(robber) barons.
apparently clay has a sense of humor after all.

Oklahoma City just proves how classless they really are!!!

"I understand the Sonics move may be imminent and the Okies should be thrilled they can sort of call themselves a "real" city by gaining the NBA"

1) The move "MAY" be imminent? What is with you people??! The move is a done deal, whether this season or in 2010. The lease in Seattle ends in 2010, and the lease in OKC is legally binding. Also, all the frivolous lawsuits in the world are not going to be enough to make PBC sell THEIR team. It's NOT Seattle's team, it's PBC's.

Read that part again: The citizens of Seattle DO NOT OWN ANY PART OF THIS TEAM. It's a business, and the owners of this business can do what they want with it.

2) You show your classless reporting and yellow journalism skills by attacking Oklahoma City by saying we can "sort of call ourselves a 'real' city by gaining the NBA". I don't really think OKC deserves all of the attack we've been getting, especially from a professional reporter like yourself who is supposed to report the news, not make it up.

Seattle, you've had every chance in the world to keep this team, and you've LOST. The trial in June will settle this, and then you can move on with your lives and go watch the Storm.

I'm sick and tired of you latte drinking, liberal pansies who think "Slade the Blade" will be your savior and almighty who will drain us slack-jawed, inbred hillbillies and send us back to our unindustrialized territory full of horses, wagons and Indians. Makes me sick personally.

Also, how is OKC classless? We have a lease, an approved move for this season (and I'm sure for the next two seasons as well) - so why can't we think of how what we are going to call OUR team?

Lastly, summing up my rant, I used to have a lot of respect for the City of and citizens of Seattle for what they are being put through. However, the more comments I read like this bashing our city and state for capitalizing on an opportunity apparently that was too good for you people makes me happy of what's coming.

Good day.

save our sonics is our motto and in oklahoma its stealing our sonics!

seeing that photo just makes me sick i can't take it

okla the only state that allows stealing

OKCSonics -- You'll just have to call me yellow. Sonics yellow. It hasn't even been a month since the season ended. This is just too soon. And as for you being a city. It's not a knock but reality. I've been to OKC and you don't have the amenities or culture that traditionally makes a city. Even people from there say there's nothing to do. Maybe the NBA will bring that aspect.

OKCRobberBaron,

While the City of Seattle's law suit might not stop the movement of the SEATTLE Sonics but only delay them, the lawsuit by former owner Schultz probalby will. Since that lawsuit is about fraud, I do believe that any action taken as a result of that fraud is null and void because how can an entity that never realy owned the team sign a valid contract? Feel free to pull out case law and argue either way.

Jayda, you are my new hero. Seriously. Thank you for standing up for us. If this name would stick, does that mean we would get to keep the Sonics name and history here? That is VERY important to me. All of those banners/jerseys/memories are part of us and I want to keep it where it belongs. Thanks Jayda!

SAVE OUR SONICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks 206er and to answer question, in April at the vote to approve the move Clay Bennett said "I believe the name should probably stay in Seattle." Now, you'll have to take that with a grain of salt since there are too many "ifs" in him stating "probably should." Since he can maker merch money of selling Sonics gear before leaving and new gear for whatever is the future in OKC, I would guess he would leave behind the Sonics past. Plus, don't Cowboys like to make their own mark?

Read the five stages of grief. OKC citizens on this forum are in the denial stage!

Seems to me the City of Seattle is the true "robber baron" --- not Oklahoma City.

See http://mises.org/story/2317 for a good distinction between market entrepreneurs (mere capitalists) and political entrepreneurs (true villains).

Instead of allowing the business of basketball to be guided by market principles, Seattle seeks to utilize judges, politics, smear tactics, etc. to cover for its blatant refusal to acknowledged and prioritize the Sonics as a valuable asset in the community requiring attention.

Seems to me the City of Seattle is the true "robber baron" --- not Oklahoma City.

