What we need is Ed Evans. He was part of the original PBC group but then all of a sudden was bumped from the groiup. I guess he's been invisible since then. This thing is just getting started. He just might be the smoking gun and have info that will break this wide open in favor of the Seattle.

Tom - The sales tax vote on the upgrade to the Ford Center passed without any conditions. The only piece that is conditional is the NBA practice facility. And it doesn't have anything to do with the Sonics. The wording was "NBA". So, even if no NBA team is moved to OKC by the ownership group, we are still paying for $100 million upgrade to the Ford Center. The extra $20 million is for the practice facility, and only if an NBA team shows up.

David, you are kind of humorous sometimes, and I mean that in a good way. I like some of what you have to say, but your defeatist mentality has got to go, unless you are just practicing your sarcasm. I say the vote today goes 24 Yes, 6 no. I think a few might think it a no-go, but most will say, "yes, he bought the team, he's done everything right, well, there were some e-mail leaks, (how did the press get them?), but everything looks like a go here. And Seattle really has had some dismal seasons, let's give OKC a try. The Hornets did really well there. Why not? Seattle has had the francise for 41 years. It's getting a bit grey up there. Let's breath some fresh life into it.

L.........are you really scanning IP's or are u lying to us? I highly doubt you are scanning IP's...but David might be from Seattle. Who know who cares. Im from Seattle and I know the BOG will vote yes. Its obvious. Its not the lawsuits will prevail but its the fact that the more lawsuits you have the longer it takes and the more mud is slung around giving the NBA and Bennet bad press. Thats the the bottom line. That is what will ultimately force the NBA to step in make a wrong from a right. I have friends in China and they are starting to catch wind of this and they are disgusted that this could happen.

And I almost forgot, HE's GAY AS WELL!!!!

Nobody give David a second of thought!! He's from Seattle, not OKC (you can scan his URL and see he's using a Seattle based internet provider)

I live in Portland, OR so if the Sonics move it won't really have much of an impact on me unless I make it have one. I grew up a Blazers fan (RIP CITY!), but I am really disgusted with the NBA, Stern in particular, for the way its treated the fans of Seattle and the history of a longstanding franchise. I've heard that Paul Allen will abstain from the relocation vote and I'm not sure that is enough for to continue to consume the NBA product, even the Blazers. As of yet, I am unsure whether I will let the outcome of the relocation vote, which is expected to be approved by the NBA overwhelmingly, decide this for me or whether I'll hold out for the ultimate resolution.

He is pulling your chain folks, but it would be nice to see the owners do the intelligent thing and at least postpone the vote until Sonicsgate is sorted out.

Thanks for the update Kurt

I watched 10pm news coverage by all three major local stations and dind't hear anything about a "No" vote being expected.

david, are you certain about this? do you remember his exact words and what time it aired? it seems as if this would be bigger news but i'm not seeing it reported anywhere else on the web.

Came from Dean Blevins mouth. Sportscaster for News 9 here in OKC.

David, where do you get your news from?

Seattle, don't put too much faith in lawsuits to keep your team. Just ask any lawyer worth his salt how difficult it is to enforce a specific performance provision in a contract. Just because something is in a contract doesn't necessarily mean its enforceable.

Mickey it is a moot point now... Look at my post below yours. You are keeping your team, and there is proof now thanks to the news who heard the meetings did not go well, with the vote expected to be NO tomorrow. It can be a done deal now...

I hardly know where to start, again. Yes Bennett owns the team (actually Aubrey owns it but why quibble). He bought the team and the team had a written lease that said he must stay until the end. That is for the Court to decide though. Bennett has done everything he can to make the Sonics undesirable to Seattle. He fired everyone who had visible ties to Seattle and to the Sonics. The management limited KJR Radio, a 24 hour Sports talk, 50,000 watt station to one Sonic interview per week. The broadcast rights were taken from KJR, the 25 year Flagship station of the Sonics and one that reaches all the way to middle British Columbia and given to a 10,000 watt Right Wing Station that cannot be picked up after sunset by anyone out of the Seattle area. The pregame show was reduced from an hour to 15 minutes and the post game show from 2 hours to 15 minutes. Kevin Calabro was removed and replaced on the radio by some guy named Pinto. A terrible Basketball announcer and one who should be still doing High School games wherever he is from. The record this year is 19 and 63. The last game of the year and perhaps the last game ever was taken off TV so that Seattle fans could not watch it. And some of you guys are wondering why we will not/cannot support the team? You are wondering why the last two years of the lease, when we know the team is definitely leaving, will be played in front of an empty but still very expensive arena? Bennett could stand to lose 50 million a year with 4,000/game attendance. How cool would that be?

Seattle you had nothing to worry about, and I kept saying that to you, but did you listen? NOOOOO! News 9 in OKC reported after a day of meetings OKC chances of getting a team ever, let alone an approval for the Sonics is slim. Oklahomans jumped the gun, but common sense prevailed. Seattle you may proceed to lay into us nobodys, who aren't fortunate enough to have as much as you do. Take your jabs.

