<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>OKLAHOMA CITY -- Former Seattle SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz said he was warned by NBA commissioner David Stern that it would be "very expensive" to pursue a lawsuit seeking to return the team to Seattle from Oklahoma City. Schultz made the claim in a declaration filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Schultz has sued to try to reverse his sale of the franchise to Clay Bennett, claiming the Oklahoma City businessman failed to follow through on a promise to negotiate in good faith to keep the team in Seattle. On July 2, Bennett's ownership group and city of Seattle officials announced a settlement in another lawsuit, allowing the team to move immediately to Oklahoma City, where it will play during the upcoming season. That settlement did not cover Schultz's lawsuit. Six days later, the NBA filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman -- who is presiding over the Schultz case -- to allow the league to intervene. The NBA claimed the lawsuit would interfere with the stable operation of the franchise. Schultz said in his declaration that when he learned on June 23 of the potential settlement between the city of Seattle and the franchise, he told his lawyers that he could not support that settlement "because my primary objective was to secure an NBA team in Seattle, and that objective was not adequately insured by that settlement." Schultz said Stern tried to contact him on July 24. He said it was the first contact he'd had with Stern since Schultz, the chairman and president of Starbucks Coffee Co., filed his lawsuit in April. A day later, Schultz said the commissioner "told me he wanted 'to hear it from the horse's mouth' why I was not joining in the city's settlement and dismissing my lawsuit." Schultz said Stern told him "that if I did not join in the settlement ... I should realize that it will become very expensive for me and my partners, and he implied that I should reconsider my position." Schultz said he then told Stern the settlement did not contain strong enough assurances about the NBA locating a team in Seattle and that Stern told him "the NBA would offer no further assurances in that regard." As part of the settlement, the team was to pay the city $45 million immediately. The team also will pay another $30 million to Seattle in 2013 if the Washington state legislature authorizes at least $75 million in public funding to renovate KeyArena by the end of 2009 and Seattle doesn't obtain an NBA franchise of its own within five years. Asked about Schultz's recollection of their conversation, Stern said in a statement to The Oklahoman that "we had a friendly conversation at the close of which we both had stated our positions. There were no threats expressed or implied." Schultz owned the team from 2001 to July 2006, when he sold it along with the WNBA's Storm to Bennett for $350 million. The NBA claimed in its motion to intervene that the transfer of the franchise to a court-appointed receiver and a subsequent transfer back to Schultz would both be prohibited by the league's constitution. The league also claimed in the motion that if a court-appointed receiver were to be appointed, the NBA's constitution allows for the league's owners to put that team "under the management and control" of Stern. Schultz also has asked Pechman to split his lawsuit into two phases, one for liability and the other to determine a remedy. In a joint status report filed Friday by attorneys for both sides, the team said it will oppose that request. Bennett has called Schultz's lawsuit "baseless" and without merit.</div> Stern = douche, ESPN First, Stern is a douche. He shoulda either stayed out of this, or sided with the team that's been in the league for more than 40 years. It's ridiculous that he would just let this happen, and just plain fucked up that he intervened and pretty much sided with the asshole franchise stealers. Second, Schultz is a little bitch for actually listening to Stern, and for acting like he gave a shit for about 5 minutes until he realized keeping the Sonics in Seattle would cost him more than he wanted to spend. Third, Bennett is a tool and a douche bag for acting like he's not screwing over Seattle. I hate all 3, and I hope all the bad things in life happen to them and only them.
Completely disagree. Stern's job is to protect the owners and Bennett is an owner. Schutlz is the only one to blame because he sold out to Bennett. He is simply trying to make a vain effort so he can look like a local hero when the truth is all he is doing is chasing the dollar. Schultz is just looking to get paid twice for the same team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1. </div> And what happened to keeping the fans happy?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1. </div> And what happened to keeping the fans happy? </div> *Looks at attendance figures and looks back at job 1.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1. </div> And what happened to keeping the fans happy? </div> *Looks at attendance figures and looks back at job 1. </div> Who's happy about the move, other than OKC people? And what about all the people at the Save Our Sonics rally?
