OKCMallen, I respectfully disagree. That vast majority of Seattleites do want to keep the Sonics. I'm guessing you're referring to the poll results recently published in the Oklahoman. First off, let's remember that this poll was financed by the OKC ownership group. As we all know, opinion polls can be deliberately engineered in order to generate certain responses. Has the hard data from the Seattle poll been released? Or were just the juicy bits funnelled through the Oklahoman? Taking the poll results at face value, only 7% of Seattle respondants felt "they would be better off" if the Sonics left. Not quite the "vast majority" is it, OKCMallen? Conversely, 31% of Seattle respondants said they "would be worse off." True, 58% said they would be indifferent...and I'm guessing a good a percentage of these folks truly don't care one way or the other. But I'm also guessing a good percentage of these respondants have been soured on the NBA experience over the last 3 years and have resigned themselves to the possible relocation of Sonics. Since Bennett bought the team, traded away the Sonics best players, implemented a limited media/player access policy, demanded $400M in public funds (with $0 from PBC) for the pure benefit of a "sweet flip" and was subsequently caught lying about his intentions in Seattle, many Sonics fans have washed their hands clean. I can't really say I blame them. Acceptance is the final stage of grief.

This is a team that's has been supported through thick and thin for over 40 years...hard to believe that outside of the Chicago Bulls, the Seattle Sonics were the most successfull team of the 1990's. No doubt, with proper ownership over the last 4 years, the Sonics success would have continued. Regardless, there is a lease with the city that demands "specific performance." The PBC knew this when it bought the team. "Specific Performance" was demanded due to the unquantifiable revenue the team's acitivities bring to the area. It's not just a function of the Key Arena, but the surrounding community and business' that benefit as result of the Sonics 41 home games. That's why the City of Seattle agreed to a complete a mostly tax payer funded overhaul of the Key Arena no less than 12 years ago (an arena David Stern called a model for the NBA).

I would also venture to guess that the City is holding firm on the lease due to the fairly extensive correspondance by PBC members before and after the sale from the Schultz group. Remember, if Bennett loses or wins the lease suit with City, he still has to face Schultz and Yarmouth. Emails, depositions...take your pick...it gives plenty of ammunition to Schultz and his attornies. Many legal experts have put that case at 50/50