rainmaker
Hall of Famer
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/03/30/kings.arena/index.html?sct=nba_t2_a8
I don't trust George at all.
I don't trust George at all.
The thing that smells in his story is that he claims he has been against paying any development costs from the beginning. Why the hell did he agree to them on the term sheet? Seriously... if he's been totally open and transparent about not paying for these costs (and especially about covering for AEG's) why walk out of the Orlando hotel room with them still on it?
The answer of course... is so that he can throw these bumps in the road any way he can to try to sabotage this deal. Creating enough of a public scare that impedes a city council vote will do that. This isn't standard "negotiating". It's working towards your own personal ends that are different than the stated ends you claim.
Last time I checked, "tenants" of developed properties didn't get half the frickin naming rights. Care to give that up George?
Baja... don't bite your tongue. I want to know what you have to say, as I'm sure many others here do to! If you must, pm me!
What bugs me the most about this whole thing is the negotiating in public what should be done in private.
Reason it's being done in public is there is public money at stake, and, that there are city council votes required to get this thing passed. George is using that to his advantage (if you believe he's actually "negotiating" and not trying to scuttle the deal.) The more he can freak out the fan base, the more the city will be required to give up in order to have the team stay.
I just don't see Stern allowing any kind of shenanigans by George to try to weasel the team down to Anaheim. Stern ain't no dummy.
What bugs me the most about this whole thing is the negotiating in public what should be done in private.
I have no doubts that the Maloofs leaked that story to the Los Angeles Times. That newspaper does not care what is going on up here with the arena. They are not just trolling Sacramento in order to gain an edge for the Kings to go South. Somebody had to give them that story. Somebody had to give The Times an indication that Anaheim is "still in play" That stuff isn't just made up.
The Maloofs have zero leverage in this negotiation:
1. The NBA is not going to let them move to Anaheim, unless Sac just drops the ball.
2. If the family pulls out of the deal now, they still have a fan base to serve for the 2012-13 season.
3. See #1, David Stern wants to keep the franchise in Sacramento and has Ron Burkle in his back pocket.
4. THE MALOOFS HAVE NO MONEY!!! They may have millions, but they are not "major league" rich.