It's False
Scrapple
Level: 150
   
Posts: 2778/6155
EXP: 42259132
For next: 48656
Since: 20.6.02
From: I am the Tag Team Champions!
Since last post: 1906 days
Last activity: 288 days
|  #1 Posted on 2.7.08 1858.03
Reposted on: 2.7.15 1859.01 | Kiss the Sonics goodbye. The bad guys won.
ESPN - SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement
SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle and the SuperSonics reached a settlement Wednesday just before a federal judge was to rule in their KeyArena lease dispute.
Terms of the settlement were expected to be announced Wednesday night at simultaneous news conferences with city officials in Seattle and Sonics owner Clay Bennett in Oklahoma City.
A source told The Seattle Times the two sides have been discussing a deal that would involve the Sonics leaving town for Oklahoma City in exchange for up to a $75 million payment to the city.
Bennett may not have to pay the entire amount if the city gets another team, the source told the Times.
Maybe Seattle can use the $75 to build a new team. Either way, this sucks for the people of Seattle. | Promote this thread! |             | BigDaddyLoco
Scrapple
Level: 146
Posts: 2608/5690
EXP: 37973947
For next: 539439
Since: 2.1.02
Since last post: 34 days
Last activity: 34 days
| #2 Posted on 2.7.08 1900.23
Reposted on: 2.7.15 1903.02 | | This is just absurd, from a business standpoint for the NBA and for sports in general. | JayJayDean
Scrapple
Level: 135
Posts: 3429/4750
EXP: 28964621
For next: 370460
Since: 2.1.02
From: Seattle, WA
Since last post: 2692 days
Last activity: 2269 days
| | | Y!: |  |
|
| #3 Posted on 2.7.08 1908.18
Reposted on: 2.7.15 1909.47 | Listening to these jack-offs in Seattle's press conference announcing the settlement, I think I'm going to throw up. I hope Mayor Nickels and most every politician in the area enjoyed being in office, because I suspect there will be a LOT of turnover in our local and state governments. Tools.
EDIT: Bennett's giving up the Sonics' name and colors, a la the Browns move to Baltimore. Yippee.
At least the SEATTLE SUPERSONICS will live on in perpetuity in NBA Live '08, I guess.
Seattle sucks. Washington sucks, too.
(edited by JayJayDean on 2.7.08 1725) | Kawshen
Liverwurst
Level: 75
Posts: 1194/1201
EXP: 3682444
For next: 144477
Since: 2.1.02
From: Bronx, NY
Since last post: 5109 days
Last activity: 3370 days
| #4 Posted on 2.7.08 2059.21
Reposted on: 2.7.15 2059.24 | I've complained about the dumbass owner of my team more than enough times - but what Clay Bennett and the Seattle city officials did to Sonic fans today is just a disgrace.
It's gonna be weird not seeing those yellow and green jerseys for a while.
(edited by Kawshen on 2.7.08 2202) | El Nastio
Banger
Level: 104
Posts: 1127/2574
EXP: 11545375
For next: 316790
Since: 14.1.02
From: Ottawa Ontario, by way of Walkerton
Since last post: 25 days
Last activity: 17 days
| | ICQ: |  |
| |
|  #5 Posted on 2.7.08 2147.41
Reposted on: 2.7.15 2147.47 | As an Expos fan, I welcome you to the "we've been screwed by owners and lost our team" club! At least you guys have a chance to possibly get your team back.
A few questions for the Super Sonics fans:
- Will your alliegence follow the team to OKC?
- Will you start cheering for another team?
- Will you NOT cheer for anyone and hope you get a team back? | DrewDewce
Bratwurst
Level: 80
Posts: 877/1403
EXP: 4649591
For next: 133398
Since: 2.1.02
From: The Derby City
Since last post: 1375 days
Last activity: 449 days
| | | Y!: |  |
|
| #6 Posted on 2.7.08 2212.32
Reposted on: 2.7.15 2212.42 | Originally posted by El Nastio
A few questions for the Super Sonics fans:
- Will your alliegence follow the team to OKC?
