Among the other "off the cuff" things that Sonics owner Clay Bennett (pictured above) has said in the past week or so are veiled intimations that one option for the new ownership group is to sell the team again already.

Before I discuss this any further, let's look at some of the other things that have been going on leading up to this supposition.

In Kansas City, back on Monday (21 May 07), Mr. Bennett spoke at an International Economic Development Council meeting, then gave an interview to the Kansas City Star, in which he said that said city was "very much in the mix" for a relocation venue for the team, due to their new Sprint Center, which would potentially be a better revenue source for than Oklahoma City's Ford Center, where the Hornets played for the past two seasons.

He additionally said that he was, basically, very disappointed in what he characterized as a lack of response by the Seattle community to his last arena proposal, for which the team would have only supplied 20% of the funding.  He cited (and I quote) “No hue and cry, no letters to the editor, nothing by the media or talk on the call-in shows, or no new ideas on how to get it done. No private ideas on the table.”

Hmmm, isn't that interesting??  Methinks he doth protest too much, to quote the Bard.  And I can, more or less, prove that theory.

Back in March, Detlef Schrempf (the face of the team for a number of years, if you might remember) had this to say about keeping the team in Seattle.

Well known Seattle developer Dave Sabey has indicated a willingness to provide land for a multipurpose convention/events center, and to assist with obtaining private funding to construct it.  The Muckleshoot Tribe have also indicated an interest in participating (perhaps near their White River Ampitheater).  The article linked above in this paragraph is also the source for the information that the Bennett investment group might be considering selling the team.

Because of these new developments, several organizations and individuals who have been supportive of Bennett et al in their attempt to get the legislature to provide those public funds have now changed their collective minds. 

The blog owner at Supersonicssoul.com has decided that Bennett is a jerk.  Sonicscentral.com has discovered that the team has opted out of the lease at their current headquaters and is moving, perhaps to somewhere from which they can more easily pack the vans and sneak out of town.  Even the 5,000+ member group Save Our Sonics and Storm has become somewhat disillusioned with Mr. Bennett.

A ballot initiative measure is also in the works in an attempt to restrict the group's ability to buy its way out of the lease with Key Arena, that runs through 2010.  The city of Seattle has already said that they fully intend to fight the attempt at an early escape from the city, as well.

None of this sounds much like citizen apathy to me.

According to NBA rules, he is supposed to make a "good faith effort"  to keep the team here before a move can be approved.  How much good faith is it when, in response to a reporter's recent question if the ownership group would be willing to put more than the planned $100MM into the new arena project, he said "Why should I?"

All of that having been said, some people are beginning to think that Howard Schultz and his Starbucks empire weren't such a bad deal after all, not that I am advocating his buying the team back (not that he would, anyway).  But, if there is someone else out there who is committed to keeping the team in Seattle, and doing what it takes to accomplish that goal (including putting in at least 51% of the money it would take to build a new arena, and finding private financing for a significant amount of the balance), I could easily see myself being supportive of him/her/them.

Any takers?????