They're getting sleepless in Seattle.
The oldest professional sports franchise in the city has signaled its intention to bolt to Oklahoma City. Local officials want the team to honor its lease (which expires in 2010). The former owner claims he was bamboozled by the new owners when he sold the team, and, as a result, the two senators from the state of Washington are petitioning the NBA to delay a vote on relocation.
The Seattle SuperSonics have likely played their last game in The Emerald City,and at least one longtime employee says he's not hitching his wagon to the Oklahoma convoy.
Kevin Calabro, the play-by-play voice of the Sonics for the past 21 years and one of the most respected announcers in the league, told the Seattle Times he has no plans to uproot his family. He and his wife, Sue, have four children.If the Sonics do pull up stakes, Calabro's final broadcast was last Friday night.
"It's been a dream job, and it continues to be a dream job," Calabro said. "Like any job, it has it ups and downs, but I'm working in the toy department, and you can't get a better job than that. No regrets. A lot of great memories. Good experiences and good relationships.
"I would like to continue my association with the NBA in some way as a broadcaster, and I'll pursue that if they do move out of town."
When the NBA saw how fervent the fan support was in Oklahoma City during the time the New Orleans Hornets played there in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it was only a matter of time before the league placed a franchise there permanently.
Enter Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett, who led a group that bought the Sonics from Starbucks czar Howard Schultz in 2006.Despite a complete rebuild of Seattle's Key Arena 14 years ago, the only chance the city had to keep the Sonics was to rally support for a proposed new $500 million downtown facility. The citizenry was understandably lukewarm to the concept having already funded new stadiums for the NFL's Seahawks and Major League Baseball's Mariners.
When Bennett bought the Sonics, he and the league had to know the chances of a new arena being supported were slim and none.Now Schultz is threatening a lawsuit against the Bennett group alleging it misstated its intentions for the team when he sold them the Sonics for $350 million.
It sounds more like someone trying to cover his behind in the midst of acrimonious times in his hometown. After all, Schultz is the guy who's always going on about the positive "customer experience" at his empire of coffee houses. Apparently the customers in Seattle aren't too thrilled about seeing their 40-year-old NBA team hit the road.At least Calabro should come out of this in good shape.
He's established himself as one of the better play-by-play men in the league and has done games nationally for ESPN Radio and TNT, so another NBA broadcasting gig is probably in the cards if the Sonics skip town.
For countless other staffers and those who make up the team's loyal fan base, the future is a lot more uncertain.
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3 months ago
Yeah too bad. Wow. Oklahoma City. There's any number of places that would draw a cacophony of fans (can we say Vegas baby?). And of course the response to the Hornets was good. It was a novelty, plus they had a decent squad. I'm not sure that will hold up over the long haul saddled with the worst team in the league, high ticket prices, and a relatively small metropolitan area. Who knows, maybe people will come from every corner of the state, and maybe it becomes a small-town success. For whatever reason though, I just can't imagine the Sonics there. I also believe that this was the Bennett groups intention from the get-go. Can't believe I'm actually siding with Starbucks.
3 months ago
You hit the nail on the head. Schultz isn't going to get anywhere with that lawsuit. He is just trying to save face in Seattle. I am from the area and I have a lot of sports fan friends and people here are outraged. We're still holding out hope for our team that has some good young players and will have a very good draft pick this year again.
3 months ago
Moving to Oklahoma City is just preparing to move to yet another city within the decade.
I've spent some time in OKC, and yes, while it was great to host the Hornets for awhile, I'd like to see how many fans that city can bring out of the woodwork on a consistent basis. It's a great city for hosting college tournaments, but I have questions if the city will be able to attract and maintain decent crowds. I could see some people coming out from the corners of the state, but I don't know how long that would last.
It's no fault of their own, but they're just not a city, in my opinion, conducive to hosting an NBA product.
I liken them to the Texas Rangers. Somehow, the Rangers have scared up decent crowds in a city with big MLB apathy (or apathy toward losing franchises in general). I believe a lot of their success can be attributed to marketing toward families, so perhaps if OKC can sell their product to families and build around it, they may be okay after all. Maybe.
And maybe get T. Boone Pickens involved.
Oh, and whatever happened to the idea of moving the NJ Nets to Brooklyn?
3 months ago
Why don't they just move all of the teams to small markets then we can watch them on tv. It would be cheaper for us in the end. Oh and if the Sonics move so does my loyalty to the NBA I am done with them and they won't get me back. I don't have to watch their product or buy their gear. Even if they give us back a team in five years I won't be buying. Even if they are winners.
3 months ago
What is going on in Seattle is nothing short of awful. I'm a diehard Saints fan and that team was looking like it was going to move after Katrina (still could). That feeling that your favorite team is moving is worse than awful.
Clay Bennett is on a list next to Robert Irsay (Baltimore Colts), Bill Bidwell (St. Louis Cardinals;NFL), Art Modell (Cleveland Browns), and Bud Adams (Houston Oilers). He's a money-grubbing whore. I'm disappointed Stern didn't stop this. This IS NOT right. Nothing against Ok. City, but I mean the Sonics are Seattle's team.
Anyone who completely blows this off as nothing is either a) not a sports fan or b) someone who really doesn't understand just how much it sucks to lose a team.
As a Seattle basketball fan who do you root for now? Good stuff.
3 months ago
Amen Chris, Amen.
3 months ago
Wow, this is surprising. The Sonics just belong in Seattle. I haven't been watching them for 50 years but I did enjoy the Payton and Kemp days. Just think, if it wasn't for the Bulls they would have probably had two rings. Plus, I thought that they had a really good young team this year and got better as the season progressed. I could see Kevin Durant being the next Gary Payton. But obviously Oklahoma City is knocking on their door. What a shame.
2 months ago
I am i huge sonics fan and i dont think i ever will be one if they move. We still got some chance if we get Derrik Rose and he is the next chris paul and we make playoffs and get alot of fan support. of course thats only if we can stay two more years. Im still hoping. i went to the last game of the season it was rocking f*** clay bennet out side clay ben sucks save our sonics durant is the truth scoring champoin soon
2 months ago
G.Derrik Rose
G.Shane Foster
F.Kevin Durant
F.Jeff Green
C. (trade up in draft) DeAndre Jordan
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