Thursday, July 3

Hypocrisis

Part and parcel with yesterday’s settlement is an assumption that no expansion teams are in the NBA’s foreseeable future.

Meaning, of course, any team bearing a Seattle Sonics’ jersey in the future will be doing so because another city’s NBA dreams have gone up in flames.

Leading yours truly to wonder: Is it worth it? After spending the past few days (well, months, really) bemoaning our fate and dispensing venom in every direction at the evil which is relocation, are we ready to be the league leaders in hypocrisy?

Color it however you like, but taking a team from another city makes us no better than the good people of Oklahoma City, and makes Steve Ballmer no better than Clay Bennett.

(Well, actually, Ballmer has yet to buy a team in another city, start the relocation process before the ink had dried on the contract, call himself a man possessed to not relocate, and then indulge in lascivious emails with the league commissioner. Perhaps he wouldn’t be as low as Bennett.).

As I was saying, do we want to prey upon the bones of another city’s misfortune? Personally, I’m leaning to the “No” side of that question, and it’s not that difficult to see why.

I’ve utilized the divorce analogy before for this situation; with Seattle as the mother, PBC as the father, and Sonic fans as the child. Well, to carry that metaphor to its logical conclusion, luring a team here from another city is the equivalent of your recently divorced mom wearing a halter top to your t-ball game, hoping her cleavage is enough to convince your friend’s dad to abandon his wife.

It’s all well and good for you to have a new dad, but what about your friend, who now has to hope that his mom is as good at flirting as your mom?

Okay, it’s a messy analogy and we’re beginning to paddle into some unseemly, oedipal waters at this point, but I think my point is clear: after enduring the past year and a half of turmoil and heartache, do we really want to be the ones causing that same pain to another group of people?

I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t want to be a party to that. And that is why, to my way of thinking, the only solutions to this whole sorry situation are either a victorious Howard Schultz lawsuit or an expansion team.

Any other answer is just too hypocritical for me to swallow.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with you, its either an expansion or no team at all. Maybe if Howard S wins his case we could get our old team back, but thats a loooooooooong shot

Anonymous said...

There Will Be Blood

Clay Bennett handed it to Seattle/ WA State Leadership. He went into battle with the purpose of an 'Oil Man'. 'Big Boys' won against embarrassment called Seattle/ WA State Leadership. He wanted it more and he got it. Now, what Washington State needs to do is separate themselves from their liberal past and elect Leaders in November instead of Politicians. Mr. Coffee needs to press to have the sale rescinded and let OKC have some other City's team. How about the OKC Vultures?

Anonymous said...

I can see this both ways. On the one hand, we'd be total hypocrites for stealing another city's team.

On the other hand, does anyone still think Baltimore fans are hypocrites because they "stole" the Browns? Or were they justified because of the way Indianapolis "stole" the Colts from them a decade before?

Personally, I go with the time heals all wounds mindset. Eventually, if they're still called the Sonics, we will slowly forget all about this.

Except for when we're beating the holy living hell out of the OKC Bandits, that is. That will be satisfying, huh?

Unknown said...

Is the press conference online somewhere?

Anonymous said...

Again, how on God's green earth is it robbery to take the team you purchased for 350 million dollars elsewhere when the local leadership gets arrogant with you over a new arena lease? You can't steal what you already own. Really, get off this "Bandits" and "Vultures" crap. Your not only coming off as petty and childish to the people of Oklahoma (whom, we already know that you neither care nor know anything about), but to the rest of the country and sports world as well. Your politicians screwed this up. So quit throwing slurs at Okc and maybe do something productive with you legislature. Not totally meant as a snide remark, but you all are amazing in your ability to redirect your angst at Oklahoma when its proper place is with the state and that jerk from Starbucks.

Anonymous said...

OKC sucks! Your team name is the OKC Potatoes! Suck on it -- dustbowlers!

You're right Oklahoma B (if that is your name), that felt good.

Anonymous said...

Well said, and let's not forget HoHo the Clown otherwise known as Mr. Mayor.

Chanimal knows said...

of all teams why ours its been the saddest day of the world so far, you can't just tear our teams away from us. Now they expect us to be calm. Maybe sonics weren't a very good team but still, we have rights as fans to keep our damn team in sonics forever( though of the laws said that). now that all our players are gone. and we do get a new team, who'd we get huh?!!! First we lose Allen and Lewis, then Kurt. Well fine I'll accept that. At least we still have Ridnour, Collison, Wilkens, Durant and many more great guys. But now you take the whole lot away from us and give us filthy Clay Bennett money. Noooooooooooooooo!!! Why Clay why? It'll never be the same seattle. They are ripping the floor apart rite now. There selling everything we own.( i don't blame you oklahoma guys ) This all goes on the person stupid enough to sell our team with out thinking hmm will the fans care? nahh owell buh bye sonics and seattle. And why do they get to keep part of our history, that total bull - peace im out (deric chan)

Anonymous said...

