Wongdoody

[Troy McClure]

It looks more like a cockroach than a beatle to me.

[wiff]

About the retractable roof.

I can't see it being open during the NBA games but I can see it being open during an NHL game. Obviously you play the game on ice and it's chilly. The NHL played an outdoor game this season and I heard it was pretty cool. But I am curious to see if this picks up any steam past today.

I could care less what the thing looks like I just want the Sonics to stay.

[Dick Tate]

I like the idea of having open roof summer concerts. Of course the retractable part could be handy then as i've experienced some brutally cold, windy & wet shows at the Pier in the past.

[LarBrd33]

sounds like a sick April Fools joke

[nwsports253]

They wouldnt be able to play a NHL game outdoors here. The weather has to be just right for the ice, if it rains its going to melt, if its too warm its going to melt they talked about this during the game they played outside in Buffalo this year. They can only pull off outdoor games in cities that are really cold.

[jenn_gp]

^That's what I was thinking. The retractable roof just seems like it's thrown in for the "cool" factor.

lol what will it be used for? They show the roof open with a hardwood floor down in the arena, not a hockey rink? I can just picture it now...have a roof open during the NBA Finals...that's about the only time something like that might work.

All of the buildings that surround the actual arena/center seem like they've been put there to meet some type of cultural standard...the department of agriculture? Native Cultural Center? Aviation & Aerospace? It's as if they're trying too hard to prove to Nick Licata that Professional Sports really does bring a cultural significance to the city.

[Hiphophead101]

I missed the 11:00 new coverage yesterday, I went on news websites and nothing would show up for the recorded videos. Did anybody see it? Or can anybody recap what hapened?

[jenn_gp]

Reading most of the posts over at SonicsCentral about this Emerald City Center idea, a large majority of the people there feel the people behind this are Clay and David Stern. The main reason appears (to me anyways) that Bill Russell attended the press conference--who has been buddy-buddy with Clay over the past year or so. Also, they think the idea is so outrageous that it seems to be a move to 'distract' everyone with Ballmer & Co.'s $300 million proposal.

What do you guys think about this? I was out of state yesterday when this plan was unveiled, so I've been trying to read up on it as much as I can. What are the odds that Bennett and Stern are behind this new bizzare arena proposal?

[CatchNShoot]

This is tip of the iceberg stuff put together by a broker and an architect to gauge the interest in piecing together a development proposal. It's not different than a shopping center except the anchor tenant is an entertainment venue, not a major retailer. The out parcels are pavillions instead of fast food restaurants. The location is Anywhere, USA, and the design is cookie cutter. Think of it as Westfield Sonicstown.

[Dick Tate]

they think the idea is so outrageous that it seems to be a move to 'distract' everyone with Ballmer & Co.'s $300 million proposal.

I think their intentions were in the right place. They probably originally planned on waiting to see how BOG vote went with Ballmer proposal on the table, but since the Ballmer plan had stalled out on the final $75M, they decided to toss their idea out there so at least there was something, at least ONE thing, to have the BOG to think about.

[jenn_gp]

^So are you thinking that Clay has zero involvement in this proposal, Catch?

Brian doesn't seem to think this proposal will affect Ballmer & Co.'s for the long haul and seems somewhat encouraged after the press conference. I don't understand why some think Clay could be involved in this new plan...Brian doesn't mention it at all.

As the press conference went on I transitioned from feeling the need to be skeptical, to feeling the need to be supportive. After all these guys had on their own taken the time to come up with something dynamic and visionary. I actually really liked their concept in a

[CatchNShoot]

I agree with you, Jenn. I don't see a conspiracy at all. I just see a couple of brokers trying to piece together a deal. Also, people are reading too much into Bill Russell, too. He's always been his own man. There is no way he is the NBA's pawn.

To follow what Dick is saying, the ECC proposal was timed to get Seattle moving past this horrible time, to start dreaming again instead of wallowing in sadness, and to impress upon the BOG that that Seattle may have lost this round, but not the fight.

I found the BB proposal laughable and bush league when it came out, and I still think it is very weak in a lot of respects, but I agree with Brian and Dick that BB's effort to be positive and visionary in an increasingly cynical time is worthy of respect. Hats off to them for doing the opposite of complaining.

I think even the most diehard Sonic fans are starting to sober up to the reality that the Sonics are leaving for OKC. With it comes a splash of water in the face that our government leaders are nothing of the sort.

BB's proposal cuts to the chase - the era of public funding is over. It is time to cut out the weak link (government) and move toward a private solution. And while we're at it, let's do it right, let's dream big, since we don't have to worry about balancing the cost against the price of votes in Annacortes and Spokane.

David Stern looks more and more prophetic by the day, that there is no white knight and there is no miracle. BB's proposal severs ties with the current traveling sideshow and asks us to accept our loss and move on. Grudgingly, at some point, we'll have to oblige.

[jenn_gp]

I think even the most diehard Sonic fans are starting to sober up to the reality that the Sonics are leaving for OKC. With it comes a splash of water in the face that our government leaders are nothing of the sort.

I think it's definately time to change who is running our state government from top to bottom...especially Gregoire and Frank Chopp. His comments in the past 48 hours have disgusted me to no end. He said that he doesn't care what people think about him knowing in advance about Ballmer's project and his effort (or lackthereof) to write up a peice of legislation for the proposal.

I am 100% Democrat, but next voting period, I'll be voting Republican. Hopefully Dino Rossi will try again. In the beginning, it appeared as Gregoire was on our side, but she's shown her true colors in terms of her support over the past six months with her lack of ambition and leadership we needed in order to get the Sonics to stay. Her leadership efforts in that area are laughable.

Thanks for your thoughts, Catch.

[CatchNShoot]

It's hard to be a Democrat in Washington these days. But Democrats, like basketball players, can be good, bad, or average at their jobs. We just seem to have a bunch of the bad kind right now.

[Soundbite]

Its time the PEOPLE stand up, put their votes where their mouths are. I am equally sad and disgusted.

This new arena may be to late for me. If we get an expansion team or steal another franchise, it only rewards Stern and his Manifest Destiny vision of raping the fans.

I have not given up on our team staying.

[jenn_gp]

Did anyone catch the SOS piece on Inside the NBA last night on TNT?

I thought Brian and Steve did an excellent job with the interview...but the segment missed a few points imo. They could have went a little deeper into the situation on things such as Bennett's "good faith effort," his threatening tone throughout this whole ordeal, and a little bit more into the Key Arena (how it's only 12 years old, why can't a remodel be good enough?).

I think after the segment was over Barkley actually spoke eloquently about the situation. The fans shouldn't have to fit 100% of the bill when it comes to building an arena..it should be a 50-50 partnership between the ownership and fans. Especially since we've just built Safeco and Qwest not too long ago. However, he also said that Ballmer and Co. should have stepped up two years ago instead of wait until the last minute, which I agree with completely.

He also had some kind words to say about the fans...the Key was the loudest and toughest place he had to play in his whole career..I thought that was very kind of him.

Kenny Smith didn't really have anything too amazing to say..except the Sonics are gone and we can only hope we can be like Charlotte, where they lost their frachise but also received a new one in expansion.

Sonicscentral said they would upload it onto their website, but I don't see it yet.

[jenn_gp]

^the SOS on TNT segment has finally been put up on YouTube. Two segments, with the second link mostly of Barkley & Kenny Smith's comments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bIqnfs6bxE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4tfh47icsE