See http://mises.org/story/2317 for a good distinction between market entrepreneurs (mere capitalists) and political entrepreneurs (true villains).

Instead of allowing the business of basketball to be guided by market principles, Seattle seeks to utilize judges, politics, smear tactics, etc. to cover for its blatant refusal to acknowledged and prioritize the Sonics as a valuable asset in the community requiring attention.

Just makes me fricking sick. C'mon Howard, don't settle for anything. Take this lawsuit till the end. I started drinking Starbucks again. I really need you to keep it up.

Jayda, what a cheap shot. You have a right to your opinion, regarding OKC doing a name/game prior to the move. However, taking shots at the city itself is childish. You come across like a really poor loser on a 7th grade basketball team, in my opinion. You wouldn't have to even write this stuff if your cultured city really wanted to keep the team. Now Mr. Coffee wants to save face for not ponying up to the soy latte bar and files suit. He could just have easily put the money in to keep the team. So do us a favor, the next time you are scheduled to visit our fine city, don't.

I think what will be really funny is after the Supes play here two more years (hey, OKC, a lease is a lease, right?), Kevin Durant and Jeff Green are at the end of their rookie contracts and take off to LA and New York. So the real star of this team in '10-'11 will be the number one pick this year (I'm sure the franchise logo is already in the envelope and in the number one position in the draft. David Stern is predictable if nothing else).

It ain't over till it's over. After the judge enforces the lease until 2010, Howard Schultz gets his opportunity to rescind the entire agreement.

I wouldn't buy season tickets just yet for the OKC Robber Barons.

Oklahoma City is a depressing place to be. The NBA is looking to move from a city where we have corporations like T-Mobile, Microsoft, Nintendo, Weyerhaeuser and Boeing to a place that has Billy Bob's Used cars and Big Daddy BBQ to fill their corporate suites. Even if Oklahoma gets a team, it won't last more than 5 years, GUARANTEED. Not a free agent in all of the NBA (excluding Bryant "Big Country" Reeves) would ever choose to live in OK City by choice.

Don't be mistaken; Seattle loves its Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuperrrrrrrr Sooooonicss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jayda you are my new hero. seriously. i like that you are getting fired up about this. it's too hurtful/rediculous for us to maintain objectivity. okc is a terrible place and i just hope the nba is hurt by this very soon. that said, don't give up sonics fans!

SAVE OUR SONICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More to the point...

I think it's fantastic for the fans from OKC to get passionate about their new team (not necessarily the roster or the name -- I'm sure you'd rather be watching the OKC Hornets' run at the Ford Center and not on TV -- but something with the city name and an identity on it) and a lease (funny!), etc. But it's kind of ironic that the passion has to be at the expense of others with identical motives in another geographical area. You can swap out the names: New Orleans - OKC, OKC - Seattle, Seattle - Memphis, etc. Same thing.

The lawsuits will play out, and the guy laughing all the way is David Stern. Once this team moves, then he will tell Memphis or Houston or Miami that their arena is not good enough, it needs to be better and Seattle will be his best friend. I can just hear him in a year or two: "Well, they seem to have resolved the issue, there is a new arena in place, the government is more cooperative, and there will be a team there next year. It's unfortunate that's what it took, but we love the fans in Seattle and are excited for them."

And they will probably change that team's name to the Sonics, making fans happy here. But it will be at the expense of some other group of fans somewhere. Then Stern's next best friend is the city that lost that team, and the cycle will continue.

So how long will it take to come full-circle again? If OKC is growing at a strong pace, then it won't take very long at all to take a $100 mil building with a $100 mil+ 'upgrade' to become obsolete by NBA standards. Maybe a decade or so, but it will happen. When's the next vote? Or the threat from the owner to sell the team because, in order to be viable, the owner needs to control everything in a 10-mile radius? If the neighborhood grows around the Ford Center (undoubtedly will be renamed), it will be good for awhile. Then parking gets to $20, beers are $5-$7, the team has a bad season, ticket revenue falls so the uniforms change to get new sales, TV goes to cable (or PPV), etc. We've seen it all.

