Seattle is playing hardball over the SuperSonics' exodus, filing lawsuits by the dozens and fiery darts by the score. NBA commish David Stern calls it a scorched-earth policy, Clay Bennett looks like he's just sparred with Randy Couture and Seattle seems unwilling to face reality on this ultimate fight for possession of the SuperSonics.
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So here's what I have to say to the people of the Great Northwest: I don't blame you.
I would kick and scream, too. Fight and scratch. Sermonize and sue. Bar myself across every doorway, throw up roadblocks across freeways, shut down every port along Puget Sound, in an effort to keep the green and gold alive.
Here's why: It's a lot easier to keep a team than to get one back. Retention is a better bet than returntion, which is not a word, but you know what I mean.
Yes, it seems absurd the NBA would have franchises in Salt Lake City, Sacramento and Oklahoma City, but not Seattle.
It also seems silly that the NFL would have franchises in Jacksonville, Buffalo and Green Bay, but not Los Angeles. Yet here we are, 14 years and counting since LA had a football team anywhere besides a Hollywood sound stage. You can't play double dare with major-league sports.
True, some cities don't stay dark long. St. Louis went seven years without the NFL after losing the Cardinals to Arizona. Houston went seven years without the NFL after losing the Oilers to Tennessee. Cleveland went three seasons without the NFL after losing the original Browns to Baltimore.
Milwaukee went only four years without baseball after losing the Braves to Atlanta, and Kansas City went only one year without baseball after losing the Athletics to Oakland.
And Charlotte went only two seasons without the NBA after losing the Hornets to New Orleans.
But those are the exceptions.
In the NFL, Oakland went 13 years without a team before Al Davis came home. Baltimore went 12 years between the Colts and Ravens. And of course, Los Angeles still waits.
In baseball, Washington, D.C., went 33 years between the Senators and Nationals.
And the NBA is the most unrelenting league of them all. New Orleans went 24 years between the Jazz and Hornets. Minneapolis went 29 years between the Lakers and Timberwolves. But at least those cities eventually got teams.
It's 23 years and counting for Kansas City; 24 years and counting for San Diego; 30 years and counting for Buffalo; 36 years and counting for Cincinnati; 40 years and counting for St. Louis.
All are big-league cities that support franchises in other sports. But the NBA has not returned.
There is no assurance the NBA will return to Seattle if the Sonics flee. So don't blame Seattle for playing every card, even if it's just a nuisance.
Previous owner Howard Schultz's lawsuit, the constant references to an ownership group willing to buy the team from Clay Bennett, forgetting the inconvenient fact that the Sonics aren't for sale?
All just delay techniques. Delay, delay, delay. Which is solid strategy. Keep the Sonics around as long as possible in hopes of a miracle. Maybe an arena deal develops, maybe someone besides Mark Cuban starts asking questions, maybe Bennett grows discouraged.
Long shots all, but better shots than giving the Sonics a civil sendoff and telling the NBA to keep Seattle in mind.
Nothing is off the table. Remember back in 1983, Baltimore officials were prepared to claim imminent domain on the Colts, the taking of private property for public use. That's why Robert Irsay loaded up the Mayflower trucks by nightfall and got the heck out of Maryland.
Desperate cities will try anything, and should. I would want Oklahoma City to do the same.
Of course, there comes a time when surrender is the best option, and we saw that in Cleveland and Charlotte. Discretion became the better part of valor as those cities turned diplomatic with the NFL (Cleveland) and the NBA (Charlotte). Said, hey, we know you're going, but let's talk about how you can come back.
As stated, the new Browns were back in business after three years, and the NBA returned to Charlotte after just two years away.
Seattle, at some point, might have to make that hard decision. Its lease with the Sonics and the mess of all the lawsuits gives Seattle some leverage.
The NBA would like for this to be a clean break, and Seattle can make it very clean. But it would want something in return, and that something is the promise of a new team.
When does surrender become Seattle's best option? When it knows the Sonics are gone for sure. Some in Seattle already have accepted that. Some have not. And I don't blame them.