I think I'm starting to get the picture. I know you guys are fairly p'od over this whole thing, but I'm also starting to think that Sonic fans (not everyone in Seattle, but a good chunk of Sonic fans) are unrealistic, spoiled, childish, idiots with a total disconnect with reality. Yeah, throw all the slurs you want. We have OUR team that Mr. Bennett BOUGHT (see, not steal. BOUGHT) from your scumbag owner. Chew on that for a while. You probably need to take a break from chewing on whatever bitter excuse your fan base wants to throw out next. I've given up trying to be decent with the likes of some of you. It's not worth the time when your dealing with a bunch of kooks that smack down a law that would have let you keep your team (now OUR team). Good call. Your legislature screws up so you blame it on everyone else. Real smart there, flannel laden morons.

Anonymous said...

Oklahoma B -- why don't you go back to one of your 'intelligent design' teaching schools and learn how to button up your overalls? You and your potato-eating kin can watch as Kevin Durant flees your dusty confines as soon as his contract runs out. Didn't you read -- Durant paid nearly $2 million for a Seattle area house! You should pay close attention -- if Durant lives in a condo or an apartment than he is out of there! No one wants to live in OKC except OKC Potatoes fans, least of all someone with options.

Suck on it, OKC!

Your right -- that does feel good.

Anonymous said...

BTW- that last rant was directed at Anon. Of course I understand being pissed off, I'd be pretty pissed too. But this thing turning into a Seattle vs. OKC rather than a Sonics fans vs. Seattle Legislature/Cap'n Starbucks. Had anyone, absolutely anyone, else from outside of the PacNW bought that team I can promise you that this would still be going on. The only difference would be that the team would be in KC/Las Vegas/Mexico City as well as possibly STILL in Okc. I'm just wondering why the fans aren't a little more organized in doing something about the state level and city level politics. Of course, you all may be. I don't exactly get the Seattle evening news here.

Anonymous said...

Hey Anon.:

I have masters degree. I am a home owner. I have a very well paying job. I haven't spent my entire life within ten miles of my place of birth. I don't own a horse. I don't own cowboy boots. And I sure as hell don't buy into fundamentalist religious nonsense. Should I ask you if you wear flanel and contemplate suicide daily?

Chanimal knows said...

oklahoma b you ain't a fan you get out of this and get a life, so please go away from this site and start whining to everyone about sonics fan. Mr critic. Kd has to leave his what 2.7mil house here because of reasons (tho i stil rather not criticize okc ppl and blame on bennett and everyone part of this thing) (i think) You're it does feel good.

Anonymous said...

You don't get newspapers in OKC, except for Bennett's 'Pravda' so what do know about anything, Oklahoma B (if that is your name). Were you aware that 'intelligent design' is bs? Now get ready for a mass exodus of NBA players from the OKC Potatoes. As anyone who's ever driven through OKC knows, there's not much 'there' there. Nobody like OKC -- get used to the national scorn.

That does feel good. Oklahoma B maks for a good punching bag.

Chanimal knows said...

you can keep on yapping about wat u have but really do we look like we give a damn abb wat u hav?

Chanimal knows said...

oklahoma b get outta this site

Chanimal knows said...

getta outta here w/ your bull okc b, if you lost you're fav team you would be doing the same so shut ur trap.

Anonymous said...

Deric, you don't get it. That's okay, but if you tell me to "get outta this site" (nice grammar) and follow it up with "do we look like we give a damn"...your either throwing a clever tie in to the thread title or you are an ass-hat. I know nobody gives a damn about what I do or do not have. But when someone starts stereotyping my home I get a little offended. Especially when its done as some sort of psychological compensation/redistribution/delusion. Hate Oklahoma and Bennett all you want. Your own people screwed you and Mister Starbucks is continuing to do it. You really think Stern is going to be won over when some of your people are doing the very thing he said would keep Seattle from getting another team? Yeah, good luck with that...and grow up.

Alan said...

