstrating his "loyalty" to the region. Because, right now, it is in question and that hurts his other concern, SBUX, which is down from oh around 35 to around 18 per share in the past 1.5 years. While CHK, SD, and others have nearly doubled in that time. This might be the funniest most pathetic story ever. You Seattle people crack me up. It really isn't that "neat" of a place.
Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back
By GREG JOHNS AND CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTERS
A lawyer for former Sonics owner Howard Schultz confirmed late Monday that the Starbucks chief is considering filing a lawsuit to recover the team from Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett.
Attorney Richard Yarmuth confirmed Monday that his Seattle-based law firm, Yarmuth Wilsdon Calfo, is representing Schultz and plans to file a lawsuit against Bennett to get the Sonics back. Yarmuth did not say in which court he plans to file the suit.
Schultz sold the team to Bennett in July 2006.
At the time, Bennett pledged to make a good-faith effort to keep the franchise in Seattle. E-mails recently obtained by Seattle attorneys suggest that Bennett and his ownership group intended all along to move the team to Oklahoma City.
Earlier Monday, NBA Commissioner David Stern threw his support behind Bennett again, leaving the question now as to whether there is any life left in Seattle's bid to persuade league owners to vote later this week against relocation to Oklahoma City.
Stern, speaking Monday on a national conference call, said nothing had changed in his feeling toward Bennett or his intentions following last week's release of revealing e-mails between the Oklahoma City ownership group members.
The commissioner absolved Bennett of any wrongdoing despite e-mails showing conversations among the team's partners about moving the team out of Seattle before the completion of a one-year "good faith" commitment to finding a local arena solution.
"I haven't studied them," Stern said of the e-mails, "but my sense of it was that Clay, as the managing partner and driving force of the group, was operating in good faith under the agreement that he made with Howard Schultz. His straight-and-narrow path may not have been shared by all his partners in their views, but Clay was the one making policy for the partnership."
Former Sen. Slade Gorton, whose K&L Gates law firm is representing the city in its lawsuit against the team, said he couldn't comment on Stern's latest views or anything involving the case.
Gorton did say he continues to look into ways to present Seattle's case to NBA owners before their relocation vote Thursday and Friday, despite the recent failure of the city's bid for state help on a $300 million KeyArena remodel.
"I don't ever want to say never," Gorton said. "Lots of things tend to happen in the face of a deadline. Right now I don't know of something else to put before the NBA Board of Governors, but I am still working on finding something."
Gov. Chris Gregoire is drafting a letter to the NBA, according to a spokesman, that will be co-signed by numerous political leaders in the state in an effort to present a case for keeping the Sonics in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Sonics sent a letter of their own on Monday to season ticket holders saying no renewals will be accepted until the team's future is clarified.
"With the current uncertainty surrounding the team's status about playing in Seattle for the 2008-09 season, we feel the prudent course of action is to wait until this matter is resolved before presenting you with renewal information," the letter said.
Stern's absolution of Bennett's position in regard to his partners seemingly ignores an April 17, 2007, e-mail exchange between Bennett and minority owners Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward. That e-mail chain, exchanged shortly after the Legislature declined to approve the group's bid for a $500 million arena in Renton, began with Ward asking Bennett if there was "any way to move here (to Oklahoma City) for next season or are we doomed to have another lame-duck season in Seattle?"
Bennett replied: "I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!"
But Bennett wasn't the only one working on things before the completion of a yearlong period following the July 18, 2006, sale from Schultz's ownership group to the Oklahoma City investors.
Among the e-mails obtained last week is one dated June 11, 2007, from Bennett to Ward in which they talk about the city of Seattle's willingness to negotiate an early out to the KeyArena lease.
"Is Seattle negotiating the release of the arena?" Ward asked Bennett.
"We had begun initial discussions which the deputy mayor was receptive to," Bennett replied. "The buzz around the draft pick caused the mayor last week to put the brakes on things. I had a lengthy talk with Stern on Saturday. We are in Seattle next season."
The Sonics went on to select Kevin Durant with the No. 2 pick in the draft later that month, the team played the current season in KeyArena and Mayor Greg Nickels took a firm stance that the city would not negotiate any buyout and would instead fight in court to bind the team to Seattle through its 2010 lease expiration date.
Bennett then e-mailed Stern on Aug. 17, 2007, and claimed he and his partners had "never discussed moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City." He insisted he was continuing to give Seattle until an Oct. 31 deadline to find an arena solution.
