If the PNW is so damn wonderful . . .

[Dave]

then why would the Sonics leave and go to Oklahoma!

Holy shit - talk about a crappy place! And they prefer it to rainy emo-grunge ville!

[Jand3rson]

Dude, they can have 'em.

[eric (^__^)]

The who?

[Charlie]

I hear they're really nice guys in person.

-Charlie

[Jon325i]

The who?

[Tavern Gnome]

then why would the Sonics leave and go to Oklahoma!

Holy shit - talk about a crappy place! And they prefer it to rainy emo-grunge ville!

Watch your tongue fish!

[joshh]

Because they need a new place that's willing to juice the tax payers even more.

[z31maniac]

Because they need a new place that's willing to juice the tax payers even more.

True story. The persons in power in this state are about corrupt as it gets.

In Tulsa for instance, the mayor spent $80million to move the City of Tulsa's operations to another more glitzy building downtown, while crime rises due to less police, roads fall to shit and there are no plans in place to try to lure big companies to come back and bring the high paying jobs that left Tulsa during the oil bust in the 80s.

And in another, Tulsa county tax payers (due to some unbelievably illegal back door deal) will be paying a loan for the now defunt Great Plains Airlines.

:finger: the idiots in this state that keep re-electing these fuckers to office.

Can't wait til I can move.

[h0lmes]

Dude, they can have 'em.

You can't say this Josh, you are from Oregon.

As for the whole Sonics situation, it really sucks. Some of the best memories from my childhood were watching Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp tear up the court. I will never forgive the powers that be for fucking up this whole situation.

Basically, we built them a tax payer funded arena in 1996. The previous owner, Howard Schultz, started asking for an arena in 2004, only 8 years after the Key Arena was built. He claimed that it didn't make money because it was built before private suites, restaurants, clubs, stores etc. were common in NBA arenas. Also, it was built before 100 million dollar payrolls were the norm so the team couldn't make a profit. The legislature told him no more tax money so he sold the team to a douche bag from Oklahoma City named Clay Bennett. He went on and on about how he was going to keep the team here and all this bullshit. Then he goes to the legislature, which turned down Howard Schultz for 300 million, and asks for 500 million for the most expensive NBA arena in the country. The legislature told him no, he got all butt hurt and moved the team.

That is the ultra ultra simplified version, there is a lot more to it. When the team was sold, a legally binding letter was signed and given to Howard Schultz, by Clay Bennett, that said he would not move the team. Howard Schultz is now suing for fraud and breach of contract. I could seriously go on about this whole debacle. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

[cferb]

I'm from Seattle, so I can say it. They can have them. No one here cares about the Sonics, or basketball, unless it's NCAA.

[h0lmes]

I'm from Seattle, so I can say it. They can have them. No one here cares about the Sonics, or basketball, unless it's NCAA.

Tell that to the 3000 people that showed up to protest at the courthouse 2 weeks ago.

The Sonics were great for Seattle. Even when the team was losing there were still 13,000 people pouring money into the Key Arena at every game. Then they would leave the arena and go right into a bar or a restaurant and spend more money. Even if you don't like sports, sports teams are good for the local economy.

[CCCXXV]

durr hurr a sports team left

an insignificant hobby represents shit-all of the goodness or lack thereof of any region

[h0lmes]

durr hurr a sports team left

an insignificant hobby represents shit-all of the goodness or lack thereof of any region

Hablo ingles?

[cferb]

Tell that to the 3000 people that showed up to protest at the courthouse 2 weeks ago.

The Sonics were great for Seattle. Even when the team was losing there were still 13,000 people pouring money into the Key Arena at every game. Then they would leave the arena and go right into a bar or a restaurant and spend more money. Even if you don't like sports, sports teams are good for the local economy.

MLS > NBA

Yea, I said it:p

[Jand3rson]

You can't say this Josh, you are from Oregon.

I wasn't being serious anyway, I could give a fuck less. I don't watch professional sports.

Those jackoffs are all paid way to damn much for doing nothing more than playing a game.