sonics read

[lilgump]

This is from the olympian. the paper i read, in response to Stern's threats about the sonics, I found it interesting.

http://theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...312/1002/SPORTS

"Stern's threats don't resound with weary Seattle sports fans

Memo to David Stern: Please leave us alone. Cease. Desist. Pretend we're Mark Cuban, if you must, and just ignore us best you can.

We know part of your job as NBA commissioner is to strongarm communities into coughing up taxpayer dollars to fund new arenas for your cash-strapped owners, but you're barking up the wrong money tree this time.

Trust us, we know the drill. Just as we know a dentist's drill. But we prefer a little Novocaine with these procedures. We like to make the process painless as possible. And, frankly, your shrill voice is serving only to create headaches even for those who support your ultimate intent of keeping the Sonics in Seattle.

Granted, the saber-rattling threat of relocation is a proven winner in these hostage negotiations. When in doubt, remind everyone you can take their team and run to Oklahoma City or Kansas City or some other city dying for a dysfunctional sports franchise to call its own.

But I've got to tell you, Mr. Commissioner. We've had our arms twisted so many times now that we're like Gumby. It just doesn't hurt any more. We saw John Ellis stand in front of the cameras and cry about how his grandkids weren't going to grow up with Mariners baseball. We heard Jeff Smulyan plotting Mariners' flights to St. Petersburg, Fla. We witnessed Ken Behring back the moving vans up to Seahawks headquarters and actually transport the team to Anaheim.

We've danced with the wolves so often you'd think Kevin Costner would be our state governor. Instead we've got Chris Gregoire and she's attempting to prod some sort of decision out of state and local government officials on whether to fund a KeyArena makeover.

Maybe you think it'll speed the process if you go all Godfather on us. Obviously that's why you spoke out again on the situation this week in a national conference call with reporters, saying Seattle "is not interested in having the NBA there" and then threatening to take your basketball and go play somewhere else.

"I would say that the city is making it pretty clear of what they want us to do, and we'll accommodate them," were your thinly-veiled words.

Yet here's the funny part, oh Stern one. The city isn't making anything clear because there's nothing clear about this whole deal, except that your NBA economic model is dependent on having cities continually build brand-new facilities in order to flush maximum revenue streams out of shallow pools.

Lease of our concerns

We've heard you say a dozen times now that the Sonics have the worst lease agreement in the NBA. Yet you never talk about reworking the lease with the city. The only conversation is about finding someone to come up with $220 million to add restaurants and money-making space to a facility that was completely rebuilt just 10 years ago.

We've already dumped $1 billion into very nice baseball and football stadiums in downtown Seattle, which means our good citizens aren't exactly cheap. But it does mean you're third in the soup line in a region that wasn't wild about bailing out millionaire sports owners in the first or second place.

When pressed, we could see the shortcomings of the Kingdome, given portions of it were falling on our heads. But KeyArena seems like a fine place to watch basketball. And there is the nagging reminder that the City of Seattle is still on the hook for most of the $74 million it spent to renovate the facility in 1995.

When we foolishly try putting pro sports in real-life perspective, this is like realizing we've overextended for our rebuilt home and can no longer afford the loan payments. But rather than go to the bank and plead for some sort of relief, you're suggesting we spend another $220 million to remodel the house again. And perhaps add a pool, rec room and three-car garage this time. And, oh yeah, have somebody else pay for it.

I can't imagine why that notion isn't going down easier for the politicians and taxpayers of Seattle, the same folks who can't even get together on how to fix traffic or fund schools or build a working monorail. But I do know that you playing Mr. Tough and threatening to take our team away if we don't play your game is not the right approach at the moment.

What you're doing is forcing fair-minded people to take sides instead of seeking a neutral ground. You're pushing us into a corner. And in this case, it's too easy for too many folks to say, hey, go for it. Take your team and fly away.

Bully tactics backfire

When you threaten a city that has been good to you for four decades, that doesn't sit well. You're not operating from that position of strength. Your tickets are overpriced. Your product is presently a distant fourth in local interest behind the Seahawks, Mariners and Huskies football/basketball. Your economic model is so shattered that billionaire Paul Allen found a way for his Portland Rose Garden to declare bankruptcy.

Howard Schultz and Wally Walker have yet to suggest how or if their 58-member ownership group will put forth a cent of its own to help in this project. They've bandied about Bellevue as a rival alternative to KeyArena, even though there appears to be no momentum whatsoever from the Eastside for creating -- let alone paying -- for such a facility.

Yet there does appear a reasonable revenue stream for KeyArena renovations, merely extending the same hotel and restaurant tax currently going to Safeco and Qwest fields. There have been politicians pursuing that cause. And, yes, you do have a signed lease with the city through 2010, so there is time to work things out.

But rather than let us fix our own toothache, you brought your well-oiled drill and aimed it at our hearts. You raised the hammer and held it over our heads. You took our arm and twisted.

Only problem, Mr. Stern, we've been down this road too many times before. We've played this game as well. And now you've made a mistake. You've already fired your big gun and nobody blinked. You want to move the team, go ahead. Otherwise, shut up and let us figure out a solution without your pointless posturing."

What's your take on it?

[Seadragon76]

That's sticking it to him, folks.

[NJTank]

lol what a response