Quote:
Originally Posted by srkboy23
There's a reaons why people in Seattle hate Clay Bennett, and it's not just because he isn't a local owner. It's because he clearly never made a good effort to stay here or to at least try and make the Sonics watchable.
You say all of this evidence of money and time spent trying to get an arena in Seattle so that the Sonics could stay there. Explain to me how, after 12 months, he only came up with 1 pathetic arena proposal that he knew never stood a chance anywhere. I can give you just as "good" of an arena proposal if you give me 12 minutes.
Just in case the OKC media doesn't tell you, he could have put a Sonics team that could contend for the playoffs, which would in turn have sold out the KeyArena almost every night. He could have had Durant, Ray Allen, and Rashard Lewis on the court at the same time, but of course that would allow the Sonics to win and would not help Bennett and Co convince the NBA that they should relocate to Oklahoma City.
It's a joke what the OKC media is telling you about the situation up in Seattle. They're trying to tell you that big bad Seattle and the meanies in the Washington State legislature are beating up little Clay Bennett no matter how hard he tried when he's only trying to do the right thing and make a profit in his business and that him losing money or moving to Oklahoma City is not his fault in any way. The OKC media could tell you you were dead and you'd believe them
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Would you show a link to what you just said? Much of what I have read in the OKC media is a regurgitation of what is being printed or said from Seattle.
The Sonics had a choice when the new owners took over. Keep the present team together and be limited by the high salaries they were paying. They chose to get rid of the salaries in favor of creating a younger team and more draft picks. They got lucky with last year's draft picking up an all star in the making. They should have a good draft this year as well. Several people out there that they can use. It appears they are trying to build a team for the future that will really contend for playoffs and maybe an NBA championship.
From what I see there was no love lost when Schultz owned the team and not much future with the team members they had. It appears Schultz was at his ropes end with improving the team or making a profit with the climate in Seattle. He sold the team when he had a chance to sell way about the market value and tried to make it look like he was trying his best to keep the team in Seattle. Truth be known he was doing cartwheels at making the sale and didn't care what happened after he pocketed his change. Say what you want, Bennett and company made an effort to keep the team in Seattle. It was a win win for them. Get a arena with a good lease and make money in a good market or short of that move to OKC which was showing signs of being a good market also and city and state govenments willing to embrace the team in a heart beat. He gave it a chance in Seattle, now it's time to see if they can make a go in OKC.
Who knows what will happen in OKC. Maybe the new wears off and the ticket sales fall off. Then Bennett and company will have another choice to make. Do they keep them in OKC or find another home for them. Maybe at that time Seattle has worked up a plan and funded it for a new arena. If Seattle hasn't completely distroyed what good feelings the ownership and NBA has for them, they might be able to get the team back. I would think though that with the present runs at making the team stay till the contract with the Key is over and the suits filed by Schultz and others, will lessen the chances of that ever happening. What Seattle and those representing the interests there should do is make the transition to OKC as smooth as possible in hopes that the NBA will look favorable to the return of a team there. Otherwise they will be destined to never in the next decade get a team and will forever appear to be sore losers. Only the high ground will save them at this point.