A factoid to ponder: In the NBA, if the Sonics do move, it would be the longest tenured team to ever be moved at 41 years. The Dodgers/Giants in baseball and the Browns in football are the other record holders by my accounting. My point is that this is not a frivilous trifling thing at stake here. Teams sink roots in a community and have an implied contract with the fans. It is a business, true, but a unique one that is a legal monopoly that should not be stomping on the toes of those who allow such a thing.

Oh by the way, let's have a little bit of fun shall we. Take away all the dullness of fighting. Predict votes here. I will go first ----> YES: 14 NO: 16 <----- Your turn.

Michael, how about you ask the PBC as they are the ones who bought the team, not me, and certainly not anyone else in OKC. If it were me, I'd say, screw it, OKC gets an expansion, and we grant an expansion to Vegas or Kansas to even it out at 32, and Seattle keeps their team. That road isn't being taken though. I don't get why Seattle peeps keep insisting we are the ones pointing the guns at Clays back, forcing his decisions, when we just want a pro team. All I get out of this, is that Seattle peeps, and OKC peeps are bickering like school girls over nothing. OKC WON'T get the team, or an expansion, and Seattle will keep their team. Funny thing is, after all is said and done, Seattle peeps will act as though they care, showing some sympathy, and never show their faces here again, while both sides shake hands. Quite pathetic, how people act once they get their way. Another thing I get out of this, is that Clay wants a team in his hometown, and a business will bail from where it is not wanted. Outside of that, I myself cannot answer for Clay, or anyone else. I am the person who keeps assuring you folks in Seattle (despite the fact you keep pissing on us and this state,) that you ARE NOT, losing your team. I guess you guys don't want to believe me, thus avoiding more fights. People just insist on keeping at it on both ends. Human inferiority complexes mean someone always has to have the last word.

Now that the season is over, the players are commenting on the possible move. Almost to a man they don't want to leave Seattle. Even Durant loves it here and doesn't want to go to OKC...if forced, I think he would want a trade.

does it bother anybody in okc that there stealing a team? is this the way to put your town in the big time? it reminds me of the 1880's.. does everybody know that sheriff bennett put into your lease an attendance clause? why would he do that? you all should check it out..he can do the same thing to you that he is doing to seattle..........

Well I can agree about one thing. A business will move somewhere where it is better supported. Take for instance the exmaples I have been using about Six Flags selling off our two theme parks. They were in danger of being closed permanently, but someone else bought them. Someone not as big as Six Flags. Those places were important to me, yet I didn't whine about it at all. I perfectly understood WHY, Six Flags wanted to move and sell the parks, even if it meant the parks closed for good if a sale couldn't be made. They simply weren't supported enough here. Who is to blame for that? Me as a citizen of OKC. That would be my fault, and whoever else refused to go to the park, or only went on days they deemed most convienant. Why did people stop going to the parks? Because Six Flags refused to expand and upgrade the parks. Take this advice however you wish, but I can agree that businesses will move to places that will support them in any form. This isn't just about the NBA... ALL BUSINESSES WILL DO IT! I didn't whine though, I had to face my favorite parks might have closed down, but thankfully someone came and brought them back up, and are upgrading them.

So tired of this!

I think we're missing a key point here: The Supersonics franchise is a private business. The owners want to move it. From all appearances, the government leaders in its current location aren't willing to pony up for improvements. Oklahoma government leaders and the voters of Oklahoma City have already made commitments to support the team. The owners ought to be able to located their business is whatever city they wish. Seattle: it's not YOUR team -- it belongs to the people who paid for it.

Exactly Mike... People are saying I'm being negative when I am just facing facts, but what I see most on these forums here is name calling. Petty playground bullcrap. Sad thing is, most of the name callers are probably adults. However we are suddenly at reccess again. Quick, someone point out the nosebleeder so I can peg him with a dodgeball... Give me a break. I have not called one person a name while posting here, so much as I keep trying to tell Seattle folk to just move on since they have nothing to worry about, and to just ignore us Oklahomans like this country aparently has anyway. Remember... We're nothing but a town. However, these Seattle folk coming here calling names at the same time when they have nothing to worry about is Spongebob and Patrick antics at best. So from what I can see, the name calling will continue, but I cannot believe most will go to bed tonight, and tell their girlfriends or wives, or their hand, "Hey guess what? I called out some Seattle citizens. I R SPECIAL NOW! Or, "Hey guess what? I totally trashed those cornhusker Oklahomans. I made them feel like crap, I can sleep well now. I R SPECIAL!" Better yet, if anyone wants a good laugh, the name callers here exchanging blows between the peeps in Seattle and OKC can be best described as the fight that takes place between Ronald Reagen and Ayatollah Khomeini on that TV screen in the Cafe 80's, during the future segment of Back to the Future 2. YOU WANT SPECIAL! YOU WANT SPECIAL! That's what this reminds me of. Someone check that out, if they don't remember that well.

