City takes a Dive, Bennett bleeds Money, Seattle Fans still get nothing

SEATTLE - The City of Seattle took the cash today, rather than enforce the lease for the next two years.

Statement by Mayor Nickels on the settlement of the City's lawsuit with the Seattle Sonics
Today, I [Mayor Nickels] am announcing a settlement with Mr. Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club. Our goals for the settlement were two: To protect the taxpayers’ investment in KeyArena and have a long-term future for professional basketball.

In exchange for terminating the lease two years early, Mr. Bennett has agreed to settlement package with a payment up to $75 million to the City of Seattle. Under the agreement, $45 million will be paid to the City immediately. That covers rent and loss of tax revenue, and allows us to pay off outstanding debt on KeyArena.

Our agreement calls for Mr. Bennett and his co-owners to pay an additional $30 million in 2013—if the NBA has not approved a team to play in Seattle.
The NBA was an important part of our negotiations—agreeing that a renovated KeyArena can be a competitive NBA facility. This is a crucial point for us. A KeyArena with professional basketball is a cornerstone for a vibrant Seattle Center.

The NBA has committed to helping us secure a future team—informing us of any sale, relocation or expansion opportunities.

Committed local ownership is critical—and we are grateful that Steve Ballmer and his group, represented here by Matt Griffin, are working to secure a new team.

The city is ready to do its part. Local investors have stepped up. Now, the State Legislature must act. If it fails to approve public funding next year to remodel KeyArena, we will lose our rights to that $30 million payment if we do not get a team.

I believed all along that enforcing our lease would create time for a better deal. We now have that deal.

The Sonics name and history stay in Seattle. Seattle is a natural home for professional basketball—loyal fans, and a rich, 40-year tradition.

Working together, we are now in the best position to continue that legacy in Seattle.

No team for the fans, cash for the city, an IOU from Clay Bennett if we cash the IOU from the State of Washington, nothing for the fans.

We were screwed. That offer was not going to get worse with time, with a court win, the took money from somebody that has money, but the mayor, Mayor Nickels, said it wasn't about the money in his testimony, it was about enforcing the lease, and retaining NBA basketball in Seattle; neither happened.

Thanks for almost rising to the challenge Mayor Nickels.

I hate Clay Bennett, I watched him lie, and now I watched Mayor Nickels let him get away with it.
Thanks to Brian, Steve, Xteve, Grif, everybody that fueled SaveOurSonics.org

I have maintained that it has not, and is not, because of the fans that any of this is happening. The owners, the politicians, and especially the NBA, all have failed you.

Shame on them.

You hold him, I'll hit him!

SEATTLE - As noted in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer story, written by Greg Johns, Settlement unlikely as Sonics, city head to trial, a settlement is not expected in the case that begins on Monday, June 16, 2008. It has been my contention that there isn't a meaningful benefit to settling for either side since Howard Schultz filed his case against Clay Bennett's ownership group.
The fraud that is the Bennett's ownership group, as alleged by Howard Schultz' lawyer, Richard Yarmuth, put the city in the position of collecting depositions it had, and had planned prior to Schultz making his claim, and moving on to the subject that it actually owns, the two years left on the current lease. The city has its own reasons to keep the NBA playing in Seattle (once they get out the door it is unlikely you are going to get the NBA back), so they are able to stick to the part of the case that they can win and would result in getting what they want. Had the city gone after the fraud the result would have been, at best, a judge not having a direct party in the case having a claim to the team, other than as an occupant of a custom remodel to a public building.
The city doesn't have as much leverage as it could have after winning the court case. Removing the buyout as an option that is only available IF the city, the mayor in particular, thought that would be acceptable. The problem for the mayor, and the city, is that it has many leases to enforce and it just can't have public money spent on a custom remodel for a unique tenet and have that tenant break a lease and leave. That's bad policy, it is bad politics, consider that he wants to remake the entire Seattle Center site, including Key Arena (warning, big file).
Having an anchor tenant is a priority, knowing that there is at lease one person willing to gift $150 million to Key Arena is motivation enough. Imagine trying to sell the idea of remaking the Seattle Center with many public/private partnerships while Clay Bennett is acting as the worst example you could find.
It just makes sense on a bigger scale to enforce this lease, maintain continuity with an anchor tenant in a custom building.
Schultz will follow up with the other question of the actual team, the fraud part of Bennett's business model.


