Stern: Sonics leaving Seattle inevitable

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Stern: Sonics leaving Seattle inevitable 

Post#1 » by Monkeyfeng06 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:53 am

Stern says SuperSonics' departure from Seattle is an 'inevitability at this point'

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer
February 16, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Sorry Seattle, there is no saving your Sonics.

That's the feeling of NBA commissioner David Stern, who said Saturday he expects the SuperSonics to leave the city, either this year or when their lease expires in 2010.

"It's apparent to all who are watching that the Sonics are heading out of Seattle," Stern said during his annual All-Star weekend press conference. "I accept that inevitability at this point. There is no miracle here."

Stern revealed he encouraged the SuperSonics to make an offer to the city to buy out the remaining two years of the lease to Key Arena. He said the offer, made two days ago, approached $30 million and was rejected.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett and his predecessor, Howard Schultz, have both said the Sonics couldn't remain in Seattle without public funding for a new arena. But despite the efforts of both of them, Stern, and a group of fans called "Save our Sonics," state lawmakers have given no indication that is a priority.

Bennett has informed the league he plans to move the team to his hometown of Oklahoma City after this season. But a potential move is currently on hold after the city filed a lawsuit against the team, attempting to make it fulfill the terms of the lease.

Stern doesn't think there is much point.

"There's not going to be a new arena. There's not going to be a public contribution and that's everyone's right. I mean that sincerely," Stern said. "So the only question now becomes, is the court going to rule that you can fulfill the terms of the lease by paying money for the remaining two years after this? Or, despite everything, there is some reason to keep them there as the clock winds down."

Stern spoke more hopefully about the future of the Hornets' here. The franchise will have the right to opt out of its lease at New Orleans Arena if it doesn't average 14,735 fans at the end of the 2008-09 season.

The Hornets average only 12,645 currently, 29th in the 30-team league. But Stern hopes All-Star weekend helped turn over some new fans.

"When I leave here after the All-Star game, I'm much more optimistic about the prospects of the team meeting the goals that have been set," Stern said. "The people I hear interviewed, the businessmen I speak to, the fans, the government officials, I think there is going to be a unique, unified effort to make sure that New Orleans is very much a basketball town."

Union director Billy Hunter joined Stern on the podium to start the press conference and praised the performance of New Orleans during the weekend. It was about a year ago when Hunter said he was concerned that the city couldn't properly handle the crowds that All-Star weekend brings.

"I expressed some grave concerns about the well being of NBA players if they were to come to New Orleans to participate in the All-Star weekend, and I expressed some concerns about their safety," Hunter said. "And I can assure you that any concerns that I previously had have been fully allayed."


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

david stern.... i can't believe this guy runs the NBA organization.... nice reaching out to the fans in seattle... he's just kissing clay bennett's ass here. i wouldn't be surpised that clay bennett gave david stern "some benefits" if he stood out and applauded sonics moving to OKC. seriously.. clay bennett and david stern never had the intention of leaving the sonics in seattle. everybody knew this and they're acting like they gave seattle a chance. it's unbelieveable... i hope they lose in the lawsuit and suffer. i hope clay bennett sells the team to a rightful owner that won't ditch out on local fans.
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Post#2 » by Illuminati » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:56 am

It's a shame, they should move the Sonics to ummm. Vancouver or Montreal.

Word.
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Post#3 » by Sashobe » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:57 am

Sorry Sonics fans, but after 20 years of talks of teams moving to Las Vegas, I have to say PLEASE MOVE TO VEGAS!
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Post#4 » by BullSoxChicago'sFinest » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:58 am

He's said it before, at least months ago
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Post#5 » by Rox_Nix_Nox » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:12 am

They have been in seattle for some time now. To throw it all away is just sad. Moving teams and history is dumb im a Lakers fan and honestly i never liked the fact that the team started in Minneapolis.
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Post#6 » by Monkeyfeng06 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:33 am

Stern's comments drew a strong response from Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis.

"If Mr. Stern had any kind of integrity, he wouldn't be trying to hijack this team out of Seattle," Ceis said. "David Stern hasn't lifted one finger since Clay Bennett bought this team to do anything to try and keep it in Seattle. It's been an ongoing conspiracy between the league and Clay Bennett to hijack this franchise out of Seattle."