- Will you start cheering for another team?
- Will you NOT cheer for anyone and hope you get a team back?
1. No! (Man, it's gonna suck not rooting for Durant as he grows into a great player - I was realllly looking forward to it)
2. I hope not.
3. I want to say that I'm done with the NBA until Seattle gets another team, but I just don't know what will happen when the season rolls around and whether I can be a casual observer without any real ties to any team. I just don't know.
I do know this: Fuck you David Stern, Fuck you Clay Bennett, and Fuck you Howard Schultz. | Texas Kelly
Lap cheong
Level: 83
Posts: 1138/1528
EXP: 5284268
For next: 147976
Since: 3.1.02
From: FOREST HILLS CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE
Since last post: 2075 days
Last activity: 1236 days
| | ICQ: |  |
| |
| #7 Posted on 2.7.08 2302.26
Reposted on: 2.7.15 2302.55 | Why the anger for Schultz? He got hoodwinked and he's sued to get the team back - and given the evidence that came out during this trial, he's got a very good shot at doing so. Sure, Bennett will get at least one year in OKC since Schultz isn't blocking the move (yet, anyway) but if Schultz wins, the team returns to Seattle in '09-'10 and everyone can pretend Clay Bennett was just a bad dream.
That's what I'm hoping for anyway, and I don't even care about pro basketball. | DrewDewce
Bratwurst
Level: 80
Posts: 879/1403
EXP: 4649591
For next: 133398
Since: 2.1.02
From: The Derby City
Since last post: 1375 days
Last activity: 449 days
| | | Y!: | |
|
| #8 Posted on 3.7.08 0621.01
Reposted on: 3.7.15 0621.29 | Originally posted by Texas Kelly
Why the anger for Schultz? He got hoodwinked and he's sued to get the team back - and given the evidence that came out during this trial, he's got a very good shot at doing so. Sure, Bennett will get at least one year in OKC since Schultz isn't blocking the move (yet, anyway) but if Schultz wins, the team returns to Seattle in '09-'10 and everyone can pretend Clay Bennett was just a bad dream.
Schultz is doing all the "right" things now, but even I (living all the way out here in Kentucky) knew that Bennett was looking to buy the team to move it to OKC no matter what he was saying publicly. If Schultz was so concerned about having the team stay in Seattle, he should have weathered the storm (no pun intended) when the team fell on hard times and he couldn't make it as profitable as (then) Starbucks. He's as much to blame as Stern and Bennett.
And if the team "returns" we still lose out on Durant and maybe he won't turns out to be what I think he'll be, but imagine the Bulls moving from Chicago after Jordan's rookie year. Would Chicago fans be happy getting a new team back a few years later while Jordan won championships for OKC with "their" team? That's how I think about it anyway.
Of course, if we end up getting the Hornets and Chris Paul, no harm no foul (KIDDING!)
I woke up this morning and my current plan is to follow the NHL more instead. I don't have any one team I "love" in the league, but have always wanted to get more into it, and this just may be my opportunity. | JayJayDean
Scrapple
Level: 135
Posts: 3430/4750
EXP: 28964621
For next: 370460
Since: 2.1.02
From: Seattle, WA
Since last post: 2692 days
Last activity: 2269 days
| | | Y!: | |
|
| #9 Posted on 3.7.08 0825.22
Reposted on: 3.7.15 0826.04 | Originally posted by Texas Kelly
Why the anger for Schultz? He got hoodwinked and he's sued to get the team back
Hardly. Is that what people think? That's just so far wrong I can't even process it.
When Howard Schultz bought the Sonics, they had the same crappy lease they had since the KeyArena was remodeled. Schultz assumed that since he is the Starbucks Guy™, Man of Seattle, that everyone would fall all over themselves to making things work better for him, and probably rightfully so. However, the political climate here wasn't one that was in "give rich guys more money"-mode, which ANYONE could see, and instead of stick ing it out and trying to make things work, Schultz took his ball and went home (or gave his ball to Clay Bennett).