Sacramento just decided to pony $650 million for a new arena. $650 MILLION! Another single team small market. This will be their 3rd building since moving from Kansas City.
(http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/927814.html)

So, OKC, how long until a $200+ mil Ford Center is obsolete, even with renovation?

This league has room for 40 or 50 teams. There is enough basketball talent out there. But this is an arena power play. Nothing more.

I see David Stern and I see Montgomery Burns of the Simpsons in his lair. "Excellent, Smithers. All is going according to plan."

Think about this (assuming a lease is a lease, both leases are now valid, and PBC's team plays in OKC beginning November 2010 but not until then):

-- Franchise purchase price - $350 million
-- Losses per year - ($20 million each -- just guessing here, but I'm sure it will grow, so I'll round for 4 years) - $80 million
-- Relocation fee - $30 million
-- Plus legal and election donation costs $?

(Losses -- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003900552_sonics25m0.html -- I'm sure someone has a more current link than this. My numbers may be off above)

Round it up a bit and it's a half-billion dollar venture. The only this scheme works is if Stern and the owners can play one city off of another until it gets hot enough that two new expansion franchises can be born at the same half-bil each (then spread out among the owners to make everyone happy, which is the end game).

With the exceptions of the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers -- and maybe not even then -- no team's fans of any playoff team this year are safe from the threat of a move.

Including OKC's new team. Welcome to the NBA.

Seattle is such a rich, sophisticated, member of the world city that they lost their team to a non-city. Nice job, guys.

Mallen - you forgot that we don't have amenities or culture here either...

Jayda..do your job and do a little research before you spew stupidity.

hey dustin go drink up smack up the ex and shut ur mouth

have you ever been to seattle? okla city gots nothing on seattle

OKCSonics...

As a non-resident of either city, I think I can impartially advise that it seems you are dispensing some of the bad medicine that you claim to be receiving.

Seattle is just upset to be losing a 41-year old franchise, with a lot of memories. The lashback at OKC is typical of many other cities on the verge of losing their teams through the years.

Basically: don't take it personally. Doing so just shows an unusal sensitiviy for the stereotypes that have been thrown around.

Jayda...you're the best!!

Go Barons! The Black Gold are back after a successful road trip!

A little premature for them doing something like that but what can you expect from the Oklahoman newspaper beause it is run by the Gaylord/Bennett people which is Clay's wife and well they only print their half of the truth but I did look at the colors of their uniform not bad for their make believe team.While they watch their make believe team the OKC Barons the great people of Seattle will be watching the SEATTLE SUPERSONICS featuring the Rookie Of The Year and all NBA Rookie Team memeber Kevin Durant and all NBA Rookie Team member Jeff Green

"have you ever been to seattle? okla city gots nothing on seattle"

Except NBA basketball. Certainly don't beat your ilk in hubris, though.

To: OKCSonics and other OKC posters.

It's not over. I'm sorry the Joads couldn't do anything about losing their land to the banks, but here in Seattle we have a court system and damn good lawyers. In June the city will win against PBC and the Sonics will play out the lease.

That being said, Slade "the Blade" has a few more incriminating emails up his sleeve. And the Schultz FRAUD case will build stronger and stronger each month. Please stop over looking the impact of a FRAUD case pointed at Clay Bennett. It's not in anybody's good interest to be convicted of fraud, and how good do the chances need to get before Clay sells?? Maybe 60% or 50% or who knows maybe 30%. All I know is if I'm facing a 30% chance of being publicly convicted of fraud on a NATIONAL LEVEL I'm nervous as hell.

So does Schultz' case have a 30% chance of winning?? All I know is that Schultz has one of the best lawyers in Seattle representing him, and that he has not made outrageous "saving face" comments in the media. It's serious, and every additional incriminating email by Bennett strengthens Schultz' play.

