http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2074955 NEW YORK (Ticker) -- NBA owners on Friday approved a request by Seattle SuperSonics' new chairman Clay Bennett to move the franchise to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season. The NBA did not release the specific vote total, but it was expected to pass by an overwhelming majority. The last two votes on franchise moves - Charlotte to New Orleans and Vancouver to Memphis - passed by a combined 59-1. "The support for the NBA demonstrated by the fans, government leaders and business community of Oklahoma City over the last three years has been extraordinary," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "The board of governors is confident that the level of local support will result in success for the Sonics franchise in Oklahoma." Friday's vote of approval, however, will not end the saga as a legal battle already is under way. Former Sonics owner Howard Schultz has threatened a lawsuit to get the team back. "David Stern is driving (a) freight train, and they're going to make whatever decision they feel they have to make," Seattle deputy mayor Tim Ceis told the Seattle Times. "We're focused on the upcoming litigation in June." Schultz, who sold the franchise to Oklahoma City investors nearly two years ago, has hired a lawyer and wants Bennett to rescind the sale made in July 2006. Bennett had purchased the franchise - along with the WNBA's Seattle Storm - for $350 million with a stipulation that he would try to keep the teams in Seattle, according to Schultz. A trial date has been set for June 16, with the city seeking to hold the owners to the remaining two years of the team's KeyArena lease. Lawyers for the city obtained e-mails that show Bennett and the other owners may not have been honest about their plans to keep the Sonics in Seattle. Among the many that have been exposed is one from co-owner Aubrey McClendon that stated: "We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here (Oklahoma City.)" His comments drew a $250,000 fine from the NBA. Season ticket holders also have filed a class action lawsuit that contends they were tricked into buying tickets under the belief that the Sonics would be staying in Seattle.
I heard the only owners to vote against the move were Cuban (because he doesn't want a team in his market area) and Paul Allen
good job to Paul Allen and Cuban, dissapointed with Toronto whatever Clay Bennett is a ****** ****** and a stupid *** ************ ****!
Given the relocation would give Portland full reign of the Oregon region marketability-wise, Paul Allen is a star. This was the inevitable part though. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"The board of governors is confident that the level of local support will result in success for the Sonics franchise in Oklahoma."</div> F U C K Y O U David Stern.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Apr 18 2008, 06:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well then, the majority of NBA owners are a bunch of douche bags.</div> I think that was a given.