Schultz' reign as owner was pretty dubious, too, as the team went from making the playoffs 13 times in 17 years to once in five years under Schultz, and Schultz and Wally Walker's incompetence combined to help dump the fan interest in the Sonics, who still drew pretty well but were clearly #5 in the city's sports pecking order now.
Schultz, David Stern, and Bennett all knew what was going down when Schultz sold the team. You will NEVER convince me that David Stern's #1 option was for the Sonics to go to OKC, and I will always believe that Stern knew that the local and state governments here needed to have the threat of a guy moving the team to make any progress on a new arena. (See: Tampa Bay Mariners and Los Angeles Seahawks, both of which ALMOST happened.) Unfortunately for Sonics fans on Seattle, Bennett not only half-assed his "good faith" effort to get a new arena, he also was perfectly happen to be told "no" because he wanted to take the team to OKC.
People here have been all over Schultz for this from day one, but I think he's got to feel a little bit vindicated, even if he says he is pressing forward with the lawsuit. All of the bullshit about a renovated KeyArena being a cornerstone of Seattle Center and all that came from the mayor and the city's people yesterday - Howard is probably wondering where that thinking was five years ago.
Originally posted by El Nastio
- Will your alliegence follow the team to OKC?
- Will you start cheering for another team?
- Will you NOT cheer for anyone and hope you get a team back?
I don't know. I never really thought they would move, so I haven't had much of a chance to process it. I LOVE Kevin Durant, but the idea that Clay Bennett could hoist and NBA championship trophy someday makes me want to vomit. So, I'd guess "no" to the first question.
Since Mark Cuban and Paul Allen were the only two owners to vote against the Sonics relocation request, I've considered becoming a Mavericks fan (because rooting for the Blazers would be impossible), but I can't go there right now.
I'm sure we'll get another team eventually, it is just ridiculous that it had to play out like this for anything to get moving on that front. The "leadership" here is absolutely pathetic. | Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
Administrator
Level: 151
Posts: 4880/6196
EXP: 43216509
For next: 80067
Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR
Since last post: 21 days
Last activity: 9 days
| | ICQ: |  |
| | Y!: |  |
|
| #10 Posted on 3.7.08 1106.54
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1106.56 | Oden thanks you for buying his jersey.
Go Blazers. | El Nastio
Banger
Level: 104
Posts: 1129/2574
EXP: 11545375
For next: 316790
Since: 14.1.02
From: Ottawa Ontario, by way of Walkerton
Since last post: 25 days
Last activity: 17 days
| | ICQ: | |
| |
| #11 Posted on 3.7.08 1136.27
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1136.59 | My apologies to basketball fans, as this post contains much baseball references (but still relates to this thread).
JayJay, I guess that you (and other Seattlens) are in a curious position, because there's a great chance that you'll be getting a team back in Seattle at some point. In my case, the Expos were never coming back (and to make matters worse, Loria's Marlins won the WS soon thereafter) so I could've transfered my alligence to another team .
I've spent the time sense then still following baseball, but not really having a team. Ironically, the Jays (the Last Canadian Team) are not in the running due to their awful GM....plus they weren't MY Canadian team. Mid-last year I was considering siding with the Cubs, going from one hard-luck franchise to another. The Royals were also under consideration (notice a trend?). I'm still undecided.
I wish JayJay and all Seattle fans the best, as you'll likely get another team again. And may a plague rest on the houses of Bennett (and Loria). | Mr. Boffo
Scrapple
Level: 123
Posts: 2458/3844
EXP: 20976397
For next: 254929
Since: 24.3.02
From: Oshkosh, WI
Since last post: 3602 days
Last activity: 3563 days
| #12 Posted on 3.7.08 1142.18
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1142.46 | Do we have any Oklahoma W's? How do you feel about gaining a team at Seattle's loss? What should the new team be called? Given that OK was formed as the Indian territories, a respectful (ie not Indians or Redskins, and red should not be one of the team colors [a dark red like maroon might work]) native american name and mascot might be appropriate.
Will the OKC team be able to pull from the surrounding states (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri)?
