Clay Bennett at SacBee Thursday

M

MDM

Prospect
News spread through twitter late in the day that CB was at the SacBee offices to talk with McClatchy and other executives. Here's Sam Amick's take on that:

"Draw your own conclusions, but source says NBA visit in Sacto today includes a stop at the Sacramento Bee. It's no secret the Maloofs think The Bee has been unfair over the years. Perhaps Bennett/Benjamin exploring that dynamic."

I'd bet good money Sam Amick is correct in that guess (he did work at the Bee after all). And because this whole visit to Sacramento has been to verify statements made during the BOG meetings in NYC last week, if Amick is right, that would mean that the Maloofs mentioned the SacBee's "character assassination" during their presentation in front of the owners.

No wonder why their presentation was considered unimpressive in comparison to KJ's. The Maloofs went in pointing fingers and blaming everyone. KJ took responsibility and said we'll get it done.
 
MDM said:
News spread through twitter late in the day that CB was at the SacBee offices to talk with McClatchy and other executives. Here's Sam Amick's take on that:

"Draw your own conclusions, but source says NBA visit in Sacto today includes a stop at the Sacramento Bee. It's no secret the Maloofs think The Bee has been unfair over the years. Perhaps Bennett/Benjamin exploring that dynamic."

I'd bet good money Sam Amick is correct in that guess (he did work at the Bee after all). And because this whole visit to Sacramento has been to verify statements made during the BOG meetings in NYC last week, if Amick is right, that would mean that the Maloofs mentioned the SacBee's "character assassination" during their presentation in front of the owners.

No wonder why their presentation was considered unimpressive in comparison to KJ's. The Maloofs went in pointing fingers and blaming everyone. KJ took responsibility and said we'll get it done.
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Yikes! That's being careful. I hope they don't think too hard about KJ's point man being R.E. Graswich. :) Personally, it causes a headache for me. :)
 
Glenn said:
Yikes! That's being careful. I hope they don't think too hard about KJ's point man being R.E. Graswich. :) Personally, it causes a headache for me. :)
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I think KJ hired Graswich specifically to put a muzzle on him. One of the smartest moves he ever made and, except for once right around the origianal deadline, rather effective.
 
MDM said:
News spread through twitter late in the day that CB was at the SacBee offices to talk with McClatchy and other executives. Here's Sam Amick's take on that:

"Draw your own conclusions, but source says NBA visit in Sacto today includes a stop at the Sacramento Bee. It's no secret the Maloofs think The Bee has been unfair over the years. Perhaps Bennett/Benjamin exploring that dynamic."

I'd bet good money Sam Amick is correct in that guess (he did work at the Bee after all). And because this whole visit to Sacramento has been to verify statements made during the BOG meetings in NYC last week, if Amick is right, that would mean that the Maloofs mentioned the SacBee's "character assassination" during their presentation in front of the owners.

No wonder why their presentation was considered unimpressive in comparison to KJ's. The Maloofs went in pointing fingers and blaming everyone. KJ took responsibility and said we'll get it done.
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If the Maloofs can't andle Sacramento media market, how will they manage in Anaheim?
 
Tetsujin said:
If the Maloofs can't andle Sacramento media market, how will they manage in Anaheim?
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Good point. SoCal would throw them to the wolves if they ran the team the way they have here over the last few years. They'd be longing for some good old Sacramento hospitality.
 
I'd love it if Clay Bennett and his contingent canceled their trip to Anaheim which is scheduled immediately after departure from Sacramento. We've all been reading the tea leaves and they seem to be tipping in our favor but that would be huge if they became convinced they had enough info from Sac visit that it was worthless to head down south to Samueli-land.
 
PurpleHaze said:
I'd love it if Clay Bennett and his contingent canceled their trip to Anaheim which is scheduled immediately after departure from Sacramento. We've all been reading the tea leaves and they seem to be tipping in our favor but that would be huge if they became convinced they had enough info from Sac visit that it was worthless to head down south to Samueli-land.
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I'm not too worried about it even if they do go down there. I don't think the whopping 3000 people on the ticket list will exactly bowl them over. If that's the best a county with 3 million people can muster, then they're a joke and don't deserve any NBA team.
 
Yeah. Not gonna happen from a political point of view even if they have made up their mind.

Just don't see what else Anaheim could have in the bag that could bolster their case. What esle is there to the business of sports other than fans/tickets, tv, and sponsorship? Now maybe they have a **** ton of corporate sponsorhips dollars pledged already... maybe that's their "ace in the hole"? But that wouldn't make sense given the lukewarm reception of the public?

But this shouldn't be about whether Anaheim is a better town for basketball than Sac. This is about is Sacramento a viable market and can they get an arena done. Big difference. And I think the NBA understands that. A town has a team until a town fails to support a team or can't get an arena built or other some such problem. Not just if another one appears (temporarily) rosier (for the owners).
 
