I don't know if amused or perplexed is the right word for what I felt when I read this article from the San Antonio newspaper with regard to Seattle Sonics owner Clay Bennett.
Maybe it was more of an "aha!" moment.
People don't generally change their personalities overnight, any more than leopards change their spots or tigers their stripes (unless, of course there is some organic/medical cause for it). Therefore, it was, to my way of thinking, highly unlikely that Clayton Bennett just woke up one morning and decided that he was not going to honor the side agreement that he had with Howard Schultz' ownership group (a sale that would not have been approved had the PBC, LLC not agreed to its terms with regard to good faith efforts to keep the team in Seattle).
In fact, it seems that he made up his mind in that direction at a point in time before the Sonics were even a gleam in his eye, so to speak. Having attempted, (and been unsuccessful in the effort), to convince the Spurs to move to a ####lord family arena in Nashville TN, after which he was removed from the ownership group for other reasons, he set his sights elsewhere; though not for more than 10 years.
Seems to me that San Antonio got lucky that they aren't the ones presumed soon to playing in Ford Center. And it also seems to me that this angle, if followed up on by the legal teams for the city of Seattle and Howard Schultz, might add a bit more smoke (or remove a few more mirrors, not sure which one) to their litigious arsenals.
When I drifted off to sleep at 8:00 pm PDT last night (or 2000 hours, as I am wont to call it), not a whole lot new and different was going on in Seattle. The Mariners were losing...AGAIN. The NBA Board of Governors was planning to vote affirmatively on the request to relocate the Sonics to OKC.
A lot can change in seven short hours. I awoke at 0300 (that's 3:00 am to you non-military, non-healthcare types, AKA O'dark thirty) to find that this man
Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz, had announced last evening that he has retained legal counsel to litigate for nullification of the sale of the Sonics to Professional Basketball Club, LLC of Oklahoma City.
This came almost immediately on the heels of two other daily news articles regarding the Sonics move; a) Daniel Stern's disingenuous claim that he felt that Clay Bennett had negotiated in good faith, despite the fact that he hadn't even read the incriminating e-mails yet and b) the Oklahoma State Legislature ponying up huge, ginormous tax breaks for the Sonics as an incentive for them to complete the relocation.
The new litigation (to be added to the city of Seattle's suit for specific performance of the Key Arena lease (to be heard in June 2008) and the season ticket holders' class action lawsuit (planned to be heard in March 2009)) seeks to nullify the sale of the team and return ownership to Schultz and the previous ownership group, on the basis of breech of contract by PBC related to their failure to honor the side letter commitment to negotiate in good faith with all applicable parties (city, county, state and any/all private parties who would present plans) to keep the Sonics in their home of 41 years. Said side letter/codicil to the sales contract was required by the previous ownership group as a condition of the sale.
It is this side letter that would have appear to have been violated by all of the e-mails recently (partially) released by the city of Seattle's legal team, led by former Senator (R-WA) Slade Gorton, and which indicate that the PBC was actively negotiating with OKC (and Kansas City) during the time that they were required to be negotiating solely with the Seattle area.
Does this mean that the Board of Governors will fail to rubber stamp approval of the relocation request this Thursday and Friday during their meetings? Not necessarily, but Clay Bennett and PBC had darn well better think twice about immediately running out and signing that arena lease with the City of OKC, or they could find themselves being sued--AGAIN--for specific performance, but this time by OKC if the team reverts to Schultz and the former ownership group. And that could cost him a pretty penny, in addition to all of the money they recently spent to push through the sales tax in OKC that would pay for the renovations to Ford Center (reportedly over one half of the monies received by the committee pushing for the tax were received from PBC).
Speculation has it that, if the team is returned to Schultz, he will immediately sell to the local investment group headed by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, so that they can proceed with the planned $300MM re-renovation of the Key Arena.
If I am a member of the BOG, I vote to table the relocation request pending the outcome of all filed and planned litigation, in an effort to protect what little dignity and credibility the NBA has in this issue (but then, me being me, I probably also ask David Stern for his immediate resignation as commish, too).
The Washington State Legislature appears today to have dealt the death knell to the tenure of the Seattle Supersonics (NBA) and Seattle Storm (WNBA) in the Emerald City.
Owner Clay Bennett, Board Member (and Hall of Famer) Lenny Wilkens, and other members of the ownership/management team received the news personally from legislators this afternoon. They were told that no vote for taxpayer funding of the proposed new arena complex in Renton would be taken this year, and there would not be any consideration during the 2008 session either.
That being the case, it is likely that the team will petition the NBA by early next year to be able to move both franchises to the Oklahoma City area, where a majority of the new ownership group reside.
This is not to say that this will be an easy process for them, because the team has a binding lease with the city of Seattle for tenancy in the Key Arena through 2010, and they are planning to exit town after the 2007-2008 season. The city does not plan to let them leave without a fight and quite a bit of monetary damages to cover the losses that will result from their flight: the fate of Key Arena and the whole of Seattle Center are likely to be in doubt, the jobs of seasonal workers who depended on this income, taxes and other revenues generated by tickets, parking and concessions, to mention just a few.
It should be remembered that these are the only two teams who have managed to bring league championships home to their Seattle fans: the Sonics in 1979, and the Storm in 2004. One might imagine that this will demoralize already depressed Seattle sports fans even more than they already are, to whit: the Seahawks window of opportunity for a Super Bowl repeat and win is narrowing by the day, and the Mariners don't look ready for prime time/the World Series just now, either.