I really hope local ownership doesn't poach another city's team. It isn't right, and no fan base deserves to have their team taken away from them. That's what all these Oklahoman taunters don't understand. This was SEATTLE'S team. We grew up watching it, grew up supporting this club, made bonds through this franchise, and have shared experiences with it.

Sure, its Bennett bought the team, but the Sonics were a part of this community. This isn't some toy that no one will miss. Watch the YouTube videos from 1996, or from any playoff run for that matter. This city came alive for the Sonics, and would have again had ownership and front office in the last few years decided to invest money in the team.

The only thing I can compare this to, is what if the University of Oklahoma decided to just shutdown Sooner football. Its there right. They could do it. They could shut it down, use coach's salaries for education and what not. If that happened, there'd be a lot of angry people at their board of trustees. That's been the fabric of a lot of lives down there, is Sooner football. Imagine that being taken away from you, and then you have an idea of what the die-hards in Seattle are going through.

A Corner Full of Thoughts said...

From one Oklahoman to another. OK b, you made your point. Leave these guys alone. They are obviously in mourning. I don't agree with their small minded comments either, but they need to vent.

Anonymous said...

any fans whose team is moving away would be sad and heartsick. . . coming on to their web site and pretending to be clinical -- and to 'correct' their supposedly irrational or erroneous feelings -- is simple sadism.

go to your own brethren, enjoy the fact that you're getting a (bad) nba team, but don't kick sand in the eyes of the ones who are suffering. that's very, very low.

on the other hand, if that's how you roll, you might enjoy reading the legal briefs and obits, then showing up at divorce courts or funerals, and 'explaining' to the suffering why they are 'wrong.'

sheesh. get a clue.

Anonymous said...

We can all agree that Bennett BOUGHT the Sonics. What we don't agree with is that he would lie to the world and claim he really wanted or even TRIED to keep the team here in Seattle. Any idiot, such as yourself Oklahoma B can see this. I don't hate OKC or have any ill will from OKC residents. I have a problem with a few, namely the PBC. The NBA basically condoned his tactics and his actions by backing him. He fielded a piss poor team by getting rid of all of our decent players. Alienated our fan base. Proposed an arena deal which he knew wouldn't pass. Wouldn't negotiate a renovation of an existing arena (only later him and Stern state that with renovations, the Key would be viable for NBA Basketball).

Really, my point is to all those that are anti-Sonics that say good riddance/who cares, posting on here to gloat about what you have and what we lost: Think of something you loved for the past however many years, 26 years in my case, and have it so abruptly taken away from you and have someone tell you to "get over it" or rub it in your face? I doubt you'll say, "you know what, you're right! I'm over it!!" or take it insults lying down. Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

This was more than just a basketball team to me. This team, the players, the wins, the losses, it all became a part of me. When they won, we were all there. When they lost, I felt the pain. That's what hurts the most. You took a piece of me when you took my Sonics.

Really, any honest human being would show empathy if someone lost something they cared for and grew to know as part of them...or maybe you're all just as heartless and gutless as Bennett...

Anonymous said...

Oklahoma B:

When we say that Clay Bennett "stole" our team, we obviously aren't saying that he literally "stole" the team according to the legal definition of theft. That would be ridiculous. What we are saying is that he disingenuously misrepresented the situation when he purchased the team and never intended to make a fair attempt to keep the team in Seattle. Maybe a "good faith effort" means "a half-hearted attempt" in his distorted reality, but it doesn't here. So, in that respect, he did "steal" the team from us. (I'd also point out here that from a legal standpoint, the City of Seattle should have been able to force him to keep the team here easily... but that is neither here nor there.)

Also, keep in mind that we aren't absolving everyone else from playing a part in this farce--we're simply directing the majority of it at Clay Bennett because he has been the most disingenuous party in this entire deal.

Finally, if you're going to take a jab at someone's grammar and tout your postgraduate education, you probably shouldn't make two errors in the same sentence (it's "you're," not "your"; and it's "tie-in," not "tie in").

That being said, the stereotyping of OKC fans is over the top. But give us a break--we just lost our basketball team. Calling us childish idiots in the aftermath is pretty messed up.

Anonymous said...

yes, licata and all the 'who cares' sophisticates should recognize that a sports team is a cultural amenity which carries deep meaning for many citizens. that is why the old 'why should we build an arena for a private business' line is bogus. it's a 'private business' in that the owner -- clay, for an unfortunate example -- can move the team. but it has a public face that is real.

the only owner who ever took this head on was bob irsay, the guy who moved the colts from baltimore to indianapolis. when they had a rally for him in the new indianapolis stadium, he announced to the assemblage: "this is not their team, it's not your team. it's MY team. i bought it."

few listened.

my comfort is that at least they won't be called the oklahoma supersonics, and i won't have to read some sports section which lists 'oklahoma city' as the 1979 champs.

call 'em the twisters, or the thunder, or whatever. but the supersonics belong to seattle as a legacy. which i hope will be reborn sooner rather than later.

