Sonics' owner's e-mail reveal true intentions for the team.

[Yukari Yakumo]

Potential Top 10 prospect?

Sonics’ ownership’s e-mails seemingly contradict message to Stern, Seattle

By GREGG BELL, AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP)—E-mail messages between SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett and team co-owners appear to show Bennett misled NBA commissioner David Stern on the group’s intentions to move the team to Oklahoma City before all avenues for a new arena in Seattle were closed.

The messages have become part of the team’s dispute with the city of Seattle over the two years remaining on its KeyArena lease. Bennett is trying to buy out the lease so he can move the Sonics to his hometown for the 2008-09 season. The city claims the team must occupy the arena through 2009-10. The trial is scheduled to begin June 16.

<...>

In one of those messages, dated April 17, 2007—during a one-year period in which Bennett was professing a “good-faith” effort to get a new arena built that would keep the Sonics in Seattle—team co-owner Tom Ward wrote to Bennett from Oklahoma City: “Is there any way to move here for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?”

Bennett replied: “I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys. the game is getting started!”

Ward answered back: “That’s the spirit!! I am willing to help any way I can to watch ball here next year”

Co-owner Aubrey McClendon then wrote: “me too, thanks, Clay!”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AlUnaYuuD50.tevQJDQSTSq8vLYF?slug=ap-supersonics-e-mails&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Unsane]

1. This will hurt Bennett heading into the trial next month.

what do you mean 'top 10 prospect'?

[Yukari Yakumo]

2. I thought Bennett is one of those Repuke assholes that populate the list. {nt}

uguu

[Unsane]

3. oh?

Are you failiar with the Sonics' situation? Calabro may have called his last game tonight. Sad times. I'm still holding out a shred of hope that Seattle can keep the team. I wonder how Stern feels about being lied to by these crooks?

[Yukari Yakumo]

5. Yup, he's a RePuke asshole. Some of his campaign contributions...

Found from here: http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/fecimg/advindsea.html

GIULIANI, RUDOLPH W
VIA FRIENDS OF GIULIANI EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE
12/31/1999 1000.00

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
09/08/2000 10000.00 20036110304

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE
07/11/1997 10000.00 97032353162

BUCHANAN, PATRICK J
VIA BUCHANAN FOR PRESIDENT INC
09/15/1997 100.00 97032442823

GIULIANI, RUDOLPH W.
VIA RUDY GIULIANI PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INC
02/26/2008 2300.00 28930817013

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC.
03/31/1999 1000.00 99034440911

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
07/07/2003 2000.00 23992050883

GIULIANI, RUDOLPH W.
VIA RUDY GIULIANI PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE INC
04/12/2007 4600.00 27930895149

[KatyaR]

15. He gave $100 to Pat Buchanan--SNORT!!

:rofl:

His donations are pennies compared to his buddy Aubrey McClendon, who gave $250,000 to the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." Total donations made--$723,500. Of course, both these guys have more money than God--$700,000 is probably the change McClendon found in his couch . . . .

He also seems to be padding the field--giving lots of money to Pukes as well as donating to Clinton and Obama. Can you say "Swift Boat Veterans II?"

[stevedeshazer]

4. Your link is busted

That said, I hate to see the Sonics leave Seattle, and I'm a Blazers fan in Portland. This just plain sucks.

It's been a great Northwest rivalry for many years, Seattle vs. Portland. I've watched many Blazers/Sonics games.

Clay Bennett is a right-wing asshole.

The Sonics will be missed.

So, when they move to Oklahoma City, will they be the OKC Dust Bowlers? The Inhofers? The Oil Drillers?

[Hawkeye-X]

6. My guess? OKC Drillers

And a last place team for 1.5 years before Clay Bennett goes bankrupt and sells the team to Seattle

[stevedeshazer]

7. I like the Drillers

Back when I played for a city league team, we were sponsored by Unocal, our team was the Pumpers!

[Nicole]

11. Don't bet on it

I don't think Bennett will be bankrupt anytime soon.

He's married to one of the Gaylord daughters. The Gaylords are filthy rich repukes who own the Daily Oklahoman, The Grand Ole Opry, CMT, TNN & who knows what else.

[Mojambo]

9. The obvious choice is the Oklahoma City Bombers, no? n/t

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. That is tasteless...

And as someone who lost a cousin in the OKC Bombing, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Duckie

[Mojambo]

19. Sorry about your cousin. n/t

[Nicole]

10. Maybe the name will still be the Sonics

OKC is the home of Sonic Drive Ins.

[Hawkeye-X]

12. Seattle keeps Sonics.

One of the agreements into moving OKC was to leave the team name and its history to Seattle so Seattle will get another NBA team sometime soon...

Hawkeye-X

[Nicole]

13. Great!

I was really dreading the idea of more Sonic signs & ads around here.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. It was one of the agreements...

But the city never agreed to it. Now Clay will leave the name just to get back at at Seattle. And the NBA is pissed at Seattle. It's doubtful they will get any other team any time soon.
Duckie

[stevedeshazer]

21. Really?

So Seattle is guaranteed a new NBA team?

[BlooInBloo]

27. Nah - not really. Stern already said Seattle ain't gettin another team.

[Telly Savalas]

20. They don't change team names in the NBA, do they?

Hence the LA Lakers and the Utah Jazz.

[aikoaiko]

8. I was hoping this was about hotdogs.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Everybody knows they just wanna move - fuck em - if the idiots in OK are stupid enough...

... to pay all the costs and let the billionaire owners reap all the profits, I say let em.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. I voted no...

But it's still rude to call us all idiots.
Duckie

[Jack from Charlotte]

26. We in Charlotte voted our new arena down and they still built it....

in order to get the new NBA team... The Bobcats. The Republic mayor, McCrory, built the $400 million arena even though we voted it down by 60% to 40%. So we tore down our 24,000 seat, mostly paid for gorgeous arena and built a new one downtown.

I said when the new team started that it would fail and try to move in a few years. So far... I'm correct. No one here cares and remember, when the Hornet's started back in about 1990, they had the record attendance for something like 8 straight years, with 24,000 per game.

After Okie City, where would a team move?

[Blue_Tires]

22. that shouldn't surprise anyone

he's been planning to move ever since he bought the team...worst kept secret in the league

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. Moving a team from the 14th largest media market to the 45th is pure genius.

Clay Bennett is an idiot.

[northzax]

24. i am sure it's a boon for free agents though

no offense to Oklahoma City, but seriously, can you imagine being a young, rich man? your agent calls:

"So, LeBron, we've got some offers for your next contract."
"sweet, nice work, where?"
"Well, you can go to LA, Miami, New York, Chicago, Washington or Oklahoma City."
"oh, definately OKC, I hear the club scene there is a madhouse!"

[cboy4]

25. I am tired of sports franchises moving from and threatening

to move from cities that don't bend over for the owners.

Take the Sacramento Kings.

The team had the NBA's longest sell-out streak (17,317) dating back to 1999 before it ended this season.

I'm sure the owner's threat to move the team to Las Vegas or Anaheim because the taxpayers won't build them a shiny new half a billion dollar area has nothing to do with the fans sudden disinterest.

It should also be noted that the coach (Rick Adelman) the playboy owners (Gavin and Joe Maloof) -- also owners of the Palms Casino in Vegas -- is "only" 28 games over .500 coaching Houston now.

What a joke.

Playboy owners: