Hold your horses, Sonics fans

[Lucky17]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9225104/nba-owners-committee-recommends-sacramento-kings-stay-put

I believe the Relocation Committee is chaired by . . . wait for it . . . Clay Bennett.

Not a definitive decision on the matter, but

the full body of owners is expected to follow the recommendation.

[D.o.s.]

Great news!

SacTown has done an incredible job trying to keep their team--glad to see that it's paying off.

[ejk3489]

Hah, was just going to post this....beat me to it.

Really happy for Kings fans.

[SparzWizard]

Wow just ship them to Seattle. We have so many teams in California.

The Warriors are taking over NorCal and the Clippers are ruling Socal.

[Fafnir]

I'm happy for Sacramento. Still sad that the Sonics were stolen by ownership to move to OKC. The entire dynamic of ownership demanding massive subsidies from professional sports teams makes me mad. Private profits based upon public fandom. 

[D.o.s.]

But that's the thing--the NBA is establishing a new precedent that effectively insures that the OKC fiasco remains an abberation.

They just laid down the law--if you're trying to sell a team, you must attempt to sell it to local businesses/investors first.

You also shouldn't act as the Maloofs have.

As someone on StR posted (I think it was ziller?) the kings fanbase has been dealing with the prospect of relocation since 2005. This has got to be a sigh of relief.

[Fafnir]

Don't forget that Al Davis sued in court to win the right to relocate his NFL team. Don't be shocked if the Maloofs fight this.

Until they make a statement and the sale to new ownership committed to staying is going through I wouldn't call it over.

[KGs Knee]

Don't forget that Al Davis sued in court to win the right to relocate his NFL team. Don't be shocked if the Maloofs fight this.

Until they make a statement and the sale to new ownership committed to staying is going through I wouldn't call it over.

I wonder if the Maloofs would have to move the team themselves 1st, before they can sell the team?

Seems odd. Is the NBA flat-out preventing a move, or just the order in which it is done in?

Or, specifically, shunning the city of Seattle?

[BballTim]

  People all over the state of California are wondering if they can keep the franchise and still ship the players to Seattle.

[D.o.s.]

I assume the hostility wasn't aimed at Seattle, but at the Maloofs for continually renaging on the Sacramento fan base and refusing to commit to either an arena or selling the team locally.

Remember, they were supposed to have an arena done in 2011.

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2013/04/23/the-nba-shouldnt-buy-the-maloofs-version-of-the-sacramento-kings-narrative/

[Celtic]

Even thought the Sonics were always my second favorite basketball team, I am glad this didn't go through. I wouldn't want to see another fan base lose their franchise the Seattle's did. This is honestly what really keeps me from getting behind the Thunder, any time I think at least there is a glimmer of hope that the Thunder could topple Miami in the finals (pre-Westbrook injury), I remember that the entire team was stolen.

Seattle got such a raw deal, sure OKC is supporting the team, but they have a great team now! Let's see what happens when the team goes down hill, let's see how much support still remains for the team.

[D.o.s.]

Even thought the Sonics were always my second favorite basketball team, I am glad this didn't go through. I wouldn't want to see another fan base lose their franchise the Seattle's did. This is honestly what really keeps me from getting behind the Thunder, any time I think at least there is a glimmer of hope that the Thunder could topple Miami in the finals (pre-Westbrook injury), I remember that the entire team was stolen.

Seattle got such a raw deal, sure OKC is supporting the team, but they have a great team now! Let's see what happens when the team goes down hill, let's see how much support still remains for the team.

OKC went absolutely ape for the Hornets during the Katrina seasons, and during 08-09 (the inaugural season where they won 23 games) they were in the top half of the league for attendance:
http://espn.go.com/nba/attendance/_/year/2009/sort/homeTotal


I still think that the OKC ownership group (lead by Clay Bennett) are some of the skeeziest people involved in the NBA, but their fans are great.

[Smitty77]

Great news.  Let's screw Seattle again and reward one of the MOST CORRUPT mayors in America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the well connected and ethically challenged Mayor of Sacramento and former NBA star Kevin Johnson willing to do ANYTHING to keep the Kings, the Seattle deal is certainly in jeopardy!!

http://rokdrop.com/2009/11/23/michelle-rhee-linked-to-kevin-johnson-sex-scandal-cover-up/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/kevin-johnson-ethics-fine_n_2237592.html

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-sacramento/Former-aide-to-mayor-charged-in-credit-card-scandal/-/12969376/17824474/-/cnmmfyz/-/index.html

http://michellemalkin.com/2011/06/29/americorpss-favorite-scandal-plagued-mayor/

With teflon like Kevin apparently wears and his powerful connections with both David Stern and President Obama, my money is on the Kings STAYING put.

This is a microcosm of what is wrong with our country.  There is no accountability for the powerful and connected!!!!

Smitty77

[D.o.s.]

You posted this same screed in another thread about the Kings.

I don't get it. I especially don't understand how this is screwing Seattle instead of rewarding the Kings fans and Sacramento community for their ceaseless commitment to a franchise in the face of utterly apathetic owners who have been trying to move the team for at least seven years.

Maybe if you'd you just added another exclamation point, it might all make sense to me. 

[Q_FBE]

This is Classic David Stern Politics getting in the way of ethical business decisions. Not only does Seattle get screwed out of a basketball team again, They cannot get a hockey team as well to build the new SODO arena. Somebody needs to root Stern and his cronies out of there and allow for expansion to 32 teams. I am sure that the league can support 32 teams. I am so angry I can spit. I am sure that Seattle bars will not show any NBA basketball for a long time. THIS IS CRAP.