Jeff wrote: "It had in the agreement that an NBA team had to be here in 2009. If the Sonics are going to be in court until 2011 or later, the MAPS extension is null and void, isn't it?" Well sort of....the lease stipulated that we had to have a signed contract by a certain date or the practice facility wouldnt be built and things like the team offices, locker rooms and tv studio would be built but go unfinished...the tax would only last 12 months instead of the 15 (3 month part that would go for the practice facility). We have a signed contract and the Mayor says it kicked in as soon as the BOG voted for relocation (if it actually does or not, don't know). That's one of those legal things that if both parties don't agree to the interpretation you end up in court (like the Sonics are with Seattle now). However if the lawsuit from the former owners id successful, and the sale of the team is made null and void, does that make the lease with OKC null and void too? Or is Bennett et al, obligated to bring an NBA team here anyway or have to pay the City back the $121 million?

Chris i wouldn't say that. Oklahoma still has 3.2% beer. They don't know what real beer taste like, just when they come to their beloved Texas to bring back to their trailor. They are stuck in the '50s and haven't come to the new ages. JOKE-lahoma!

Did you mean Drunkadelhicks?

The team should pick another nick-name. I like the Oklahoma City Dunkadelics. The O-City Dunkadelics are coming to town. Dunkadelic is new, coo, and distinctive.

Sorry you feel that way about us Adam... We still love you though.

Nice try Jeff. Oklahomans thrive off of Texas's economy. The owner of the San Antonio Spurs didn't want OKC to get a team. He said that Tulsa is 'better known' city than OKC. And this would make Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio and OKC know as the 'Dust Bowl teams.'

Sorry you feel that way about us Adam. We love you though.

So what happens to the MAPS extension? It had in the agreement that an NBA team had to be here in 2009. If the Sonics are going to be in court until 2011 or later, the MAPS extension is null and void, isn't it?

Yeah, well, I hope Texas finally suceeds from the Union. You guys have certainly tried alot.

Oklahoma sucks! Your state will never be anything! You bunch of losers!

Check this out... A smart Seattle citizen who didn't attack Benett and Stern, and instead attacked his own city. -----> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2004359656_brewer19.html <----- You know what's funny? Some Seattle citizen will come here rattling off that the dude is an idiot or something, and his words are to never be believed for some reason.

Jeff, Bothell; Your post is one of the most intelligent and thoughtful commentaries that I've seen on here so far. I appreciate your honesty and candor, and I really can't argue with anything you stated. The day Shultz sold the team to Bennett, et al, I would have thought most realistic people would have assumed the Sonic's days in Seattle were numbered. That is most unfortunate for the true dedicated fans is Seattle. The hubris of Stern and the NBA is that they will do what they want, when they want, fans be damned. Seattle's loss is OKC's gain. And if the team leaves us in 15 years, we will be feeling just as you are now. At least you still have two major league sports teams to fall back on.

Thank you NewsOK for your open forum.
Many of the actions that have brought the OKC Sonics and Seattle to this point, have been mishandled, misrepresented and frankly, an embarrassment to the great citizens of Oklahoma and Washington.
For certain, there will remain controversy in both states as to the actions taken by state and municipal government, either with (large tax incentives approved) or (lack of urgency, consideration or disapproval), by their respective legislators. What is more alarming is the agenda by Mr. Stern to help facilitate moving an existing team - any team, with a deep, established customer and support base, in terms of revenue(facilities aside) - More than the efforts to help facilitate keeping that strong base in the existing city.
It seems to be driven by greed and the power that he believes to have through the NBA monopoly, to extort communities to build NBA Palaces. The NBA is very, very healthy. We don't need half billion dollar arenas to make everybody happy.
Mr. Stern and Mr. Bennett did make an attempt to seek a new facility commitment, from government legislators in Washington - But $500 million dollar investments, c'mon. With those less-than-genuine attempts and outrageous requests, combined with the decision by Mr. Bennett to gut the payroll, rebuild and field an inferior team - It was obvious that Stern and Bennett could then argue a (Lack of support from the government) and (Poor fan attendance). It would divide the citizens/customers and state legislature.
All that said, Mr. Bennett’s investor group did purchase the team, and of course can do as they wish, and should honor existing terms that were obvious in the due diligence, before signing the agreement.
I believe I share the same opinion as many others do, that much of the consternation that exists today, would never be, if Clay Bennett had simply stated up front that he represents a group of investors from OKC that fully intends to move the Sonics to OKC first and foremost, that they will give the community and government a chance to respond, and that if it's not what they’re looking for, that they would proceed to move the team.
I can live with that. I would have appreciated everyone's honesty up front, accepted it and moved on. Deceit and chest beating destroyed credibility of many, wrongly portrayed citizens in both States, and has deeply tarnished the reputation of the NBA, over an agenda that grew stronger with every action, and was very avoidable.