On the Bennett side, he only has one team to bargain with. Give it back to Schultz and he is out a team, worst case in the city trial is that he waits out two years and then leaves. If the NBA really would leave Seattle as the largest edia market in the United States of America without and NBA team, then their threats make sense, that they would not return. So, Stern and Bennett could care less about burning this bridge, they are chasing short money in Oklahoma City.
They have nothing to lose as long as you assume, as I do, that they have no dignity to begin with. They simply do not care about you, get over it.

Bennett's biggest problem is that he will have to return to face the same judge in the Schultz trial, after having shown his ignorance of the lease, and lied through his teeth to remake the past efforts to relocate to OKC ASAP as something other than they clearly are. Bennett got some no-so-good advice from David Stern's NBA before the end of the 12 month good faith best efforts period had ended, rather than warn Bennett that his efforts to relocate to OKC for the 2007-2008 season are a breach of good faith best efforts, the NBA simply said there wasn't enough time to ram the request through the NBA Board of Governors, and relocation committee. The league, in the Schultz trial, is a participant with Bennett, it has teams it wants to move from markets that want them gone.

If Bennett is going to let go of the Sonics it will not be without a promise of another team for OKC. It isn't Seattle waiting on a promise, I think it is Bennett. That promise can not be made, or kept, until everybody moves on the the Schultz trial. If Bennett loses the Sonics to Howard Schultz he, Bennett, can point to the league as assisting him with his relocation efforts that lead to him losing the team.

Who is a direct party to which case? Who has more than one team or can create new teams? Answer those questions to find your answer, and you will not find it as a direct party in next week's trial.

The City of Seattle vs. Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon, is not where this situation can be solved. A missing part of all of this is the Fall elections, and the State of Washington living up to its signed letter and fund the rest of the Key Arena remodel. The NBA simply can not complete a resolution, short of losing the trial, without remodel funding committed to the project.

Enjoy next week's show everybody, but that is just not where the resolution resides.

I appreciate the hopeful expectations of all those at SonicsCentral.com , I share your optimism for a resolution that sets things right for the City of Seattle, NBA, Sonics, more importantly the fans, I just have not ever seen this trial not happening. They have no shame, this is not about shame, this is about having a legal right to keep the team here (an owner getting bad advice from the NBA), for Bennett to have a team (more bad advice from the NBA, and the NBA becoming a direct party to court action that would be resided over by Judge Marsha Pechman, the loss of control of the league and ownership of a team by the NBA would be unbearable.

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

Sent from my iPhone (which will be turned off if I am in the courtroom, I promise).

Schultz suit against Sonics delayed until July

The Schultz vs Bennett trial has been delayed, postponed until after the City of Seattle vs. Bennett concludes.

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Next Defense for Clayton Bennett: Evil Twin?

While reading the variety of truthy accounts of Clayton Bennett's deposition, I was doodling, thinking, what will be the next defense for him. Then it came to me: Evil Twin.

Bennett: "I'm having a conversation that is raising the notion of Oklahoma City as a potential relocation option, notwithstanding my ongoing commitment to efforts in Seattle." - Clayton Bennett, as reported by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times.

That appears to be the best defense for somebody, or two bodies, to work best efforts in two different states, that is, to be of two states of mind. What better way to show two different states of mind than to claim (as in many soap operas) that there is an evil twin. The real Clayton was the guy in Olympia, Renton, near Seattle, in fron of the NBA Board of Governors, emailing David Stern, signing purchase agreements with Howard Schultz that claimed that his goup would provide a long-term ownership presence in the Seattle area as a condition of sale.
It was an evil twin he could call something that sounds like Clayton, has a cheesy mustache, and is actively working against the good faith best efforts of the real Clayton Bennett.

Lawrence followed up: "Did you write back to Mr. Ward and say, 'Oh, Tom, you've got it wrong, I'm not -- I'm not saying anything about wanting to get the team to Oklahoma City, I'm talking about my commitment to keep the team in Seattle'?", as reported by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times.

At this point the evil twin wrestles the computer away from Clayton. . .

Bennett: "No, I did not. I just dropped off. I knew where Tom and Aubrey were relative to their interests and I knew where I was and that was the statement I made, so I dropped off. And also I think I was responding to other e-mails at the time.", as reported by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times.

That is a puzzle, how could Clayton get out of this one?

