Sonics Staying Put?

seafan · Post #1 » by **seafan** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:43 pm

Here's the link.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/thiel/348989_thiel28.html

Very interesting.

jenn_gp · Post #2 » by **jenn_gp** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:20 pm

Eh..we already know about Shinn's attendance clause. I just can't see either of those scenarios Thiel listed happening. They both require George Shinn to sell the Hornets, which from what I've read in the past, he's not willing to sell. I have a particularly hard time reading this sentence of the article:

It also wants to stay in Seattle, and wants to reward Bennett and Oklahoma City (not Shinn) for being good NBA citizens after Katrina.

How has Bennett been a good citizen? I can see the argument for the city, but what good has Bennett done, and why should he be rewarded?
I like how optimistic he is by stating they're possibly "staying put" in the title, but then at the end of the article states:

An arena solution still is needed here. Discussions have taken place, but action awaits a favorable court ruling and Bennett's willingness to be a hometown hero in a different way.
Even then, the process of keeping the franchise will be a slog. Nothing is guaranteed. The ordeal seems infinite, and an outcome isn't predictable.
But just because nothing is happening on the court doesn't mean that nothing is happening.

He gets my hopes up with the title, then the more I read, the less I believe it.

EDIT: I forgot to add this to the end of my post:

CUE THE HORNETS FANS! :-?

clutch24 · Post #3 » by **clutch24** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:31 pm

Eh, hope springs eternal for Seattle fans.

wiff · Post #4 » by **wiff** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:36 pm

The part that is missing is why would Shinn want to sell?

jenn_gp · Post #5 » by **jenn_gp** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:54 pm

^That's what I said in my previous post.

Does Art Thiel know something we don't? haha

seafan · Post #6 » by **seafan** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:05 pm

So, Bennett sells the Sonics to a local interest, uses that money to pay the Hornets' lease penalty and buy out the NO owner. He gets a team in OKC (where the press will treat him like the majority owner regardless of what share Shinn maintains), and the Sonics stay here. My pipe dream

Would it happen? Can it?

I read alot of okie forums and they rather have the hornets than the sonics. New Orleans is second to last in attendance. Where OKC supported them for 2 seasons.

jenn_gp · Post #7 » by **jenn_gp** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:58 pm

^I love how the Okies think they have their pick between two franchises. Talk about being ungrateful. Ugh they just piss me off so much.

My pipe dream scenario: Neither the Sonics or Hornets move to OKC and stay where they are. That would shut them up.

Post #8 » by **Sweezo** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:59 pm

Hornets are one of the best teams in the league. If I'm OKC, I'd want them too.

Really, I don't want to champion the cause for the Hornets moving...but there's something wrong when you have one of the hottest teams in the league and no one goes to watch them play. We have one of the worst teams in the league, if not the worst team in the league, and we still appeared to have a good turnout last night against the Spurs.

grantpb · Post #9 » by **grantpb** » Fri Feb 1, 2008 5:45 am

jenn_gp wrote:^I love how the Okies think they have their pick between two franchises. Talk about being ungrateful. Ugh they just piss me off so much.

My pipe dream scenario: Neither the Sonics or Hornets move to OKC and stay where they are. That would shut them up.

I don't post here very often but don't take anything out on the Oklahoma City fans. Bennett is the one who went up to the northwest to try to move the Sonics out. If I were him I don't think I could do that. I feel bad for all the Sonics fans. But if they are going to bring a team to Oklahoma City I will not turn it down or vote against it.

Oklahoma City has showed it is able to support an NBA team and prospered with the Hornets in town. Attendance was top 8 in the league, and merchandise and other sales were through the roof. They also went from the worst team in the league to currently one of the best teams in the league in two years.

I completely understand the Sonic fans being pissed about their team moving. I would be too. But are you really wanting to take it out on the fans by saying that you hope the Hornets don't come to Oklahoma City?

HeavyP · Post #10 » by **HeavyP** » Fri Feb 1, 2008 5:53 am

No, we don't want the fans of New Orleans to go through what we're going through. Losing a team is not fun, Oklahoma can have a team, just I hope nobody has to lose one.

jenn_gp · Post #11 » by **jenn_gp** » Fri Feb 1, 2008 2:27 pm

grantpb wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I completely understand the Sonic fans being pissed about their team moving. I would be too. But are you really wanting to take it out on the fans by saying that you hope the Hornets don't come to Oklahoma City?

Yes, that is what I'm saying. I don't have anything aginst you, but as a whole I could really care less about what OKC people want. For the most part they have really made it worse by being over-confident, rude, and ignorant about what's happening here in Seattle. So yes, honestly I would love it if OKC didn't get a franchise at all..However, I was talking about my dream scenario. If it came down to choosing, obviously I would want the Hornets to move over the Sonics. Their future is a bit more bleak in New Orleans..the fans aren't able to support the team.

I don't think any city should have to feel threatened the way Clay Bennett has created with the whole situation. The way he's dealt with the city and government officals & the media has created a very volitile situation for Sonics fans. It's one thing if a team isn't being supported by the fans, but the Sonics DO have support. They've spent 40 years in this city, and are the first pro sports team to bring a championship to Seattle. If I was from OKC, I wouldn't want to capitalize off the misfortune of others...you say the city can support a team? The moral high road would be to show the facts to David Stern and earn your franchise the right way: through expansion.

Maybe I'm being unrealistic about that, but as a kid who grew up living, breathing, and sleeping the Sonics and a fan of over 16 years, of course I wouldn't want an NBA franichise if it meant my city had to steal another city's that has a long running tradition with the city.