Saturday, January 12, 2008

Dear Sonics New Ownership Group (#4)

Dear Sonics New Ownership Group (#4)

You sold the Storm. You said you wouldn't. Good for us. You lied again.

Given the pattern of lies that has pretty much dominated the past year and a half, perhaps we in the Seattle area should take some comfort in your lies. If you weren't going to sell the Storm, perhaps the Sonics sale is coming soon. You say you won't. We know you never tell the truth. It must be in the works.

See, when you lie, and then lie some more, you become known for being a liar.

Why do I take comfort in that? Because the pattern of behavior of fighting to get out of the lease at Key Arena is consistent with trying to sell the team more than it really is about moving the team to Oklahoma City. All you have to do is coast, do nothing, and in two and a half years you take the team and there is nothing that is likely to be done about that. Wait! You have petitioned to move the team next season. True. But, it is also true that the Oklahoma City Council is voting to make improvements you claim are needed to the Ford Center. If those improvements are needed and must be done then the building will need to be closed for a period of time in order to complete them. Can they be completed before the start of next season? Doesn't seem likely. So, you couldn't really play there next year and get your improvements anyway. So, you are lying again.

Do nothing. Get your improvements. Then move. You win. But, that is not what you are doing. You are keeping the issue on the front burner and driving up the price for the franchise. We hear about how big money is making offers to keep the team. Even that idiot mayor of Seattle has said there is still a way to get the necessary improvements done at Key Arena. No, you aren't counting on moving the team, you are just waiting until the price is high enough.

If the real big picture is to be in Oklahoma. If the long term goal is to hold on to the team. If Seattle really is out of things ... you should be doing absolutely nothing. The fight you are waging is more consistent with the notion of driving up the price than with really expecting to move it next season, which you really could not do anyway given how much you also say the Ford Center needs to be improved.

You win no matter what. You win if you sell the team at a profit. You win if you somehow get a new building here. You win if you get the improvements to the Ford Center and move the team. You win if you simply wait it out and take away Seattle's bargaining chip in regards to the Key Arena lease. You aren't stupid so you know all of this.

The only really logical move to make for the big picture of being in Oklahoma City long term is to let the improvements be voted on and then let the work on the building be done so that when you do move in it is all ready. No, you are liars, so I have to imagine the team really is for sale, just like the Storm turned out to be.

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