If you wife threatens to leave you for your next door neighbor, do you continue to take her out for dinner? If we have 2 lame duck seasons, I can't imagine anyone but hard core basketball junkies attending games at Key Arena. It would seem unlikley that's going to happen. Either they stay and or they're gone in the next couple of months. Limbo for two years would be the worst. BTW- to refer to folks from outside your city as trolls doesn't seem to be condusive to foster dialogue and understanding. Someone posted that ultimately the fan (we who foot or will foot the bills) are the ones who pay the price in all this. We can't blame you for wanting the team and you can't blame us for wanting it to stay. I am optimistic that this will get settled for all of us to have what we want and there will be no more need to the name calling that's been going on between our two fine cities recently. If we want to chime in on these boards (believe, the Seattle Times has plenty of OKC posts as well)so what. (As an added benefit I get OKNews breaking stories to be email.) We all ought to be better than resorting to name calling.

Steve- are you Steve Ballmer by chance? Also Clay may not be on the up and up but this bickering needs to stop. Let the courts do what they will. Save our Sonics if Clay does not make revenue because he is just riding out the lease that is not his fault that falls on fans and others, he can't be blamed or can he?

David: We do know that there is a serious failure to lead in this region but that failure just created the impression for Clay that he could get away with this scam. What he didn't count on was the people of this region stepping up when their elected officials were too lazy to do something and pushing to stop this. But don't be fooled. Blaming the victim is bush league. <--------------- OH NO, Save our Sonics, I don't blame anyone here at all. I knew from the start this is a fight between Clay and the crew, and Seattles bigwigs who wish to stop him like it is a Saturday morning cartoon. Every see that Scream Trilogy? Stewie and Billy were the killers in part one, but got their motivation from Roman Bridger in Hollywood after he found out he couldn't suck on mommies boob anymore? Could Howie be that Roman Bridger, waiting in the wing of it all, because he could honestly be trying to look out for himself and his reputation? I mean really. I don't personally know the guy, but I see more Seattle folk believing someone who sold their team in the first place, without being patient. THEN, he is quick to turn around and say Clay broke a good faith agreement, and Seattle citizens take that as the first belief, without knowing the guy for sure. That is all I am saying. Had I lived in Seattle, and loved the Sonics for years and years bro, I would be mad foremost, at Schultz. After he sells the team, I would find HIM hard to believe. So get this... WHY, did he only come out now? SIX MONTHS after Clay said enough was enough? I mean he could've come out at anytime, even the day those emails (which I hear not all emails have been brought to light,) were revealed. Instead news breaks two days later? Now I am not saying that Clay's shit is clean, NO HUMAN ON EARTH, has that. N-O-O-N-E... However I don't see the Seattle citizens barking up their own tree. Instead this is a game of Battleship I see going on between Oklahomas most naive, and Seattles most naive. Bush league eh? I remember that faggot saying the stupidest thing in the history of humankind. "GOD CAME TO ME, AND TOLD ME TO GO TO WAR WITH IRAQ!" Here is the funny part. The christians, actually believed him then, and actually believed he was christian to get elected as our president. God doesn't believe in war. He would never tell someone to go liberate and kill one another. THOU SHALT NOT KILL! Mr. Bush and his gas cronies, remind me of what Shchultz could be doing. That is saying whatever he needs to, to get people to back him up, when no one knows exactly what took place and how the contract read, outside of those who did the transaction. BUSH LOL!!! BUSH GAS LOL!!! Boy god has his number for slaughtering 4000+ troops.

People seem to forget about the lawsuits.These are what truly matter now

I guess us Oklahomans and Seattle folk were there in the room when Howie sold to Clay. We proofread that contract right?
we did`nt have to be there, howie got it in writing, in the from of a side agreement.the only thing the courts will have to decide is, if clay negotiated in good faith,which is obvious he did`nt.

Hmmm... I guess us Oklahomans and Seattle folk were there in the room when Howie sold to Clay. We proofread that contract right? Seattle is the victim IN FULL in this am I correct Seattle folk? Schultz couldn't lie to his own kind in Seattle right? Humans weren't born with the capability to lie to those we're surrounded by right? I bet if I lived in Seattle and posted that I took a trip to Oklahoma City on the 4th of July to pop fireworks, and Jay from Moore or Josh from Owosso, was the one(s) who lead a stray firework to burn my 2 year old daughter, because I said so right? What I see in all this is favortism (duh.) One cannot be wrong in standing up for their city, or they wouldn't be standing up for them right? Schultz is a boyscout capable of doing nothing wrong, and since he is suing Clay, he is doing so with the fans in mind right? Yea so let's say I came back home to Seattle and came to this forum which is now about my daughter, and I pointed the finger at those two but no one here is for sure what I have on my mind really, I just picked out two white guys, and said, "THEY DID IT!" You guys would believe me correct because us Seattle folk have to stick together? Honestly what I see here is blind antics. PRIDE!!! As I have been so elegently putting it. ALL HUMANS HAVE THAT FOOLISHNESS. So how is Seattle wrong in any of this Seattle peeps? Let's hear about those two way streets.