"If we are unsuccessful at the end of the time frame, we will then evaluate our options," Bennett wrote. "I have never wavered and will not."
The city's trial with the Sonics owners begins June 16.
The NBA is expected to vote on Bennett's relocation request to Oklahoma City this Thursday or Friday, contingent on the outcome of the trial or some other sort of resolution of the KeyArena lease.
Stern has already indicated that a group of three owners who visited Oklahoma City would recommend the move be approved.
Asked Monday if he'd ever suggested to Bennett that he should consider selling the team to another ownership group that might be able to make things work in Seattle, the commissioner indicated that ship sailed when no local buyers stepped up two years ago.
P-I reporter Chris McGann contributed to this report. P-I reporter Greg
This may get ugly, but anyone here who thinks they know what's going to happen is blowing smoke. Good faith is a tricky thing. Actions versus e-mails. Sorry, but there was never an action indicating they weren't acting in good faith, and there was an e-mail from Tom Ward indicating the team would stay in Seattle if an arena was built, as well as an e-mail discussing talks with Sabey in June 2007. We'll see.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Apr 15, 2008 8:19 AM
Just announced on KING TV Seattle that Howard Shultz plans on sueing PBC and Clay Bennett to regain possession of the Sonics based on breach of contract.
NBA notebook 04/15/2008 Nuggets' Anthony arrested on suspicion of DUI DENVER — NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence...
Sonics' tax breaks win favor in House 04/15/2008 Three days before NBA owners are expected to begin considering the Seattle SuperSonics' proposed move to Oklahoma City, the House of Representatives approved...
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-1 Seattle NBA franchise
-1 Leaning Tower of Piza
-1 Great pyramid
-1 Seattle Space Needle
-1 Saint Louis Arch
Where we gonna put all this stuff?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/080415&sportCat=nba
http://www.enjoytheenjoyment.com/
Let's go back and remember why the team was sold. The previous owner's could not get any help in funding any improvements from anyone, he said he was tired of fighting and hoped a new owner would have better luck. So along comes the new owners and they buy the team for a pretty penny. They also have no luck and begin working on details to move the team to OKC. Then the city of Seattle gets up in arms and goes to court to stop move. New owner’s offer to pay reaming lease off, but no, have to take them to court and waste city dollars fighting a law suit. Mayor comes on a week or so ago and says any funding that needs to be done the city can't help with. So as I see it both parties are to blame. What I don't understand and I am not from the Seattle area is how did they decide to fund a new stadium for Seahawks and Mariners, but no go on Sonics? Not a dig just trying to understand the issue from Seattle's view
The private investors who are offering to participate in a $300 million KeyArena upgrade in hopes of saving professional basketball in the Seattle area have given the state Legislature a final plea and a firm deadline. In a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire and key legislators, the four prominent Seattle businessmen said the Legislature has until April 10 to approve the $75 million in tax authority being requested from the state, or they are walking away from their offer of $150 million toward the renovations.
“At some point, the people of Olympia have to lead,” Seattle developer Matt Griffin, one of the four, said Monday. “They should realize we just don’t plan to sit around. We have lives to lead, jobs to do.”
But lawmakers quickly indicated Monday that there’s no way they can consider the offer before the legislative session ends Thursday, and suggested that Seattle cover the millions currently hoped for from the state.
Hmmm, I guess Howard must not agree :)
Lynn, I like your Clipper idea. Hell, LA stole the Clippers from San Diego. And the Lakers from Minnesota, and the Giants from NY, and the Dodgers from Brooklyn, and the Raiders from Oakland, and the Rams from Cleveland. Apparently only hockey is indiginous to LA. Man I hate LA!
Ultimately, this effort only figures to get Schultz a considerable legal-fees tab and a heap of disappointment.
Later this week, the NBA Board of Governors will vote on Bennett’s request to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. It’s just a formality. It will pass.
Now, if the Tooth Fairy will testify that Bennett conned her when he was a child, the Sonics might have a real chance to stick around.”
Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back
By GREG JOHNS AND CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTERS
A lawyer for former Sonics owner Howard Schultz confirmed late Monday that the Starbucks chief is considering filing a lawsuit to recover the team from Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett.
Attorney Richard Yarmuth confirmed Monday that his Seattle-based law firm, Yarmuth Wilsdon Calfo, is representing Schultz and plans to file a lawsuit against Bennett to get the Sonics back. Yarmuth did not say in which court he plans to file the suit.
