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fredr123 · 04-10-2008, 12:15 PM

For much of the past season or so, it's looked as though Clay Bennett has been angling to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City as soon as possible. Fans are disheartened to say the least. Bennett is a buddy of league commissioner David Stern who has been accused of sitting idly by while Bennett rips the heart out of the city of Seattle.

During these shenanigans, a dispute regarding the team's lease with their arena has developed. As so often happens, litigation ensued. Recently, the city has obtained a number of emails sent by or to Clay Bennett that may contain a smoking gun of sorts.

TrueHoop has a story on it today summarizing a story by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times. You can see excerpts or summaries of the emails below or view them in their entirety here.

"In one e-mail [at the time of the team's purchase] sent to Bennett and Ward, McClendon celebrated the news with the subject line: 'the OKLAHOMA CITY SONIC BOOM (or maybe SONIC BOOMERS!) baby!!!!!!!!!!'"
"On April 17 last year, team co-owners Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward talked about whisking the Sonics away to Oklahoma as soon as possible even though it would mean breaching the KeyArena lease, according to the city's motion filed in U.S. District Court in New York City. 'Is there any way to move here [Oklahoma City] for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?' Ward wrote. Bennett replied: 'I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!' Ward: 'That's the spirit!! I am willing to help any way I can to watch ball here [in Oklahoma City] next year.' McClendon: 'Me too, thanks Clay!'"
"In June 2007, Tim Romani, an arena consultant for the Sonics, e-mailed Bennett that he would start 'reaching out' to Oklahoma City Manager Jim Couch to 'engage him in deal negotiations,' the e-mails said."
In an e-mail exchange later in April, Bennett told McClendon it was 'quite likely' the team would play in Seattle another year but that he was 'attempting quietly and without litigation' to 'work through the lease.'"

It's going to be pretty hard to convince anyone with an open mind, let alone a disenfranchised Sonics fan, that the move to Oklahoma wasn't preordained right from the start. What's gone on is borderline bush league and hearkens to the crap Rachel Phelps tried to pull with the Cleveland Indians in the late 80's.

04-10-2008, 12:15 PM	#1
fredr123 Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Exp:	Seattle Sonics Moving to Oklahoma For much of the past season or so, it's looked as though Clay Bennett has been angling to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City as soon as possible. Fans are disheartened to say the least. Bennett is a buddy of league commissioner David Stern who has been accused of sitting idly by while Bennett rips the heart out of the city of Seattle. During these shenanigans, a dispute regarding the team's lease with their arena has developed. As so often happens, litigation ensued. Recently, the city has obtained a number of emails sent by or to Clay Bennett that may contain a smoking gun of sorts. TrueHoop has a story on it today summarizing a story by Jim Brunner of the Seattle Times. You can see excerpts or summaries of the emails below or view them in their entirety here. "In one e-mail [at the time of the team's purchase] sent to Bennett and Ward, McClendon celebrated the news with the subject line: 'the OKLAHOMA CITY SONIC BOOM (or maybe SONIC BOOMERS!) baby!!!!!!!!!!'" "On April 17 last year, team co-owners Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward talked about whisking the Sonics away to Oklahoma as soon as possible even though it would mean breaching the KeyArena lease, according to the city's motion filed in U.S. District Court in New York City. 'Is there any way to move here [Oklahoma City] for next season or are we doomed to have another lame duck season in Seattle?' Ward wrote. Bennett replied: 'I am a man possessed! Will do everything we can. Thanks for hanging with me boys, the game is getting started!' Ward: 'That's the spirit!! I am willing to help any way I can to watch ball here [in Oklahoma City] next year.' McClendon: 'Me too, thanks Clay!'" "In June 2007, Tim Romani, an arena consultant for the Sonics, e-mailed Bennett that he would start 'reaching out' to Oklahoma City Manager Jim Couch to 'engage him in deal negotiations,' the e-mails said." In an e-mail exchange later in April, Bennett told McClendon it was 'quite likely' the team would play in Seattle another year but that he was 'attempting quietly and without litigation' to 'work through the lease.'" It's going to be pretty hard to convince anyone with an open mind, let alone a disenfranchised Sonics fan, that the move to Oklahoma wasn't preordained right from the start. What's gone on is borderline bush league and hearkens to the crap Rachel Phelps tried to pull with the Cleveland Indians in the late 80's.