Well, Jay in Moore, I guess it's a good thing that David Stern has put his foot so far up his hiney over this thing that he won't have that job for much longer, anyway. Besides, he's already back-peddling on his previous hard-guy baloney about "Seattle not getting a team for a long, long time, if ever." He had a small spasm there and thought he was Jehovah, immortal and Commissioner for Eternity, but, no doubt, someone explained to him that forever is quite a long time and that, given what the NBA BOG REALLY cares about - No, not basketball, you silly goose! MONEY!! - Seattle will have another team as soon as the first guys steps up wth some cash and lets the owners get a sniff of their favorite flavor: Franchise Fee Royale. (Tell me the NBA BOG wouldn't rather have Steve Ballmer as an owner than some fat, lying idiot who lives off his wife's money and her family's reputation; who'd probably be asking people if they "want fries with that?" if he hadn't overmarried.) This is ridiculous and I can't wait to see the court cases unfold. Oh, BTW, another case has just been filed against Bennett, et al, up here today. A group of fans is suing Bennett and his thugs for selling them season tickets for next year with the promise that they were "making every effort to keep the team in Seattle". This is real and, according to a law professor being interviewed on the radio here, is entirely plausible as a class-action suit. I think, with all the injunctions that will be filed to freeze the team until litigation is settled, Clay-Clay can probably just plan on sitting still for several years! This suit of his is the most pathetic and inane thing I've ever seen. The city is completely and legally entitled to make him satisfy the conditions of the lease HE SIGNED. Period. There's no debating that at all. And, if hadn't been such an over-entitled, arrogant, stupid loser, he would have just made nice until 2010 and the moved the team without all this mess. But guys like Bennett don't like hearing the word, "No", so he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Too bad. Chickens coming home to roost, baby.

Save Our Sonics said it perfect.

David....I think pretty much all basketball (sports fans in general) see the patheticness of our leaders. I personally place just as much blame on our state capital as I do on Bennet and Stern. But it is what it is...and all I am concerned about is getting my team to stay. Not to let 41 years of success be washed down the drain and if that means our politicians and Schultz doing what theyre doing now (maybe to save face)...so be it. I dont care about them..I didnt vote for them....i just want my Sonics.

David: We do know that there is a serious failure to lead in this region but that failure just created the impression for Clay that he could get away with this scam. What he didn't count on was the people of this region stepping up when their elected officials were too lazy to do something and pushing to stop this. But don't be fooled. Blaming the victim is bush league.

Lets see if Clays accusations of lies really holds up considering he has nothing but that the whole time. Everyone needs to remember that this is a man that not only said we will do everything to keep Sonics here but also the that Storm werent for sale....the man is a PR nightmare. He doesnt know when to shut up thats why he is not talkin now. He cant even talk to Seattle. Why cant he? If he had any balls he would have been straight up from the get go. This is a man who said that if he owned our state papers...the people working there would all be fired......WHAT KINDA PERSON SAYS THAT? A person with no moral fiber in his body. You can be successfull without lying and cheating...its possible.

Josh, what is your point other than to think that talking smack can somehow change reality? It isn't that we "can't handle" losing the team to OKC, it is that WE WILL NOT lose the team to ANYONE. Imagine if someone came up with a reason to kill the athletic department at Oklahoma University? Would you just stand back and watch it happen or would you fight to the end to stop it from happening? I would assume you would fight for your team. Well we are no different other than we have done this three times before (and won every time). We know what has to be done to stop this and we are going to get it done. That is nothing against OKC, just the hard reality and if you can't have compassion for those that are fighting the good fight then you need to take a step back and think about yourself a bit.

I bet people in Seattle think nothing is wrong on their end correct? In other words Clay calling out Balmer couldn't be real right? Just because Balmer is from Seattle? Are any Seattle peeps here willing to point the finger at their own city in anyway, or did they do NOTHING, wrong? Just curious... I want to see that pride I keep mentioning. That human inferiority complex that prevents us humans from being wrong and pointing the finger at ourselves and the places we live, and just throw everything onto the enemy. Please, this is a serious question, would like to see a serious answer please.

Jay....apperently you dont watch the news enough. Stern already has backtracked and said that eventually Seattle would have an NBA team eventually. This is top 15 market...the NBA needs us...not the other way around. Jay you should prob get ya shit straight before you post...cause you look straight up dumb. Anyone that posts on here naive and ignorant comments should be shot...and that goes for both Seattle and OKC residents. This whole scenario is going to be going on for awhile so everyone get used to it. The Sonics will at least be in Seattle for 2 more years. All the court precedings will reveal all to everyone. And now Bennets group is accusing Balmer of trying to hijack and hide the truth....ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who are going to believe...someone who has been lying the whole time...not only to Seattle but to OKC..or Steve Ballmer? Talk about grabbing for straws...now Im not saying Sonics will stay...Im not saying that THEY could indeed move OKC...but if you are a able minded individual you realize that this could either way. I dont know how many times I have to say it. Forget the BOG...forget Bennet...forget the league..the only thing that matters at this point is the lawsuit(s). Those will determine all of this. But just the fact that a proven liar (Clay) is accusing someone else of lying....just boggles me. Lets all just be civil and stop making it personal...cause it aint. PBC needs to stop accusing people of hiding the truth when they have been doin it the whole time.

