So Long Seattle Supersonics: The Blame Game Goes into Overdrive

And so another professional sports team picks up and deserts a band of loyal fans, caring not a whit for the emotions of those who have poured their hearts and souls into cheering for them, sweating with them,  booing them, and of course, shelling out hard-earned cash for the right to line the pockets of another greedy owner.

But is that the honest truth in the Seattle SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City? Become dispassionate for a moment and, as Fox Mulder used to opine, "The truth is out there".

First, let's dig into the City of Seattle and their role in this passion play.

Key Arena is a dump, and not even the most loyal of fan or those who yearn for that "home court" feel should disagree. I've been there and found it to be a wonderful place to play basketball. If we're playing in the 1980's, that is.

Let us not forget one of the memorable moments in its history where the roof started to leak and dropped Spencer Haywood like a bag of Benjamins thanks to a puddle. Then, and only then, did the City of Seattle wake to the realization they had to spend money to renovate.

It's an old tale that's been played out in too many cities. A place to play and gather, for sports and concerts, tumult and truck shows allowed to fall into disrepair and then rescued only when it begins to resemble a tree house built by the neighbor kids.

Of course, this means taxpayer dollars. Also, there is a hefty amount more from those taxpayers than would have been spent had the words "proper maintenance" been used in the lexicon of City fathers and mothers.

Bill Ingram of "Hoops World" can be heard commenting on this at www.speedingbulletnetwork.com, placing the blame squarely on the City of Seattle for their lack of foresight and allowing Key Arena to become a black hole, which one pours taxpayer cash into. And I must partly agree with Bill that the City must shoulder its share of the blame.

Naturally, they long ago realized the error of their ways and launched a tidy disinformation campaign against Sonics owner Bill Bennett, painting him as something this side of Darth Vader.

In the same breath however, Bennett deserves his tag as carpetbagger and greedy toady. Simple research shows that almost from the moment he bought the franchise he sought to better deal it by packing up for his beloved Oklahoma City. 

But Bennett was smart like a fox in this one. He knew the Arena was a place fit only for those tractor pulls (no offense to those who enjoy a little horsepower on display), and the City would remain mired in their own muddy political payoffs to see the problem before it became a crisis. He had them right where he wanted them, and they played right into his hands.

Bennett though is like so many other ego laden businessmen who yearn for the chance to own a sports franchise and impress his buddies on the golf course. He would follow the model established by his penny pinching peers and demand the City use taxpayer dollars, (notice how that phrase keeps turning up here), to build him a palace to play and rake in the cash. 

Oh, and before someone says there's not much cash to be raked in once you pay those bloated salaries, think again. Concessions, parking, souvenirs, and a nice fat paycheck from the NBA as their share of TV, cable, radio and other rights will pay for more than a few replacement nets. 

Seattle of course cried "foul!.” Of course, this came only after their constituents raised the leaky roof and demanded action from their elected stuffed suits. To the rescue they would sally forth, save the day, the sun would shine, the games would be played, and the rotation of the earth would be righted.

Oh yes, and then there's the silly little extra of garnering a few votes in the process.

 Sonics fans, you never had a chance. The moving boxes arrived the day Bennett bought the team, and even the NBA knew it was a "fait accompli". They've been paving the way for this since the first purchasing contracts were signed.

The City is to blame for allowing the Arena to fall into disrepair. For not realizing what a sports team and a decent concert venue can mean to a community. For failing to spend that taxpayer cash wisely and effectively before the panic sets in. For putting themselves in a position to be extorted and used as nothing more than a bargaining chip.

For failing to do their jobs as the voice of the people.

Clay Bennett is to blame for tearing at the emotional fabric of a loyal fan base and a franchise that long ago proved they deserved to be right where they were. For knowing full well he could demand the City build him a new home and he would either get his palace or break out the moving fans.

Guilty of knowing the City would never agree to his demands and it would be "Oklahoma City Here We Come!". Guilty of knowing how to play the system like a card counter in Las Vegas. 

The NBA is guilty of knowing full well what his intentions were and not becoming involved until the last minute. Of having owners who would know full well the value of a few million and would never vote down a proposed move if it meant exploiting a new and different city for another wash of cash they would all drink from. Guilty of toying with fans emotions by issuing useless statements about working as hard as they could to keep the team where it was.

And the fans? Also guilty to an extent. Guilty of being naive enough to think that just because they bought every little trinket and became emotionally involved in every facet of their team that it would one day save them from extinction. Of failing to demand those elected officials take action before it becomes a crisis. Of allowing themselves to believe that right would triumph over darkness in the end.

Guilty of simply being a loyal fan.

Oklahoma City has it's share of blame here as well. Elected officials are guilty of seeing the dollar signs of attracting a major league sports team to their town. Of touting the economic benefits and jobs such an arrival will create, knowing full well that almost every logical study ever done shows there is a moderate gain at best.

For wiping out any real fiscal benefit of this franchise by asking those same taxpayers to foot the bill for a new palace for another greedy sports owner. Those same citizens for approving almost $121 million dollars in new taxes to build that palace in economically tight times where those same dollars could be used for things more desperately needed.

The drug problem in Oklahoma City and the entire State is out of control and in desperate need of more money to combat those turning kids and every-day citizens into meth-addled zombies. There is an excellent chance the Drug Task Force in OKC will soon have to be disbanded for lack of federal and local funds. 

A recent study show that three areas in the world have experienced a notable decline in the health of their residents. The former Soviet Union. Sub-Saharan Africa. And Oklahoma City USA. Child obesity, child abuse and neglect, inadequate prenatal care among just a few issues on a growing and alarming list of health issues.  

The Oklahoma dam control system is in dire need of repair, and the State sits on it's collective hands not taking quick action to save the livelihoods of farmers and protecting homes from being washed away in a flood. 

Home developers in several sections within city limits have left residents with sewage systems that are backing up into the living rooms, and the investigation into how those same developers were allowed to leave such shoddy work behind is, of course, lagging. 

The City claims they were unaware of an area where many elderly people reside that has poor lighting and an invitation to crime against those on fixed incomes who have paid their dues over the years, deserving of more attention.

And the residents of Oklahoma City are turning $121 million dollars over for a new arena and the proud right to say "We're a pro sports town now!!!"

Pathetic. Inexcusable. Criminal. 

What might stop this vicious and damaging circle? Simple. Cities need to stop allowing themselves to be used, abused, and tossed into the historical trash bin by team owners and Leagues who have the power to raise their own cash. Who have the sponsorship contacts to defray stadium and arena building costs?

Who are flush with US and international cash, still digging deep into those areas of the planet yearning to hand over their money? Owners with deep pockets who know they will never have to look for loose change in those pockets.

Owners who are allowed by respective Leagues to purchase teams even when a cursory examination reveals some suspicion about their long term financial health.

Who have no need to look into any alternative financing plans because they know that somewhere out there, another sucker is being born.

And that sucker is always willing to dig into someone else's pockets. And more often than not, those pockets belong to another gaggle of suckers.

In the end, the people of Seattle and Oklahoma City were robbed in broad daylight. The difference is one group never had a chance. The other group is taking their chances.

And both sides are losers.

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