Bennett: "No, I did not. I just dropped off. I knew where Tom and Aubrey were relative to their interests and I knew where I was and that was the statement I made, so I dropped off. And also I think I was responding to other e-mails at the time.", as reported by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times.

No Clay, no! Go for evil twin, just yell out EVIL TWIN, squirt out some crocodile tears and reallly feel the boo hoo words you used to mock the fealings of your employees.

"So, just so it's clear, four days after you were a man possessed to keep the team in Seattle, you were asking discussions with the NBA about the option of relocating the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Is that fair?" Lawrence asked.

Bennett: "I'm having a conversation that is raising the notion of Oklahoma City as a potential relocation option, notwithstanding my ongoing commitment to efforts in Seattle.", as reported by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times.

NO, NO, NO!!! EVIL TWIN, not "I'm having", but "The EVIL TWIN is having".
Forget it, never mind. The judge would likely see right through the Evil Twin defense.

Love the team. The owner, not so much.
I would be happy to have the team here for two more years, as long as the owner doesn't plan to put on a uniform and play. I can differentiate.

Originally posted at SonicsCentral.com (story#1939, 2008-06-07 1:17:56 pm), user comments caused it to be removed from view.

It’s on you, Clay and OKC

As reported today in the Oklahoma City newspaper, The Oklahoman ( NewsOK.com ), staff writer Randy Ellis reports that the attorney for Howard Schultz has responded to the letter sent by OKC to the Schultz group back on May 8th. The letter from May 8 claimed that the owner of the Sonics, Bennett or Schultz, would be responsible for the remodel of the Ford Center that is being done in preparation for the relocation of the Sonics.

The response by Schultz's attorney, Richard Yarmuth, is of the opinion (shared by many, here, there, and those not recently kicked in the head by a horse) that the agreement is with the Bennett group and not with whomever owns the Sonics.

"It is not correct that Oklahoma City has contracts with ‘the owners of the team, whomever they may be...,” Yarmuth wrote. "The city's contracts are with the Bennett Group, and no one else.
"If the Bennett Group is successful in retaining ownership of the Sonics and moving the team to Oklahoma City, then your contracts presumably will be valid and enforceable against them. However, if it comes to pass that the Bennett Group loses its franchise rights — as a result of the ...(Schultz) lawsuit or otherwise — then your contracts with the Bennett Group will be of no legal force or effect against any other party who winds up owning the team.”
Dan Mahoney, spokesman for the Sonics' current owners, said Thursday they would have no comment.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett also declined to comment . . . NewsOK.com

Here is the gist of the OKC claim:

In Oklahoma City's earlier letter to the Schultz Group, the city stated it would be spending as much as $120 million on projects to upgrade the Ford Center and build a practice facility in anticipation of the Sonics arrival.

Back to Mr. Yarmuth's points:

Yarmuth said he believes Oklahoma City has at least three choices.

•Wait until the lawsuits affecting the team's status are resolved before spending public funds.

•Continue spending public funds on improvements, knowing that "from a taxpayer perspective...betting on the Bennett Group poses a real risk, given the uncertainty of future events.”

•Ask the team's Oklahoma owners to indemnify the city against any losses it could sustain before spending any more money.

"While Oklahoma City may be eager to begin improvements and construction of its sports facilities, the city has no existing obligation in this regard and cannot expect to hold anyone else responsible for the city's choice if the city's choice turns out to be wrong,” he wrote.
At least three lawsuits are pending that challenge efforts by Sonics owners to move the team to Oklahoma. NewsOK.com

Well, duh.

Clay, you lose to Howard, you may owe your hometown $120 million dollars. The PBR will enjoy the upgrades!
Originally posted at http://sonicscentral.com

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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The Court Case has been Filed for the Trial on June 16

Eric Williams in his Tacoma News Tribune blog has posted a link to some court filings, including the points each side is planning to argue in the trial that is to begin June 16, 2008.
Mr. Williams provides us with a brief outline and a link here (please, see his blog post here for more).

The city’s argument is pretty straight forward: The Sonics signed a lease to play all of its games in KeyArena until Sept. 2010. The KeyArena lease contains a specific performance clause stating that fact, and the city wants the team to honor its contractual obligation.

The city does not want to let the Sonics buy their way out of the lease because the city believes they are a unique tenant that cannot be replaced, and they bring intangible benefits to the city that cannot be reasonably calculated.