Wow, it just doesn't stop. Jay, are we for sure getting the Sonics? Can I borrow your Time Machine? I need to go to the past for a bit.

hi jay : ) i just wondering , "why can't a local owner in the future not purchase a team and in theory attempt to move it to seattle (if sonics relocate)is there new clause ?"

Seattle and by extension the state of Washington's actions have guaranteed one thing: there will never, ever be another NBA team play there as long as David Stern is the commissioner. I'm sure whoever is named to succeed him will feel the same way.

Of course he can be blamed Skip. We are dealing with the elite... The kind who show that human need to never see any flaws but the people attacking them in any shape, way, or form. It's all Oklahoma City's fault, Clay Benetts fault, and our fault because we are supposedly just like Clay because he lives here. Thought ya knew my friend.

OH... MY... GOD... Oklahomans, we are sounding no better then the elitists. Can you give it a rest. For those happy they think we are getting their team, SHOW ME PROOF! For those in OKC posting here thinking we are getting a team, SHOW ME PROOF! Show everyone proof for the matter. PLEASSSSSSE! I cannot stand to think I am seeing a lot of Oklahomans act as arrogant as most of the Seattle people have been here. THE FUNNY PART IS, WE AREN'T EVEN GAURENTEED A TEAM! This is the funniest thing I have ever seen. People so sure of something, they display the arrogance level of these big cities citizens, well before any vote was passed, before any court ruling was made, before anything generally happened outside of one man (who supposedly represents how all Oklahomans act according to the elitists,) buying the team, us here in OKC passing a vote, and a vote that is going to go poorly for us tomorrow. Seattle, enough is enough. I cannot stomach the fact that grown ass people would come here acting like school children who are tattling on one another for getting their lunch money stolen, and beaten up behind the monkey bars. This goes for both sides. You elitists can keep caring about nothing but yourselves, and don't worry those little heads off, YOU - ARE - NOT - LOSING - YOUR - TEAM! I swear if I have to really fork over all 926 of my videogames that took me 7 years to build up, just to shut someone up, I will. Oklahoma face it, we don't get a team, unless you have CLEAR proof otherwise. The NBA doesn't care about us - thought you knew. Any corporate asshat would tell us the NBA will be back after we sell out one of the worst attended teams in the NBA (of course until they started winning and made the playoffs.) It is called sugarcoating, and peeps need to stop acting like puppets and eat out of any hand that feeds you whatever they may. Seattle, good luck, you don't give a shit about us, please don't ever pretend you did. Your city is beautiful believe that, but I'll be damned if I ever visit there. The beautifulness ends at the city itself. Come tomrrow you have three pro teams, we have ZILCH! I really wish you guys would grasp that simple concept. :) I swear if we all lived in Jesus's days, we'd be the first to be throwing those rocks at that prostitute wouldn't ya (for those bickering among each other?)

Thanks, Mike...I think we'll let the courts decide if it's too late, not mouthy posters in some newspaper forum. As for underestimating our opposition, that can hardly be possible. OKC might still get the Sonics but, even after you have your bonfires and burn the northwest parts of your road atlas, we'll still be Seattle, one of the two or three most beautiful and affluent cities in America, with three - and soon to be five - pro sports teams, and you'll still be Oklahoma City. I don't need to explain the difference. Okay, now I've done the "Pacific Coast Elite" rap.....Now how about the real Straight Talk: we're not doing a thing you wouldn't be doing if you were in our situation and YOU KNOW IT. Don't even bother to deny it. If somebody came out tomorrow and said, "We're moving the University of Oklahoma to Omaha and calling it something else," you guys would go ballistic. You KNOW this. Funny how, every time I read something here about Seattle or the West Coast, it's some ignorant garbage like the "Pacific Coast elite", like we're all just hangin' on our decks with Bill Gates, drinking Dom Perignon (that's a bubbly wine from France) from the neck of the bottle. Seattle is filled with people who make about the same money you do, like the same things, care every bit as much about raising our kids and being able to take them to Sonics games, the way you will if the team moves. We're a LOT more like you than we are different. You constantly refer to how "Seattle didn't want the team"...which "Seattle" are you talking about? Our elected officials didn't step up to the plate, not us fans. We only started to desert the team when your miserable human excrement of an owner got hold of them. Make no mistake about this, if you don't believe another word you read from any of us from Seattle: We don't dislike the Sonics. We just hate Clayton Bennett because WE DON'T LIKE LIARS IN SEATTLE. Paul Allen and Bill Gates are two of the most decent men who ever had that much money. They both give away TONS AND TONS of it. And people like them because they're basically good men. Gates is a cut-throat businessman, yeah, and he'll take on anybody he thinks is threatening Microsoft. He is also the greatest charitable giver and humanitarian in the history of the planet Earth. And I've known Paul Allen for upwards of sixteen years. You will not find a more decent and down-to-earth man. THAT'S the kind of businesspeople we value here and they're exactly the opposite of Clayton Bennett. Not to mention that they could buy Bennett, McClendon, Ward, and the entire PBC ownership group with what's in their checking accounts and take their change in Mark Cubans. Being honest and decent is a very solid business strategy. If Clay Bennett had tried it, maybe he wouldn't be in this mess today.

