http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14279108p-15087844c.html
Marcos Bretón: Voters will speak truth about arena
The power players have lied long enough about their plans.
By Marcos Bretón -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Professional sports are about nothing if not deception. No one tells the truth because honesty gets you in trouble. From free agency to starting lineups to locker-room fights, it's all about lies, (darned) lies and the (darned) liars who tell them.
This is especially true in the perverse science of taxpayer-funded arenas such as the one they are trying to build in downtown Sacramento.
It's the biggest shell game in town, bigger than anything being cooked up at the state Capitol or surrounding Indian gaming casinos.
To follow along, one has to judge actions and not words.
Therefore, it has become clear that the NBA badly wants Sacramento and the Kings to cut an arena deal and be done with it -- to put it before county voters in November and see what happens.
There can be no other conclusion when the NBA replaces the right-hand man of the Kings' owners at the negotiating table with the right-hand man of NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Of course, the Kings argue that subbing NBA lawyer Harvey Benjamin for John Thomas, the president of Maloof Sports & Entertainment, is no big deal.
That the Kings are ceding no control here. That Benjamin and Stern actually work for the Kings and for other NBA owners.
To which we quote the prophet Jerry Seinfeld, who famously said: "Yada, yada, yada."
Let's judge reality here. A couple of weeks ago, the NBA had not directly heard from the city or county of Sacramento -- it was getting the arena spin solely from the Kings.
Then Sacramento Vice Mayor Rob Fong flew to New York, met with Benjamin, and suddenly, stalled arena talks were re-started in Las Vegas, with Benjamin seated at the table for two long days of negotations.
And then suddenly, Benjamin -- not Thomas -- was the main guy dealing with Dan Barrett, the consultant hired by the city and county to cut an arena deal.
What does this high-stakes shuffle mean to you and me? It is the strongest sign yet that an arena deal is within reach and could go to voters in November.
Is that a guarantee?
Come on, now. This is pro sports, where arrogance and avarice dictate that anything could still happen, including failure to cut a deal waiting to be made.
Both sides remain far apart on key issues and seemingly need a drop-dead date and the specter of failure to quit lying and get it done.
Is this judgment week? Who can believe anyone with certainty?
But if a deal materializes, your perspective is required because pro sports is a world where Sacramento is on the responsible end of arena negotiations.
Just imagine it: A $500 million building where the city and county pay roughly 75 percent, the Maloofs 25 percent and the Maloofs control all the profits, and that's considered responsible.
This because in Texas, Indiana and Tennessee, owners have paid even less -- or nothing at all -- while raking in all the dough. All so cities could get an arena and keep the home team home.
And you know what? Other cities such as Charlotte have bled far more -- survived far more rancor -- while going through this process.
The Kings' owners -- the Maloofs -- probably don't feel that way right now. There have been whispers around town that they feel beaten up.
No need for that.
As Al Pacino said in "The Godfather": "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."
This column has hurled more than one barb their way, but I can't think of a single NBA ownership group I would trade for them, unless that swap netted Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade for Sacramento.
The point is, this process transcends personalities. It's about civic priorities encompassing a remade downtown with an arena as the anchor.
It also means an intense debate to vote up or down on such a project. That's what elections are for.
With Benjamin in place and Stern certainly in the loop, Sacramento appears headed in that direction, unless something completely ridiculous happens now.
Either way, the outcome will be shrouded in lies, the true essence of pro sports. Real truth awaits in the ballot box.
About the writer: Reach Marcos Bretón at (916) 321-1096 or mbreton@sacbee.com
Marcos Bretón: Voters will speak truth about arena
The power players have lied long enough about their plans.
By Marcos Bretón -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Professional sports are about nothing if not deception. No one tells the truth because honesty gets you in trouble. From free agency to starting lineups to locker-room fights, it's all about lies, (darned) lies and the (darned) liars who tell them.
This is especially true in the perverse science of taxpayer-funded arenas such as the one they are trying to build in downtown Sacramento.
It's the biggest shell game in town, bigger than anything being cooked up at the state Capitol or surrounding Indian gaming casinos.
To follow along, one has to judge actions and not words.
Therefore, it has become clear that the NBA badly wants Sacramento and the Kings to cut an arena deal and be done with it -- to put it before county voters in November and see what happens.
There can be no other conclusion when the NBA replaces the right-hand man of the Kings' owners at the negotiating table with the right-hand man of NBA Commissioner David Stern.
Of course, the Kings argue that subbing NBA lawyer Harvey Benjamin for John Thomas, the president of Maloof Sports & Entertainment, is no big deal.
That the Kings are ceding no control here. That Benjamin and Stern actually work for the Kings and for other NBA owners.
To which we quote the prophet Jerry Seinfeld, who famously said: "Yada, yada, yada."
Let's judge reality here. A couple of weeks ago, the NBA had not directly heard from the city or county of Sacramento -- it was getting the arena spin solely from the Kings.
Then Sacramento Vice Mayor Rob Fong flew to New York, met with Benjamin, and suddenly, stalled arena talks were re-started in Las Vegas, with Benjamin seated at the table for two long days of negotations.
And then suddenly, Benjamin -- not Thomas -- was the main guy dealing with Dan Barrett, the consultant hired by the city and county to cut an arena deal.
What does this high-stakes shuffle mean to you and me? It is the strongest sign yet that an arena deal is within reach and could go to voters in November.
Is that a guarantee?
Come on, now. This is pro sports, where arrogance and avarice dictate that anything could still happen, including failure to cut a deal waiting to be made.
Both sides remain far apart on key issues and seemingly need a drop-dead date and the specter of failure to quit lying and get it done.
Is this judgment week? Who can believe anyone with certainty?
But if a deal materializes, your perspective is required because pro sports is a world where Sacramento is on the responsible end of arena negotiations.
Just imagine it: A $500 million building where the city and county pay roughly 75 percent, the Maloofs 25 percent and the Maloofs control all the profits, and that's considered responsible.
This because in Texas, Indiana and Tennessee, owners have paid even less -- or nothing at all -- while raking in all the dough. All so cities could get an arena and keep the home team home.
And you know what? Other cities such as Charlotte have bled far more -- survived far more rancor -- while going through this process.
The Kings' owners -- the Maloofs -- probably don't feel that way right now. There have been whispers around town that they feel beaten up.
No need for that.
As Al Pacino said in "The Godfather": "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."
This column has hurled more than one barb their way, but I can't think of a single NBA ownership group I would trade for them, unless that swap netted Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade for Sacramento.
The point is, this process transcends personalities. It's about civic priorities encompassing a remade downtown with an arena as the anchor.
It also means an intense debate to vote up or down on such a project. That's what elections are for.
With Benjamin in place and Stern certainly in the loop, Sacramento appears headed in that direction, unless something completely ridiculous happens now.
Either way, the outcome will be shrouded in lies, the true essence of pro sports. Real truth awaits in the ballot box.
About the writer: Reach Marcos Bretón at (916) 321-1096 or mbreton@sacbee.com