The Sonics' Pending Move

[MrRant 0]

Since the Sonics are at least well known in other cities (unlike the apathy towards the Seahawks), I was curious how the forum felt about Clay Bennet and Stern's unrelenting drive to remove a team with a 41 year history from it's home to a market in Oklahoma that is... quite small.

 

So far the NBA Owners have approved the move (minus Mark Cuban and Paul Allen).

 

Clay is being sued by both the city to stay in the lease. He is also being sued by Howard Shultz to get the team returned to him for breach of a "Good Faith" provision to try and keep the team in Seattle but how enforceable this would be is iffy due to how they would determine what "good faith" would be. He has hired a lawyer that has dealt with the Seattle Pilots move as well as when the Seahawks were trying to leave. Chances are the lawsuit by the City has a good chance to force them to stay in their lease which could cause issues for both Clay and Stern (not to mention that it goes to trial in June right when the Finals are happening) as you'd have a team there for 2 more years that is essentially a lame duck.

 

IF the City were to win there has been talk that perhaps of a buyout and a promise to keep the team history, colors etc and then get a team relocated from one of the markets that can't support their team (New Orleans/Memphis). There have also been suggestions of a franchise swap (Memphis for example goes to Clay and he takes them to OKC, Sonics go to Memphis owner and stays here), and of course that Clay just sells the team to the local ownership group around here (Steve Ballmer) and then gets one of the struggling teams.

 

Beyond that it seems that David Stern has a vendetta against Seattle since he has been taking the position of if Seattle doesn't let the Sonics out of their lease, then there will be no NBA in Seattle again ever.

 

How do other NBA fans feel? Espeically considering the fact that the team has 41 years of time in one city? Do you feel secure that your team is safe from any moves if the city dares defy David Stern if he comes out and requests a new arena?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Like most franchise moves, it's a money grab and pretty disgusting to watch.

[Guest blame that goot.]

I think it would be some bullshit if Oklahoma City got the Supersonics. I'm pulling for any way that Seattle can keep its team. I've always ragged on Seattle as being less than a fervent sports town, but I don't want to see them lose their longest tenured team, one which is fairly notable in NBA history. Is Oklahoma City a viable NBA city? Yes, I think so, but not at the expense of Seattle, which is a large market and well supported. They should've kept the Hornets, since New Orleans is not in any position to support 41+ expensive NBA games, and it's not a team that's particularly tied to the community. Milwaukee and Memphis could also lose their teams with little consequence, being small markets where the college game is more established and popular (and in the case of Milwaukee, competing with two pro teams in other sports as well as three college teams), but Seattle is too entrenched in the NBA for this move. I really feel bad for Oklahoma City NBA fans, who got attached to their Hornets, then had them taken away, and are now expected to embrace the Supersonics despite feeling guilty about how they got their team, viz. the seedy machinations of Clay Bennett and his rootin-tootin' henchmen. I'm lucky that my favorite team is never going to move (I hope Zephyrs fans didn't think this way), so I can't relate, but I'm pullin' for ya, Seattle.

[Ripper 0]

Its total bullshit that should be looked into by another governing body. I don't see how the guy that can decide if this move can happen being good friends with the owner making it happen, then threatening Seattle with NBA banishment if they break a contract they rightfully have.

 

Fuck Stern on this one.

[PILLS! PILLS! PILLS! 0]

How do other NBA fans feel?

 

[Damaramu 0]

Well I'm glad OKC is getting an NBA team, but I'd rather have had the Hornets obviously and I think most of OKC feels the same way. And Clay is being a big jerk and painting the city in a bad light.

 

Because, when I turn on ESPN they're painting the entire city with a broad brush and acting like we're all a bunch of Clay Bennett's and we're all a bunch of thiefs and cheats. Jemele Hill was one person in particular. She suggested calling the team the "OKC Shysters" or "OKC Snake Oil Salesman". What the fuck? It's not our fault Bennett is an asshole.

