This morning's news of an impending lawsuit from Starbucks mogul Howard Schultz (followed last week's release of incriminating emails from Clay Bennett) has cast this week's NBA owners vote on the relocation of the SuperSonics in different light. In other words, it's not sure thing any more.Mark Cuban has spent the past week telling reporters he'll vote against the relocation plea, based mostly on market size. (Seattle's a top-15 media market; OKC is #45.) No other owners have made statements in opposition of the move, though; three owners, in fact, gave the relocation their personal OK by advancing the application to the full board of governors (though they can backtrack at this point).
The question isn't whether the owners should deny the relocation, based on Bennett's seemingly ceaseless mockery of Seattle and its fans. But with a second serious suit coming -- one which could remove an owner against his will for the first time in ages (excepting the ongoing Atlanta saga) -- the board might hold additional qualms ... qualms strong enough to delay Bennett's homecoming at least another year.
At the same time, the overarching issue (beyond the details of the Seattle lease or the purchase agreement) is owners' rights. It is hard to imagine the owners collectively sawing off one of their own hands in order to look like the good guys here.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Cleveland fans have been through what Sonics fans are currently going through and we don't want the Sonics to leave.
I've crafted a petition to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert asking him to vote against relocation of the Sonics franchise (in an owners vote this Friday).
I had originally limited the list of signatures to only Cavs fans, but I'd like to open it up to everyone to get more names on there.
The more names, the harder it will be for Gilbert to vote Yes.
So read the statement and sign if you'd like:
http://www.petitiononline.com/cavs1970/petition.html
Posted at 12:56PM on Apr 15th 2008 by jkads
2. "It is hard to imagine the owners collectively sawing off one of their own hands in order to look like the good guys here."
That's true, but I imagine that a lot of owners would like to be able to determine what happens to the team after they sell it. Backing Schultz would allow them to do so.
Posted at 4:21PM on Apr 15th 2008 by nganassim
3. We just want you to know that people as far as Miami care deeply about the Sonics:
http://thesouthfloridafan.blogspot.com/2008/04/we-support-seattle-sonics.html
We wish you the best of luck in staving off this injustice.
Posted at 4:45PM on Apr 15th 2008 by The South Florida Fan
4. We Miami Heat fans have put together a proposed plan of action here: http://thesouthfloridafan.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-help-seattle-keep-their-sonics.html
It involves this:
IMPLORE EVERY NBA TEAM BLOG TO POST THE ADDRESS OF THEIR OWNERS. IN ADDITION, LETTERS SHOULD INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
"As a form of protest, we vow to boycott any game next season in which the Oklahoma City Sonics play, whether it be in our arena or watching it on television."
Spread this around as much as you can. It's going to take the other teams to prevent this from happening. Let's save the Sonics!
Posted at 11:07PM on Apr 15th 2008 by The South Florida Fan