The Sonics will argue that the city will not be impacted economically by the team leaving and a buyout of the lease can be reasonably calculated. They also will argue that the city has unclean hands, pointing to its relationship with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s group that tried to get Clay Bennett’s ownership group to sell the Sonics to them. The Sonics also will argue that the specific performance clause would impose undue hardship on the franchise.

The case as filed is 54 pages long, includes familiar arguments, some familiar names, and a table of exhibits that takes up nearly half of the document (please, click here for a direct link to the case document Mr. Williams has posted on the Tacoma News Tribune).

Mr. Williams also provides a link to the city's filing that argues for Mitch Levy and Sherman Alexie (you are going to have to go to his blog and click the link there, he did the work to get it and post it).

I do not have a problem with the team playing here, the players do not have a problem playing here, how the owner of the team feels about the city is not my problem, and not the court's problem. Suck it up Clay, crybaby.

I have clean hands, and that's all you need to know about me.

Originally posted at http://sonicscentral.com/

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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“it will be a bloodbath in that courtroom”

Greg Johns, of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, has some entertaining quotes from a lawyer not involved with the City of Seattle vs. Profession Basketball’s court case. Nothing new, or nothing that you haven’t been warned about by regular writers and posters on SonicsCentral.com, “it will be a bloodbath in that courtroom” - Longtime Seattle attorney Randy Aliment

He says this:

Aliment said both sides have hired the best trial lawyers in Seattle and he expects a no-holds-barred situation should the case proceed as scheduled.

“You’ve definitely got a three-ring circus going now,” Aliment said. “From a straight legal standpoint, this thing is just about unprecedented. I’m thinking one of the only other comparable situations was when Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders filed suit and things got stupid down there. That one actually went to trial.”

And he says that:

Is there room to settle?

“From the city’s standpoint, forced occupation here is going to be a difficult proposition because the team would only be here two years, the NBA is going to be upset and the prospects for a team long-term are problematic,” Aliment said. “Some type of mediated solution where Bennett can take his toys back to Oklahoma and the city gets a different team, or Bennett gets a new team and we keep our Sonics, would obviously be the best.

“But it’s going to take participation by the NBA and other owners to approve something like that,” he said. “That’s a tall order, as evidenced by the fact it hasn’t been done yet.”

But this isn’t anything like what’s really going to happen. The Al Davis trial happened in 1982, pre-ESPN ruling the world, pre-internet, pre-hyper news cycles.

David Stern has a “three-ring circus going”, only, he isn’t the lion tamer, or ring master, but by choice as the circus clown.

Read the rest of A Sonics trial may get ugly — expert. NBA should push for fast settlement, veteran lawyer says by Greg Johns of the Seattle PI.
Originally posted at http://sonicscentral.com

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Pulling the Rug Out from Under them

It’s the lease, stupid!

As the City of Seattle’s case against the Professional Basketball Club starts to pick up steam as it races toward the court date we are presented with the final motions that each side presents to argue what should, or should not be included in the case. These motions are presented to the judge to rule on (in limine).

Greg Johns of the Seattle PI has a good summary (here)

With both parties filing “motions of limine” at the final deadline requesting the court to prohibit certain testimonies, Judge Marsha Pechman now has until June 6 to determine which motions she grants for the June 16 trial.

. . .

Among the Sonics’ primary charges is that the city’s lawsuit is part of an orchestrated plan to force Clay Bennett’s ownership group into an untenable money-losing situation in Seattle for the final years of its lease.

The team’s lawyers have said the city developed a “Machiavellian plan” intended to bleed Bennett’s Pro Basketball Club financially and force a sale to an ownership group led by Microsoft’s Ballmer and Seattle developer Matt Griffin.

If allowed by Pechman, this week’s motion would strike at the core of that defense strategy.

The motion argues that the city has a right to enforce its lease, there is nothing wrong with having discussions with a local group interested in bringing an NBA franchise to a renovated KeyArena, and therefore, all the Ballmer-related evidence is irrelevant and inadmissible.

“PBC cannot credibly attack the City’s motives, as PBC’s motives were the same — to bring the benefits of an NBA team to its members’ hometown of Oklahoma City,” the motion states. “The difference is that PBC is trying to benefit Oklahoma City by breaching its Lease. The city is trying to benefit Seattle by enforcing the Lease.”

