Seattle deserves basketball

Paolo, if you don't know, don't speak! Ignorance will always come out.

Facts are facts. The owner wanted upgrades to the arena in order to keep the Sonics there. The city didn't want to do it with taxpayer money. They never budged and the owner never budged. Hence the team is leaving for another city who's willing to put up the funds to bring them.

Guess what? Once in OKC, the team will develop new fans who will actually pay to attend games and support the team. If Seattle fans were so gung ho about keeping their team, they would have done something about it. Can't cry after the facts are in... This didn't happen overnight... it's been a lengthy process.

Fans always get the shaft because owners know there will always be new fans somewhere else.

Boltnut, as you would say if you don't know, don't speak!

Your facts you gave don't really tell the tale....The owner didn't want upgrades to the arena, he wanted a new 500 million dollar arena....Clay Bennett offered to pay about a thousand dollars of that and wanted the city to pay for the rest.  I could go on and on giving you facts and talking about the situation, but as I've learned in talking with other OKC fans their is no point.  It's good to know that you can still spit B.S. under oath now and days though....Roger Clemens and Clay Bennett should hang out.

Max,

I believe Bolt is talking about Howard Schultz. 

You know, the guy who tried (and failed) to get the city and state to build him a new arena or renovate Key.  The guy who announced he would have to sell the team (and still the city, state and taxpayers said no.)  The guy who sold the team to a group of millionaires from Oklahoma City (by the way, a city KNOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY as a city looking for a pro franchise.)  The guy who now claims he had no idea that Clay would want to move the team.  The guy who didn't/couldn't find local Seattle ownership until AFTER the team was sold and moving.

That guy.

Thanks Sooner. That guy you described, but also...

Having a team is not a right... it's a priveledge. Taxpayers do foot the bill for arenas and stadiums. It's not uncommon so I don't get it when fans clammor about owners asking for it. Either say "yes" or "no" but after you say no, don't cry when the owner goes to plan B.

The good people of San Diego relunctantly  paid up for my Padres when other cities came a calling. we're in a fight to keep the Chargers. I know how you feel... the Clippers left town 2 decades ago.

Agree 100%.  My baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals, have the second most number of World Series titles.  They are one of the oldest franchises in baseball and are part of the city of St. Louis like none of the other pro sports.  St. Louis is, first and foremost, a baseball town.

A couple of years back the Cardinals went to the city and state and asked for a new stadium.  The city and state said sure, as long as the owners pay for it.  The owners then opened negotiations with other cities about building a stadium and moving the franchise.  Only when the team started talking seriously about moving to Illinois did the fans get loud enough for the city/state to pony up the funds to replace the 40 year old stadium.  The result: the beautiful new Busch Stadium.

The Key was as old as old Busch stadium.  Seattle fans have been screaming that it was totally renovated a decade ago but, in reality, the renovations were complete 14 years ago, which means the designs and renovation plans are at least 15 years old.  Fifteen years ago, I was still married to my ex-wife, my sons (who are now fathers themselves) were in elementary school.  Bill Clinton was president and the Astros were still playing in the Astrodome.  In terms of sports facilities, 15 years is a LONG time.  The "required" items like luxury boxes