Schulz suing for Sonics ownership
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2004349361_schultz15.html
Crazy, crazy, crazy. Such a great basketball year, and this could end up being one of the defining moments, hopefully for the better (i.e., good faith holds up in a court of law). Can't say that I have a good feeling about the Sonics staying, though I also can't that I'm a lawyer. I don't even play one on TV.
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42 comments
Comments
Got this from a friend
by supremepuntiff on Apr 15, 2008 12:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It is so tacky to say "I told you so"
http://www.blazersedge.com/comments/2008/4/10/132648/084/13#13
Bennett may move the team, but it could really cost him a lot of money. As in multiple millions.
Does Schulz really want the team back? Perhaps not. But he is now a hero in Seattle. If he wins, the public will be on his side, which will help him negotiate with the authorities, and he can sell to a local group.
If he doesn't get the team back, he still might win huge damages, which could help him bring another team in.
The NBA now has a huge mess on their hands, of Bennett's making. Perhaps the only way out is to quickly arrange a sale of the Grizzlies to Schulz or another Seattle investor, with Bennett settling with Schulz by paying up a lot of money to help facilitate the deal.
I'm not so sure the league owners are going to vote on this right away, with this latest maneuver. Schulz could win, and get very rich while doing so.
by jscot on Apr 15, 2008 1:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wait a minute
Wire or wet string ever?
What about frogs?
What if your kite winds around a power line?
http://www.blazersedge.com/comments/2008/4/9/62314/45126/4#4
by tominhawaii on Apr 15, 2008 1:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That guy was FREAKY!
I did always envision some poor kid who didn't have the 50 cents for an actual kite making some monstrosity out of wire, wet string, and metal. How that thing got enough lift to wind around a power line was beyond me though.
--Dave
by Dave on Apr 15, 2008 1:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm Sad
by tominhawaii on Apr 15, 2008 3:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol

by Philthyanimal on Apr 15, 2008 3:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigh....
Did I say "I told you so" in that post to which you are responding? I did not.
All I said in the title is that it is tacky to say that phrase.
That you jumped to the conclusion that I was saying it is your own doing.
See how I can wiggle out of this kind of stuff? Actually, though nobody knows it, I worked for Tony Blair as a "Special Advisor" for 12 years. Without me, John Major would still be Prime Minister.
The ungrateful world has never understood all the glorious benefits I bestow upon it by my presence.
by jscot on Apr 15, 2008 3:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Said the man
I'm frequently misguided, but always obnoxious.
by tominhawaii on Apr 15, 2008 3:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's brilliant
by jscot on Apr 15, 2008 3:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
I was going to go on, but that would take all night, and I'm still now sure what to say about BlueBooYay. I miss him, and ever so many people. Where have all the bloggers gone? I might need a new nemesis.
by tominhawaii on Apr 15, 2008 4:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am proud to be in your Ohana
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 15, 2008 5:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow and wow
I think that was actually a compliment you gave me. Are you feeling ok?
BlueBooYay is still here, it's just that he/she transformed into Lizzie. I miss him, too, actually. When I rule the world, people won't be able to change their identities without my permission. You can be my Identity Advisor. There's a lot of potential for mischief, er, um, valuable and important work, in that role.
by jscot on Apr 15, 2008 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sweet! I'm Tom's instigator!
by JTDuck22 on Apr 15, 2008 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like to consider all of us a single organism.
Continents are not big enough to separate us.
by amlmart1 on Apr 15, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
BOO!!!
I've been right beside you all along :)
honkaplayboys.comby BlueBooYay on Apr 15, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh you did it now
by tominhawaii on Apr 15, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that a lizzard?
by JTDuck22 on Apr 15, 2008 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, But

"The Team with Caricature!"
by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 15, 2008 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And now I'm an Outlaw too!