This case started out with just the city filing a fairly broad argument, in October of 2007, after Clay Bennett demanded arbitration in September of 2007 to terminate the lease and leave. The case trundled along, arbitration was denied (no shock there), the case was formed in February of 2008. A lot happened though April 22, 2008, when Howard Schultz filed his case. Then the scope changed for the city, limiting it to just the lease.
Originally posted at http://sonicscentral.com/

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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“Boo hoo” back to you Clay Bennett

Greg Johns in the Seattle PI has an interesting story on the Sonics, Kevin Durant should click right HERE to read the whole story. Clay has a message for you.

Among the hundreds of thousands of words transcribed on 470 pages of depositions taken by lawyers for the upcoming trial between the city of Seattle and the Sonics’ ownership group over the team’s KeyArena lease, there are two Clay Bennett would surely love to take back.

Boo hoo.

In an e-mail to Oklahoma-based public relations consultant Brent Gooden after hearing some of the Sonics players were upset about the prospect of moving the franchise to Oklahoma City, Bennett responded by writing, “Boo hoo,” according to a line of questioning by city of Seattle attorney Jeff Johnson.

To which Gooden replied, “Great response. I would play wherever for half of the lowest paid player on the team.”

While Bennett’s own deposition is almost entirely redacted in the documents released last week via a public-records request, this particular e-mail exchange was contained in Gooden’s deposition.

Under questioning from Johnson, Gooden said he remembered that correspondence with Bennett and then tried to explain his own response.

Get ready!

The plaintiffs (ths city) pretrial statements were due on 5/23/2008, and the defendant (the alleged two faced liars from Oklahoma City) pretrial statement is due 5/29/2008, accourding to the schedule set back in April.

On 5/21/2008 the judge had ruled/filed a statement (Minute Order) that said ALL motions to admit or suppress evidence are due on 5/27/2008, that would be tomorrow, Tuesday. This is Motion in limine. I thought we should learn something along the way to recovering our team.

By the end of the week the trial statements will be filed and all the stuff that can be used will be known by both sides.

Originally posted at http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=1920

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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AdAge Article, Rename/Rebranding

It is very likely to happen, if/when Oklahoma City takes an NBA team, that they will name them something else. I like the "Rustlers" as that fits in with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. So, Clay Bennett offering to leave something behind that he does not want to pack up and move with him is an empty gesture. I dare Bennett to keep the name and all that, and live with the constant reminder of the past year and the next two years of getting horrible press in an entertainment industry. He is burning a bridge and then offering to leave behind the smoldering ashes.
That is just dumb.
The name "Sonics" is so soiled by Clay Bennett that Steve Ballmer might to go back 15, or so, years and rebrand the Sonics back to the "SuperSonics".
For that matter, the reason for naming something is to reflect the image you want the team to project, or of the community. Well, why keep calling them the Sonics? The Bullets are the Wizards.

AdAge story here!


Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Faithfully mine, the Sonics

SEATTLE - Reported in the Seattle PI today Greg Johns outlines (here) the City of Seattle's request for written communication (electronic) between the new owners of the Seattle Sonics, prior to and after the sale of the team.

Lawyers for the Sonics filed a Rule 37 objection this week to the city's request for access to e-mail files of eight members of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC ownership group, with the city countering with an extensive explanation of why it would like to see communications among owners both before and after the team's purchase.

The Sonics have agreed to provide access to pertinent e-mails belonging to team chairman Clay Bennett and minority owner Aubrey McClendon, but contend that providing the "responsive e-mail" files of six other requested owners would be unnecessary and perhaps even illegal, given the co-owners work at various private companies and use those firms' own e-mail systems.

The NBA has also objected to the city's subpoena of some of its records in the discovery process currently underway.
...
A magistrate, or independent judge, will likely settle the e-mail dispute so the discovery process can continue and depositions begin with the questioning of key figures in the case.
...
Lawyers for the city are also searching for documents concerning the KeyArena lease, details of the purchase, financial performance of the team, pursuit of other arena options and whether good faith efforts were indeed made to keep the franchise in Seattle.

This week's documents contain precise information on the ownership structure of the Oklahoma group, with Bennett, McClendon and Tom Ward each owning 19.23 percent of the club, with numerous other owners holding significantly smaller shares.
...
Sonics lawyers contend that some of the other owners might have exchanged e-mails either between themselves or with third parties that weren't sent to Bennett and McClendon and that such searches wouldn't be any more burdensome than those already being conducted on the archives of Bennett and McClendon.