So again, it's not over. It's far from over

Jayda is my favorite too.

But my choice has nothing to do with her journalistic skills relative to Seattle's pathetic band of sports scribes.

BRick,

I think its a done deal. Part of the reason OKC has threatened suit on the Howie group is that any unfavorable ruling by Seattle judges will be appealed and elevated out of Seattle.

If Seattle expects to be compensated for loss of revenues so does OKC regardless of when new lease was signed. Seattle has a 2 years claim. OKC 10+ years. Once case is elevated out of Seatown there is noooo chance.

Let's face it, folks: neither the citizens of Seattle nor the citizens of OKC have anything to do with this hijacking. Oklahoma City is just fine. Who could blame basketball fans there for being excited about having a professional team? There is no need -- and no excuse -- for people in Seattle to hurl stereotypical epithets at the fine folks in OKC. Want to vent? Then do it at David Stern, Howard Schultz, the Seattle City Council, Clay Bennett, etc. Seattle fans are getting jobbed by those folks, not the people of OKC, and they deserve every ounce of wrath we can muster. I will miss the Sonics because I am a basketball fan and because I have followed them from the very start. But I will NOT miss the bullying tactics of the NBA and its ego maniacal commissioner.

I'm sure OKC is fine too, and it will make a good NBA city. My contention is this is all about NBA arenas and that revenue, because TV isn't that great right now (I really have no interest in watching San Antonio or NO play Detroit or Cleveland -- give me Boston-LA and I might turn on the TV).

One thing that's missing in all of this conversation is that this is not the only NBA team planning on moving. The (formerly New York) New Jersey Nets are slated to go to Brooklyn. May not hurt the Nets fans too much as you can get to the new arena on the same transit system, and it's back to NY. So perhaps that's why it's under the radar nationally.

The NBA seems to prefer single teams in winter markets. Why put so much effort in Sacremento? No football. Why move the Nets? No hockey in Brooklyn. Other moves -- Vancouver to Memphis -- are logical: no fan support.

I just wonder for the OKC folks -- same issue as here -- when the paint dries on the remodel and the 1% sales tax is not paid off ($121.6 million) that remodel, what next? Are you upside down like we are? Sacramento just ponied up for a $650 new arena -- over 3x what the Ford Center is going to cost when this is paid off.

The next vote is going to need to include the surrounding area. I certainly wouldn't want to vote for a 3% sales increase to do a second remodel or an outright new arena. Gotta make the money back somehow.

"Real City". Ever been to OK City? It's a real city you pathetic snob. Typical Seattle dweller. No place is better than Seattle attitude is kind of funny to most who don't live there.

While I think of you turds every time I buy my Venti Americano from SBUX, I hope you think of us every time you feel your tank with good old American gasoline. Regards.

Nickels is a buffoon.

When his term is over I hope the city sticks him with the bill for this pointless lawsuit.

I'll be damed if a dumb inbred poorly educated coug loser gingivitis drunk thinks he is qualified to tell Seattletites how they can and cannot act.

You guys want to really see what Oklahoma is all about??

bubbaworld. add the rest...

This is a real site, with real articles from the newspapers across this dismal state. I am stationed here and have never lived in such an infested, backwoods, hick lovin' cowtown in my life. Check out the site..we'll worth the time, and it'll give you a real clear vision of what oklahoma is actually like..they're a "big league city" all right....and the entire state is like this.

why can't I get a comment to post on here?

I'm as sick about the possible relocation of the Sonics as anyone but can we stop with the juvenile name calling? I'm from Oklahoma and I get a little tired of reading about the "hicks" and "Okies" constantly. For the record the people of Oklahoma in general, while too conservative for me to ever consider moving back there, are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. (Some of the people up here in their perpetual "Seattle freeze" could take a lesson for that matter.) That said, I once lived in Oklahoma City briefly and thought it was a cowtown. But really, what did the people in Oklahoma City have to do with Howard Schultz selling the team? He's every bit the villain that Bennett is, regardless of his face-saving lawsuit. So lay off the childish insults and stick to the issues.

