Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:00 pm EDT

Save the Sonics! Rock the NBA Board of Governors vote!

By J.E. Skeets


If you're an NBA basketball fan, you are no doubt sickened by what Clay Bennett and his Raiders are trying to do in Seattle. If this is the case, I beg you to read this e-mail I received from Tyler Kumakura at SonicsCentral:

I'm a Sonics fan. I realize, that on any given night, if whatever team you hold near and dear is going head to head with my Supes, we probably wouldn't be buying each other beers. Today, however, I'm hoping that you'll be able to see beyond the court to the bigger picture.

As an NBA fan, I would imagine you've been following to some extent, what's happening up here in Seattle. We are in the midst of having our hearts ripped out by a deceitful ownership group trying to steal our team. A local ownership group has stepped up to the plate in an effort to save the team, and the community has rallied behind them. Despite the local momentum, much of how this all plays out will hinge on how the NBA Board of Governors will vote regarding the relocation bid. The vote is scheduled to take place TOMORROW (April 17). Here's where you come in.

Get your blog readers to let their team's owners know that they do not support the relocation of the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Have them send the owners emails. Write them letters. Call them at home! Perhaps you even suggest that they threaten to boycott any game next season in which the Oklahoma City Sonics play, whether it be in an arena or on TV. As the administrator of an NBA fan blog, you have a powerful voice. Please use it! You can do what we never could – we need you!

A warm-hearted Miami Heat fan who has gotten involved in the protest gave us the idea to reach out to other team's fan bases and had this to say on our SonicsCentral.com blog: "Spread this idea around as much as you can. It's going to take the other teams to prevent this from happening. Let's save the Sonics!"

I implore you – if you feel like what is happening is wrong – if you aren't buying Clay Bennett and David Stern's lies and cover ups – if you don't want to see a precedent set where the NBA can rip 40+ years of tradition away from any community that doesn't bow it's knee in submission – then take action. The Board of Governor's meeting is this Thursday ... as in tomorrow. (Ed. My understanding is that the vote will be held either Thursday at the earliest, or Friday at the latest.) We love our team as much as you love yours. If we don't stop this travesty from occurring, it could happen to any team or market. Please do your part and help us. It's the 11th hour, but it's not too late!

Our most sincere thanks,
Tyler

-----

OK, here's what I'm going to do, BDL readers: With your help, we're going to try and compile an e-mail/phone number list for every NBA owner in the league. A sort of one-stop shop for any NBA fan who wants to get in on the SOS movement and voice their concerns. I'll update the list as you guys e-mail them in. Thanks in advance.

– Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck, Owner: wyc [at] celtics.com
– Cleveland Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, Owner: dangilbert [at] quickenloans.com
– Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Owner: mark.cuban [at] dallasmavs.com
– Denver Nuggets, Kronke Sports Enterprises contact: 303.405.1100
– Houston Rockets, Greg Elliott, VP of Corporate Development: grege [at] rocketball.com
– Minnesota Timberwolves, Glen Taylor, owner: 507.625.2828
– Orlando Magic, contact: 407.916.2400
– Toronto Raptors, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd: 416.815-8660

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193 Comments

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  1. Big Chris
    1. Posted by Big Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    You guys rock! Thanks for helping us keep the Sonics in Seattle!
    Big Chris
    http://sonicscentrla.com
  2. Big Chris
    2. Posted by Big Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    You guys rock! Thanks for helping us keep the Sonics in Seattle! Let your voices be heard!
    Big Chris
    http://sonicscentral.com (it helps if you can type the url correctly!)
  3. tabb1999
    3. Posted by tabb1999 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    Actually, the 17th is Thursday, not Friday.
  4. Brendan
    4. Posted by Brendan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Dude that made absolutely no sense, take your spam elsewhere...
  5. ASponge
    5. Posted by ASponge Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    Thanks for helping the movement! The threat of an all-out OKC boycott next year might scare the owners enough into delaying the decision. These were the original words:
    "As a form of protest, we vow to boycott any game next season in which
    the Oklahoma City Sonics play, whether it be in our arena or watching
    it on television." It all started with some Heat fans at
    The South Florida Fan:
    http://thesouthfloridafan.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-to-help-seattle-keep-their-sonics.html
    It's on us (the non-Sonics fans) to make this happen.
  6. monitor
    6. Posted by monitor Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:57 pm EDT