 

The people of NO did the same thing. They kept accusing us of stealing their team and basically just putting all the fans down.

 

OKC need a team, but they don't need it in a way that's going to make the city look bad.

 

 

That being said, it looks like the Sonics are coming and there's not much anyone can do. Bennett's got Stern on his side and that's not a good thing because Stern has that "My word is final. I am the dictator of this league" mentality. So he'll do whatever he can to make himself look tough in this situation. Bennett did say he'd leave the colors, name and history behind though.

[teke184 0]

Well I'm glad OKC is getting an NBA team, but I'd rather have had the Hornets obviously and I think most of OKC feels the same way. And Clay is being a big jerk and painting the city in a bad light.

 

Because, when I turn on ESPN they're painting the entire city with a broad brush and acting like we're all a bunch of Clay Bennett's and we're all a bunch of thiefs and cheats. Jemele Hill was one person in particular. She suggested calling the team the "OKC Shysters" or "OKC Snake Oil Salesman". What the fuck? It's not our fault Bennett is an asshole.

 

The people of NO did the same thing. They kept accusing us of stealing their team and basically just putting all the fans down.

 

OKC need a team, but they don't need it in a way that's going to make the city look bad.

 

 

That being said, it looks like the Sonics are coming and there's not much anyone can do. Bennett's got Stern on his side and that's not a good thing because Stern has that "My word is final. I am the dictator of this league" mentality. So he'll do whatever he can to make himself look tough in this situation. Bennett did say he'd leave the colors, name and history behind though.

 

NO was already pissed about Tom Benson's flirtations with a permanent Saints move to San Antonio shortly after Katrina hit, so everyone was leaning on David Stern and George Shinn to ensure that the Hornets returned after their two-year sojourn to OKC.

 

 

OKC deserves a team based off of the support they gave the Hornets while they were there and the Sonics happened to be the first team to hit the market once people knew the market was viable and that the Hornets weren't staying.

 

IMHO, Memphis would be a better fit because it has less history, but Schultz sold the team to Bennett at a *huge* premium over what it was worth, IIRC, and wasn't looking to include locals in the ownership group he sold to.

 

 

 

Everyone's vilifying Bennett here when, IMHO, at least some of the blame should go on Schultz for selling the team to a non-local group.

 

If Schultz was so worried about keeping the Sonics in Seattle, he should have either retained the team or sold out to locals like Ballmer, who are ponying up for an arena right now, instead of Bennett.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Terrible decision every step of the way. I'm sure the team would be supported in OKC, but that's not exactly the point.

[Damaramu 0]

The thing is, I think this is the only major sport OKC can support so I'm happy we're getting one.

 

We already have a minor league baseball team and a lot of people have said we have one of the nicest minor league parks in the country. I don't think people really want to build an MLB stadium and get rid of that(since the redhawks draw good attendance and people have fun going). Plus we'd never support an NFL team. Not only are we too small of a market, but they'd never get past OU or OSU.

 

But, this is something we can really support. And we have the arena to do it. Hell we even voted to pay to upgrade the arena.

 

Teke does make a good point about the sale, even though it's wrong, he probably shouldn't have sold it. I mean, most people should've realized what he was going to do when he bought the team. I know in OKC the day he bought it everyone was like "Well that's it. The Sonics are coming to OKC." even though he was supposedly making a "good faith effort" to keep the team there. It was pretty apparent, when you found out where Bennett was from, what was going to happen.

[MrRant 0]

Shultz gets A LOT of blame around here. There is a good chance his lawsuit is just to lessen that a bit but there is a lot of anger that he sold to someone outside like Clay. We all knew where it was going and since day one we've known that there will be an issue with a new arena and using all public funds to build it. Half the issue is that Clay/Stern are completely against even just remodeling the Key and instead demand a completely new arena. Built with mostly public money.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Stern and the owners shouldn't have allowed this. The Sonics have been in Seattle for 40 years. give Bennett an expansion franchise in OKC and add another franchise in the opposing conference. Of course, I don't think that any of the 4 major leagues should expand.