Save, NBA franchses are like buses - another one will come along for any town that wants one. Wouldn't this be the NBA's third relocatation in five years? teetering and not that many places that will have them. The NFL it is not.

The truth comes out. Elitest Pacific coast people who cannot handle losing a team to Oklahoma. You still have two other pro sports teams, enjoy them.

Mike: The underestimating is on the part of Clay who thought this would be easy. The players have said, either publicly or in private, that they do not want to play in OKC. There is no way they would be happy there. You can bet money that Durant's agent will get him out of there at the soonest possible date. If dream is to have an NBA team you can have one sooner if you think smart. If the dream is to have the Sonics, and their current players, you need to think again. Most of them will be gone, or leaving, before they could ever see a game in OKC.

Mike, you think they'll be happier in OKC? That's not what they are saying, even though they may draw the ire of Clay. No one in their right mind would want to move from Seattle to OKC, no matter how much of a supposed 'renaissance' your city is going through. We have the ocean, mountains, higher educations and more money. You have less people, less money, no scenery and more trailers. Why not sue? Clay wasn't even smart enough to keep his mouth shut. The more lawsuits the better - Seattle holds the edge over the NBA and Clay right now.

Steal is a pretty strong word for a business agreement. Steal? Well, if that's what you want to call a business dealing, then so be it. We want to STEAL your team and win with them. Let's look into the future...There, see it, the OKC Stealers NBA team, formerly the Seattle Supersonics. You see your future, and I'll see mine - and time will tell which prevails (lawyers notwithstanding).

Mark Cuban doesn't want the Sonics here because it will draw from the fan base that he pulls from OKC for his Mavericks.

Get over it. You lost the team. You should have taken Clay more seriously. Like Joni Mitchell said, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone".

The sad part here is that all the smack talk and glee at stealing the team from those in OKC is causing them to not see the big picture. If the NBA gives Clay conditional approval to relocate that gives Clay control over the OKC market. However the legal actions will keep the team from moving for at least two years. Meanwhile other teams will be sold, potential expansion could happen, and in the end the Sonic stay in Seattle and OKC is left without a team because they made the mistake of getting too deep with Clay before he had a team that was free to leave. That just isn't smart no matter how you look at it.

If the Sonics do move to Oklahoma, then I think they'll be a lot happier, if the people from the Seattle area who are posting here are any example. Bunch of nerdy, sue-happy, underestimating-their-opposition freaks. It's just too late, baby!

Hey Josh, where does the station reside from? Wichita is my guess.

The story on ESPN's Inside the Lines. Good think you all have an opportunity to view news other than on this rag:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hswSlLxs2F8

Josh's "backward cowboy" remark - Don't think for a minute that that's what people on the coasts believe. Of course there is an "elite" class in every town. Most people here in The Sound are regular, everyday people just like you. (But it rains a lot here, tell your friends) The fans don't want to see their team go, and everyone else thinks the guy who just insulted five million people should honor his contract, simple as that. Actually, I'd love to live in a place like OKC.

Lynn: Construction on the expansion of Key Arena is going just fine. In the next legislative session the state has committed to divert the surplus funds from Safeco Field to do a $300 million expansion of Key Arena. This is the arena that Mark Cuban just called one of the best places to watch a game in the league. The place built to the specs demanded by the NBA just 12 years ago. After the expansion it will be one of the better arenas in the league in all areas. The Sonics, under local ownership, will remain there for a long time to come. The only question to be answered is how much money Clay is willing to lose before he realizes this team isn't leaving.

Larry: You are wrong. There is no exit clause. The league can say anything they want tomorrow but the courts WILL prevent the move. The lease is valid and binding and there is no way out. You are right though, all of this is to force a sale because Bennett lied to us. He never had a "dream of a world-class arena in Seattle" because he never even talked to the city about the current arena or any new one. NEVER. He made a lame attempt to get $500 million in taxpayer money for one in Renton, but never in Seattle. But that doesn't matter because this is not about him violating the "Good faith" clause it is about the fact it can now be proved he never intended to keep the team here which will allow the sale to be recinded. You can not commit fraud to coherce someone to sell you something. The courts will slap you down every time.

I live here, I know what our people think. How can you possibly know what the majority us think? Just tune into some Oklahoma radio shows.

Way to sue the city for enforcing the lease. Brilliant move.

You hear wrong. Portland has a good team and is on the rise. The Seattle - Portland rivalry is one of the best in the NBA. We realize that those in Oklahoma like you don't care about either coast, or the harm they do others, because it is all about their selfish support of a criminal. You don't care what is right or wrong you just care about you. However you don't speak for the vast majority in your region that are good folks and have said they don't want the NBA this way.