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    If you go to the site mentioned in post #1, a Trojan virus will be installed on your machine.
  7. J Wordplay
    7. Posted by J Wordplay Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    when you think of shawn kemp ,gary payton u think of the sonics and some of the great games they had in seattle
    im in favor of seeing the supersonics next year.just sell the team back and beg stern for an expansion team.
  8. the REAL Headless Chicken
    8. Posted by the REAL Headless Chicken Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Skeets shouldn't you try to post these e-Mail-Adresses covered so harvesters won't see them as such? I mean, flooding them with spam may not help a bit.
  9. jallens1965
    9. Posted by jallens1965 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    "...if you don't want to see a precedent set where the NBA can rip 40+ years of tradition away from any community that doesn't bow it's knee in submission..."
    Bow it's knee in submission? You act as though you have a right to an NBA team. That's nonsense. It's their team, their league, their terms - sorry, that's life. As for the fans threatening to boycott OKC games next year on Seattle's behalf, if you believe that will actually happen I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
  10. JMVandal (Formerly James M)
    10. Posted by JMVandal (Formerly James M) Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Cuban is already voting against the relocation.
  11. J.E. Skeets
    11. Posted by J.E. Skeets Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    Good call J.B. Will do.
  12. ASponge
    12. Posted by ASponge Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    www.sonicscentral.com should start working again soon, from what I understand. Just be patient.
    As for the boycott not working...I would agree with you two years ago. In today's Internet age, it can absolutely happen.
  13. Mark C
    13. Posted by Mark C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    Maybe someone should get STERN BY HIS OLD @#$ EARS AND YELL AT HIM BECAUSE HE has no idea of what is going on and brain washed by what Clay has said in the past and I guess Stern can't read much less write because one of the e-mails said s( by Clay) something like I never planned on keeping the team in Seattle and move it to OKC. Now I am not no genius but wouldn't someone say something like that BIG FAT OLD COUNTRY BOY DOESN'T LIKE SEATTLE AND WANTS TO MOVE THE TEAM.... Doesn't this sound like something we have heard in the past remember the Balitmore Colts leaving for Indy and they in Baltimore STILL HATE THE NAME COLORS AND THE OWNER because that was their team and now the Sonics are in the same mix...... Well introducing the Oklahoma City Sonics and the complete jack(butt)Clay Bennett and his ( Female Dog) David Stern.
  14. jgmg@...
    14. Posted by jgmg@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Why in the world would the NBA team owners want a boycot? Maybe they would like playing in Seattle to empty seats as they have been for the past 4-5 years. Seattle you blew it -get over it.
  15. Blind_governor
    15. Posted by Blind_governor Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    SAVE THE SONICS....OKC Supersonics sounds retarded!!!
  16. Jim T
    16. Posted by Jim T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    So, #13, there was no Internet 2 years ago? Fans want to see their favorite teams play basketball -- and most don't care if it's against the Oklahoma City Supersonics or the Shanghai Ballers. As long as it's another NBA team -- game on!
    It's unfortunate what's happening in Seattle, but that's life. And that's Sports. It's a business, not a philanthropic organization/industry.
    I wish Seattle luck in keeping their team, but you guys are running out of time.
  17. flawless
    17. Posted by flawless Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    The fact is, Seattle doesn't want to pony up to rich owners even though they're arena lease is the worst in the league. Mark Cuban had done it right, build a nice building, provide an exciting team, and fans will flock. I am a Maverick fan living in Oklahoma. I don't think I will become an Oklahoma Sonic fan because I've been a Mavericks fan for 28 years (or so). I don't blame Seattle for not wanting to pay for a new arena with gov't funds, there are more pressing issues. But get over it, it's a game, it's a team, it isn't life or death. Unless of course, you were to buy the Dallas Cowboys.
  18. the kardude
    18. Posted by the kardude Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    Too little, too late. There is more to this then Skeets and Tyler are posting. This action is the proverbial train coming down the tracks, it has been coming for quite a while now. There have been opportunities for the city and/or the state to step up to the plate and find the money, be it public or through the private sector to do the things necessary to keep the Sonics in Seattle. The sale of the team only happened after every entity involved bowed out and it was known that this was coming. You want precedent for the Seattle fan base - try looking at Houston and the NFL. Once upon a time there was an NFL team called the Oilers and the fan base and the city turned their back on them when they said they would move and when it was too late, the hue and cry and hand-wringing was heard but it was "too little, too late". After a few years the opportunity for an expansion team came up and the result was a franchise was "sold"
    or acquired, for a record $600 million dollars in Houston and the fans are some of the most grateful in America today. The NBA owners will not vote a stop to this move, it makes no sense for them. The other NBA owners don't want anyone telling them when and where they can move. The only owner that might side with keeping a team out of Oklahoma City would be Mark Cuban, and that is simply because Oklahoma City is only about 200 miles north of Dallas.
  19. ASponge
    19. Posted by ASponge Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:43 pm EDT

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    There was Internet, but not viral marketing presence. That's the big difference. Just compare the coverage of the '04 election to this one.
    In today's age, word gets out really fast and all over.
  20. David L
    20. Posted by David L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    If Oklahoma City wants a team ... good for them ... if they can support that team, even better ... I don't have a problem with a team relocating (as long as it leaves it's history and name behind for it's replacement) if that city/fans no longer supports the team, but if the move is only about the money ... if the move ignores sold out arenas at the expense of a "sweeter" deal with a new venue, then I have a problem ... Seattle as a fan base is one of the best in basketball ... they are smart supporters of their team ... just because the stadium isn't buckling under to the outrageous demands of new ownership isn't a good enough reason to allow a shift ... the NBA should be ashamed if they allow this to happen ...
  21. Michael
    21. Posted by Michael Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    I really believe the Sonics should just stay in Seattle as through the years they have been a good team. time to get another expansion team in Oklahoma City.
  22. rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier)
    22. Posted by rstealercavsfan (Shaqalier) Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:54 pm EDT

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    Seattle is a joke! They do not support the team the way that OKC would. And let's not forget that the NBA Commish is on board for the move. Quit delaying the inevitable!
  23. Brendan
    23. Posted by Brendan Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    You are the joke rstealer.
  24. The NARCISSIST
    24. Posted by The NARCISSIST Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:42 pm EDT

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    LET THE SONICS GO!!! Do like the Clev. Browns and Ravens did. Let that crap team go to Oklahoma with new colors and a new team name and logo. Then let Capt. Starbucks buy a new team which will carry the tradition of Seattle!!! The new Sonics!!!
    Then let Memphis go to the East because they need help and being in Tenn. is not the west!
    P.S. AND LET OLD GARY PAYTON BE SIGNED ON TO THAT NEW SEATTLE TEAM!
  25. Vincent D
    25. Posted by Vincent D Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:36 pm EDT

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    Rest of the country hurting but great northwest just rolls along fat and happy with microsoft, boeing, still sitting on the sidelines watching Seattle march backwards in time to a two-team town. Why wait for the politicians and taxes?

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