Should Portland try to market itself as the Northwest's team? Would that gain them Seattle area fans? | Corajudo
Frankfurter
Level: 63
Posts: 674/810
EXP: 1998935
For next: 98228
Since: 7.11.02
From: Dallas, TX
Since last post: 3257 days
Last activity: 2760 days
| #13 Posted on 3.7.08 1151.05
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1151.09 | Originally posted by El Nastio
JayJay, I guess that you (and other Seattlens) are in a curious position, because there's a great chance that you'll be getting a team back in Seattle at some point. In my case, the Expos were never coming back (and to make matters worse, Loria's Marlins won the WS soon thereafter) so I could've transfered my alligence to another team .
With all due respect, I don't agree that the prospect of getting another team helps very much. At least, it didn't help me.
Speaking as someone who grew up a huge Oiler fan, I was distraught when Scumbag/Waste of Oxygen Bud Adams yanked the team out of Houston. I still hate Bud Adams. And, although I don't hate the Titans, I certainly will never root for them. And, as long as Adams or his family owns the team, I will always actively root against them.
I adopted the Packers when the Oilers left because I figured they could never be moved because they can never have an evil owner. I have and will continue to maintain that loyalty going forward.
Lastly, I don't live in Houston anymore, but I am really apathetic about the Texans and always will be. In fact, if I did live in Houston, I would have been against another team moving into the city simply because I'd rather have no team (and get the best games of the week) over having a team I neither root for or root against.
Speaking from experience, it'll take years and years for another team to replace the Supersonics for their fans (if it ever happens). It's a travesty and truly a black eye for the NBA. | Mr Heel II
Lap cheong
Level: 83
Posts: 952/1559
EXP: 5427206
For next: 5038
Since: 25.2.02
Since last post: 1598 days
Last activity: 1334 days
| #14 Posted on 3.7.08 1153.31
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1153.32 | Originally posted by JayJayDean
EDIT: Bennett's giving up the Sonics' name and colors, a la the Browns move to Baltimore. Yippee.
That's bullshit. If any state should have that name, it's the one where Sonic Drive-Ins came from. IT'S THE PERFECT MARKETING TIE-IN! | JayJayDean
Scrapple
Level: 135
Posts: 3433/4750
EXP: 28964621
For next: 370460
Since: 2.1.02
From: Seattle, WA
Since last post: 2692 days
Last activity: 2269 days
| | | Y!: | |
|
| #15 Posted on 3.7.08 1209.07
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1209.15 | Originally posted by Mr. Boffo
Should Portland try to market itself as the Northwest's team? Would that gain them Seattle area fans?
I don't think they will try. The Mariners are kind of the "northwest's baseball team", but there has never been a baseball team in Portland. The guys that will gain them Seattle hoop fans are Brandon Roy and Martell Webster, and that will happen regardless of if they try to tap into the market here.
I pretty much imagine my NBA fandom will evolve much like my NHL fandom did when I moved from the northeast to the northwest. That is, since there isn't a team here it'll be pretty sporadic unless something extra-compelling (like Ray Bourque's run to the Cup with the Avs, which got me into the Avs for a while) comes along. | CajunMan
Boudin blanc
No longer registered
Level: 102
Posts: 1426/2483
EXP: 10946604
For next: 143401
Since: 2.1.02
From: Give me a Title shot!
Since last post: 4250 days
Last activity: 3387 days
| #16 Posted on 3.7.08 1247.23
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1247.52 | | Are the Kings going to get a new Arena or could they be moving possibly to Seattle? I remember a while back the Maloof's complaining that ARCo Arena was outdated. | Lise
Mrs. Guru
Level: 77
Posts: 441/1275
EXP: 4033580
For next: 157568
Since: 11.12.01
Since last post: 2797 days
Last activity: 2570 days
| #17 Posted on 3.7.08 1250.53
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1251.29 | Originally posted by Guru Zim
Oden thanks you for buying his jersey.
Go Blazers.
