Seattle takes the money. The Sonics run. [View All]

[pscot]

I understand that for most of you this doesn't very much matter. If you've only lived here for the last five or ten years losing the Sonics may not seem like a big deal. Just another greedy sport franchise trying to batten at the public trough. But some of us have bled green and gold for the last 40 years, and this leaves a big hole in our hearts. May Howard Schultz, Greg Nickles and Chris Gregoire burn in hell.


"The city of Seattle will be paid $45 million in exchange for letting the Sonics move to Oklahoma City this year as part of last-minute settlement announced this afternoon.

Sonics owner Clay Bennett will pay the city an additional $30 million in five years if the city is unable to secure another NBA team, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said.

In a press conference in Oklahoma City, Bennett said, "We made it. Congratulations.... The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season, playing their games."

Nickels said the NBA agreed that a renovated KeyArena would be suitable to support a new team. However, the mayor said the state Legislature must pass a funding bill next year to help pay for the improvements."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/