I agree with xT-Towner. This is dumb. The greatest thing would be to have a Seattle SuperSonics/OKC 'Barons' home and home matchup to open the season.

There is room for 40-50 teams in this league. This is all about arena cash.

We're all getting robbed here, us and the folks from OKC (although that will be down the road when the new-new arena needs to be built and you're upside down on the 1% sales tax that ONLY affects people in the OKC city limits).

The name calling right now is stupid.

Poor Seattle babies...live in your "we are sooooo much better than anyone else attitude". OK City is a fine city...

Okay, OKC is only preparing for what they already have. I am a die-hard Sonic fan and have been painfully eating, breathing, and sleeping this whole mess. To me, though; seems that the writing is on the wall unless Schulz wins his lawsuit. I know it burns but there is nothing we can do about it!

What I don't appreciate is all the Oklahoma City posters complaining that we are calling them names etc..yet they get on a Seattle blog and spew there ugliness! If they don't want the name calling then they should stay away or be a little more understanding of a fan base, who had NO choice, that has been slowly watching our team be taken away. They have no clue! I could care less where this team will end up and will not get into name calling about another city the fact is, I am loosing my team and that is what hurts the most!

OKC is just going further down the road of solidifying "their" team, in order to make the unwinding of any purchase seem more unreasonable and difficult.

Same reason for the 15 year lease in OKC.

However, they are wrong in their thinking...

I haven't seen anyone bring up the fact that the OKC lease will become null and void, if in fact the judge rules in favor of Shultz. This is because Bennett would no longer be considered a legal owner and as such, his (the owners') execution of the lease contract is nullified, since they were (if the judge rules this way) never legal owners of the team.

So, in essense, the lease signing in OKC is a non-issue, since all we (seattlites) have to hope in is Shultz's lawsuit and if the judge rules in favor of Shultz that should nullify the OKC lease execution.

OKC only direction of suit could go toward the Bennett team, since they knowingly signed the lease, with their legitimate ownership in question in the courts. But they'd never do that...

My two cents...

Jayda, your use of the work Okies shows your intellignce with regard to the people who live in the state of Oklahoma. And for that matter, Oklahoma City is a real city NBA or not. Sorry that you this situation the Sonics are in is sickening to you. Grow up and act like a professional journalis as you pretend to be.

the OKC Rustlers!

No, no, no!!!!

It's the OKC Ruprechts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed3jRJr5IGQ

Steve Martin is David Stern...
Micheal Cane is Clay Bennett...
The woman is the Sonics...

Cute...seattleites. Poor babies lost your team now you get to "pull rank" on OKC. Such snobs. So funny! You lost out. Seattle has never been that big of a sports town unless you include sports that take place on Capitol Hill LOL...water

Jedi,
You are trely a pathetic journalist...probably graduated from Phoenix College .

Down to four names? Outlaws is close. I think Thieves would be more accurate.

Can anyone from OKC here, please tell me why the Shultz lawsuit doesn't have legal merit?

Y'all (see how I can speak to my audience?) are being a bit presumptious on claiming the Sonics as a done deal, with this suit in waiting.

This suit has strong legal merit...based on written evidence (the contract language and the emails of intent) and actions (lack of ownership effort lobbying politically for the arena, reaction by NBA of levying fine on ownership for on air comments of ownership).

My opinion is that this suit favors Shultz more than Bennett, et. al..

From the scathing emails, Bennett and co, may just have let their ego be their downfall (which would be poetic justice for all that us Seattlite Babies have had to put up with for the past few months from both Bennett and Stern).

And as an aside to OKC, how can anyone respect the ego-snubbing Stern has publically shown to Seattle? I have no want to slam the people of OKC, but do you guys really think your on the good-guy side of this predicament?

