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League offers up funny numbers
I notice that the NBA, in justifying its decision to move the Sonics, has performed some voodoo math to show that the Oklahoma City market is comparable to Seattle. It argues that a lower local cost of living bumps OKC ahead of Seattle in disposable income.
Let’s say it costs 20 percent less to live in Oklahoma City. Does that mean the Sonics players will be expected to take a 20 percent cut in salary or that ticket prices will be slashed 20 percent from what they are today in Seattle, or maybe 40 percent of what they are in New York?
A list of reasons
Here’s what really went wrong: Howard Schultz got into a business he did not understand and oversaw some very bad player and management decisions. KeyArena is the worst revenue-producing venue in basketball. Also, your governor (in a stolen election) and powerless mayor showed no understanding of reality in dealing with this, causing David Stern to realize Seattle and Washington do not have their act together.
KeyArena could not be expanded by 5,000 seats with luxury boxes. The Sonics’ situation is known this way nationally, and Seattle only responds as a fair-weather sports city.
That is why you are losing the Sonics.
He’s got the eyes, too
After listening to David Stern’s peeved-diva responses to local sports reporters’ questions, I could only think: “Bette Davis lives!”
Why is everyone forgetting that Seattle voters do not want to buy an NBA arena for sports owners to prosper?
Using our “failed last-minute” attempt to keep the Sonics as an example to extract public money, the clamor for such funds for a new arena will probably be successful to get a new NBA team. Why?
Teams seem to be most welcome if they would just pay for their own places to play.
Tags: map, oklahoma
10 comments Sunday 11 May 2008 | Mack | Uncategorized