Chanimal knows said...

ok My bad oklahoma b let just say i was extremely caught up with all this tension because of all the stuff. My apologize. Big time I'm very sorry.

Anonymous said...

I have a hard time understanding why someone would want to give up on what is about the 12th largest market in the country for what is about the 32nd largest market in the country. If this team tanks in OKC, it could be worse than it is now. Yes, OKC has the Ford Center. But what happens when Bennett starts crying for corporate welfare in OKC when the Ford Center starts to get old? Will the taxpayers in OKC buckle to Bennett?

I actually hope Seattle can get Memphis/Charlotte/New Orleans/?... team sometime in the future if one of those teams isn't working out in one of those cities. I'm afraid two more expansion teams will thin out the talent in the league too much.

Anonymous said...

God, the Sonics' web page has even got worse than yesterday. No ball anymore, but now Bennett is smiling right in your face all over the screen...

Anonymous said...

Hi guys as a sports fan from England, the one thing i could never get my head around with North american sports is the idea of picking up a team and moving it to another city.

Over here our Football (soccer) teams are here for life and represent the community (well they are supposed to lol).

some possible mis conceptions we have of american sports are:

Is it true that in America fans are only interested in the product i.e. the NBA rather than the teams.

Is everything ruled by the $?

it's quite nice to read the Sonic's blogs to see so many fans who are passionate and are more than just a consumer.

Good Luck guys!

Anonymous said...

Not to be anal to my compatriot above, but its happened in England (Wimbledon) to pretty much general scorn.

Thats not my point though. I've been a Sonics fan for 14 years or so, and I'm not sure where this leaves me. The NBA has been the Sonics for me. The same thing. Although I can't compare to your anger and hurt, this has left me with such a bitter feeling. So my sympathy guys.

I'm not sure where this leaves my feelings about the NBA. Pick another team to support? You can't pick teams, they pick you. So lets hope the Sonics are reborn soon (not due to some other team losing out). Until then, I think we all have 29 teams to support next season. And we don't have to worry about Westbrook being a bust...

Anonymous said...

UK Fan:

I think the big difference between the UK and here is the wide variety of teams that each city has. My knowledge of UK sports is limited, but I believe I am correct in saying that the local football/soccer team rules the town, and that other sports which exist in that city are far in the distance. As a result, the city can focus all of its energy on building a huge facility for the soccer team, and not have to worry about the team picking up and leaving.

Contrast that to Seattle: We've spent more than a billion dollars on stadiums (KeyArena, the Kingdome, Safeco Field, Qwest Arena), and yet we're going to be losing one of our teams. If the Sonics were the only team in town, what happened two days would never have happened, simply because it would have been easy for the city/state to cough up the money necessary to satisfy them.

As it is, cities routinely get played off one another by the NBA, NFL, NHL and major league baseball. It's a high-stakes extortion racket, and it is disgusting, to say the least. Consider yourself lucky not to have to endure it over there.

Anonymous said...

The Supersonics were in Seattle for 41 years. They won an NBA Championship in 1979. They also appeared in 2 others 1978 and 1996. It's going to be awkward no team in Seattle. The Sonic-Boom in Seattle is now a Dunkadelic-Boom in Oklahoma City. The NBA will put a new team in Seattle in about 3 years. There was a team there before Stern was Commissioner.

hansenkd said...

There will be a team in Seattle, and it will most likely be the former Grizzlies. Professional sports in Tennessee, other than the Titans, have not been particularly successful. The Predators might be on the way out as well. The Grizzlies will go back to the Pacific Northwest, where they started just across the border, and then they can realign the divisions so that they make sense again (put the Grizzlies/New Sonics in the Northwest and the OKC TBDs in the Southwest--them playing in the Northwest next season will be ridiculous, but can't be avoided).

I think the best option would be to take the Clippers away from Sterling. That guy is such a loser, with his absolute obsession with being the No. 3 client in Staples when he could be top dog in the Honda Center but refuses to go there. The best thing for the league would be to get the Clippers the heck out of Staples--it's so moronic that they won't at least go to Anaheim. But I don't think Sterling would let his toy go to Ballmer or anyone else.

