Oklahoma City officials contend that the Seattle SuperSonics must relocate by contract to Oklahoma City "regardless of who owns the Team.”
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Officials also reveal in a legal letter that Oklahoma City is prepared to sue in federal court to force the relocation.
The nine-page letter was sent Thursday to an attorney for the former owners of the Sonics. The former owners on April 22 asked a federal judge in Seattle to overturn the 2006 sale of the NBA team. They want the Sonics sold "to an honest buyer who desires to keep the Sonics in Seattle.”
The former owners are led by Howard Schultz, the chief executive officer of Starbucks, a popular coffee chain.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said Friday, "We felt it was important that they understood our position. It was meant for informational purposes only. How it's received, I can't predict, but that was the purpose.”
The former owners' attorney, Richard Yarmuth of Seattle, declined to comment Friday.
The Oklahoma-based owners of the Sonics want to play in Oklahoma City, starting next season. They face two hurdles: the former owners' lawsuit and a separate lawsuit filed by the city of Seattle.
Seattle is suing to force the team to play two more seasons at Seattle's KeyArena because of a lease there. A trial on Seattle's lawsuit is set to start June 16 in Seattle.
In the legal letter, Oklahoma City's attorney wrote that the city already has "valid and enforceable agreements with the Team requiring it relocate to Oklahoma City at the end of the current lease with the City of Seattle.”
The move could be as soon as this summer if the judge in Seattle lets the team out of the lease there early. The agreement with Oklahoma City requires the team to play in Oklahoma City for 15 years.
Oklahoma City Assistant Municipal Counselor Wiley L. Williams wrote the team must relocate even if the former owners succeed in their lawsuit to overturn the sale. He wrote Oklahoma City is committed "to honor, uphold and to enforce the OKC NBA Agreements, as needed.”
"There is an expectation by City leadership and citizens that the owners of the Team, whomever they may be, will honor all of the Team's contractual obligations with the City — including the contractual obligation to relocate to Oklahoma City and to play home games at the Ford Center for the duration of the term of the lease,” the Oklahoma City assistant municipal counselor wrote.
How much is at stake?
Williams wrote Oklahoma City will spend as much as $120 million on projects to upgrade the Ford Center and build a practice facility. He wrote Oklahoma City would be obligated to sue on behalf of its taxpayers to force the team to relocate. He wrote the city also could seek damages.
He wrote, "Damages ... will be substantial.”
Any lawsuit by Oklahoma City would be filed in federal court in Oklahoma City.
The former owners want the sale overturned because they contend the Oklahoma-based buyers lied to them. The former owners contend the new owners never intended to keep the team in Seattle, as promised. Schultz has said he doesn't want the team back, just for it to be sold to a buyer committed to keeping it in Seattle.
Sonics Chairman Clay Bennett has said he made good-faith efforts and spent millions of dollars to keep the team in Washington. "We tried the best we knew how to try,” he said April 18.
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Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz added a "breach of contract" claim Tuesday to his lawsuit against Sonics owner Clay Bennett — arguing Bennett failed to honor the terms of his purchase agreement when he proposed a $500 million arena plan he knew was doomed to fail.
In an amended complaint filed in federal court, Schultz's attorneys argued that Bennett's Oklahoma City-based partnership breached its contract with Schultz by failing to use "good faith best efforts" for a full 12 months to get an arena deal in the Seattle area.
That requirement was set out in the purchase and sale agreement when Bennett's group bought the Sonics and Storm in 2006 for $350 million.
Instead of proposing a reasonable arena plan, Schultz's latest filing claims Bennett pushed a $500 million Renton arena that would have required "unprecedented amounts in public subsidies" with lease terms Bennett "knew would be unacceptable" to state lawmakers.
In the Washington State RCW's this is the "negligent misrepresentation" and "fraudulent inducement"
das, I actually heard that members of the Hornets actually wanted to stay, and some of them started to look for homes in this area...and most of them didn't want to return to a city where they were not supported. _____________________________________________________________________ paul...27.9% for 9th grade and below is very alarming to me. Obviously home life is a category that has a play in their mentality, but I wonder what other category has failed the youth in having them believe suicide is an answer. Very sad!
I was wrong Vino, the actual number of youths who have made a suicide pact in Oklahoma is 27.9 %, and it's 9th grade and below. The source is the Oklahoma department of mental health...
