Supersonics to OK Update

[Adam Mac]

Anyone following the issue with the Sonics would want to read this, it's the latest in the move from Seattle to the tiny city of Okalahoma City

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aveeyk6G1yKlhMFRatpeEiA5nYcB?slug=ap-supersonics-oklahoma&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Casey]

As a Seattle resident, I have followed this pretty closely. Washington's government has failed its citizens at all levels.

Certainly, Clayton Bennett has not presented a fair situation, but David Stern has no reason to even consider lobbying to keep the Sonics in Seattle at this point.

I hope they stay, I grew up with Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schremf (sp?), Sam Perkins, etc. but I lose hope the more the government twiddles their thumbs.

[Adam Mac]

It just doesn't make sense to me to move a team from a decently big market to such a small one? Look at Memphis which is still bigger than Oklahoma City, they aren't doing to well.... I just think it's a poor choice to move them from Seattle

[49ersfan]

It is a poor choice, but what choice do they even have. Seattle has acted horribly towards them, and their only recluse is leaving.

[Casey]

It just doesn't make sense to me to move a team from a decently big market to such a small one? Look at Memphis which is still bigger than Oklahoma City, they aren't doing to well.... I just think it's a poor choice to move them from Seattle

I completely agree but the government and people of Seattle, outside of the SaveOurSonics.com guys have done a terrible job of supporting any action on the matter. Two weeks ago, what was widely seen as the government turning down a proposal from businessmen offering $150M was actually the government's unwillingness to even hear the proposal, with the excuse being "not enough time in the legislative session." I-91, which effectively ended hope of building a new arena, was an easy to pass bill with the Sonics attached to it. Christine Gregoire has run her tenure in Washington as a people pleaser, not a money maker. There was $180M offered from private investors to build a NASCAR ready track in the area, and it was completely shut down. The state of Washington, governmentally, is concerned mostly with saving citizens from themselves. Between Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols terms in office, the most notable changes have been smoking bans and newly "enforced" strip club laws, which to my knowledge haven't taken effect because they coincide with some goofy zoning issue in Seattle, and will occur six months after the zoning issue is resolved. Mind you, that bill was passed some time in 2006 I believe. Seattle and Washington's government is a joke, even the new arena proposal, the original one, would have been funded by a 11 year extension to the hotel, rental car, and restaurant tax. So essentially, unless people dined out regularly, the average Seattle family would feel no effect. This state is full of people who love to whine and complain. They don't enjoy resolving issues, but they sure love to bring them up. I would put my state's government up against almost any other in any contest involving the most action vs. least accomplished. The fact is, Seattle is becoming more and more a city of people from other places, and what the hell does some guy from Chicago or New York, that came here to work for Boeing or Microsoft care about the Sonics, other than his incorrect perception that if his property value raises along with his property tax that it should be viewed as a loss. Its the same ass backwards thinking that has people sympathizing with Howard Schultz, former Sonics owner, who claimed to have lost $60M in his five years of ownership, and also claimed to have sold to the man who he felt offered the city the best chance of keeping the team, despite selling the team for $100M over Forbes estimated value, and $150M more than he bought it for. In fact, the investors who have come forward, many of them, were once part of Schultz Basketball Group of Seattle, LLC.

[Vbsiena]

I completely agree but the government and people of Seattle, outside of the SaveOurSonics.com guys have done a terrible job of supporting any action on the matter. Two weeks ago, what was widely seen as the government turning down a proposal from businessmen offering $150M was actually the government's unwillingness to even hear the proposal, with the excuse being "not enough time in the legislative session." I-91, which effectively ended hope of building a new arena, was an easy to pass bill with the Sonics attached to it. Christine Gregoire has run her tenure in Washington as a people pleaser, not a money maker. There was $180M offered from private investors to build a NASCAR ready track in the area, and it was completely shut down. The state of Washington, governmentally, is concerned mostly with saving citizens from themselves. Between Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols terms in office, the most notable changes have been smoking bans and newly "enforced" strip club laws, which to my knowledge haven't taken effect because they coincide with some goofy zoning issue in Seattle, and will occur six months after the zoning issue is resolved. Mind you, that bill was passed some time in 2006 I believe. Seattle and Washington's government is a joke, even the new arena proposal, the original one, would have been funded by a 11 year extension to the hotel, rental car, and restaurant tax. So essentially, unless people dined out regularly, the average Seattle family would feel no effect. This state is full of people who love to whine and complain. They don't enjoy resolving issues, but they sure love to bring them up. I would put my state's government up against almost any other in any contest involving the most action vs. least accomplished. The fact is, Seattle is becoming more and more a city of people from other places, and what the hell does some guy from Chicago or New York, that came here to work for Boeing or Microsoft care about the Sonics, other than his incorrect perception that if his property value raises along with his property tax that it should be viewed as a loss. Its the same ass backwards thinking that has people sympathizing with Howard Schultz, former Sonics owner, who claimed to have lost $60M in his five years of ownership, and also claimed to have sold to the man who he felt offered the city the best chance of keeping the team, despite selling the team for $100M over Forbes estimated value, and $150M more than he bought it for. In fact, the investors who have come forward, many of them, were once part of Schultz Basketball Group of Seattle, LLC.

Nice rant. You convinced me Seattle sucks to live in.

[Casey]

Seattle is a terrible sports town. The city itself is amazing, its just that half of its citizens care more about hacky sack and hemp clothing than they do about sports.

BTW, Adam, I came off a little aggressive toward you, It wasn't intended that way, this is a frustrating issue as I'm sure you can imagine.

[bills_red]

- We ran into some interesting cornerback rankings we thought we'd pass along. One AFC East team ranks the top five this way: 1) Mike Jenkins, 2) Antoine Cason, 3) Leodis McKelvin, 4) Brandon Flowers, 5) Tracy Porter. That team had Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie ranked 7th at the position.

I like this scout! DRC is way overrated

[49ersfan]

Wow, bills, that is off-topic.

[bills_red]

opps I had 2 Walterfootball.com fourms up posted in wrong one, lol

[Matt McGuire]

I want to see an NBA team in Vegas...I think it is a great NBA town since a lot of celebrities live in Vegas.

[animal52]

I want to see an NBA team in Vegas...I think it is a great NBA town since a lot of celebrities live in Vegas.

And they can sell hookers instead of hot dogs.

[49ersfan]

LOL, yeah. Stern would never allow it, however.

[Adam Mac]

They were talking about Sonics moving to Oklahoma City and New Orleans to mvoe to Las Vegas actually

[Casey]

They were talking about Sonics moving to Oklahoma City and New Orleans to mvoe to Las Vegas actually

I'd imagine the Maloof brothers would throw a hissy fit if they weren't first in line for Vegas.