The Sonics already have obtained city e-mail documents, as those are available via a public records request for a government agency.
Sonics in e-mail skirmish, by Greg Johns, Seattle PI

What does it matter if the eight members of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC ownership group did not give a good faith effort?
1) The City of Seattle and the eight members of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC ownership group, are business partners in sharing revenue from the sale of luxury suites for Sonics games. IF eight members of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC ownership group, acted in bad faith and intended to reduce revenue then they are acting against the shared interests, limited as they may be.
The city could collect damages from the minute the owners chose to act.

2) There was a "side letter" agreement between eight members of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC ownership group, and the Professional Basketball Club of Seattle, LLC ownership group.

The simpleton (that's me) thinking goes: If there was a side-letter agreement written to all of the owners that bennett would give a good faith effort for one full year then it's not to hard to argue that he didn't give that effort. He backed off the 10/31/07 date by one full and legal day, I do not think it had ANYTHING to do with not overshadowing the home opener (yes, I'm calling Clay Bennett a big, fat, liar even if some will not), and that it had a LOT to do with 366 days passing since taking ownership. Think about it for one second, when has Bennett acted not NOT overshadow the team's presence in Seattle by throwing cold water on any upbeat and exciting moment for the team? Answer: NEVER!
He backed off the 10/31/07 date for the same reasons he's done anything involving the Sonics, that's to cover his legal ass so he can take the team back to OKC.

So, how about that letter, and how about a person from the former ownership group stepping up to buy the team. We have one of those things on day one of taking the team back from Clay Bennett, from here on out know as the Renter of the Sonics, Clayton Bennett.
Dennis Daugs makes offer to buy and keep Sonics in Seattle, by me, here, 11/2/07, linked here!

SEATTLE - There has been a sentiment in various places that whenever something good or positive is happening with the Sonics Clayton Bennett finds a way to throw cold water on it, either by design or randomly. Today is no exception, in today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer there is a story about odd couple Brian Robinson and Chris Van Dyk working on a plan to remodel part of the Seattle Center, build an arena, parking, revenue generating lease spaces to help pay for it, good times, great hopes ... and on the same day what falls out of Clay Bennett's ass? He has filed papers to demand arbitration in hopes of breaking a lease that expressly states that arbitration is NOT something the city has to agree to.

Two quick things:
I would not count this as part of the good faith effort he agreed to when he purchased the team less than 1 year ago, Howard.

It is true, once you take your customers to court it’s tough to go back to a good relationship.

So, what do we need to really keep an eye on now?
It is true that a solution to the arena has to be in place in order for the Sonics to be here past 2010. The difference now, as of today, is that something acceptable to a new owner needs to be in the works, but it does not have to be the palace Bennett was demanding. Bennett has taken himself out of the picture in Seattle past 2010 no matter what happens.
It’s all or nothing for Bennett, he’s chosen nothing and is doing everything he can to leave nothing.
Don’t let him. Don’t let him stop people from imagining a new arena and a new Seattle Center, and the Seattle Supersonics here in 2010 and beyond.

Forget Bennett, he's forgotten about you, the fans. Think about you in your good future with the Sonics past 2010 and work toward that goal.
Pitchforks and Torches!, by me, here, 9/21/07, linked here!

I am interested in the "discovery" of the side letter agreement, what does it say, and if the city is making the case for a former owner to become the next owner.

Leverage.

Art Thiel gives you his version of my theory that Bennett will trade down with the Hornets

SEATTLE - Art Thiel of the Seattle PI spells out the trading down Clay Bennett would be wise to do if he really wants a return on his investment. I have been saying this for a few months, it is a clear path to the fans, and those hoping to get their money, in all three cities getting what they want. Seattle keeps its Sonics, Oklahoma City gets the team they rooted for over two seasons, New Orleans get to focus on chearing for the team they love, the Saints.
Shinn can not afford to stay and only the NBA can say where he can go. Thiel does say people involved with all three cities are talking behind the scenes, all we need is an arena plan, that is all we have needed for the past 3 years.
Read the Thiel story here. Or read my blog posts from December.

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Orlando Woolridge with 20 more pounds of muscle?

