Great Article by Brian Robinson from Save our Sonics

[wiff]

He makes some really great points, and you might breath easier after you read it.

I especially like the point with the "Scorched Earth" catch phrase Stern has been using and how that is what Stern is doing to us.

http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=1860#more-1860

Here is a very tasty little tidbit from Percy Allen

The league

[D5150]

that tidbit about relocation is very interesting. they want to hit the back door right now, or else they have to do this all over again. that means they will be even more desperate to settle the lawsuit than before.

i think this really puts most of the negotiating power in the hands of the city. regardless of how ugly the trial gets, stern will not be able to hold anything over the heads of the leaders in seattle (ie; "if you ever want a team in seattle again, accept a buyout") bennett will have to re-submit and he is back to square one.

so the nba will have to broker a deal in which both seattle AND okc get a team, or this very well could drag on for two more years. its funny how stern kept saying in the press conference "if the courts uphold the lease, the team will move in 2 years." aahhh not so fast there dave.

this could very well be an all or nothing situation with the city. i think stern was just trying to once again in his clever little way stong arm the city in that press conference.

i am very suprised that the BOG didn't defer the vote until next year. stern must have put a lot of pressure on them, and assured them that there would either be a victory in court, or a buyout.

this is going to be very interesting over the next few months.

sorry for rambling on, return to your cornflakes.

[jenn_gp]

Wow, that Percy Allen tidbit is interesting. I didn't know that. I can definately see why we should go along with the court case now. Our chances of winning it are good, so that opens the door to buy us the time that we so badly need to get something done. What that something may be? I don't know yet.
I agree with D...I think Stern was trying to slip one past us when he said "if the courts uphold the lease, the Sonics will move in two years." Thank god Percy found that bit, otherwise I would have taken Stern for his word.

am very suprised that the BOG didn't defer the vote until next year. stern must have put a lot of pressure on them, and assured them that there would either be a victory in court, or a buyout.

That or Clay pressured Stern by giving him a pocketful of money to get the vote done this past week. I could definately see some money being thrown around.

[jenn_gp]

On a related note, Ray weighs in on the issue:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bask ... ion=recent

Sad for Seattle

Ray Allen may have left Seattle, but the special charm of the city never left him.

So his dismay was understandable about a vote by the NBA Board of Governors Friday that opened the way for the Sonics franchise to move to Oklahoma City.

The city is now fighting the team

[D5150]

yeah jenn, ray has made similar comments on howard before. i think it was just a few weeks ago.

i wonder though, why didn't we hear from those local investors that ray mentioned?

[bennith13]

That tid bit about re-submitting their move proposal is interesting. I didn't know that. I my mind that changes things drastically. We know the city has about a 99% chance at winning the court case, so if that is the deal then Clay is going to have to re-submit his request to move. Things could be very different around that time.

[colombianbrew]

I am really wondering about that constitutional clause. Not that I doubt Brian at all, but is there some work around to it that Stern and Clay have in mind? I just find it unbelievable that this hasn't come up more.

[Sweezo]

Speaking of good articles, here's a smart commentary from the Oregonian...

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf?/base/sports/120857553122610.xml&coll=7

[jenn_gp]

^Now that reporter actually understands the situation. Thanks for linking that Sweez.

That part of the article conveys how I feel right now:

Which is why fans should protect fans and boycott Stern's postseason.

Don't watch on television.

Don't care.

Don't buy a ticket.

Because in the end, the league doesn't care about fans. It isn't interested in protecting the game as much as it's interested in punishing anyone who dares to cross it. The NBA has decided what it's about, so what are you about?

I already said this in Wiff's playoff thread, but I have boycotted the playoffs and intend to the entire rest of the way.

[wiff]

That was a good read I suggest it to everyone.