"I don't know what Mr. Stern is trying to do. I will say it's a sad fact that he's treating a 40-year NBA city like this. I suspect what they are trying to do is put pressure on the decision makers. But when an NBA team signs a lease to play for 15 years, they should play for 15 years and not play games like this."


:clap: :clap:
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Post#7 » by dingclancy » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:15 pm

Okay so who is at fault here? What is the incentive for Stern to let the team stay in Seattle?
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Post#8 » by Mr. Perfect » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:11 pm

Maybe someone should bomb Oklahoma City again to prevent this from happening.
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Post#9 » by Philly Fresh » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:11 pm

For starters, Oklahoma City will never be the city Seattle is, Bennet just wants to bring it to OKC because it's his home town. It's apparent Stern doesn't care enough that a team with this much history is just going to up and leave from its city......what can you do?
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Post#10 » by LetItRain » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:22 pm

Its a conspiracy. Stern's plan is to move every NBA team out of North America. Do you think its coincidence that he announces this the same weekend as his plans on putting 5 teams in Europe is reported? I think not. "Bangkok SuperSonics"
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Post#11 » by LittleOzzy » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:04 pm

Where do you think the Sonics will move?

Please click the link and vote.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=763069
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Post#12 » by ljp24 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:42 pm

I would move away too. Didn't their arena catch on fire a few weeks back?
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Post#13 » by ilikecb4 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:45 pm

man i want a franchise in Vancuver..now it's the perfect time...


Sonics and Hornets might be moving....

just need a strong ownership group
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Post#14 » by panacea » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:45 pm

Illuminati wrote:It's a shame, they should move the Sonics to ummm. Vancouver or Montreal.

Word.


:crazy:

The NBA failed in Vancouver once, why do it again?
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Post#15 » by Mr. Perfect » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:26 pm

panacea wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



:crazy:

The NBA failed in Vancouver once, why do it again?


Vancouver did their part, Stu Jackson and Michael Heisley didn't do theirs.
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Post#16 » by Latrell » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:32 pm

panacea wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



:crazy:

The NBA failed in Vancouver once, why do it again?


The city didn't fail the Grizzlies, the Grizzlies failed the city, and Stu Jackson ran that team into the ground.

I think Vancouver would be one of the best destinations for the Sonics.

- its close to Seattle so many Sonics fans from Seattle could still follow their team

-they have an NBA ready arena

- Vancouver is a large market

-it wouldn't screw up the divisions, and scheduling would remain the same..I mean Okla city is hardly in the Northwest is it? Vancouver is though.

The Grizzlies failed there because their ownership and management were absolutely brutal, like I said, Michael Heisley and Stu Jackson ran the team into the ground...those were some of the worst basketball teams ever assembled, those teams wouldn't sell out MSG. Vancouver embraced the Grizzlies but the product was just too poor and the ownership wasn't patient or competent enough to keep the team there.

The Sonics with Kevin Durant would thrive there IMO, I think Vancouver is one of the best destinations for the Sonics if not the best.
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Post#17 » by Monkeyfeng06 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:34 pm

^ i don't think vancouver had a NBA crowd. the best place for sonics is seattle and no place else.
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Post#18 » by supermario » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:40 pm

New York could use a second tteam..if LA got2 then why not the Knicks...or Chicago..
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Post#19 » by Latrell » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:51 pm

Monkeyfeng06 wrote:^ i don't think vancouver had a NBA crowd. the best place for sonics is seattle and no place else.


Yes they did, Vancouver had some great NBA fans. Obviously its a puck town before a ball town , whatever team goes there will always be # 2 to the Canucks but Vancouver has a very diverse community and a large a population and could easily support a team.

I agree with the other part of your post though, I'd prefer the Sonics to stay in Seattle more than anything else. That city has had a team there for 40 years and have the city's only pro- sport championship, it would be a shame for them to move to a dump like Oklahoma City.
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Post#20 » by Jemini80 » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:57 pm

why don't places realize when you play chicken with a sports franchise you will lose. They wanted a new arena awhile ago, and they didn't get it.

I can't wait till my Vikings move out of Minnesota so when i fly to see them play I don't have to fly into a town that is dead on the weekends. Toronto here we come!!!!

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