But still...I invite any of you OKC people to explain how you are so confident with the Schultz suit pending.

I think the good people of Seattle should pitch in and help OK name their future team. I'm sure a Times sponsored name competition would uncover a wealth of creative names. Here are a few that I have thought of: Litigators, Carpetbaggers and Banditoes.

The story about the name is irrelevant because its only about 1000 people that registered on the internet, which is a small fraction of the soon to be OKC Sonic fans. It means nothing, so everyone relax. The whole thing is just sad for Seattle. As an Oklahoman, I am proud to be getting the team. It was really just a matter of OKC voting yes and Seattle voting no.

Seattle and Jadah, you are sooooooooo superior. Seattle is the only city that is cool, cultured etc. It's funny. My brother has ived there for years and he is one of the most arrogant mfer that I know. He puts down any community that isn't Seattle. It's pretty strange to see but pretty common I guess. THose not from the PNW don't understand the attitude when I tell them. Most thik it's funny. Seattle is so far out of the way.

The only sports that are popular in Seattle are water sports on Capitol Hill... Keep "cruisin" seattle.

The OKC bandits seem to be getting a little ahead of themselves, hopefully they will be just as disapointed as Sonics fans were when the league vote took place. The vote that really counts will be in court it would appear! Go Howard, make it up to us by making the OKC theives pay and pay.

And to all the bleeding heart liberals that are thrilled to see the Sonics go, hate to disapoint you too. Just like with the M's, you have no influence when push comes to shove, your political heros will be just as powerless to stop the renovation of Key, or some other solution, just as they were unable to stop the Safeco Field momentum. Thank goodness they are so clueless and laughable. Seattle politicians are the joke of the rest of the country. McDermott, are you kidding me, get serious! Where have you gone Maggie and Jackson when we need you? Thankfully we still have some people willing to put up a real fight.

Ok lets celebrate the fact that we are no longer a democracy and the people's vote does not count. The Seattle public is powerless and insignificant. It is KJR and their well informed and broad perspectived listners that will shape the future of this heretoforth misguided community.

I love the arrogance of the ignorant Okies.

If you only actually understood the case....man are you in for a surprise.

Yeah...just as I thought...no one from OKC can come on here and give any sort of reasoning of how the Shultz suit will NOT keep the Sonics in Seattle (please read my post above for my brief arguments). I emplor any of you to reason why this suit doesn't have merit.

OKC fans, your ignorance is glaring. None of you can justify the misleading purchse of the Sonics and lack of a good faith effort to keep the team in town. That was a statute of the contract and would not have been executed without it included...the purchase will be reversed.

I don't have a long legal background, but in my eyes the suit has solid merit and I think the suit will keep the Sonics in Seattle...there is no way Bennett et al. will be able to pull the wool over a judges eyes in both word and actions shown.

Bennetts bankrole and Stern's ego-tripping will hold no water in court.

Sorry for the miss-spellings...typing too fast.

Is the "real city" jab really necessary, Jayda?

Invisible man...The poke about OKC being a "real city" is not necessary, but it's consistent with what Jedi writes. Arrogant skank.

I'm not an Oklahoman but I'll take a stab. How do you prove/disprove good faith? Seems very subjective. A single trip from OKC to Sea to discuss the issue can be construed as good faith. ANy unneccasary or additional expense can be good faith. I don't think having a fallback plan is mutually exclusive to putting forth a good faith effort.

This case will not ultimately be settled in the Seattle jurisdiction. Either side will appeal a loss and it will be elevated.

Take this for what its worth...My brother in law (blaw) tells me that good faith action lawsuits are typically settled monetarily and transactions themselves don't reverse

Good Faith is defined as "absence of any intent to defraud, act maliciously, or take unfair advantage".

