It's Official -- The Sonics are Gone

Michael Hopcroft · 07-02-2008, 09:34 PM

A settlement of the lawsuit between the city of Seattle and Clay bennet, owner of the Soncs, has allowed the NBA team to relocate immediately to Oklahoma City.

Bennet has promised to pay the city $75 million -- $45 million immediately. the other $30 million is conditional on two things -- the legislature renovating key Arena or building a new arena, and then Seattle not landing another NBA team. I think the city can kiss that money goodbye, because backing an arena renovation now, with no team, on spec would be political suicide.

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and company will ply their trade in Oklahoma City, and the intense I-5 rivalry between the Sonics and Portland Trailblazers is at an untidy end.

ESPN - SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement - NBA

His Own Bad Self · 07-02-2008, 10:44 PM

Which is great for the league's pocketbooks, because just as with the Hornets and Bobcats, they get to cash in on a relocation fee AND the expansion fees when they put new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.

Michael Hopcroft · 07-03-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by His Own Bad Self

Which is great for the league's pocketbooks, because just as with the Hornets and Bobcats, they get to cash in on a relocation fee AND the expansion fees when they put new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.

I'm not so sure Vegas is such a good fit for the NBA or any top-flight league. Professional athletes are not known for their mature self-restraint, after all....

They would also have to convince all the casinos to stop taking bets on the NBA, with all that entails.

stevebydac · 07-03-2008, 10:03 PM

David Stern's dirty, grubby, little money-snatching pawprints are all over this one.

It's nice that Oklahoma finally has a team, but Sonics fans got shafted.

mgom27 · 07-03-2008, 10:43 PM

How about Ok City 49ers? OK City Sooners? OK City OKslamers?

KC/St.Louis/Anahiem and Tampa Bay would get a team before Las Vegas does.

His Own Bad Self · 07-04-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hopcroft

I'm not so sure Vegas is such a good fit for the NBA or any top-flight league. Professional athletes are not known for their mature self-restraint, after all....

They would also have to convince all the casinos to stop taking bets on the NBA, with all that entails.

A few knuckleheads give all pro athletes a bad reputation. We already found that a ref had money on NBA games. I'm not certain that putting a team in Vegas would make things any worse than they already are. But I just pulled Vegas as an example - they could put a team in Cincinnati, for all we know. I expect, no matter what, that they'll add two teams the next time they expand. Just a hunch.

Jonzard · 07-04-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgom27

How about Ok City 49ers? OK City Sooners? OK City OKslamers?

Bombers

:toosoon:

Le Grande Orange · 07-04-2008, 12:43 PM

So, yet another case of a private sports team attempting to blackmail a city into forking over public tax dollars to pay for the team's new and/or upgraded stadium...

Michael Hopcroft · 07-04-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgom27

How about Ok City 49ers? OK City Sooners? OK City OKslamers?

KC/St.Louis/Anahiem and Tampa Bay would get a team before Las Vegas does.

The front-runners are suppseodly the Oklahoma City Barons or Oklahoma City Thunder (or perhaps just Oklahoma) in terms of nicknames. They wouldn't use Sooners to avoid confusion with the University.

It would be nice if Anaheim could give the Clips an arena to call their own -- the former Pond, where the Ducks play, would work nicely for pro basketball.

His Own Bad Self · 07-05-2008, 02:14 AM

I can't remember where I heard it, but someone on the radio suggested the Oklahoma City Outlaws. Works for me...

Boom Boom · 07-05-2008, 04:25 AM

The worst part is that Key Arena is a great place to watch a Basketball game

I really am happy for OKC, it isn't there fault, it is the Seattle ICON Howard Shultz fault. I will never buy a cup of coffee from Starbucks ever again...(Well only if there is no competition)

Athos · 07-05-2008, 12:20 PM

I've got nothing against Oklahoma City, but I hope the team crashes and burns there because Bennett and his partners deserve some crippling financial losses.

I'm talking about some Randoph and Mortimer Duke cameo as homeless guys in Coming to America action here.

mgom27 · 07-05-2008, 06:57 PM

Jay M. said it and they should sign Travis Outlaw to.

Michael Hopcroft · 07-06-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgom27

Jay M. said it and they should sign Travis Outlaw to.

Does Travis want to stay with the Blazers, given that they use him as an energy guy off the bench? Would he start in Oklahoma?

07-02-2008, 09:34 PM	#1
Michael Hopcroft Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 487	It's Official -- The Sonics are Gone A settlement of the lawsuit between the city of Seattle and Clay bennet, owner of the Soncs, has allowed the NBA team to relocate immediately to Oklahoma City. Bennet has promised to pay the city $75 million -- $45 million immediately. the other $30 million is conditional on two things -- the legislature renovating key Arena or building a new arena, and then Seattle not landing another NBA team. I think the city can kiss that money goodbye, because backing an arena renovation now, with no team, on spec would be political suicide. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and company will ply their trade in Oklahoma City, and the intense I-5 rivalry between the Sonics and Portland Trailblazers is at an untidy end. ESPN - SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement - NBA

07-03-2008, 10:43 PM	#5
mgom27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,532	How about Ok City 49ers? OK City Sooners? OK City OKslamers? KC/St.Louis/Anahiem and Tampa Bay would get a team before Las Vegas does. __________________ Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

07-05-2008, 12:20 PM	#12
Athos Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 37	I've got nothing against Oklahoma City, but I hope the team crashes and burns there because Bennett and his partners deserve some crippling financial losses. I'm talking about some Randoph and Mortimer Duke cameo as homeless guys in Coming to America action here. __________________ From hostile ground.

07-05-2008, 06:57 PM	#13
mgom27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,532	Jay M. said it and they should sign Travis Outlaw to. __________________ Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

07-02-2008, 10:44 PM	#2
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	Which is great for the league's pocketbooks, because just as with the Hornets and Bobcats, they get to cash in on a relocation fee AND the expansion fees when they put new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.

07-03-2008, 10:03 PM	#4
stevebydac All Star Reserve Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In a fictional baseball world Posts: 843	David Stern's dirty, grubby, little money-snatching pawprints are all over this one. It's nice that Oklahoma finally has a team, but Sonics fans got shafted.

07-04-2008, 12:43 PM	#8
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,644	So, yet another case of a private sports team attempting to blackmail a city into forking over public tax dollars to pay for the team's new and/or upgraded stadium...

07-05-2008, 02:14 AM	#10
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	I can't remember where I heard it, but someone on the radio suggested the Oklahoma City Outlaws. Works for me...

07-05-2008, 04:25 AM	#11
Boom Boom Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 367	The worst part is that Key Arena is a great place to watch a Basketball game I really am happy for OKC, it isn't there fault, it is the Seattle ICON Howard Shultz fault. I will never buy a cup of coffee from Starbucks ever again...(Well only if there is no competition)