Hey Vino...I'd be cautious about claiming Seattle is the suicide capital of the "world". There are numerous reports that 25% of Oklahoma youth (Younger than 10th grade) have made suicide pacts...Maybe the kids here in this state see how dismal it is more than the adults do....
D, Anadarko wrote: "Whatever happened to waiting for an expansion team?" Good question. Unfortunately Bennett and the Mayor got tired of waiting. Bennett tried to buy controlling interest in the Hornets (with the hopes of keeping them here permanently) but Shinn wouldn't sell (besides there was that pesky little thing called a lease that Stern insisted the Hornets keep, yet supported Bennett in his move to break the lease in Seattle). When Shinn wouldn't sell controlling interest, Bennett went and bought a team he could control. The Mayor has said he wanted to avoid any perception that we were trying to take another city's team all along (his statements saying that the City wasn't "actively" in "formal" talks, or "actively pursuing" any team etc) yet making it no secret that we wanted an NBA team (if he wasn't talking about an expansion team, that only leaves one option, taking another city's team). He could have told Bennett that he didn't want to have any part of the Sonics relocating, but he went along with it all the way. The voters could have said no to the "theft" The Legislature and the Governor could have said no to the "theft" too.
Seattle = Sucide capital of the world... Moving to OKC, looks good.... Honestly, I liked Seattle when I have visited there, but to trash Oklahoma City is funny. Oklahoma City has it's advantages and don't forget the Hornets went back to the cespool that has become New Orleans. Players go where the money is and OKC fans show up to games. Something Seattle has not done for years. (note to Seattle, Schultz has said he does not want the team back! Wonder why.....
I had no opportunity to vote for the proposal beings that I don't live in the Oklahoma County. Actually, I am currently out of state. I don't know that I would have voted for the tax, and color me ignorant...I didn't realize it had to do with the Sonics. The last thing that I remember was when the Okies were having a ball with the Hornets. Was hoping something would work out that way, but whatcha gonna do? They deserved to have their team back. Whatever happened to waiting for an expansion team?
D wrote: "...why direct that anger toward the citizenry of oklahoma? i know that i had not one thing to do with this basketball deal, and i am sure that not one person posting on here from oklahoma did either." I agree with most of your post but unfortunately anyone that voted for the Ford tax is an accessory to the "theft". The owners had made their intentions to move the team clear from the start and had not just threatened to move but had formally filed for relocation several weeks before the Ford tax was proposed. So even though the Ford was built for an expansion team (no taking another city's team involved), by the time of the Ford tax vote, that was clear what was going to happen. Everyone (Mayor, Council, Chamber and those that voted for it couldn't be patient any more) they wanted a team so bad they didn't care what it cost, how long it is going to cost us (esp if we want to keep the team, the rest of our lives) or how they got the team. They try to rationalize and justify it (guess it helps them sleep at night). Their actions have painted all of OKC has accessories to the "theft" (that is the way the vote is portrayed, "over whelming public support"). But that was a very small percentage of the OKC population (around 8.5%)
D; I think loyalty when out in the 80's. Except of course for the minor leagues...they seem to have the loyalty and the willing to play just to play like the big leagues did many years ago.
i have been watching all these posts for a week or so. why in the world the whole of oklahoma is being blamed for; in some's opinion, the hijacking of another state's professional basketball team? why are there folks on here from washington? and why direct that anger toward the citizenry of oklahoma? i know that i had not one thing to do with this basketball deal, and i am sure that not one person posting on here from oklahoma did either. the one thing i am very sure of is this. professional sports have become more and more and more..."just a business". in my opinion this actually started with the players...those players willing to jump ship for just one more dollar (or million) on the contract. no room for loyalty. as far as i am concerned they are all just a bunch of spoiled millionaires
i have been watching all these posts for a week or so. why in the world the whole of oklahoma is being blamed for; in some's opinion, the hijacking of another state's professional basketball team? why are there folks on here from washington? and why direct that anger toward the citizenry of oklahoma? i know that i had not one thing to do with this basketball deal, and i am sure that not one person posting on here from oklahoma did either. the one thing i am very sure of is this. professional sports have become more and more and more..."just a business". in my opinion this actually started with the players...those players willing to jump ship for just one more dollar (or million) on the contract. no room for loyalty. as far as i am concerned they are all just a bunch of spoiled millionaires
Flying colors: Despite economy, Tinker bond passes (Thu May 15, 2008)
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Even though the title might indicate they were trying to spin the election as passing with "flying colors, the editorial didn't do that (barely based with 53% of the vote...roughly 3% of the County population).
