The Seattle Times reports U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman has announced there will be no decision in the Sonics-Seattle lawsuit because a settlement has been reached. The Times quotes sources saying the settlement includes a $75 million buy-out from Clay Bennett, but apparently no NBA promises of a new team in Seattle. And oh yeah, the Sonics are gone.
Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer cites a source who says Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the former local owner of the Sonics, is not withdrawing his recent suit against Bennett as a part of the settlement. Schultz is suing to force either to rescinding of the 2006 sale of the team or a sale to a local group, based on the argument Bennett violated a specific clause in the purchase agreement which required the new owners to make good faith efforts to get an arena deal done in Seattle.
No words on whether Seattle plans to use the pay-out on KeyArena renovations or a new building or none of the above. Just before Pechman's decision had been expected, fans at SonicsCentral reported assistants with the mayor's office had asked callers whether an expansion or relocated team would be an acceptable resolution. We'll know more once both Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels hold 8 p.m. Eastern press conferences.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-02-2008 @ 8:07PM
Buvi Duvi said...
How much does Seattle have to go through? The Mariners always set us up with hope, and then they let us down. The Seahawks have had a Super Bowl stolen from them when they were the best football team in the NFL. The city supports the Sonics. NOT ONCE DID WE STOP SUPPORTING THEM. And yet the politicians and the NBA decided that they don't care about thier citizens or fans. Seattle won't ever support another NBA team the way they did this team. I hope this team never has a winning season in OKC, and I hope Bennet loses millions, because the "fans" in OKC stop going to the games when the novelty wears off. But knowing Seattle luck they will win a NBA championship soon. SCREW STERN, SCREW BENNET, AND MOST OF ALL SCREW OKC.
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7-02-2008 @ 8:08PM
TwinsTerritory said...
Are they gone starting next season then?
I wonder what their new name will be since it looks like 'SuperSonics' will belong to the city.
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7-02-2008 @ 8:09PM
Mike said...
I can't watch the NBA for a long time......
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7-02-2008 @ 8:25PM
biff_tannen said...
So why is it they didn't just add an expansion team in OKC to begin with and leave the Sonics in Seattle? Seems like there's a lot of grief and extra trouble for no good reason.
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7-02-2008 @ 9:38PM
Grer The Sarcastic Bastard said...
Time for realignment suggestions:
Pacific: LAL, LAC, GS, SAC POR
Southwest: PHX, UT, DAL, HOU, SAN
Midwest: NO, OKC, MIN, MEM, DEN
Naturally have to keep the Texas triangle together, & the Hornets will become the Nuggets natural rival when they move to Kansas City.
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7-02-2008 @ 10:34PM
Paul Toliver said...
I am a Sonics Fan, I am a NBA fan, and I live in Seattle. I think the settlement was good and now we can move on. We will get another team and Oklahoma City will get what it asked for as well, a many years of future lottery selections.
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7-03-2008 @ 12:53AM
George B Vieto said...
Look at the bright side Sonic fans you can support the Seahawks and the Mariners or the college teams in your area. About the politicans screwing you that is the way the basketball bounces. Money talks with your elected officials not common sense.
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7-03-2008 @ 1:54AM
Tommy said...
Seattle gets 75 million, so what is OKC giving the Sonics. Ill tell you, your gas money because some big oil Ceo wanted a NBA team and that is what he got.
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