Greed, Blame, and the Sonics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Yesterday, the owners in the NBA allowed the owner of the Seattle Sonics to move to Oklahoma City. Returning fire, the city of Seattle is putting together legal action to keep the team at least until it's contract with the arena ends in 2010.

The biggest problem I have with the entire situation is this: you have an owner, with gobs of liquid assets. You have revenue coming in on various points, ticket sales, dedicated fans, and a fresh new rookie to build around. What was the owner's problem?

Sure, there's the starting myth, that without a new arena, they couldn't compete with newer arenas. Some arenas, dating back decades, are completely tiny in comparison.

However, if you ever looked at how much cash some of these owners have, you have to ask why doesn't he just pony up his money? He can build the arena and then enjoy that the overhead will be lower than if he leased a building for 41 games.

When I was 15, we had a local team come to Rapid City, called the Thrillers. It was a great CBA club: competitive, strong fan base. Games sold out, tickets were affordable, and the Thrillers had won in Florida...they won a title in their first year here.

Throughout this happy medium, however, it was clear that some members of the ownership weren't happy. One such fat cat was Pat Hall, owner of the Thrillers, a known greed-meister. Ticket sales were great, but he wanted more money. He went after the concessions, demanding a cut of their profits.

Now considering these profits also would affect how many people could work a game, the Civic Center balked at this idea. Besides, Hall was rich, and making money. How greedy could one guy get?

Very greedy.

After another loss in the finals (the Thrillers lost twice in three years), Pat Hall dropped a bombshell: The Thrillers would leave the House of Noise and go back to Florida to become the Florida Beach Dogs.

For eight years, they had the city's heart....and now Pat Hall was going to drive a stake through it.

It also bears witness, that his ownership skills stunk, as his idea lasted all of two years. The Beach Dogs folded in 1997, but by then, the damage was done.

No club that has come to Rapid City, has lasted more than a season or two. Sometimes, it's due to inept planning, sometimes it budgetary, and sometimes, it's due to con artists who skip town leaving unpaid bills.

What I see is this: the owner for the Sonics should stay in Seattle. Don't end this city's heritage.

Stern, void this deal. After all, you killed a deal that would have sent the Timberwolves to New Orleans.

If Oklahoma City wants a club, let them bid into one during expansion. But if you let this move happen....all you'll do is alienate the people of Seattle.

And I don't think you wanna kill off this big of a fan base.