Effort is defined as "a serious attempt"

Defraud is defined as "to deprive of something by deception or fraud"

The Bennett group used deception by having what a court would percieve as an internal contradiction (or conflict), meaning saying one thing (promising a good faith EFFORT) and doing/intending another (not making a serious attempt in action and stating "we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seatte").

Since the general community is being injured in this case and not just a single party...and the fact that a clause insuring the home team to remain is a MAJOR part of pro sports purchase contracts, in this case I would expect the judge to realize that a monetary judgement will not cure matters in any way and thus a unwinding of the sale, while maybe appearing difficult, would be the most just.

Just a little more about good faith and how to determine...if they just come reasonably close to good faith, then the ruling will most always favor that good faith was reached. OK, so you just have to come close, but close to what?...

But they didn't even come close...

A judge will look consider the usual and customary steps necessary to acomplish what ever the intended goal was, in this case effectively getting an arena deal done. So, considering all factors, timing, political, economical, regional...what would be usual and customary steps to get an arena deal done in a metropolital city and did they do it.

When considering the (1) political lobbying usually needed; (2) timing of legislature in this case; (3) the state's/city's historical timeline of approving new sports buildings; (4) just general effort needed from ownership...I think it's pretty clear that the Bennett group didn't allow the time nor provide the general effort in getting a home in the Seattle area for the Sonics.

GENERAL EFFORT: Getting architectual plans done with a pie in the sky Renton facility prior to state funding approval does NOT meet that standard.

Coupled by many the inflamatory statementS, not just one but many, from ownership...it should be clear to a judge that Good Faith was not met.

IMHO

I have driven throu OKC twice a year GOD HELP ME for that. Let me say the NBA is going to have a lot of egg on its face once Tinker AFB closes within the next ten years. YES its been on the chopping block a few times. OCK economy is based on the AFB and if it is to close the economy would drop and then what? No one could afford NBA tickets. I know I don't know what I am talking about OKC BUT I DO good luck!!!
Good luck NBA and OKC this is why David Stern is a dumb ass. Move a team the is supported by the Military and not by Miroc Soft or Starbucks just look at the economy at both cities. STERN you are a dumb ass. I say it again Dumb ass!!!!

I have driven throu OKC twice a year GOD HELP ME for that. Let me say the NBA is going to have a lot of egg on its face once Tinker AFB closes within the next ten years. YES its been on the chopping block a few times. OCK economy is based on the AFB and if it is to close the economy would drop and then what? No one could afford NBA tickets. I know I don't know what I am talking about OKC BUT I DO good luck!!!
Good luck NBA and OKC this is why David Stern is a dumb ass. Move a team the is supported by the Military and not by Miroc Soft or Starbucks just look at the economy at both cities. STERN you are a dumb ass. I say it again Dumb ass!!!!

I have driven throu OKC twice a year GOD HELP ME for that. Let me say the NBA is going to have a lot of egg on its face once Tinker AFB closes within the next ten years. YES its been on the chopping block a few times. OCK economy is based on the AFB and if it is to close the economy would drop and then what? No one could afford NBA tickets. I know I don't know what I am talking about OKC BUT I DO good luck!!!
Good luck NBA and OKC this is why David Stern is a dumb ass. Move a team the is supported by the Military and not by Miroc Soft or Starbucks just look at the economy at both cities. STERN you are a dumb ass. I say it again Dumb ass!!!!

Heres why the Schulz lawsuit doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.

As with any investment ClayClay has the right to maximize his return. ClayClay did give Seattle the chance to surpass his next best opportunity expending considerable resources in the process. ClayClay has every right to expect a return superior to his opportunity cost. Unfortunately, ClayClay's opportunity cost is in hometown OKC where with all his other media holdings he gets to leverage significant syngeries that Seatlle only matches by building him the palace he wants and and claim on all related revenue streams.

On the other hand Seattle would be incredibly dumb to bow to his wishes. I

f Seattle/Ballmer group comes back with an offer to the NBA that is along the lines of what was turned downed two years ago...that is not much of a case.