Stern first said that Key Arena was a great venue for NBA basketball. Then when Howard was looking to sell he said that the Sonics needed a new arena in order to be a viable NBA team. When Bennett bought the team Stern said that under no circumstances could a renovated Key Arena be a way to keep the Sonics in Seattle. Now as a settlement agreement Stern makes the statement that a renovated Key Arena would help bring a team back to Seattle. Anyone who feels that Stern does not play a huge role in the Sonics leaving is fooling themselves. A vote of 28-2 in favor of the owners of the league for the Sonics to move was literally at the request of Stern. Owners now have the hammer to break an existence of a lease agreement if they aren't able to secure an arena deal to their liking. This will not be the last time an owner tries to relocate a franchise before an arena lease is complete. That's how Stern has sold the owners in the league to vote for the 13th largest market with a 41 year successful history of NBA basketball to be stripped of their team to go play in a state that has never had a professional franchise before the Katrina fled Hornets. Stern is as culpable as Howard and Clay just because he didn't have to take anyone side. He could have let it play out on his own.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jul 28 2008, 05:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Stern first said that Key Arena was a great venue for NBA basketball. Then when Howard was looking to sell he said that the Sonics needed a new arena in order to be a viable NBA team. When Bennett bought the team Stern said that under no circumstances could a renovated Key Arena be a way to keep the Sonics in Seattle. Now as a settlement agreement Stern makes the statement that a renovated Key Arena would help bring a team back to Seattle. Anyone who feels that Stern does not play a huge role in the Sonics leaving is fooling themselves. A vote of 28-2 in favor of the owners of the league for the Sonics to move was literally at the request of Stern. Owners now have the hammer to break an existence of a lease agreement if they aren't able to secure an arena deal to their liking. This will not be the last time an owner tries to relocate a franchise before an arena lease is complete. That's how Stern has sold the owners in the league to vote for the 13th largest market with a 41 year successful history of NBA basketball to be stripped of their team to go play in a state that has never had a professional franchise before the Katrina fled Hornets. Stern is as culpable as Howard and Clay just because he didn't have to take anyone side. He could have let it play out on his own.</div> Everything you just said is all about Stern fulfilling his role of protecting the owners. Of course the owners (minus Allen and Cuban submitting protest votes) are going to vote for moving. They want cities to know that they have to play ball or they will lose their team. None of that is news or should have been shocking to anyone in Seattle. Stern acted in the best interest of the owners, which is his job. Of course Stern played an important role in all of this, but none of this happens if Schultz wasn't an asshat. As for his conflicting statements about Key Arena, Stern, like all executives, says what he has to say to the media. I don't see any reason to believe a person with that much power when they talk to the media.
The commissioner needs to have some credibility when he is asked questions that affect the league. When he is asked questions about criminal activity involving his referees I'd like to think that he's telling the truth. When he's asked about questions about relocation of teams I'd like to think he is not just acting in the best interest of an owner. When he is trying to impose restrictions on players coming into the league I'd like to think that he's taking into consideration how the will affect college basketball and the international game. Stern has no credibility and that is why I find it so incredibly stupid for the city leaders to take him at his word when he says that basketball will return to Seattle. Without a written guarantee that the next team to relocate or the next expansion team will be the Sonics I would have never taken a settled out of court with Bennett. No doubt in my mind that Pechman would have come up with a number much higher than $45 million if she would have been able make her verdict.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1. </div> And what happened to keeping the fans happy? </div> *Looks at attendance figures and looks back at job 1. </div> Who's happy about the move, other than OKC people? And what about all the people at the Save Our Sonics rally? </div> Who's that pissed off over this move, besides the Seattle people?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iron Shiek @ Jul 28 2008, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The commissioner needs to have some credibility when he is asked questions that affect the league. When he is asked questions about criminal activity involving his referees I'd like to think that he's telling the truth.</div> Never expect anyone to tell the truth about something that could become a lawsuit. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When he's asked about questions about relocation of teams I'd like to think he is not just acting in the best interest of an owner.</div> Why? That is all he is suppose to care about. His job is to grow the NBA to make the owners more money. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When he is trying to impose restrictions on players coming into the league I'd like to think that he's taking into consideration how the will affect college basketball and the international game.</div> Why? They don't pay his salary nor have any say in how he does his job. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No doubt in my mind that Pechman would have come up with a number much higher than $45 million if she would have been able make her verdict.</div> I doubt she would have come down on that side.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#1_War_Poet_ForLife @ Jul 28 2008, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 27 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Jul 27 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Protect the owner? What happened to protecting the NBA? How is Stern not to blame, at all?</div> How is keeping a team in a subpar Arena and forcing it to lose money every year good for the NBA? </div> I didn't say it was. How is stealing a franchise from one state, where it has been there for FORTY YEARS, and moving it to another state across the country good for the NBA? </div> Keeping a team financially viable is job 1. </div> And what happened to keeping the fans happy? </div> *Looks at attendance figures and looks back at job 1. </div> Who's happy about the move, other than OKC people? And what about all the people at the Save Our Sonics rally? </div> Who's that pissed off over this move, besides the Seattle people? </div> Oh, I don't know. Why don't you go around polling every NBA fan in the world to find out?
