Seattle mayor Greg Nickels, who looks peculiarly like the famous swindler Jabba the Hutt, vowed to not let the team go without a fight. Formalities, pleasantries, and suit-and-ties descended on the courtroom last month as Seattle hoped to force the Sonics into honoring the remaining two years on the KeyArena lease. City attorney Tom Carr came out in the final week with a grin splattered across his face, saying he firmly believed the 41-year-old franchise would remain until 2010 (and thus stand as a bigger lame duck than Dubya).
But everyone has a price, and for Nickels the Hutt, eight figures was all it took. $45 million up front, with another $30 if the NBA doesn’t award Seattle a team in five years (granted, the Seattle legislators have to approve $300-$500 in KeyArena renovations in the next 17 months…you do the math). Comparisons to the Baltimore Colts, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cleveland Browns Version 1.0 abounded, with shoulders extended for the entire city to rest its head on. Seattle may get another team, or it may not — only time, or linking Bennett to al-Qaeda, will tell.
The day may come when the Blazers, owned by Seattle magnate Paul Allen, relocate 175 miles north, taking the spot vacated by the OKC Liars/Cheaters/Benedict Arnolds. And if that day comes, I don't want a single tear shed for my fellow fans.
That doesn't make me jaded, does it?
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
Well, very true. But that is what I figured actually. Should the Sonics leave, the Trailblazers attendence figures will increase.
Of course, you are in PDX, so why should you care? Well except for the fact you cannot drive 180 miles north to catch the Blazers vs. the Sonics. PDX does have the Rose Garden. Nice venue.
As an example of the state of things, about a mile north of me in Seattle (Lake City neighborhood, generally nice, medium income place) there is a tavern called the Rose Garden. Problem is that it is basically an open market crack den/free market prostitution house. In an analogic way, so is the business model of the NBA.
Hopefully this whole incident will trigger changes in business procedure. Right now pro sports in general operates on a carpet-bagger mentality.
At least the Seattle Sonics will be back at some point. And Bennett will have to lobby his ass off to avoid paying up $30,000,000 if Seattle does not have a team in 5 year window period.
Hopefully the example set by the Cleveland Browns will apply to Seattle in this case.
DM