Good Luck,

You have to laugh at Jayda as she trues to hold onto her objectivity, while calling OKC names. I can imagine her condemnation of Imus regarding the Rutgers' ladies.
What about your beloved Seattle - one of the ten worst cities to live in! (Google "10 Worst Cities To LIve In")
Can you hear me know?
And BTW, the Barons name was voted down by the fine people of OKC. It is down to the OKC Thunder or the OKC Outlaws. We did not want the Sonics name. Who wants to be named after a drive in hamburger restaurant?

al...
OKC area population is in the 1 million person range now if including Midwest City, Norman etc. The military base is significant in # of residents etc., but it certainly is not the bread and butter of the OKC area.
I am not from OKC, but I have been there numerous times for business. I don't see it as a terrible place. It's just another city.
The arrogance of people from Seattle is funny.
OKC will support a pro team. Seattle has been a fairweather fan city for a long time. To illustrate this, did you see the crowds at UW basketball this year? This is a team that had 2 back to back sweet 16's!
Sonics are gone. Get over it.
Oh, and Jadah, you are really pathetic.

Sol:

I don't understand most (if not all) of your post.

ClayClay has to abide by the terms of the contract, first and foremost, regardless of maximizing profits. Thus he must make a good faith effort to keep the team in town. Which I argue, he hasn't.

Profits, opportunity cost, whatever...he must make a good faith effort...drawing up architectual plans for a pie-in-the-sky arena in Renton doesn't cut it.

There was no lobbying, no public marketing, and very little general effort to keep the team in Sea-town.

Their statements made to the public and in discovered emails verifies this.

Terms of the contract say put forth good faith not endure sustained financial hits to keep team in Seattle. Once ownership changed good faith means give Seattle chance to beat out other opportunities. The good faith effort was providing Seattle an opportunity to provide ClayClay with a return commensurate to hat he would earn in OKC , which in the context of his other holdings would be a new arena and all related revenunes. Seattle had that chance. It may be pie in the sky to you but not to CLayClay given his next best opportunity. Seattle chose (and chose wisely) not to match.

Alvin:

Great comment, especially the last sentance that I agree with in so many ways...but the only thing keeping me from totally not wanting the Sonics in Seattle, is the fact that they are the Sonics.

And besides, Stern is just temporary (along with ownership)...tempting, but I don't want to kick the Sonics to the curb.

Back to the contract...Do you happen to have the exact quote from the contract relating to good faith? Is that the wording..."so as not to endure continued financial hits"?

If that's the case, then that is much steeper climb to prove lack of meeting that statute.

If they ever moved to OKC they should be call the "Bombers," cause htats the only history they got in that lame city.

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain fraser show and Seattle Sonics. Your city should have supported them more I will poor out a lil starbucks coffee for you guys when i am sitting courtside at the OKC season opener

you stupid people dont realize that the courts will rule in favor of the move. Several leagle teams and men and women for the capitol hill said they want this done and over with. the next move is the government is going to push seattle to either put up 500 million in 90 days or shut up. that will be great, seattle is a slimy nasty town and stop bad mouthing okc or we will come and take over your whole city.

We should call the team Okc Bombers huh?.if thera are more fans like you I have no sympathy you are dirt.Cool to make fun of an event where 18 children died at the hands of that a-hole.Think before you type loser.

It appears that proponents of Seattle's case have undermined Clay Bennet's efforts to land funding for Renton arena.

The proverbial final nail into Seattle's coffin has just been driven...

Not so fast Ecko- that's laughable that ClayClay is doing ANYTHING to keep the Sonics in Seattle, in fact his $500 million aren was a joke from the start and meant to turn off Seattle politicians, read the emails! The coffin for OKC will be nailed shut by the courts, either the Federals on the lease, or locals on the breach of good faith, take your pick. Don't count your chickens quite yet!
Besides, we have pictures of ClayClay and Stern that they don't want to see the light of day!