SEATTLE - Jeff Green reminds me of Orlando Woolridge, a little.

link to basketballreferenc.com Orlando Woolridge stats

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Sonics | Sonics' Watson can't quiet doubters | Seattle Times

SEATTLE - Percy Allen from the Seattle Times asks: What's wrong with Earl Watson?

My answers: he over-dribbles (also known as "Shammond-ing" the ball, named after a former Sonic); he delivers passes late to players catching and shooting; he drags his defender into team mates that have the ball causing a big clog for the offense; his passes do not hit players in the hands; his entry passes into the post player are so poorly delivered that the player often loses some post position (causing the player to re-post); he pounds the ball long enough to reduce possessions to one shot attempt, if it is the post player and he attempts to repost there isn't time on the clock for the post player to get the ball back; his defense is not good enough to compensate for his sub-par offensive play making.

I've got a few more, but you get the point.

Sonics' Watson can't quiet doubters

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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In Oklahoma City an Emergency arena vote set for early 2008

SEATTLE - As double-secret planning is going on behind the scenes in Seattle (and New York) on the formulation of an arena proposal the citizens of Oklahoma discuss the "Emergency" vote planned to take place before the NBA Board of Governors meets. Click below to lurk in on them.
Oklahoma's Forum > OKC Metropolis (& Norman) > City Issues > Topic: Emergency arena vote set for early 2008
If memory serves, then the Ford Center remodel is step one. Clay Bennett said when he filed to move that the Ford Center, with some minor upgrades, will be fine in the short term, but a new world class facility would eventually have to be built. Maybe Bennett thinks a remodel is enough now (that would be good for Seattle's eventual offer) or he has not changed his mind and just doesn't want to freak out the hometown folks by telling them that the $96 or so million dollars that get spent in the Ford Center is just a short term fix.
I'll have to dig up that quote and share it with my fellow Americans in Oklahoma City. They may go for 121 million dollars in taxes, but what about another 400+ million for a new facility, and when will Bennett demand that of the citizens of Oklahoma City?
Let's make sure that question gets asked a lot before they vote.
Have a great day,
Mr Baker
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Oklahoma City may improve arena to lure Sonics

This is good news for George Shin and his Hornets. When New Orleans picks between public money going to the Saints or the Hornets (word is it isn't both, and it isn't the Hornets) then there will be a remodeled arena and new practice facility waiting in Oklahoma City for when the Hornets return.
Read the twist of the story here. OKC is voting on remodeling the Ford Center for an NBA team. Shin has as much right to apply to move there, maybe more, than Clay Bennett. Shin is dealing with a natural disaster that happened in a bad market, Bennett is dealing with his man made disaster of his own doing in a good market that he's trying to make to look bad.

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Sonics Assign Mo Sene to Idaho D-League Team

SEATTLE - The Seattle Supersonics are sending second year center Mo Sene to their D-League team, the Idaho Stampede.

Sonics News release, 12/23/2007

Sene is a project center the is limited in his growth by a lack of playing time, time he was not getting on the Sonics bench.
Delonte West is set to return from injury, and will take the active roster spot from Sene. West will begin his return to action playing shooting guard.
The pressure is on Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour to earn playing time everyday at the point guard position with the return of West. West, Ridniur, and Watson, have limitations that prevent each of them from being the everyday starting point guard. The question for the team to answer is: Which two of the three players can make the most out if one position?
January will be the first time the team can see all three in extended game-time situations. That gives the team about six weeks before the NBA trade deadline to evaluate who they want to keep, and showcase who they do not..

Have a great holiday!
Mr Baker

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Back to Ballmer, or Some Other Courtside Billionaire

SEATTLE - Seve Kellley in today's SEATTLE Times openly asks Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to step in and champion the cause for the Sonics and Seattle to be together forever, in an open letter to Mr Ballmer.

"So I guess this is where you come in.

I believe the Sonics' move to Oklahoma City is a long way from being a done deal. A long way.

I know that, from Olympia to the Seattle City Council, bubbling under the surface, there are movers and shakers, trying to put together an arena deal that works, whether it's a remodeled Key or something new at the Seattle Center or elsewhere.

Hoop lovers with deep pockets and/or friends in the NBA hierarchy are meeting and texting and talking on their phones, trying to figure out ways to save the Sonics.

I don't know if you have attended any games this season, but the fan reaction inside KeyArena has been remarkable. I wish Stern could take in a few games.

