https://sports.yahoo.com/former-nba-com ... 16601.html


Out of respect for the dead all I'll say is I'll never forgive him for what he orchestrated with the Sonics

That's half the equation. Now for the other half. With all *due* respect, which is pretty much none.

Hope he brought his sunblock and aloe vera with him. It’s going to be extremely hot where he is going.

It was done out of pure spite too. Even in the late 2000's Seattle's population and economy was growing. Moving a team from there to OKC was stupid.

sdog1981 wrote:It was done out of pure spite too. Even in the late 2000's Seattle's population and economy was growing. Moving a team from there to OKC was stupid.

Yes, because the Mayor made him wait and they didn't roll out the Red Carpet for him. He had a huge ego and this just played into Clay Bennett's hands, add to this the City Councils stupidity and agenda, remember Poet readings in the Coliseum statement etc.

chris98251 wrote:

sdog1981 wrote:It was done out of pure spite too. Even in the late 2000's Seattle's population and economy was growing. Moving a team from there to OKC was stupid.

Yes, because the Mayor made him wait and they didn't roll out the Red Carpet for him. He had a huge ego and this just played into Clay Bennett's hands, add to this the City Councils stupidity and agenda, remember Poet readings in the Coliseum statement etc.

All true. There were plenty of “villians” involved in the Sonics leaving Seattle including a lot locally in government.....
...But “little man” Stern could have stopped Seattle from moving. He didn’t, in fact he was in favor of them moving to OKC.

As I've posted before, Stern wasn't the sole reason Sonic's left. He made a business decision that at the time benefited the NBA. The city of Seattle is to blame. No doubt about it. A new arena wasn't on their agenda. They were pushed and pushed to finally accept a new keyarena + hockey team a decade later to shut everyone up (gee thanks should have made a deal at the time!). People of Seattle got brainwashed into thinking it was all the NBA 's fault. Stern and the new owner would have loved a brand new arena in Seattle but didn't happen.

Crizilla wrote:As I've posted before, Stern wasn't the sole reason Sonic's left. He made a business decision that at the time benefited the NBA. The city of Seattle is to blame. No doubt about it. A new arena wasn't on their agenda. They were pushed and pushed to finally accept a new keyarena + hockey team a decade later to shut everyone up (gee thanks should have made a deal at the time!). People of Seattle got brainwashed into thinking it was all the NBA 's fault. Stern and the new owner would have loved a brand new arena in Seattle but didn't happen.

With all due respect, I disagree. Stern was butthurt that the Seattle politicians didn’t kiss his arse like Chris said in his post and abused his power as commissioner IMHO. Like I’ve said in previous posts there are plenty of local villians (see Seattle CC, governor at the time) who were also dumb enough to believe Stern’s promise that if they roll over and let the Sonics leave they will get a good chance at getting another team in the near future.

Stern and Clay Clay Bennett were the 2 biggest villains by far, without them, the Sonics never leave.

I suggest you watch “Sonicsgate”.

RIP

b!@ch!

It's a sad loss. He was good for the NBA for a long time.

SanDiego49er wrote:It's a sad loss. He was good for the NBA for a long time.

Careful, them's fightin' words 'round these parts

SanDiego49er wrote:It's a sad loss. He was good for the NBA for a long time.

He was good for Stern and Bennett, over the years most the players detested him.

He is a $h!t ball. Not just for his hand in the Sonics leaving Seattle but his hand in turning the professional game of basketball unwatchable.

"The lasting importance of David Stern’s Seattle SuperSonics heist"
The former NBA commissioner leaves a complicated legacy. Just ask Seattle fans."

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2020/1/6/2 ... upersonics

"He was largely a beloved commissioner .... "

"One of the notable exceptions where Stern is not beloved is, of course, in the city of Seattle...Stern shares the top spot with Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO and Sonics team owner."

byau wrote:"The lasting importance of David Stern’s Seattle SuperSonics heist"
The former NBA commissioner leaves a complicated legacy. Just ask Seattle fans."

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2020/1/6/2 ... upersonics

"He was largely a beloved commissioner ....

"One of the notable exceptions where Stern is not beloved is, of course, in the city of Seattle...Stern shares the top spot with Howard Schultz, the former Starbucks CEO and Sonics team owner."

Thanks for that article.