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The Hammer said:
Yeah. Not gonna happen from a political point of view even if they have made up their mind.

Just don't see what else Anaheim could have in the bag that could bolster their case. What esle is there to the business of sports other than fans/tickets, tv, and sponsorship? Now maybe they have a **** ton of corporate sponsorhips dollars pledged already... maybe that's their "ace in the hole"? But that wouldn't make sense given the lukewarm reception of the public?

But this shouldn't be about whether Anaheim is a better town for basketball than Sac. This is about is Sacramento a viable market and can they get an arena done. Big difference. And I think the NBA understands that. A town has a team until a town fails to support a team or can't get an arena built or other some such problem. Not just if another one appears (temporarily) rosier (for the owners).
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Maybe I'm just being hopeful but I have a gut feeling that this isn't really about the dollars and cents as much as it is giving Kevin Johnson and the city/region one last shot, with an official deadline, to get something done.
 
I think the Bee is the major third part of the equation that screwed things up along with the Maloofs and the City over the past few years but if the Maloofs wanted better coverage they probably should have hired PR people to help them manage their image because they had a habit of making themselves easy targets.
 
RookieOfTheDay said:
Maybe I'm just being hopeful but I have a gut feeling that this isn't really about the dollars and cents as much as it is giving Kevin Johnson and the city/region one last shot, with an official deadline, to get something done.
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Agreed. It would look bad for the NBA to walk out on one of its former stars and most fervent fan bases like that. I think that's what it'll come down to. One more year. Hard deadline. If not, they go. I think this is what is helping to create this show of support around the league (purple ties) and even on national media for the Kings in Sac.
 
RookieOfTheDay said:
Maybe I'm just being hopeful but I have a gut feeling that this isn't really about the dollars and cents as much as it is giving Kevin Johnson and the city/region one last shot, with an official deadline, to get something done.
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A deadline...something the Maloofs should have done. Once again, someone else has to do their work for them. I think this just goes to show the Maloofs have never been committed to Sacramento.
 
jpsls said:
A deadline...something the Maloofs should have done. Once again, someone else has to do their work for them. I think this just goes to show the Maloofs have never been committed to Sacramento.
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Wrong, wrong, totally wrong. The Maloofs have been committed to Sacramento since they first arrived here 14 years ago. They've given millions of dollars to local charity - I think it's like $17 million. They had no good options after trying to get a new arena plan, just a fricking plan, for a decade with no support from the dithering, jealous, and often hostile city council. If they would have set a firm deadline (they couldn't by contract by until just a couple years ago) there would have been a huge outcry that they were nothing more than greedy, spoiled traitors and should run out of town on a rail. They certainly are smart enough to have considered a deadline, but they made one mistake. They trusted until it was too late a bunch of worthless, cut throat politicians like former mayor Fartgo, idiot councilmen, like Waters, Cohn, and many others - who could not or would not deliver. Blaming Maloofs entirely for this mess is just plain stupid.
 
PurpleHaze said:
Wrong, wrong, totally wrong. The Maloofs have been committed to Sacramento since they first arrived here 14 years ago. They've given millions of dollars to local charity - I think it's like $17 million. They had no good options after trying to get a new arena plan, just a fricking plan, for a decade with no support from the dithering, jealous, and often hostile city council. If they would have set a firm deadline (they couldn't by contract by until just a couple years ago) there would have been a huge outcry that they were nothing more than greedy, spoiled traitors and should run out of town on a rail. They certainly are smart enough to have considered a deadline, but they made one mistake. They trusted until it was too late a bunch of worthless, cut throat politicians like former mayor Fartgo, idiot councilmen, like Waters, Cohn, and many others - who could not or would not deliver. Blaming Maloofs entirely for this mess is just plain stupid.
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So is absolving the Maloofs of any blame. As for their charitable donations, that's par for the course. let's not make them out to be saints for doing something that all owners do.
 
RookieOfTheDay said:
So is absolving the Maloofs of any blame. As for their charitable donations, that's par for the course. let's not make them out to be saints for doing something that all owners do.
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Ok, but overall bashing tone of the post that I responded too warranted response I gave. I'd put it at 80% blame on City Hall, 10% blame on Maloofs, and 10% blame on Bee propaganda - over last 5 years, 10 years, 14 years - take your pick.
 
PurpleHaze said:
Ok, but overall bashing tone of the post that I responded too warranted response I gave. I'd put it at 80% blame on City Hall, 10% blame on Maloofs, and 10% blame on Bee propaganda - over last 5 years, 10 years, 14 years - take your pick.
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So why is it that when Sacramento has a mayor who is truly committed to helping the Kings stay do the Maloofs turn their backs on the city? They had a 10 year lease with the arena, so it's not like they could have moved whenever they wanted. When ICON asks for specific paper for the feasibility study, how do they respond? Oh yeah, by withholding information that can help them get a new arena. Sounds like people who really want to be here.
 
