New Sonics Arena? News Conference for tommorow

[firstdown45]

I think Schultz's lawsuit may have some teeth:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=3362659

[Sir Purrcival]

It's possible but it would still require the Courts venturing into uncharted territory and that is something they are often loathe to do. I still don't buy the Schultz "I was mislead" routine. He knew very well from his own attempts to get a new stadium the likelihood of anyone else being successful within a one year time frame. The fact that he doesn't want the team back says something about that as well. He wants the team to stay but he doesn't want them, he wants the courts to do something about finding an "honest" buyer. That is interesting. Just how is that going to work? Last time I checked, the courts were not in the business of care taking sports franchises. If the courts do overturn the sale, it is going to be, "they're all yours Mr. Schultz" and it will be up to him to find that "honest" buyer, appoint a trustee, what have you.

The other factor that seems to be getting sidestepped here is that the Schultz action appears to be relying to some degree on the principle that the Sonics staying in Seattle has some kind of community benefit/merit. How does that premise work given the rejection of the community to help the organization stay in the Seattle? It is a contradiction to say "We need you and want you, you are part of our heritage!" on one hand and say "But we aren't going to assist you to stay" on the other.

Even if this works out exactly the way Sonics fans hope, then what are you left with? The very thing that has been the Achillies heel to the Sonics is exactly where they are going to be again. An unfavourable lease in a small facility with few prospects of the latter changing anytime soon.

Still the outlook for the NBA in Seattle is a little brighter today than it was last week.

[firstdown45]

things are not looking so good for Bennett and the NBA; hearing in NY on Monday:

http://sonicscentral.com/blog/?p=1870

[GeroySimonFAN]

The City Of Seattle will win the court case in June. Bennett and Stern DO NOT want to go to court in June...
The City has a ton of dirt on these guys and it will be shown in June if it goes to trial. They are just stealing this franchise...it's been a part of Seattle for 41 years...
Stern can spin this all he wants...he treats the NBA as if its his toy, he needs to step down as Commish ASAP.

If the NBA wants a team in OKlahoma so badly, award them an expansion franchise...

[GeroySimonFAN]

new emails could hamper seattle sonics relocation...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3365972

[firstdown45]

What are the ramifications if David Stern is deposed and ordered to testify?

Would Slade Gorton be able to cross examine David Stern?

By the way, apparently Slade Gorton has more damaging emails that he hasn't even released yet.

He's just releasing the damaging emails one by one. Good strategy. Just like bleeding.

[GeroySimonFAN]

David Stern acknowledges that Sonics relocation probably wont be reversed and that the Sonics will be in OKC either after this season or after 2010(when Key Arena lease expires)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3368294

[GeroySimonFAN]

think of it this way...what if the Canucks were applying for relocation...this city would be in an uproar if the team ever left Vancouver, the team has been a part of Vancouver for 38 years since 1970...
The Sonics have been a part of Seattle for 41+ years...
it's just not right for teams to move who have a rich history in their Cities...

Stern still "OK" with Sonics move:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2008 ... rSonics-0/

[GeroySimonFAN]

David Stern NOT ordered to testify in the June trial...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3372738

[firstdown45]

well the latest info seems encouraging; a Judge has ordered that the Lease and the other issues have to be dealt with in separate trials so that will help the Sonics stay in Seattle at least one more season.

[firstdown45]

Bennett gets another spanking in court. His butt must be red by now:

Judge denies Sonics again
Team rebuffed in motion to expose Griffin material
By GREG JOHNS
P-I REPORTER

While the heavy fighting doesn't figure to come until their mid-June trial, the city of Seattle scored another small victory over the Sonics legal team Thursday when U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman denied the team's motion aimed at exposing some documents subpoenaed from developer Matt Griffin.

Sonics attorneys had asked Pechman to eliminate "Attorney's Eyes Only" designations and some redactions on much of the material obtained from Griffin during the discovery process, but the judge ruled those items can remain sealed.

Earlier in the week, Pechman denied another Sonics motion attempting to include the determination of financial obligations should the team win at trial in June when the two sides will determine whether the team must play at KeyArena for the final two years of its lease.

Griffin, managing partner of the Pine Street Group development firm, was at the forefront of the group of four private investors who offered $150 million to help the city renovate KeyArena in a $300 million proposal by Mayor Greg Nickels.

The Sonics lawyers, stating that Nickels and the group of investors worked in collusion in an attempt to force Professional Basketball Club chairman Clay Bennett and his Oklahoma City partners to sell the team, wanted to make Griffin's documents available to the public as well as to their own clients.

The "Attorney's Eyes Only" and "Confidential Material" designations prohibit even Bennett and his partners from viewing the items. Both sides agreed to such designations when Pechman issued a protective order regarding the handling of sensitive material early in the discovery process when the city was attempting to subpoena numerous private documents from Bennett and the NBA.

Pechman's ruling Thursday indicated the Sonics failed to make a "good faith effort to confer on discovery disputes," attempting instead to push the matter forward by filing their motion on April 16.

"PBC has also ignored the plain language of the Protective Order regarding the handling of confidential documents," wrote Pechman, noting that the Sonics themselves drafted and reviewed the Protective Order that included a 10-day period before either side served written notice on a dispute.

Pechman's order says the sides should now attempt to resolve the issue through a "good faith conference." Barring that, she said the parties could present a joint filing explaining "why these documents' designations bear on the development of the legal issues to be litigated on June 16."

[No Ordinary Joe]

Go Seattle Go! Seeing Clay Bennett win this thing would make me sick. The Sonics have to stay in Seattle. I'm praying that they lose the court case next month and plans for a new arena begin.

[firstdown45]

I see the Mayor of Oklahoma City sent a strongly worded letter to Clay Bennett saying if the Sonics don't move to OKC by next year, due to all the interlocking contracts, there would be $ 150 million in damages he would have to pay to the city.

I think Clay is getting desperate. Look at all teh lawsuits ahead of him, and Seattle doesn't want to settle.

One wonders if Slade Gorton has any more of those emails he hasn't made public yet

[firstdown45]

Make it more complicated! Make it more complicated!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... d=tab1pos2

[rbma]

very complex...and the trial is about 1 month away...