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The tone of the comments is that the NBA somehow bestows "Big League" status on a city and therefore I am cool since I live there is total nonsense. The strategy of the NBA has been to locate teams in 3rd tier cities away from other competing pro franchises if possible. Hardly a major league endorsement. As you all like to point out it is a business first...not some kind of badge of honor that will roll over into world class status. We are all basically tribal in the end: neighorhood, high school, University, city, State, Country, etc. These teams become our proxy warriors to prove how superior we are to the team(city) they might defeat that night. It is stupid to carry this conversation into Seattle vs. OKC...just sit back and watch the elephants battle and may the best egomaniacal set of billionaires win.
This a straight-forward contract issue that involves fairplay and principle. Seattle folks love the Sonics but can't stand for extortion. Let's say you want to rent a house for 15 years, but before you move in you ask the owner to upgrade the old house to your specifications. The owner spends a hundred million dollars to upgrade so the home is just the way you want it. You sign a 15-year lease, which is a legal contract, and all is good. Halfway through the lease, you discover that because you pay your nanny too much you don't like the newly remodeled house an think the lease is unfair. You want a newer, bigger house, a mansion, even though you haven't paid for the upgrades to the old one yet. You want the owner to pay for your high-priced nanny, your mistress, your gardner and all the other trappings of your rock star lifestyle. Plus, you want a more favorable lease, where you pay next to nothing, and guarantee nothing. The owner says now wait a minute, we just built you a house. And I have a contract that says you'll live here. It's not about the money, we don't want the place going to weeds. A new guy comes along and says he'll happily all of your overpriced employees off your hand, live in the house and assume your obligations. And he'll pay you a fortune. But, he still wants a mansion, too. You sell. Then the new guy after buying no a mansion isn't good enough. The new guy wants a palace that costs twice as much as the two other palaces in the neighborhood. He won't pay much ether, and his terms are even worse. Then, he announces he's leaving and he doesn't care what you think. But, he'll pay a few bucks to smooth things over. So, the owner of the newly remodeled house built just the way the old owner wanted it, sues to make the new guy fulfill the obligations he assumed when he bought you out. Simple as that. Slam dunk win for the owner. Oh, and since the new guy lied when he said he'd try to bargain for a new mansion (not a palace) in good faith, he's toast too.
The people that defend Mr. Bennett sound a lot like those from down Gene Stipe's way..."Yeah we know he's a crook, but he's OUR crook...look at all the good he has done around here...never mind it has been at the expense of the rest of the state." Would any of the defenders of Bennett, Stern or even Shinn be willing to go into business with them? I personally wouldn't trust any of them to correctly make change for a dollar.
Mike (OKC) wrote: "well.. apparently it [KeyArena] was not built with the forethought to last more than 12 years." Guess what? The Mayor says the new "state-of-the-art remodeled Ford should last 10 to 15 years...just about as long as the Key you are making fun of. Honestly though, it won't even last that long as the original state-of-the-art Ford only lasted about 4 years before they started calling it "adequate" and in need of "improvements" that are costing more than the entire original building did. Our "bold and visionary" City Leaders are neither. We aren't even adding any seating to a building we have already outgrown! (see my response to Jess and Jill below).
Mickey: It isn't Key Arena that is the problem. What changed is the NBA business model. The Key Arena lease was a "model" lease when it was drawn up. When they had their labor dispute they agreed to share some revenues while not having to share others. As a result the players would get more money. The owners didn't like that so they switched up their business model to divert revenues from what they share to what they don't. Arena money is one of the things they don't share so guess what? Yup, every city is being hit up for more arena money. That is when the Key Arena lease became a bad lease. The problem is that the CBA has a clause that requires the league to maximize ths shared revenues. The players association is on top of what is going on with this deal and will be demanding their share of the arean pie. Guess when the CBA comes due? Yup, 2010 so you can bet that the NBA business model will change again after they negotiate a new CBA.