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"Tuesday was the fourth election in seven months that involved an INCREASE in either the property tax or the sales tax."
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FINALLY, they admit the the bond issues and Ford tax were tax INCREASES (instead of an "extension" or "it won't raise taxes")...it's about time! Thank You!!
Hello Larry, Education Week 's tenth annual report card on state education systems ranked Oklahoma among the top 10 states in each of their four major reform categories. More than 100 educational indicators are monitored by Education Week's researchers, who this year also analyzed state policy efforts over the past decade. Oklahoma outperformed the national average on each of the “ 2006 Policy Implementation” indicators. (Jan. 2006) (www.edweek.org). Also, The Education Commission of the States Web site includes a massive database tracking each state's implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act . In July 2004, Oklahoma ranked No. 1 in the U.S. with more of the 40 major requirements met than any other state. Since then, the ECS has revised their database tracking system but Oklahoma remains in the top five nationally. (Jan. 2006) (www.ecs.org). I cannot find anything for 07 or 08. If you find anything, please let me know. Thanks!
Hi Mardy, do you have a link that shows the school stuff (where we rank so high)...to hear the OEA and Sandy Garrett tell it we are in horrible position (usually due to lack of teacher pay of course)?
Larry, that is what I came up with as well. 5 years and we'll be where Seattle is right now. If we are going to do this, we need to do it right...in my opinion. As far as the schools go, we are in the top 10 of every major category..however, I'll be the first one to say that there is room for improvement...like pay for the teachers is on the top of my list. I personally would like to see a team here, as it will provide a huge boost...but only if it is done right.
Paul, first, thanks for the sites! It is weird that one day we'll be great, and then the next our economy is tanked. Kind-a wonder if this is all political just to be presented at our next election. I did notice the site you referenced for how bad the State "could" be was forecasting, and did not use the same economic indicators that show a different picture. Again, probably political posturing. I did like the Pew's comments...a website provided by Bill. Have you guys read that one?
Darrell, Jill cannot refute any of the facts posted because all she knows is the political spiel tossed out by the Chamber and the city offices and Mayor Mick. Besides that, it's true that the city did withhold information, is still withholding information, and will continue to do so, and they surely don't plan on changing their strategy, lest the population of this city becomes truly informed and speaks out against lining the pockets of billionaires and former govt employees. Facts don't mean much in this city or state, what counts here is deception and smoke and mirrors, and if you've been following the whole NBA in Oklahoma fiasco, you'll see that is indeed the case. Rather than resort to something as foolish as facts to refute a statement from somebody like me or Larry, they'll either grow completely silent, try to change the subject, or resort to playing down the situation with useless statements, such as 007 has made, or Jill with her love it or leave it scenario....
Survey showed little support for Sonics in Washington 05/10/2008 Voters in Washington state in March were overwhelmingly against a proposal to keep the Seattle SuperSonics there, according to a survey made public Friday in...
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In an amended complaint filed in federal court, Schultz's attorneys argued that Bennett's Oklahoma City-based partnership breached its contract with Schultz by failing to use "good faith best efforts" for a full 12 months to get an arena deal in the Seattle area.
That requirement was set out in the purchase and sale agreement when Bennett's group bought the Sonics and Storm in 2006 for $350 million.
Instead of proposing a reasonable arena plan, Schultz's latest filing claims Bennett pushed a $500 million Renton arena that would have required "unprecedented amounts in public subsidies" with lease terms Bennett "knew would be unacceptable" to state lawmakers.
In the Washington State RCW's this is the "negligent misrepresentation" and "fraudulent inducement"
_________________________________________________________________
Even though the title might indicate they were trying to spin the election as passing with "flying colors, the editorial didn't do that (barely based with 53% of the vote...roughly 3% of the County population).
_________________________________________________________________
"Tuesday was the fourth election in seven months that involved an INCREASE in either the property tax or the sales tax."
_________________________________________________________________
FINALLY, they admit the the bond issues and Ford tax were tax INCREASES (instead of an "extension" or "it won't raise taxes")...it's about time! Thank You!!