Who cares, bring the Hornets back or something that we don't have to fight over. As for kaare, I really wouldn't run my mouth too much. I have spoken to and personally know several people from your "great" city and won't ever return... why?? because its dirty and crime infested.

No, the guy who owns Portland's team could hire Clay Bennett as his butler if he wanted to! The Trailblazers are an institution that will always be.

Here is a quote from Bennett's court filing: "Griffin and the city hope to use this court’s equity jurisdiction to force a sale by locking the Oklahomans into a lease the City knows is dysfunctional in an arena it knows is inadequate." You signed the lease buddy! You knew how long it was, and you knew that it was bad. Don't cry now.

For those of you with some bibilcal background, doesn't it strike you as odd that on the eve of this NBA BOG vote this news site has warnings scrolling going across it warning of FIRE! FLOOD! WIND! Be careful what you wish for.

Actually Dana is in the minority of those that don't care if the team stays or goes but she does represent why everyone in the region does not want the team let out of the lease. It isn't just the "rent payments" but the economic impact the NBA has. The reason any city gives tax money for sports is because of the money it brings to the region not because of the rent (if any) they pay. There is a LOT of variables in this thing but there is one hard and fast truth. The team isn't leaving until 2010 UNLESS a deal is cut that keeps a team called the Sonics here permanently. The sooner the league and Clay come to grips with that reality the sooner a deal can be negotiated to end this mess for both cities. If Stern and Clay want to play hardball with Seattle they will respond in kind and OKC will have to sit and wait. Is Seattle trying to bleed Clay dry? Nope, they are trying to cut his legs off.

The sad fact is that the only hurt ego here seems to be that of the Pacific coast elite.

That's the spirit! If we get your team, you can just go get Portland's. I hear they are doing poorly also. Seriously, the sad fact is that people here do not care what happens on either coast. If it impacts your area poorly, than so be it. I don't see anyone jumping in line to save the several businesses that have gone under here in poor old Oklahoma.

Yes, Josh, had Clay been honest in the begining we would have been very happy because Howard Schultz would have never sold to him.

Josh, about the 2010 lease thing, the fans probably care, and you'll see some of that here, but what you're not hearing here is the 99% of us who could care less about the Sonics or if they move. The reason I want them to stay until the lease is up is purely economic. I haven't watched a game in probably over fifteen years, about the time stopped even pretending that there's one set of rules for both vets and rookies. I watched Charles Barkley take fifty one free throws in the seventh game of the western finals one year that sent Phoenix to the finals against Chicago. Yes, the network was going to get their Jordan - Barkley matchup, one way or the other. So, take the Sonics, it doesn't matter to most people here in The Sound, but they should honor their current lease or pay.

The prospect of 2 years of legal nightmare should be enough to force a solution. You think it is as simple as the team playing out the lease but it is not. The lease requires Clay to "maximize revenues" which he clearly is not doing. Once the team is locked into the lease the city will go back and demand damages for his intentionally driving down revenues. Then corporate sponsors and broadcast partners will come back to Bennett and the league and demand damages because their revenues have been impacted. Local business owners will sue for lost revenues because no one will attend games for an owner just riding out the lease. They will win because Bennett is violating the lease and causing them harm. The players association will have to step in, probably reopening the CBA because the lower revenues in Seattle would cause the salary cap to be lower (and lower pay for players). It also means players like Durant will be seeing his career damaged and his agent and the players association will not stand for that. This goes on, and on, and on. In the meantime we will have the Key Arena expansion funded and a local ownership group willing to step in and stop the mess. At some point Stern's hurt feelings and massive ego will either have to take a back seat or end up with him being fired. At some point the league will broker a deal to resolve the situation but if they don't our local owner will just go buy a team and move it here. Either way we are not going to have Key Arena siting empty and local business's suffering.

Would you have been happier if Clay had come out and said from the beginning that he had no intention of staying in Seattle?

Brian- that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

Why don't you just take the lame ass name and try to get another franchise, like the Browns did? You have had several chances to keep your team. No you look sad and desprate to keep something that does not want you. Seattle is like a wife beater that expects his wife to take it. When she finally leaves he cries to try to get her to come back to a crappy situation.

The NBA is big business. If you think there is strong ethics in the business community, then you obviously have not been to your local Walmart lately. This may reek, but that is just how it will go down. No one said life is fair. Trust me we live in the dusty old west, while you guys enjoy metropolitan living at its finest.

And by the way, the City filed the suit five months before Ballmer even entered the picture, so the basic premise of this thing from Bennett is just spin.

Sorry Josh, your reasoning that it is ok for Clay to commit fraud is because others do it won't hold water. The people of Seattle DO CARE if the team moves and are doing everything in their power to stop it. The people of Seattle did their part to keep the team here, they built a new arena just a few years ago. The "people" don't get a say in the deal. Yes we can blame Howard Schultz for selling to Clay in the first place. He was told Bennett was a man of integrity and would honor his commitments. Clearly Bennett is such a good con man that he fooled a lot of people but those days are done. He will be known nationally for being a liar and a cheat which isn't going to make his future business dealings any easier.