Mike part 3: To start with the Sonics were not "mired in the bottom part of the league". It was one of the elite teams in the 90's and as recently as 2005 was in the Western Conference Semi finals against the Spurs. With Clay at the helm the team had its worst season in 20 years followed up by its worst season in franchise history. Had Clay been interested in winning he would have plugged Durant into last years team and would have been a playoff team this season. As for the Seahawks? Well let's see. A trip to the Superbowl and 4 straight division titles (and they will be a Superbowl contender this year as well). The Mariners? As recently as 2001 they were the winningest team in the history of baseball and last year finished 2nd with 88 wins. So your sour grapes tirade is without one ounce of merit. As for "support" all of our teams have been well supported. Clay has created this myth that the Sonics were not supported so people like you would think it is justified to lie, cheat, and steal to take the team. If I were you I wouldn't be talking about morals as you defend your local criminal. People with a gun pointed at them by a crook don't take lectures from the crook too seriously for some reason.
Keep fighting Seattle, and the NBA will NEVER come back. If you think the NBA likes what you're doing, will forget what you're doing, just take a look at Stern's quote: "A scorched earth policy." The NBA has a long, long, long memory. I would keep that firmly in mind Seatle.
Mike: I'll deal with your misinformed rant about how this is all Seattle's fault. This is a common theme in OKC. It is blaming the victim for the crime. This is not about "best effort" (although if that was Clays best effort I would never do business with him) this is about fraud and specific performance. Clay signed contracts that required certian actions which he has not honored or intends to break. I am not trying to be boastful but yes, I could have done better, and the reason is that I know the political landscape in this region and given the resources that Clay had at his disposal I could have sealed the deal. Clay was well aware that if he went to Olympia with a half baked plan, unwilling to commit to cost overruns, and not offering 50% private investment (and that is not redirected public revenue like his proposal used) AND didn't have the process started in January that the deal would die. He rolled out a very shiny custom car but when you popped the hood it didn't have a drive train. That isn't going to win you a trophy anywhere you go.
Wow Mike, what a class act. I am sorry the truth hurts and I am sorry that you feel the need to attack the messenger. People do business where they want to do business and many factors come into play. Integrity is one of them. Bennett and your elected officials have shown a lack of integrity that can not be dismissed. You can call me any name you like if it makes you feel better but you need to open your eyes to the reality that this IS going to happen and it IS self inflicted.
Mike. I agree that no company is going to base a business decision on whether or not the City has a Basketball team. However, the History of Boeing is full of examples of Corporate decisions based on slights and irritations by towns and cities wanting their business. I disagree on Stern's comments. The remodeled KEY was designed by NBA designers in conjunction with the City. If Stern thinks it doesn't work than he only has to look in the mirror and see who's is to blame. The lease was written with input of NBA personnel and was approved by Stern as Commissioner. If Stern thinks it is a bad lease than he only needs to look in the mirror to see who is to blame. The NBA knows no shame. Get ready for it.
Hey Mike..speaking of not having the "foresight" to build an arena to last more than a few years...care to explain the Ford that was NBA ready just about 6 years ago, needs 100 plus million in improvements now and is going to be ready to be replaced in about 5 years after the team shows up? Lets talk about that foresight you mention Seattle is lacking, huh??
sos.. I have to admit.. you are an idiot. If Seattle/Wasington is so stupid as to make their financial decisions on the loss of a basketball team.. then great.. more power to you.. lol.. and don't some whining to us about no gas or oil for your transportation needs.. lol.. We have the hammer sos. and John.. the term "best effort" has been tossed around as the defining argument. Do you really want to hang your hat on the term "best effort". Maybe that was Clay's best effort. Anyone that would put that in a contract for sale has to be an idiot. I didn't see the LLC on your BC., but I'm sure that your efforts would have been much more effective as bright as you are in order to see that hmmmm... a man from Oklahoma that has been trying to get a team in OKC that has had poor support and is mired in the bottom part of the league, negotiates a sale with best efforts included and nobody from that fine area raises one eyebrow. You could have built an arena with all that big time money you got floating around there, and just beat us poor Okies down, but..you didn't. And don't give me that crap about .. "we built a new arena 12 years ago"... well.. apparently it was not built with the forethought to last more than 12 years. lol.. Yeah.. a great arena. And do you really thing that Stern would come into your city and say upon the opening of your arena... what a piece of trash this is. Of course not.. he said what you fine Seattle people wanted to hear. How are the Seahawks doing.. and the Mariners. Maybe you need to get some of those retired athletes that love the area so much to come out of retirement and play for ya. And John, with all those supposed credentials... you spend hours on an Oklahoma blog, and perhaps others. Must be retired huh ? You don't write like an attorney, and that's perhaps a good thing. Attorneys and car salesmen.. and politicians... 123.. right at the top of the list for morals.