They won't move the Hornets because attendance went way up at the end of the season, and poaching K-Ville would look even worse than Bennett's shenanigans. They already lost the Jazz way back when, and another team won't be taken from them.

Grizzlies it is. No real history in Memphis, no devoted fan base, nobody who really cares much about them. Mark my words, Ballmer poaches the Grizzlies. With the OKC TBDs down in the area, that covers the Tennessee/Arkansas market anyway.

Expansion can't be ruled out out completely either. Vegas and KC are itching for a team, and I just can't see the Maloofs moving the Kings after all this. But for the New Sonics, I really do see the Grizzlies as the most likely quarry for Ballmer. I just don't see a whole "Save Our Grizzlies" grassroots movement happening, so it's really no comparison. Incidentally, I'm a Jazz fan who lives in Colorado and hates the Nuggets because I hate Anthony and Iverson.

Anonymous said...

I truly wish this were not happening to Seattle. I have lived in Oklahoma City all my life. I love this place. I have family from here long before statehood. Let me advise you authoritatively that Clay Bennett is not Oklahoma and what he has done to Seatle is wrong.

This is not the way for any city to aquire a sports team. Your community will not ever be the same no matter if you are granted the next team that is allowed to form.

Individual ownership of sports teams is what creates such trauma. Individuals should not be allowed to trade the heart and soul of communities like they were aquiring cattle.

Green Bay has the right formula. Your city should own the next franchise to locate in Seattle. The top cities in population should have a right of refusal for whatever number of franchises that might make a profit for a league - and that is many more than exist now.


I don't realy know what losing a professional team would be like. I can only imagine based on my regard for the OU Sooners. It must be quite terrible. I hope you can use those emotions to create a way to keep your next sports team home. There must be some politicians in your area who believe the needs of community should overide the greed of the owners of teams.

Anonymous said...

I'd feel awkward with Seattle receiving a relocated franchise rather than an expansion team.

Yet, unlike some hypocritical dumbasses, I didn't unfairly rail against Clay Bennett -- who, despite his underhanded techniques, did exactly what many folks would do in that very situation -- instead, my disdain was focused toward the true culprit, Howard Schutlz, who's a traitorous sellout trying to save face by conning everyone into once again trusting him.

Anyhow, I'm on board for an expansion team that plays in a privately funded arena somewhere around the Puget Sound region. Unfortunately, though, that's an unrealistic pipe dream.

Anonymous said...

One side of me says: SCREW THE NBA, STERN, THE OWNERS, EVERYBODY!!!

Now that I got that out... In some regards maybe this will work out for Seattle in the long run. It was going to be a tough couple more years before the team was going to go anywhere. One major injury to Durant and say goodnight.

Personally I would love to get the Hornets up here. That would be sweet payback for all we've gone through over the last few years. We'd be at the top of the league with a great young team.

The Grizzlies with Gay and Mayo will be far more exciting than the Sonics ever could be.

There is no point in being self-righteous about holding out for 'our own' expansion team in this league.

If we're going to play the NBA game, then we have to play by the rules: no loyalty, no commitment, no caring.

Anonymous said...

Stern used to be a decent commissioner, but the last decade has been awful. The dress code thing, the new ball, the age minimum garbage, putting all the games on cable, and all these teams moving. I wish there was a movement to throw him out...

Anonymous said...

On the topic of Kevin Durant, it's pretty much a given that he'll never again play for a team in the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan region. Even if this area gets an expansion team within the next few years, it'll still be a medium-market ballclub that's stuck in the hinterland of professional sports. It, therefore, is highly unlikely that an upper-tier free-agent would willingly come and play here. In the mind of a professional athlete, the only positive thing about Washington is its lack of a state income tax.

I expect that Durant -- who could potentially be an unrestricted free-agent during the 2012 off-season -- will leave the Oklahoma City, which is a small-market franchise; however, he'll ultimately sign with a big-market team (e.g., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, et al.), a team in a coveted location (e.g., Dallas, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, et al.), or his hometown ballclub (i.e., the Washington Wizards).

Anyhow, no matter Durant's desire to maximize his earning potential through endorsements and being marketed as a worldwide commercial entity, he's a massively overrated basketball player. Durant is an inept defender and ball-hogging chucker; plus, his natural position is small forward, so he can't be a franchise cornerstone like a two-way high-post/low-post player. All in all, I guaranteed that he'll never win a championship ring as a team's primary option.

Anonymous said...