If you are from the west coast go post you crap somewhere else. I am not a basketball fan and this drama deserves a reality show. Seattle you should have demanded renovations from your ELECTED officials. And the previous owner should never have sold the team. Who in their right mind thought they wouldn't try to bring the team here? And you talk about all of your money and supporters up there, well if that is true how did we get to this point? Is everyone up this this stupid and pathetic? Bottome line if you had forced your ELECTED officials to renovate the building or just went to the games even though the team sucked you would still have your team. So post this crap up on your newspapers up there and suck on Ballmer's teet and quit whining here.

So he has to stay until 2010, then what? You still lose the team, and have to face several lack luster years of sub par basketball.

What the national media is saying about the Sonics
Stern's teaching a bad study lesson

What's happening in Seattle isn't right. The NBA is enjoying a big run of positive press, with a fun regular season filled with headline-making trades leading to an intriguing postseason filled with fantastic matchups. But what's happening in Seattle isn't right.

The situation with the Sonics has stunk since the league approved the sale of the team to Clay Bennett, an Oklahoman whose idea from the beginning was to ensure Seattle's failure... and then move the team to Oklahoma City.

The only person who looks worse than Bennett and his co-owners is David Stern. At least the owners were transparent about their motives.

Stern summoned his Rumsfeldian best by calling the blatant lies "good faith." Asked about the e-mails, Stern said, "I haven't studied them."

He hasn't studied them? How much studying do you need to understand e-mails written as if they were messages on a MySpace page? David, understand one thing: This isn't Proust we're talking about here. These aren't elevated, nuanced concepts. They proved what everyone in Seattle suspected, or outright knew, all along.

— Tim Keown, ESPN

No hijacked team

I know it feels good to blame the Oklahoma City fans and take potshots at their city, but from the e-mails I'm getting from Oklahoma, those fans don't like how this is playing out, either.

They already proved they can sell out an NBA arena for an entire season, and they're definitely ready for an NBA team, ... but they don't want somebody's hijacked franchise under sleazy circumstances and they don't want to be held responsible for killing 41 years of basketball in Seattle.

If anything, they'd love to get the Hornets back because they've already established genuine ties with the players on that team. I just don't think you can blame the Oklahoma City fans for what's happening here. They didn't ask Bennett to steal someone else's team.

Here's why the Seattle situation should matter to everyone who cares about sports: After being part of the city for 41 years, the Sonics are being stolen away for dubious reasons while every NBA owner and executive allows it to happen, including David Stern, the guy who's supposed to be policing this stuff.

I think it's reprehensible to watch someone hijack a franchise away from the people who cared about the team and loved it and nurtured it through the years. It belittles not just the good people of Seattle, but everyone who loves sports and believes it provides a unique and valuable connection for a city, a community, family members and friends.

— Bill Simmons, ESPN

Few chapters remain

In some ways, it has the feeling of a Montreal Expos "finale." There are still a few chapters to come, even if the conclusion is clear.

The Seattle Sonics, the oldest Big Four professional sports franchise in Seattle, are en route to Oklahoma City. The only thing left to be determined is when.

So, update your scorecards. The NBA once had three franchises in the Pacific Northwest (Sonics, Vancouver Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers), and soon it will have just one.

New Orleans and Memphis, née the Charlotte Hornets and Vancouver Grizzlies, respectively, are not working as markets and their teams could soon be portable.

— Matthew Sekeres, Toronto's Globe and Mail

Honor your word

They lied and got caught. They embarrassed the league, which had been acting as if it believed the Sonics were legitimately trying to work things out in Seattle. They have a lease. They should honor it. And since honor is not something they seem to have, consideration of relocating to Oklahoma City should be canceled until the Sonics owners really do make that "good faith" effort they claimed to be making a year ago.

— Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle

There is no chance that this gets moved out of the State of Washington. This is an issue of Washington State Contract Law. He might get it out of King County court but the case will be heard here and it will be a local jury that makes the decision.

First of all, who cares if Bennett moves the sonics out of Seattle? If the people of Seattle wanted the Sonics, they should not have allowed them to be sold to a Oklahoma based group. Blame your previous owner if you must, but there are far more shady deals going down in the US business sector every day. Just check out current oil prices.

Once again I want to make it clear that the people in Seattle have nothing against the people of Oklahoma City. Both are victims in this crime. Sonicsgate is going to be one of the biggest scandals in modern sports history. Bennett has been committing one fraud after another and has been trying to fast track this thing to get it done before the truth came out. It is now starting to come out but maybe not in time for owners to make the smart move and put the brakes on this thing pending the litigation but the fact is the legal issues are going to stop the team from moving for two years and in the end probably force a sale. If Bennett is smart he will see that the wheels are coming off and would start working on deals that would get OKC a different team. If he tries to play this out OKC could find themselves without a team and a huge hit to their reputation and credibility.

Bennett is clearly trying to get the case moved to a more favorable venue. Now he's accusing Ballmer of conspiracy. Billionaires don't play nice with each other. Bury this dumb oil baron Steve!