[nogoodnick 0]

Perceptions:

 

Seattle: World class city. Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Microsoft, Starbucks, Mariners, Seahawks, Nirvana.

 

OKC: Some wackos blew up a federal building there.

 

I've been to Seattle before and will be going again soon to catch some Mariners games. I hope never in my life to step foot in Oklahoma City. Granted I live a thousand miles closer to Seattle, but OKC still seems like an undesireable place to visit. Ever.

 

I don't really have a problem with Bennet wanting to bring pro sports to his home town. I do have a problem with the way David Stern handled the entire situation. Also moving to a market with nearly 2 million less people is absurd.

[Guest]

OKC is going to get the shit Sonics, after they trade Allen and Lewis because they don't have enough money.

It's terrible. If there's any way Seattle can keep their team, I'm for it. Why not just move the Clippers out to Oklahoma, I mean, fuck.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

OKC is going to get the shit Sonics, after they trade Allen and Lewis because they don't have enough money.

It's terrible. If there's any way Seattle can keep their team, I'm for it. Why not just move the Clippers out to Oklahoma, I mean, fuck.

 

Well atleast they have Kevin Durant and a few other youngsters to look forward for the future...

 

But my question is, are they going to be called the OKC Supersonics? Or will there be a name change?

[Guest blame that goot.]

Also moving to a market with nearly 2 million less people is absurd.

Yes, but don't underestimate the power of a one-team town. Look how much the Wasatch Front loves its Jazz. This doesn't mean that this move isn't completely absurd, however. Is this the first relocation since the Montreal Expos? I'm still sore about that one.

[Guest]

OKC is going to get the shit Sonics, after they trade Allen and Lewis because they don't have enough money.

It's terrible. If there's any way Seattle can keep their team, I'm for it. Why not just move the Clippers out to Oklahoma, I mean, fuck.

 

Well atleast they have Kevin Durant and a few other youngsters to look forward for the future...

 

But my question is, are they going to be called the OKC Supersonics? Or will there be a name change?

They're leaving it behind, so yeah, name change.

[Guest blame that goot.]

I was under the impression that the NBA had rules against changing names upon relocation because it affects brand recognition. Notice that the recent moves--Hornets and Grizzlies--had location-specific nicknames that they retained. Get this: there's also a rule against changing your main logo. Wonder why the Nuggets, Jazz, Bucks, Hawks, and others just recolored their old logos? There's a million-dollar fine if you change your primary logo. Also, teams circumvent this by just using secondaries all over the place, like the Suns with that god-awful PHX firebird that looks like a pile of fluorescent shit, or the Hornets using a hexagon with an H on it. Weird stuff.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Seattle: World class city. Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Microsoft, Starbucks, Mariners, Seahawks, Nirvana.

 

OKC: Some wackos blew up a federal building there.

 

I've been to Seattle before and will be going again soon to catch some Mariners games. I hope never in my life to step foot in Oklahoma City. Granted I live a thousand miles closer to Seattle, but OKC still seems like an undesireable place to visit. Ever.

 

About a year and a half ago, on my moving up here to Portland from Miami, I stopped through Oklahoma City to hang out a couple days with my best friend I've known since elementary school. For some reason (I think he didn't think moving to a place I'd never been to before, nor knew anyone, plus he needed a roommate) he was trying to convince me to just stop there instead. Granted, he lives in Norman, which is where OU is (he goes to school there and used to be in the Air Force at Tinker) so there seemed to be a bit more to do there, but it was still pretty dead. Best things to do in Norman at 1am: Riverwind Casino, and some mexican fast food place close to a 24 hour walmart. I think there's some bars around the OU campus as well, but I never really got a chance to check those out.

 

There's this pretty nice little shopping destination called Bricktown, which looks pretty nice and it's in the downtown area. Overall, I didn't think it was a bad town, but certainly not anywhere I'd choose to live. Although I've only passed through Seattle once, I could tell you immediately that's an infinitely more desirable place to be than OKC.

 

Moral of the story? They're going to have a pretty hard time acquiring free agents, unless they show them to the cheap strip clubs around the area, or the players want a quiet place to live. Like everyone else in the thread, I'm against the move, and it also messes up re-alignment a lot more than if the Hornets moved there. Oklahoma City is not in the Northwest! At least if you had the Hornets, there's the natural rivalry with all the Texas-related teams.

 

On top of it, who do Blazer fans get to pick on in a local rivalry now? We're the only NBA franchise for at least 500 miles or so. The next two closest teams would be Golden State (628 miles) and the Jazz (767 miles).

[Maztinho 0]

I was under the impression that the NBA had rules against changing names upon relocation because it affects brand recognition. Notice that the recent moves--Hornets and Grizzlies--had location-specific nicknames that they retained. Get this: there's also a rule against changing your main logo. Wonder why the Nuggets, Jazz, Bucks, Hawks, and others just recolored their old logos? There's a million-dollar fine if you change your primary logo. Also, teams circumvent this by just using secondaries all over the place, like the Suns with that god-awful PHX firebird that looks like a pile of fluorescent shit, or the Hornets using a hexagon with an H on it. Weird stuff.

 

The likeliest thing would be that Seattle wins the naming rights, color scheme, logo, etc, so the league couldn't really do anything about it and would be forced to rename the franchise.

 

And if the team moves, I think that would be the best case scenario for Seattle with the option of getting a team back sometime in the future.

 

Now we can play, Name the OKC team with colours!

[Guest blame that goot.]

"Oklahoma City Bombers" rolls off the tongue oh so well! Alas!

 

"Oklahoma City Pioneers," black, brick red, and goldenrod.

[CanadianChris 0]

Also moving to a market with nearly 2 million less people is absurd.

Yes, but don't underestimate the power of a one-team town. Look how much the Wasatch Front loves its Jazz. This doesn't mean that this move isn't completely absurd, however. Is this the first relocation since the Montreal Expos? I'm still sore about that one.

Yeah. The last one before that was, ironically enough, the Hornets.

[Perfxion 0]

Every league needs an oilers: so OKC oilers with a black/silver jersey.

[bob_barron 0]

Regarding Memphis- they have a long-term lease with the city, and won't be moving for a while. Which is a shame, since I don't think the city has any Grizzly fans, especially with the resurgence of the Tigers

[Damaramu 0]

I don't see anything wrong with OKC. I don't get all the shitting on it. It's certainly better to live in than some other cities. It's just still got that perception to it that it's in some backwoods state. It's grown a lot over the past 10 years...a lot.

 

There's plenty to do. Plus the arena is right in the heart of Bricktown within walking distance of a ton of restaurants. It's a nice city and if I remember right a lot of the Hornets talked about how much they liked it. Chris Paul even talks about how much he liked it to this day. So I don't think they'll have any problem drawing free agents. It's a great place to live and it's got plenty to do. Not to mention it's like the third largest city in the country area wise so there's ton to do in the area. You don't just have to stay in the metro area, go down to Moore and Norman or up to Edmond and there's a ton to do. I don't exactly get what you guys are expecting there to be to do. There's places to eat, shop, hang out, drink, see strippers, there's theater, other sporting events, etc. I don't see what else you think it needs.

 

I'd also rathere live here than Seattle because it doesn't rain a ton and it doesn't stay cold. It gets good and hot when it needs to and stays hot for a while.

 

 

Once again I don't agree with what Bennett is doing but to act like OKC is some backwoods hick town that has no business having a team is pretty asinine and ignorant.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

If they do change the team name, I'd like a singular noun, like the Jazz. Maybe the Oklahoma City Bullshit. Or the Oklahoma City Explosion.

[v.2 0]

I don't see anything wrong with OKC. I don't get all the shitting on it. It's certainly better to live in than some other cities. It's just still got that perception to it that it's in some backwoods state. It's grown a lot over the past 10 years...a lot.

 

There's plenty to do. Plus the arena is right in the heart of Bricktown within walking distance of a ton of restaurants. It's a nice city and if I remember right a lot of the Hornets talked about how much they liked it. Chris Paul even talks about how much he liked it to this day. So I don't think they'll have any problem drawing free agents. It's a great place to live and it's got plenty to do. Not to mention it's like the third largest city in the country area wise so there's ton to do in the area. You don't just have to stay in the metro area, go down to Moore and Norman or up to Edmond and there's a ton to do. I don't exactly get what you guys are expecting there to be to do. There's places to eat, shop, hang out, drink, see strippers, there's theater, other sporting events, etc. I don't see what else you think it needs.

 

I'd also rathere live here than Seattle because it doesn't rain a ton and it doesn't stay cold. It gets good and hot when it needs to and stays hot for a while.

 

 

Once again I don't agree with what Bennett is doing but to act like OKC is some backwoods hick town that has no business having a team is pretty asinine and ignorant.

 

It doesn't rain much here in Seattle either. That's just perception. We may have a few more rainy days, but far less accumulation. And summers rock.

 

Paul Allen's just going to move the Blazers up here eventually, once he's done rebuilding Westlake into its own little community. Brandon Roy is coming home.

[Guest Vitamin X]

It doesn't rain much here in Seattle either. That's just perception. We may have a few more rainy days, but far less accumulation. And summers rock.

Very true. Speaking as someone who got caught in late November/early December in both OKC and the Pacific NW, Oklahoma is WAY worse in terms of weather than Seattle is. The temperature usually averages between 30-40 degrees in the winter and 70-85 in the summer. Right now every day is pretty much in the 50's, with occasional warm days in the 60's.

 

Paul Allen's just going to move the Blazers up here eventually, once he's done rebuilding Westlake into its own little community. Brandon Roy is coming home.

 

Bullshit he is. The Trailblazers are the only professional sports team in the state, and they have an insane amount of support and history here. The Rose Garden sells out much more frequently than KeyArena ever did, and it's not just because we have a better team.

[v.2 0]

It doesn't rain much here in Seattle either. That's just perception. We may have a few more rainy days, but far less accumulation. And summers rock.

Very true. Speaking as someone who got caught in late November/early December in both OKC and the Pacific NW, Oklahoma is WAY worse in terms of weather than Seattle is. The temperature usually averages between 30-40 degrees in the winter and 70-85 in the summer. Right now every day is pretty much in the 50's, with occasional warm days in the 60's.

 

Paul Allen's just going to move the Blazers up here eventually, once he's done rebuilding Westlake into its own little community. Brandon Roy is coming home.

 

Bullshit he is. The Trailblazers are the only professional sports team in the state, and they have an insane amount of support and history here. The Rose Garden sells out much more frequently than KeyArena ever did, and it's not just because we have a better team.

 

Talk among the sports circle around here is that is what Allen really wants to do. They word is they get private financing for the new arena, and build it about three blocks off the Westlake I-5 entrance in the middle of yuppie-ville.

[Damaramu 0]

It doesn't rain much here in Seattle either. That's just perception. We may have a few more rainy days, but far less accumulation. And summers rock.

Very true. Speaking as someone who got caught in late November/early December in both OKC and the Pacific NW, Oklahoma is WAY worse in terms of weather than Seattle is. The temperature usually averages between 30-40 degrees in the winter and 70-85 in the summer. Right now every day is pretty much in the 50's, with occasional warm days in the 60's.

 

 

Those are great temperatures for me. I prefer it to be between 90-100 in the summer actually.

 

[Damaramu 0]

If they do change the team name, I'd like a singular noun, like the Jazz. Maybe the Oklahoma City Bullshit. Or the Oklahoma City Explosion.

 

Yeah that's real classy, make fun of a bunch of people getting killed. Let's start in on 9/11 next.

 

Let's not punish the city because one guy is an asshole.