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Sonics Trial Blog

Seattle Times reporters Percy Allen, Jim Brunner and Danny O'Neil are filing updates from the courthouse throughout the day.

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June 20, 2008 9:17 AM

Former Sonics President Wally Walker takes the stand

Posted by Jim Brunner


Court has resumed this morning with the Sonics calling Wally Walker, former team President and part-owner of the Sonics.

Sonics attorney Paul Taylor asked Walker about the inadequacies of KeyArena.

Taylor asked whether Walker knew KeyArena was an inadequate NBA facility as far back as 2004.

"I believe I said publicly it was a challenging arena at that time, yes."

Taylor asked: "The lease was not competitive with other NBA leases, right?"

Walker: "Yes."

At 9:08 a.m. Taylor showed Walker a memo of talking points written by K&L Gates attorney Gerry Johnson, who was then working for the Sonics.

"The current lease between the city and the Sonics does not work for either party," Johnson wrote in the memo. Further, the memo said that due to ongoing financial losses, owners would have to consider selling the team, or even moving outside the region.

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July 2008

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Recent stories

Sonics attorneys focus on city's "poisoned well" plan
Bennett says Sonics could lose $60 million if forced to stay in Seattle 2 more years
Sonics CEO: Fans are apathetic
Clay's excuses sound as contrived as his arena plan
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NBA owners approve Sonics' move, but legal fight continues in Seattle
E-mails reveal Sonics owners intended to bolt from Seattle
Oklahoma House passes tax package designed to help lure Sonics

Documents

2007 "Poisoned Well" document (PDF)
Ward: "Are we doomed to have another lameduck season in Seattle?" (PDF)
Bennett's e-mail to Stern: "You are just one of my favorite people on earth" (PDF)
Clay Bennett and Sonics' court filing (PDF)

Multimedia

Gallery | Seattle SuperSonics: Lasting memories
Gallery | Bittersweet night for Sonics fans
Gallery | Sonics through the years
Gallery | 25th anniversary of Sonics world championship
Gallery | End of a Season, End of a Franchise?
Sports fan "Big Lo" seeks answers from Howard Schultz

Fans weigh in about the state of the Sonics
Cartoon | Schultz jumps into action
Talk about the team in the Sonics forum

Other links

Trial coverage from www.newok.com
ESPN.com | Hope (still) springs in Seattle