I mean here's a young team that will be lucky to win 25 games. A team that is 3-14 and lost its first seven home games before winning its first on Friday. But in the fourth quarter of close games — and almost every home game has been close — these fans, who have been orphaned by the league, are on their feet.

They're cheering this team as if they can see into the future. They chant "Save Our Sonics" every night. They haven't given up.

But I think they need someone with your clout to give them hope. I know the national pundits need someone with your clout just to say, "Not so fast. We ain't done yet."

It's easy for someone with no money like me to tell someone like you how to spend your money. It's presumptuous as well.

This city's legion of basketball fans, however, needs a hero besides Kevin Durant. It needs you to say, "I love the game as much as you guys do and I'm here to help."

I know there is a lot of work left to do. But I'm tired of Stern bad-mouthing this city, even if it is just a negotiating trick. And I think Stern and the rest of the basketball-loving nation need to know the real story.

Basketball isn't dead yet in Seattle. The Seattle Sonics have a pulse. You, Mr. Ballmer, and other ardent gamers like you, must fight for this team.

Seattle needs someone with muscle to go public. Someone like you, who, according to my scouts, knows how the game is played.

Will you help? Please."
Read An open letter to Microsoft CEO and hoop maven Steve Ballmer here!

Thanks go to Mr Kelley for going directly and openly to a court-side billionaire to ask for help.
About a year ago I openly speculated that the team's fate could be tied to Back to Ballmer, or Some Other Court-side Billionaire.

June 12, 2006
I just believe this to be the case.

There was a rumor last year that Trader Bob Whitsett was part of a group looking to buy the Sonics. That rumor didn't go far. Yesterday Ric Bucher said on ESPN radio, NBA Finals Pre-game show, that Trader Bob has surfaced with Microsoft money that doesn't belong to Paul Allen. trader Bob is looking to buy the Blazers. I'll guess that Trader Bob will buy the Sonics with somebody else's money after his attempts to get control of the Blazers is thwarted. The selling price will be absurd, but that's ok since it isn't Bob's money he is spending, again.

I just believe this to be the case. Steve Ballmer sits courtside. I have wondered for a few years if he would have the desire to get involved with the Sonics mess.
Link back to the story here.

I don't think I have to tie Steve Kelley to Bob Whitsett for you.

New nickname for Chris Wilcox: Popcorn

SEATTLE - Last night the Orlando "we want an arena too" Magic beat the Seattle "arena Ceis to amaze me" SuperSonics.

The Sonics have two (2) wins, and a mini debate has been going on and on in various places on playing Chris Wilcox vs Nick Collison. Well, Collison is out for a few games with a busted face and Robert Swift is not yet ready to wear short pants either, leaving vet center Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox to defend Dwight "the beast" Howard. Howard is a load, no question about it, the Sonics didn't have an anwer last night. In a year Thomas will likely retire to the bench of some east coast team next year. He's a good vet that should be on a good vet team. A year after that, the end of 2009, Chris Wilcox will finish getting 6.75 million dollars for that season and I have to wonder after last night if he didn't make a mistake signing a short contract. If he expected to cash in in the summer of 2009 before last night he has to know that after being cast as a spectator on the defensive end of the floor last night that the level of cash just shrunk. While the ball was in some other player's hands, other than Howard's, Wilcox might as well have gotten a beer, seat, and popcorn. Howard walked into the paint as if alone in the building.
You have to defend your man away from the ball if you ever expect to win games and make money. At this point, when I feel like having some popcorn while watching the game I'll look in Wilcox's direction. I know, I'm not the spectator at the Sonics games.
I know Howard is a load but I didn't see Wilcox give anything near the effort the Thomas gave.
I didn't read much about Wilcox in most of the media reports on last night's game. I would like to know why. Maybe the Sonics only have two wins because the players are not very good, not talented, not trying. For Chris wilcox on defense, away from the ball, it's a trifecta.
Lucky for the team he has that short contact. Maybe Collison isn't the dunk machine that Wilcox is, but at least he knows how to play.

Seattle Times game story.

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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Sonics gain first victory of season with 104-95 victory over Heat

SEATTLE - Sonics get first win on the court in Miami, against the lethargic Heat.

If Derick McKey were a better scorer an could dribble the ball better
would the be what Jeff Green is?
Maybe not, I keep searching my mind for familar comparisons.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com story on the win is here!

Have a great day,
Mr Baker

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