I, personally, believe that these wealthy gentlemen could manage to arrange for majority private funding for their wonderful new arena--Paul Allen managed it for QWest Field (he and his holding companies own 51% of that facility)--but they have not offered to do so, any more than their predecessors, including Starbucks magnate Howard Schultz. If, as they profess, they really want to keep the team in Western Washington, rather than take them to OKC to replace the departing Hornets, why don't they do this? The Legislature might be a bit more willing to speak with, and assist them with some funding (the state stadium authority is, after all, the owner of the other 49% of the Q), if they did so.
Adieu Ray, Lauren, Sue, and the rest of you. Hope you enjoy it in OKC.....
Will it go on? Yes, I'm sure it will. Will everyone be happy with the status quo after the new owners pack the teams up and take them to Oklahoma City? No, I'm sure they won't--there are too many people who are already roundly criticizing Howard Schultz, Woody, and their friends for making the sale, even if--in their heart of hearts--they (like me) knew that it was bound to happen.
Right now the new owners say that they plan on keeping the teams in Seattle. That is, however, if--and only if--the city caves in on a deall for a NEW arena (read no renovations to the Key Arena) within the next twelve months, starting as soon as the sale closes in October 2006.
Commissioner Stern was firmly on record during the 2005-2006 season that he was not at all happy with the city of Seattle for disrespecting the current ownership group and not providing them with the same new facilities that had been provided for the Mariners and the Seahawks. What he failed to mention, of course, is that the Safe was built over the objections of the voters, and Paul Allen paid almost a full 50% of the cost of the Q himself and with privately raised monies.
Howard Schultz is the founder and Chairman of Starbuck's coffee. He, and the rest of the owners could afford to put up a greater portion of the renovation or construction costs than they offered to. When the city declined to foot the bill for the majority of the $220 million, the ownership group started looking for other venues or buyers for the teams.
The teams were sold for a reported $350MM, which is $150MM more than they were bought for.
One wonders if the current ownership group didn't sort of "make out like bandits" with a nearly 200% return on their investment.
The Sonics and the Storm are the only two teams in Seattle history to have actually won their league championships. Yes, the Hawks were close last year, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Mariners have made it as far as the ALCS, but they don't look to repeat even that feat any time soon (though the Hawks could make it back to the NFC championships and/or the SB this year, barring any of the relevant curses kicking in too strongly).
Let us not forget the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds, too. What will happen to them when the Sonics leave, since they share the Key with them. This is a minor league hockey team, folks, they can't afford a huge lease on that arena. Will we lose hockey, too?
Yes, I am an angry woman right now, and I'm sure that it shows. I want to believe that something will happen to keep the teams in Seattle, but that's just my heart. My head knows that there is a brand new arena waiting in OKC, and a city that is desperate for a pro sports team or two to call it home. And my head also knows that, though we might like to think that the 'Blazers might move in and take over the Sonics place, that might happen only if Paul Allen is still the owner when the Sonics leave (and they are, likewise, for sale or rent just now), and only if the Commish will let another NBA team come here, something he has indicated he would likely not do.
How many of you remember the old childhood game where you would take a daisy or other flower with petals, pull the petals off one at a time, alternately reciting "S/he loves me", "S/he loves me not", "S/he loves me" and so on? A good many of you, I imagine.
This is about the stage to which Seattle's whole love/hate relationship with the Sonics has devolved. Howard Schultz and his fellow owners want the City/County/State and/or taxpayers to pony up $220 million to either completely refurbish the Key Arena AGAIN or build them a new arena down near Safeco and QWest Fields, and they want to put up little or none of their own money to do it (Hello, Howard.....you are the founder and CEO of Starbucks....don't tell me you can't afford to help out a little. Paul Allen did when QWest was built!).
Governor Christine Gregoire has been on the record as saying she is in favor of extending the hotel tax that had benefitted the M's and the Hawks in this situation, in order to help the Sonics out. The Legislature, on the other hand, was NOT in favor of doing this.
The team has apparently been in discussions with the cities of Bellevue WA, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and OK City about moving the team to one of these locations. Commissioner Stern lambasted the City of Seattle and said that Seattle does not deserve an NBA team.
Lo and behold, today the City (which is the owner of the Key Arena) says that they are willing to "do a deal" to keep the Sonics in town, and all the team has to do is kick in just $18 million. Also, the City of Renton has offered the team a home there (Renton? Give me a break! Renton?)
The Trailblazers and owner Paul Allen are in a similar pickle down in Portland. If both of these teams pack up and leave, there will not be an NBA team in the Great Northwest again.
Pittsburgh? Still wanna give up your Penguins? I'll trade you the Sonics straight up. Let me know......
I am a 50 something health care professional transplanted to Seattle from SoCal in 2001 (and, before you ask, no, I don't want to go back). My tastes in sports are pretty eclectic, but in order of preference, I guess they would be baseball, hockey, basketball, football--col lege and pro/men and women alike. Teams I "HATE": USC (I went to UCLA); University of Michigan (born and raised in Columbus OH to a large family of OSU alumni/alumna e), and--probably most of all--the d***ed Yankees. I have worked in a variety of capacities at the MLB, NBA and NFL venues here in Seattle and at UW (hey, what true sports fan could pass up the possibility of getting paid to do something you would have done anyway (and had to pay for it)?)