You know... Some of the things I hope this team brings, or brings back... I hope Dairy Queen will open up again in city limits instead of Chikasha only. Peter Piper Pizza is missed... Hmm, I hear Jack in the Box has good burgers. Maybe Six Flags will come back and Henry will find some land for them to build a huge park, or the current owners will beef the park up bigtime due to this huge event.

Thank you NewsOK for your open forum.
Many of the actions that have brought the OKC Sonics and Seattle to this point have been mishandled, misrepresented and frankly, an embarrasment to the great citizens of Oklahoma and Washington. For certain, there will remain, controvery in both states as to the actions taken by state and municipal government either with(large tax incentives approved)or (lack of urgency, consideration or disapproval), by their respective legislators. What is more alarming is the agenda by Mr. Stern to help facilitate moving an existing team - any team, with a deep, established customer and support base, in terms of revenue(facilities aside), more than the efforts to help facilitate keeping that strong base in the existings city. It seems to be driven by greed and the power that he believes to have through the NBA monopoly, to extort communities to build NBA Palaces. The NBA is very, very healthy. We don't need half billion dollar areans to make everybody happy. Mr. Stern and Mr. Bennett did make an attempt to seek a new facility commitment from government legislators in Washington - But $500 million dollar investments, c'mon. With those less-than-genuine attempts and outreageous requests combined with the decision by Mr. Bennett to gut the payroll, rebuild and field an inferior team - It was obvious that Stern and Bennett could then argue a (Lack of support from the gvernement)and (Poor fan attendance). It would divide the citizens/customers and state legislature.
All that said, Mr. Bennetts investor group did purchase the team, and of course can do as they wish, and should honor existing terms that were obvious in the due diligence before signing the agreement. I believe I share the same opinion as many others do, that much of the consternation that exists today, would never be, if Clay Bennett had simply stated up front that he repreresents a group of investors from OKC that fully intends to move the Sonics to OKC first and foremost, that we'll give the community and government a chance respond, and that if it's not what we're looking for, we'll proceed to move the team. I can live with that. I would have appreciated everyone's honesty up front, accepted it and moved on. Deceit and chest beating destroyed credibility of many, wrongly portrayed citizens on both States, and has deeply tarnished the reputation of the NBA, over an agenda that grew stronger with every action, and was very avoidable.

I was always under the impression that since the Seahawks have been so good lately, no ones cared about the Mariners and Sonics. Personally my belief is that peeps in Seattle care more about the Hawks then anything.

Sometimes the 3rd time is not the charm. Civic leaders and Seattlites pitched in monetarily to help out the Mariners and the Seahawks. When it came to the Sonics, they said no. That's what happens when you have three major league sports franchises in one locale. Mr. Starbucks threw up his hands and sold the team to a bunch of Oklahoma oil men. I don't blame the Seattle fans for being being pissed and feeling betrayed. Unfortunately for them, this is big business, and money talks.

That is easy C... People always need a scapegoat. The people in Seattle are quick to attack Clay when the events of their ordeal started 2 years before Clay ever set foot in that city to purchase the team. Who knows why Houtson peeps are attacking us, well wait, it's just blind arrogance. Same with anyone from any other state seeking to bring this state down. They are just insecure about something so they resort to personal attacks.

Jim, Houston - that was the most hilarious thing I've read in a long time. Houston? Talking about shady? I thought ya'll had been annexed by Louisana by now! We all know none of these things happen without some hard negotiations - just like drilling for oil. Seems to me that Clay did everything he was promised - just so people like YOU couldn't call him in a bluff. If there are any "shady characters" in this deal, they are all elected officials in Seattle or Washington state. Why, all of a sudden THIS week, are these people forgetting how many times the citizens of Seattle voted/shouted down a new arena for this team ????

You know with everyone here calling everyone liars, they sure do need to look in the mirror and stop throwing stones at people for doing the same thing they do themselves. The only person who could ever have a valid point in getting mad at a liar, is someone has and never will lie themselves. Sad to say only god is perfect, we on the other hand WILL NEVER BE! So stone yourselves (those calling out liars,) along with those you throw stones at, because every human in the world is in the same boat when it comes to lying. Damn that's one huge boat when you think about it.

Big Daddy Shultz knew exactly what the end game was going to be. Yet he still took the money and ran. His crying "foul" now is only to safe face and divert the ire that should be directed at him....

I vote for #4. In addition, Mr. Starbucks lobbied for years to get a new arena, got fed up with it, and sold the team to some Oklahoma oil barons for 100 million more than it was worth. Did he really think the team would stay in Seattle with Oklahoma owners having a desire to have an NBA team in OKC, knowing full well that even HE couldn't get a new arena? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what the outcome was going to be.

Hilarious how Stern could not remember if there was a relocation fee and then forgot the amount: $30M, which is the hard to remember amount of $1M per team. Funny how easy it is to forget $30M in certain circles.

4) We all knew what their intentions were and look forward to our first ever major league team....I place just as much blame on the politicians up in Washington...Oh and Bennett doesn't represent our city...Just a wealthy dude that owns a sports team