Talking about Washington companies pulling out of, or limiting their business with, Oklahoma companies is very real. At a recent local Chamber of Commerce meeting that was discused and the members vowed to start switching suppliers and reconsidering their business dealings with business down there. It is something that is already there but most are waiting since the chances of the Sonics actually moving are slim but if id did happen you can bet that thousands of jobs will be lost and billions in business lost. The sad part is that you won't even know most of it will be happening. You have no idea how many of your major employers have Washington roots. A company that builds a facility in Kansas instead of Oklahoma isn't going to issue a press release saying they made the choice because of the Sonics so you won't ever know that you lost out because of it. Companies using vendors in Oklahoma will just start ordering from vendors in other states. It will have a much greater economic impact than getting the team will have and you won't have any idea that it happened to you other than slower growth or a downturn in your economy.
OKC John: It is sad to see people from both cities acting like children over this issue. There are OKC folks talking smack all over the Seattle boards and the like just as there are a few from Seattle here acting inmature. Those that draw in the bombing and Katrina on either side are out of line and should be ashamed of themselves. But by and large the majority of people in the Seattle area have nothing against OKC they just don't like being defrauded any more than you would like it if someone from Seattle came down and committed a criminal act in OKC.
Jess: Bennett said that OKC would completely remodel Ford Center a a short term solution but that they would need to build a full boat events center for the team to be viable in the long term. He was so busy bragging to Sonics employees about everything that OKC was going to do for the team that he forgot that none of the employees want (or will even have the chance) to go to OKC. While he was gushing employees were emailing out his statements. When it got in the media he tried to unring the bell by saying he was guessing what they would do but he went into such detail it was obvious he was talking about details that he had already been working on with the city. Now the emails come out that showed he was already working with the city so he wasn't guessing he knew because he had already negotiated the deal. If you doubt that this is an open checkbook just look at San Antonio that is putting at $75 million upgrade package on the ballot for their 5 year old building. Clay negoatiated an opt out clause after 5 years. See the connection? The new NBA business model requires a constant flow of public money to keep smaller market teams afloat so get ready to play the city held hostage thing every 5 years.
Brent: Why don't you grow up? This is not about conservative or liberal. Washington is a red state with a blue dot (Seattle area) so it has a very unusual mix of elected officials. Come this November we will have a Republican Governor while the legislature will be Democrat. The Mayor of Seattle is a Democrat while Slade Gorton is a Republican and they are working hand in hand to keep the team here. This is about an act of fraud being committed and the region holding the perp accountable.
Chris: You don't get it. It isn't about how nice a place OKC is or how nice the houses are. Someone with that kind of money can build any house they want. What it is about is being an NBA superstar and the media attention and endorsements that go with it. For many years Seattle struggled to get free agents to come here in all sports. That was because (at the time) Seattle was a small market. Over time, as more players came here, stayed here, retired here, the word got out that this was one of the best places to live if you were an athlete so many live here that never played here or that went to other teams and stayed here. Now the market has grown and can players can compete for the off field income that they can't get in small markets. Top it off with Clay now having the reputation of being a bad owner and you have a situation where you won't be able to keep star talent and won't be able to draw top free agents.
CP: Time to get your facts straight. The Mariners, Seahawks, and Sonics have NEVER wanted to leave. All three had out of state owners that lied about their intentions to keep the teams here, they all tried to move them, and all failed. This has been tried by some sharp businessmen who failed and Bennett is not even close to being in their league.
Jess: Don't be so sure that Clay won't have criminal charges filed against him. You are right, shady deals are done all the time, but let me remind you about those good folks at Enron and Tyco sitting in jail right now. Why? Because when you can prove the shady dealings then charges get filed.
John wrote (twice): "LOL and they cannot even stop double posting on this site." Tooooo funny, maybe you need to contact your programmer friends. LMAO
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