"I'd feel awkward with Seattle receiving a relocated franchise rather than an expansion team."

Same here. I seriously do not want an alreading existing franchise to be stolen and relocated to Seattle.

Chanimal knows said...

i hope they aren't gonna stop the sonics blog. It's now officially a never ending nightmare it's all sad.

Chanimal knows said...

Yup i don't want another city feeling as sad as us because we stole their team. That sucks. A expansion would be much better. We already know how it feels to lose a team. Why would we want to make people feel the same way as we do? I can't believe how another city would feel if we stole their team. I just wish the 2 owners of the sonics didn't sell the team. Thats all i wish for. For us to go back to 2005 where we were at our best.

hansenkd said...

Seriously, Ballmer needs to set his sights on the Clippers and offer Sterling enough money that he can't refuse. This IS the best option. Nobody in LA cares about the Clippers and the idiot Sterling has proven that he doesn't care that nobody cares by refusing to play in Anaheim, where they would care.

Plus, with Davis and Brand, Seattle would get a decent team, and all the "we are just like Bennett" guilt that you would get from poaching the Grizzlies or (ESPECIALLY--DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!) the Hornets would be absent. The Clippers are like an ugly stepchild in a city that has Showtime. And they are going to be decent. Ballmer, PURSUE THE CLIPPERS IMMEDIATELY!!

Anonymous said...

I don't get the Oklahoma Potatos thing...every bag of potatos I've bought in Oklahoma comes from Idaho, which I'm pretty sure is next to Washington.

Anonymous said...

"Meaning, of course, any team bearing a Seattle Sonics’ jersey in the future will be doing so because another city’s NBA dreams have gone up in flames."

aww, poor Seattle. let's cry a river for them and their fans. seriously, get your chins up, man up and stop crying. ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

"aww, poor Seattle. let's cry a river for them and their fans. seriously, get your chins up, man up and stop crying. ridiculous."

who are you? when something that is near and dear to you personally is ripped away, is that how you react?

"man up" - this is coming from a someone that talks shit over the internet and still posts his info as anonymous...

bravo.

Beez Kneezy said...

So when OKC hits the road to play the Blazers, am I the only Sonics fan traveling to Portland, going to the game in Sonics gear, just to boo and jeer?

Anonymous said...

The Los Angeles Clippers aren't being sold by Donald Sterling and relocated elsewhere, "hansenkd," so you ought to focus your attention toward a plausible scenario.

hansenkd said...

Oh, I know that. Sterling is too much of a tool. I was just saying that the relocation of that particular team would involve the least pain for the most fans. He really is a jackass, though. Stern was adamant that he should play in the Honda Center, and really frustrated that he refused to do so. Sterling is downright OBSESSED with being the third-tier attraction in the Staples, and that is really quite puzzling. Having the Clippers in the Staples really is awful for the NBA, but I think that the illusion of parity died long ago.

hansenkd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Donald Sterling epitomizes the whole idea of someone owning a professional sports franchise solely profit from it. Otherwise, Sterling would've moved the Clippers from Los Angeles to either Anaheim or San Diego -- which are two medium-market cities that deserve a team -- yet, he's too stubborn and selfish to do it. That's his prerogative, though.

Anonymous said...

Can't say I've spent time in either place, but I don't really see either the Grizzlies or the Charlotte Bobcats being rooted enough in their communities that I'd feel like we were pulling a Bennett. As long as Balmer is up front about his intentions, I think it's reasonable. But give the current city some time to find local ownership (something that Schulz apparently didn't give a crap about...)

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, I know I'm late to this party, but it is just cracking me up that Okie-B finds it relevant that he has a master's degree in...something. (And cannot spell "flannel" consistently.)

ROFL

Anonymous said...

I seriously doubt Kevin Durant will want to leave when he arrives in Oklahoma. After living in texas he will feel right at home. And who cares if he bought a 2 million dollar home in Seattle. He will just buy one in Oklahoma except it will be bigger, better and he will be able to view beautiful Oklahoma evenings every night feeling truly blessed that he can finally enjoy sunshine unlike seattle. Also,he will probably purchase a kick ass ranch somewhere in Oklahoma. (which puts a smile on my face)

Anonymous said...

Anon,

This may be difficult for you to grasp, but...living somewhere when one is attending college for one year does not exactly create an attachment to the region. Kevin is from the DC area, and was in Seattle longer than he was in Texas. He is a terrific player, and will end up making his home in a big, urban market.

(So, you'll have to try to sell your ranch to someone else.)

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