Schultz sold the team to Bennett in July 2006.
At the time, Bennett pledged to make a good-faith effort to keep the franchise in Seattle. E-mails recently obtained by Seattle attorneys suggest that Bennett and his ownership group intended all along to move the team to Oklahoma City.
Earlier Monday, NBA Commissioner David Stern threw his support behind Bennett again, leaving the question now as to whether there is any life left in Seattle's bid to persuade league owners to vote later this week against relocation to Oklahoma City.
Stern, speaking Monday on a national conference call, said nothing had changed in his feeling toward Bennett or his intentions following last week's release of revealing e-mails between the Oklahoma City ownership group members.
The commissioner absolved Bennett of any wrongdoing despite e-mails showing conversations among the team's partners about moving the team out of Seattle before the completion of a one-year "good faith" commitment to finding a local arena solution.
"I haven't studied them," Stern said of the e-mails, "but my sense of it was that Clay, as the managing partner and driving force of the group, was operating in good faith under the agreement that he made with Howard Schultz. His straight-and-narrow path may not have been shared by all his partners in their views, but Clay was the one making policy for the partnership."
Former Sen. Slade Gorton, whose K&L Gates law firm is representing the city in its lawsuit against the team, said he couldn't comment on Stern's latest views or anything involving the case.
Gorton did say he continues to look into ways to present Seattle's case to NBA owners before their relocation vote Thursday and Friday, despite the recent failure of the city's bid for state help on a $300 million KeyArena remodel.
"I don't ever want to say never," Gorton said. "Lots of things tend to happen in the face of a deadline. Right now I don't know of something else to put before the NBA Board of Governors, but I am still working on finding something."
Gov. Chris Gregoire is drafting a letter to the NBA, according to a spokesman, that will be co-signed by numerous political leaders in the state in an effort to present a case for keeping the Sonics in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Sonics sent a letter of their own on Monday to season ticket holders saying no renewals will be accepted until the team's future is clarified.
"With the current uncertainty surrounding the team's status about playing in Seattle for the 2008-09 season, we feel the prudent course of action is to wait until this matter is resolved before presenting you with renewal information," the letter said.
Stern's absolution of Bennett's position in regard to his partners seemingly ignores an April 17, 2007, e-mail exchange between Bennett and minority owners Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward. That e-mail chain, exchanged shortly after the Legislature declined to approve the group's bid for a $500 million arena in Renton, began with Ward asking Bennett if there was "any way to move here (to Oklahoma City) for next season or are we doomed to have another lame-duck season in Seattle?"
Bennett replied: "I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!"
But Bennett wasn't the only one working on things before the completion of a yearlong period following the July 18, 2006, sale from Schultz's ownership group to the Oklahoma City investors.
Among the e-mails obtained last week is one dated June 11, 2007, from Bennett to Ward in which they talk about the city of Seattle's willingness to negotiate an early out to the KeyArena lease.
"Is Seattle negotiating the release of the arena?" Ward asked Bennett.
"We had begun initial discussions which the deputy mayor was receptive to," Bennett replied. "The buzz around the draft pick caused the mayor last week to put the brakes on things. I had a lengthy talk with Stern on Saturday. We are in Seattle next season."
The Sonics went on to select Kevin Durant with the No. 2 pick in the draft later that month, the team played the current season in KeyArena and Mayor Greg Nickels took a firm stance that the city would not negotiate any buyout and would instead fight in court to bind the team to Seattle through its 2010 lease expiration date.
Bennett then e-mailed Stern on Aug. 17, 2007, and claimed he and his partners had "never discussed moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City." He insisted he was continuing to give Seattle until an Oct. 31 deadline to find an arena solution.
"If we are unsuccessful at the end of the time frame, we will then evaluate our options," Bennett wrote. "I have never wavered and will not."
The city's trial with the Sonics owners begins June 16.
The NBA is expected to vote on Bennett's relocation request to Oklahoma City this Thursday or Friday, contingent on the outcome of the trial or some other sort of resolution of the KeyArena lease.
Stern has already indicated that a group of three owners who visited Oklahoma City would recommend the move be approved.
Asked Monday if he'd ever suggested to Bennett that he should consider selling the team to another ownership group that might be able to make things work in Seattle, the commissioner indicated that ship sailed when no local buyers stepped up two years ago.
P-I reporter Chris McGann contributed to this report. P-I reporter Greg
I wonder which will have higher ratings?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2004349361_schultz15.html