"The Team with Caricature!"
by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 15, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm no legal expert
--Dave
by Dave on Apr 15, 2008 1:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"Good faith"
Look for this one to be settled out of court, because there's a decent possibility Bennett loses. And look for the NBA to be involved in helping to make that settlement happen by arranging for a team to be in Seattle fairly quickly.
This actually could have significant Blazer ramifications, depending on what happens in the lottery. If Memphis gets #1 or #2, their pick becomes untradeable, because they have to chose Rose.
But not if they are moving to Seattle anyway.
by jscot on Apr 15, 2008 3:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they can prove,
Cause I watched Matlock and I know stuff. Trust me:).
by shenanigans on Apr 15, 2008 6:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
this may not be a jury trial
by dp8039 on Apr 15, 2008 8:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think most lawyers will tell you
In this case it is not so clear cut that Bennett violated any terms relating to "good faith". First off, one would need to see the actual side agreement the Schultz refers to in the PI article. Second, the fact that some of the ownership group mentioned in emails that they really wanted to see the team in OKC is not clear cut "proof" of failure to act in good faith. Acting in good faith might be defined within the boundries of getting arena improvements. If Bennett can show he made a reasonable effort to obtain the necessary support, then he has an argument that he did indeed act in good faith.
It is a reasonable assumption to think that all parties involved were aware at the time of the sale, that for the Sonics to be financially viable, they needed new revenue streams (aka corporate boxes). It is also reasonable to think that these same parties had a pretty good idea of the chances of getting what they wanted out of the city and state. Therefore, they knew that they were basically going through the motions.
If you accept these premises, then it also becomes possible to think that a court will agree with your argument that as long as your attempts to get a new (or upgraded) facility met the standard of reasonableness, you meet the standard of good faith. Whether or not you think your efforts have any chance of success is not relevant.
Personally, I think Bennett and company would have been much better off keeping their mouths (and emails) shut. All they had to do was wait until the end of the season and the owners vote.
by timg56 on Apr 15, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Worht a shot
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 15, 2008 7:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Those emails will help
PS, did anyone else get a big ad on this page saying "FREE HAWKS RINGTONES". As in Atlanta hawks? Or as in the bird. "Cackaw Cackaw.... sound of mouse struggling sound of wings beating" ... "Sorry, I've got to take this call"
by rmcdougall on Apr 15, 2008 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*text text text*
by rmcdougall on Apr 15, 2008 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Bennett and Stern are in love
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 15, 2008 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clay Bennett
But now Stern is day-by-day converting himself into one of the benevolent-turned-despotic monarchs of yore. The Donaghy situation rocked the integrity of the NBA and Stern, after promising a full investigation with public transparency, has swept it under the rug.
Shady refereeing has played a direct role in deciding numerous playoff games and series: Game 6 of the 2002 WCF, all of the 2006 Finals, and Game 5 of last year's Suns-Spurs matchup. Yet despite the pivotal and controversial factor of playoff officiating, individual referee evaluations are denied to the public and media members are barred from approaching officials after games -- by fiat of King David.
Introducing the synthetic basketball last year, an inferior product mind you, without consulting the players and summarily dismissing their concerns was a ham-handed move by the commissioner's office that ended disastrously and negatively affected the quality of play on the court.
And now, beyond all rhyme or reason, Stern is in bed with an Oklahoma City-based ownership group that has stated on multiple occasions, in writing, that they bought the Sonics to move them to Oklahoma and never intended to stay in Seattle. He has thrown his weight behind the effort to uproot a team from the community that has offered forty-two years of loyal support to the Sonics and to the league. He is supporting a move inimical to the business interests of the NBA. A sneer, a shrug, and a promise that if the people of Seattle "let" the Sonics walk -- in other words, refuse to be blackmailed by King David and the Oklahoma City court jesters into building an unnecessary half-billion dollar arena -- they will never again have an NBA team. That's what Stern has offered the city.
Some guy. Some leader. Here's hoping against hope that the courts strike a blow against the cronyism of Stern and his band of merry little men.
by BlazersOrBust on Apr 15, 2008 8:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't buy that Stern has been a great Commish
You want to give credit to the success of the NBA since 1984, give it to Michael Jordan.
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 15, 2008 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couldnt agree more.
Stern stinks too.
by blazhead on Apr 15, 2008 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The timing of this announcement
by ranma on Apr 15, 2008 8:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
PTI
by isoldout on Apr 15, 2008 9:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hate to jump in on your diary...
I wrote a diary about the earlier http://www.blazersedge.com/story/2008/4/14/224644/412
You can e-mail your request that Allen vote to deny the Oklahoma move here http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/contactus.html
by JasonT on Apr 15, 2008 10:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is purely an attempt by Schultz to salvage
by timg56 on Apr 15, 2008 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree with this also
The Starbucks guy sold it to Bennett because they offered more money, and is just trying to look like he cares now by doing something he knows won't be supported and will likely fail. It's ridiculous.
Bennett is obviously a horrible person (even before stealing the Sonics), but he is doing exactly what we all knew he could do. Schultz should get most of the blame.
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Apr 15, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
PETITION
MAYBE WE SHOULD SET ONE UP?
by JasonT on Apr 15, 2008 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Geez.
I hope Schultz is able to win any sort of legal proceeding against Bennett; I'm not optimistic, though.
by rockingharder on Apr 15, 2008 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This week has really exposed
First the Sonics, and then the atrocious reffing in the 76er's-Lebrons game. I'm hoping my adoptive hometown Wizards beat the Cavs, the only thing that can stop them is more terrible superstar favoritism. Go Gilbert!
I really rdon't have anything against Lebron, he seems like a decent guy (barring his jump from the Cavaliers to the Brooklyn Nets). I do however. have a problem with the ridiculous bias in calls he receives.
by Dheepan on Apr 15, 2008 5:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
YES YES
by billyjoejack on Apr 15, 2008 7:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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