Bruce Schoenfeld of the New York Times Magazine has an absolute must-read on the birth of the Oklahoma City Thunder, a striking profile that digs deep to expose the nuance of Clay Bennett (he doesn't own a pair of cowboy boots and owns a literary bookstore in Aspen), the circumstances which led to the brief post-Katrina visit from the Hornets, and the death of Seattle basketball. The biggest news item in the piece, however, might be this nugget regarding David Stern's efforts to keep the Hornets in Oklahoma City permanently.
Convinced that the city was ready to go national, Bennett tried to buy the Hornets and keep them in Oklahoma. According to a letter [Hornets owner George] Shinn subsequently wrote to Stern, Stern recommended that he sell.If you'll remember, last winter Shinn attempted to apply for rights to relocate in OKC, should New Orleans have failed at the box office. But Bennett beat him to the punch. Shinn and Stern say the immense opportunity in OKC, and Shinn wanted it for himself. Stern, however, felt fine getting Bennett (and OKC) another franchise.
"You pressed me to sell the team," Shinn wrote. "You even told me that owners were asking you, 'What's wrong with George - why doesn't he sell his team[?]' " Shinn's response made it clear that he, too, coveted the new territory. "We need to immediately begin laying the foundation for what I believe will be great relationships in Oklahoma City," he wrote. "I believe there are several options that we have, none of which involve returning to New Orleans."
There's really a ton more in Schoenfeld's piece, and I encourage you to spend a little time reading the whole thing.
