Conspiracy

by Lawler's Law on Jul 3, 2008 1:38 PM PDT Comment 13 comments

A Lakers fan at work just floated this theory past me...obiously trying to crush my extreme giddyness....Stern and Co are setting up a competative team with the idea of shelling tons of $ to DTS and moving the franchise to Seattle!...The only thing I could respond with was the fact that DTS is entrenched in LA (his business, etc) so there was no way he would do that...but I wonder if the deal is lucrative enough, if he'd be willing to do so. He would definetly be in the driver's seat when negotiating the terms! I had to come to my warm happy place after that cubicle conversation...

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Well

We know someone paid the Clippers enought to throw away a season by drafting a mysterious Russian and then happening to hold a miserable training camp in Russia.

But moving seems like an entirely different beast.

by John R on Jul 3, 2008 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Doubt it...

but I wouldn’t put it past Godfather Stern.

by mikey p on Jul 3, 2008 1:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

DTS wouldn't even move to OC

by Jax on Jul 3, 2008 2:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

So true...

and there is TONS of money in the OC…why would he want to start over in the Emerald City?

by Clip Show on Jul 3, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder when this conpsiracy theory moves to the Crescent City and the home of Elvis

Because that’s where the real conspiracies should start. (As a resident of the Emerald City, and a former resident of Sacramento, I can say there is a vast difference between the 2 places. The Sonics could have stayed if Bennett didn’t just have to have his way. Also Sterling should have moved to the OC years ago. Everyone in LA, and probably California, and maybe the rest of the NBA world, knows this.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jul 7, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

That’s the point of being an owner. You own it. Its your toy to do as you wish. Sometimes we make seemingly irrational decisions about our toys because we think it will be fun.

I’d feel for Sonics fans a little bit on this issue if they didn’t come off as completely entitled.

If you want a sports team to be in a particular place, buy it. If you can’t afford to buy it, adjust your expectations accordingly.

I know that’s not you PG, but I’m just saying.

by John R on Jul 7, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they're right

And they’ve gotten screwed. Completely. Sterling has done alot to Clippers fans, just about everything under the sun you can do as a matter of fact, starting with the wretched hellish LA arena, totally unforgivable in my book , but that being said did he ever threaten to move? I don’t remember him doing so.

I disagree with you about Sonics fans. They’re not entitled. Many are simply emotional in my opinion. I also think this issue about the Sonics moving isn’t just about the Sonics moving. It’s about the total process. It’s about the ineptness of the mayor in Seattle (Greg Nickels), the former owner Howard Schultz (Starbucks chairman) and the way Bennett handled his “promise” to look for an arena around here. I still think it’s about not having an available parking lot around Key Arena (if you’re ever around Seattle Center note how little parking there is-Seattle is a town/city that you don’t need a car to live in-and it’s appealing truthfully) and that was a turnoff to Bennett. Afterall John, owners make a substantial amount of profit on parking lots. That’s how the Maloof’s used to make a ton of money at Arco with the huge amount of parking lots. While I’m sure some in LA joke it used to be a cow pasture, it used to be because it used to be country. Now the most valuable thing about the land is the fact that is that an entirely new city suburb (Natomas) is built around it and it has alot of accessibility factors that don’t exist elsewhere in Natomas. Not every place is LA after all.

(I do find it amusing that the Kings got land from the “state” at Cal Expo, and that there won’t be a suit from the other 10+ pro sports teams who have gotten no such boost. I’m waiting to see that outcome personally, and where it heads.)

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jul 7, 2008 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I see the names they’ve called Bennett (from day zero mind you) and the general way they’ve behaved. Even among the central sites to the movement to keep them they called him names that were based on stereotypes. A sports team is just a property, like any other. In fact less so because there is no basic human need satisfied by it. Its a toy for the rich.

I didn’t say I couldn’t understand their feelings, but my sympathy towards Sonics fans has definitely waned as this has gone on.

Don’t be the guy who is always moping around since his girlfriend left him. Leaving messages begging her to call her back. Calling her names and saying mean things. Be the guy who is indifferent to her presence. That’s the way to get her back in the end.

The owners only get to act this way when you act like you need them. That’s a lesson Sacramento could take to heart too.

See: LA football. Life has gone on, and without rediculous public subsidies.

For the record I’m LA county born and raised, but the HS I went to was originally named Dairy Valley High.

by John R on Jul 7, 2008 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

John we're 2 reasonable people

And we can agree to disagree so I think we will.

I also think there is a strong chance to see NBA basketball in Seattle since part of the “settlement” made by City Hall included 30 million extra dollars (added to the 45 million the city gets regardless) of Clay Bennett’s money if Seattle doesn’t get another team in 5 years. That was a shrewd move that could see money put into his pocket as opposed to money being taken out. The city did such a poor job of presenting their case (or maybe the real case that many said didn’t have much water in federal court since several people stated that money can be stated in lieu of a lease), and the Sonics scored valuable points on the jury scorecard with the city trying to undermine the Sonics from leaving.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jul 7, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conspiracy are fun!

David Stern is definitely evil, and he’s definitely smart. But is he an evil genius, manipulating every move of every franchise in the entire NBA? And no one leaks anything (with the exception of disgraced refs facing serious jail time)? It doesn’t really hold up.

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by Steve Perrin on Jul 3, 2008 2:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't buy the in-game manipulation

Way too many moving parts for that to be secret and effective.

But I do think that Stern orchestrates some backroom deals (Gasol), and this could easily be in that realm, if he wanted it to be. But I don’t think he wants it to be. Seattle obviously is not a serious NBA city. Who knew that OKC would be?

by mikey p on Jul 3, 2008 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

why would another NBA team

want to go to Seattle? They didn’t want to build a new arena and key arena is a joke.

by cantthinkofagoodname on Jul 3, 2008 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For what its worth...

They are in the process of renovating Key Arena up to NBA standards…whatever that means. I saw a game there back in 1996, and compared to Staples Center now, that place is a dump…but it’s not that bad. Granted, a new arena would have kept them there….
The fans in seattle are the ones that really get screwed in all of this. I feel for them…hopefully, they get a new team in the next 5 years…and NOT a relocated one…

by Clip Show on Jul 3, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs