Schultz files lawsuit

We just learned that attorneys for former Sonics owner Howard Schultz today filed the expected lawsuit against the current Oklahoma-based ownership group. Schultz is claiming the Oklahoma owners did not act in good faith when trying to secure a new arena deal to replace KeyArena in Seattle, and he is attempting to rescind the July 2006 sale in order to get the team back.

Meanwhile, by now you’ve all heard that Slade Gorton is now open to settlement talks with the Sonics and the NBA as long as the league guarantees the city of Seattle a replacement team.

One last thing, Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor had some nice things to say about Oklahoma City getting approval from NBA owners to become home to the Sonics. Taylor said what’s good for OKC is good for Tulsa.

“It really puts Oklahoma on a national map, and that’s what’s important. And it continues to grow the economy of Oklahoma City, which helps Tulsa,” Taylor said. “We are the two most significant contributors to the state economy. Anything that we can do to help Oklahoma City’s economy expand is good for Tulsa.”

-DM-

26 Show / Hide Archive Comments

The following comments are archived from the original publication of this post

donuteyes on Apr 26, 2008 @ 6:22 am

wow, that was insightful...
pancho villa on Apr 26, 2008 @ 3:08 am

OKC is the armpit of America. I know. I was born in Kansas and lived in Houston, Texas. OK is the sorriest state in the US. Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Andy Simon on Apr 25, 2008 @ 6:07 am

The "recomendation" for relocation is still out there but only if the situation doesn't change. If Seattle has an arena package done and an ownership group that changes the whole thing. On top of that move by Shinn the reports are that the owners worked Clay over hard. What should have taken an hour went on for almost 4 hours while he fought for his life. They may publicly say they will approve a future relocation request but the more they get embarrassed by Clay the less likely they will do anything for him. As more and more facts come out about the fraud it is getting to be more likely that Clay is going to have to bail out pretty soon or risk losing everything. Not just the Sonics but his business could be destroyed if he stands trial for fraud. If Stern really is his friend he will step in soon and put a stop to all this buy just finding a way to get OKC a different team.
donuteyes on Apr 24, 2008 @ 2:22 pm

it seems like if the sonics get tied up in litigation, the hornets might try to re-claim the ford center, doesn't it? THAT would be hilarious if bennett got screwed by his own state. weird that no one is talking about that...
SEATTLE Sonics on Apr 24, 2008 @ 2:18 am

DM, I know you've probably been swamped by all the coverage of the Sonics relocation, but would be interested to hear your take on an interesting circumstance of the BOG meeting. Suposedly, it was brought up during the consideration to allow the Sonics to move to OKC that the Sonics would have to move before the 2008-2009 NBA season or relocation approval would be invalidated and the Sonics would have to reapply next season. Apparently, it was the representative from the New Orleans Hornets that raised this issue with the BOG. What do you make of this? (SS, I don't make much of it. Don't know why Shinn would point that out. But according to this statement from the league, the owners will approve the application in whatever year they need apply again. ...."If the team does not relocate for next season and reapplies for 2009-10 or 2010-11, the board should approve the renewed application." -DM-)
SEATTLE Sonics on Apr 24, 2008 @ 2:13 am

Guess what Philip. There are even more emails yet to be released. It's rumored that we'll have another tomorrow. Since Bennett gave his deposition today, I'd expect that it contradicts what he told under oath. This guy is dumber than I thought; he may end up in jail before this is all over.
Jason on Apr 24, 2008 @ 1:27 am

“It really puts Oklahoma on a national map, and that’s what’s important. And it continues to grow the economy of Oklahoma City, which helps Tulsa,” Taylor said. “We are the two most significant contributors to the state economy. Anything that we can do to help Oklahoma City’s economy expand is good for Tulsa.” Yes, you too can take part in stealing another city's team. 41 years of history. I know it's not the everyday Oklahoma fans who are doing it. But to the ones that think it's ok... hopefully you'll never see this or any other team.... ever.
SEATTLE Sonics on Apr 23, 2008 @ 10:35 pm

Philip, would you please stop whining about the lawsuits. If they are so "silly" then lets just see if the court agrees. You wanna know what is silly though? Your understanding of the legal system.
that guy on Apr 23, 2008 @ 9:14 pm

"you’re scouring internet sports blogs for grammatical errors." finish reading sentences. maybe all okc citizens aren't as stupid as they seem from the newsok.com blogs. http://davidhglover.googlepages.com/reverserobinhood
joey on Apr 23, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
do i think this will save the supes? no, i dont. but this is a lot more wide open than i previously thought. this latest e-mail shows without question that bennet did not have good intentions. and come on phil concede! you said there were no more e-mails.

Page 1 of 2

1 2 Next
BY DARNELL MAYBERRY

OKC THUNDER SENIOR REPORTER

Follow

|
Recent articles
|
Email

Darnell Mayberry grew up in Langston, Okla. and is now in his third stint in the Sooner state. After a year and a half at Bishop McGuinness...

Read more

Darnell Mayberry grew up in Langston, Okla. and is now in his third stint in the Sooner state. After a year and a half at Bishop McGuinness High, he finished his prep years in Falls Church, Va., before graduating from Norfolk State University in 2004.

Mayberry joined The Oklahoman’s sports staff in 2005 after a year at the Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered the University of Akron men’s basketball team, high schools and recruiting. Since arriving at The Oklahoman, Mayberry has become the leading authority on the NBA as the only traveling media member and the only reporter to cover every NBA game ever played in Oklahoma City.

He served as the paper’s beat writer on the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005-07, broke the news of the Seattle SuperSonics’ settlement negotiations with the City of Seattle in the summer of 2008, a development that allowed the team to relocate to Oklahoma, and has covered the Thunder since the franchise’s inception.

Mayberry and his wife, Courtney, were married in 2010 and live in Oklahoma City.

Read other stories by Darnell Mayberry

Close

Advertisement

VIDEOS FROM NBA TV

Buy Tickets View all

Division Standings

OKC Thunder Team Leaders

OKC Thunder Offensive Stats

OKC Thunder Defensive Stats

OKC Thunder Schedule & Results

Thunder Rumblings

Schultz files lawsuit

26 Show / Hide Archive Comments

VIDEOS FROM NBA TV

Buy Tickets View all

Division Standings

OKC Thunder Team Leaders

OKC Thunder Offensive Stats

OKC Thunder Defensive Stats

OKC Thunder Schedule & Results

Message Sent Successfully

Be Sure to Check Out Our Top Headlines