BAD GURU! Bad bad bad. Bad. *grumpy face*
The distance between Seattle and Portland, and the goofy differences between what you can get on TV makes it pretty hard to be a fan of a team in the other city. Minor Legue Baseball is bigger in Portland because of not having a MLB team, and I imagine that Husky Basketball will sell a few more tickets this year in Seattle. | Joseph Ryder
Head cheese
Level: 43
Posts: 247/332
EXP: 532610
For next: 32441
Since: 19.3.02
From: Seattle, WA
Since last post: 4350 days
Last activity: 3882 days
| #18 Posted on 3.7.08 1254.04
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1254.40 | Originally posted by El Nastio
As an Expos fan, I welcome you to the "we've been screwed by owners and lost our team" club! At least you guys have a chance to possibly get your team back.
A few questions for the Super Sonics fans:
- Will your alliegence follow the team to OKC?
- Will you start cheering for another team?
- Will you NOT cheer for anyone and hope you get a team back?
1. No
2. No
3. No
I'm a NorCal transplant (since March 2004) and while I can't say I'm a diehard Sonics fan, I live a few blocks from the Key and loved going to games. I loved watching Delonte West try to dribble only with his one good hand. I enjoyed watching Luke Ridnour play with zero confidence, miss layups, throw the occasional flashy pass to get our forgiveness, and cause the ladies to swoon (including my gf, who would still love to marry him and help him spend his money). I loved watching Robert Swift get injured in the 3rd game of every season and spend the rest of the year in a brown suit on the end of the bench moping, his awesome tattoos being put to no use at all. I didn't care for Rashard Lewis much, but I loved watching Ray Allen shoot. I enjoyed watching Danny Fortson come close to averaging more personal fouls than points per game, doing a damn good "Rick Fox in the playoffs" impersonation. Durant was fun at times, and I'll miss what's to come, but I mostly picked the wrong games to watch him. I can see him now in my head, putting up 15 points on 5-17 shooting, dishing out a couple assists and pulling down 2 or 3 boards, never once really threatening to take over a game and occasionally making a face at the stink that was coming off his teammates.
I'll miss the uber-cheesy 1995-esque videos on the jumbotron, imploring us to chant "Defense" (which for some reason always caused the opposing team to dunk on Johan Petro or nail a 3 in Earl Waton's face). I'll miss the Dunking Ushers and of course the Boom Squad.
Most of all though I'll miss Squatch, the mascot. Whoever's under that suit is a special talent.
Until Stern leaves or dies or is assassinated, the NBA is not coming back to Seattle. Seattle didn't play ball and in turn earned its way onto Stern's shit list, NWO style 4 Life Brother. | Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
Administrator
Level: 151
Posts: 4882/6196
EXP: 43216509
For next: 80067
Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR
Since last post: 21 days
Last activity: 9 days
| | ICQ: | |
| | Y!: | |
|
| #19 Posted on 3.7.08 1337.41
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1337.43 | Originally posted by Lise
Originally posted by Guru Zim
Oden thanks you for buying his jersey.
Go Blazers.
BAD GURU! Bad bad bad. Bad. *grumpy face*
The distance between Seattle and Portland, and the goofy differences between what you can get on TV makes it pretty hard to be a fan of a team in the other city. Minor Legue Baseball is bigger in Portland because of not having a MLB team, and I imagine that Husky Basketball will sell a few more tickets this year in Seattle.
Oh pshaw. It was obviously in good humor. I can't believe they are leaving.
Still, the Mariners are Oregon's baseball team, the Seahawks are our football team, I can't imagine the Blazers won't be their team.
At least Oden is supposed to be a stud. Now you won't have to feel bad about liking him. | StaggerLee
Scrapple
Level: 160
Posts: 3945/7105
EXP: 52050837
For next: 902277
Since: 3.10.02
From: Right side of the tracks
Since last post: 644 days
Last activity: 644 days
| #20 Posted on 3.7.08 1503.55
Reposted on: 3.7.15 1504.02 | | Any idea what the new name for the Sonics might be? or are they having a "Name the team" contest? |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pages: 1 2 Next