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jpsls said:
So why is it that when Sacramento has a mayor who is truly committed to helping the Kings stay do the Maloofs turn their backs on the city? They had a 10 year lease with the arena, so it's not like they could have moved whenever they wanted. When ICON asks for specific paper for the feasibility study, how do they respond? Oh yeah, by withholding information that can help them get a new arena. Sounds like people who really want to be here.
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You can think you know this but you don't. I understand the only info they held back was some financial info. If that info had to do with their personal finances, they had good reason.

And above, how a note saying don't blame the Maloofs is interpreted as the author making the Maloofs look like saints is just crazy and backed by an agenda that has nothing to do with reality. I don't mind arguing what people know but when made up "facts" enter the conversation, I back off. Besides what I think or what anyone thinks isn't going to get an arena built. I don't understand the need to absolutely distort and lie to make a point.

An arena wasn't built. It can't be built without some city input. Let's build an arena.

I hope some of you understand that you are not being taken seriously by those who know what is going on. What I don't like is that neophytes and the impressionable may believe these distortions and a crappy lie is perpetuated. But then that's Sacramento isn't it?
 
jpsls said:
So why is it that when Sacramento has a mayor who is truly committed to helping the Kings stay do the Maloofs turn their backs on the city? They had a 10 year lease with the arena, so it's not like they could have moved whenever they wanted. When ICON asks for specific paper for the feasibility study, how do they respond? Oh yeah, by withholding information that can help them get a new arena. Sounds like people who really want to be here.
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Because after a decade of trying they or anyone else would have every right to turn their back on it regardless of who the new mayor is! What if this mayor failed and we got a new one who was also keen to get it done?! Would you expects the Maloofs to do it all over again and again and again?! At what point do you say, stuff this, I've had enough of jerking around? You are dealing with the same constraints that you did before.

Lets not kid ourselves here but the effort we are seeing now to keep the Kings in town would never have eventuated if the Kings weren't practically one foot out the door. Finally the area realized that losing the team is a REAL possibility here so they jumped into gear to get it done. Its staring them right in the face!

Whats the bet that a deal now gets smashed out well before march 2012?! And if the Kings were not on the verge of leaving, there would be more of the political posturing that we have seen for over a decade.

You know what, in a way I am glad Maloofs spat the dummy and looked elsewhere because if they didn't, there wouldn't be anywhere near the effort to get the darn thing done as there is now. There is no time for political posturing any more and proclamations that there are more important things that need to get done because there is just enough time to get something concrete done on this front.
 
Glenn said:
You can think you know this but you don't. I understand the only info they held back was some financial info. If that info had to do with their personal finances, they had good reason.

And above, how a note saying don't blame the Maloofs is interpreted as the author making the Maloofs look like saints is just crazy and backed by an agenda that has nothing to do with reality. I don't mind arguing what people know but when made up "facts" enter the conversation, I back off. Besides what I think or what anyone thinks isn't going to get an arena built. I don't understand the need to absolutely distort and lie to make a point.

An arena wasn't built. It can't be built without some city input. Let's build an arena.

I hope some of you understand that you are not being taken seriously by those who know what is going on. What I don't like is that neophytes and the impressionable may believe these distortions and a crappy lie is perpetuated. But then that's Sacramento isn't it?
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From what I heard, and could be wrong, Johnson did not ask for their personal finances. "The Maloofs were supposed to deliver documents showing the revenues generated by the Kings’ arena presence (such as suites, tickets, concessions, parking sales, etc.) to Sacramento developer David Taylor."

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/03/kings-relocation-kj-on-maloofs-meeting/
 
jpsls said:
You should ask him. Also, I heard they didn't provide documents from previous arena feasibility studies. So..yeah.
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Too bad no one else has records about past studies like the NBA. I only heard about some financial records.
 
PurpleHaze said:
I'd love it if Clay Bennett and his contingent canceled their trip to Anaheim which is scheduled immediately after departure from Sacramento. We've all been reading the tea leaves and they seem to be tipping in our favor but that would be huge if they became convinced they had enough info from Sac visit that it was worthless to head down south to Samueli-land.
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They visited Anaheim before they came to Sacramento. They are supposed to go back for a second visit. Amick's sources said that Anaheim's presentation was absolutely terrible (good for us). The presentation also apparently failed to answer the NBA's questions about the deal. So they are going back to meet with the city and the Malofs to see if they can get all questions answered.
 
kennadog said:
They visited Anaheim before they came to Sacramento. They are supposed to go back for a second visit. Amick's sources said that Anaheim's presentation was absolutely terrible (good for us). The presentation also apparently failed to answer the NBA's questions about the deal. So they are going back to meet with the city and the Malofs to see if they can get all questions answered.
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Link to Amick's reporting on that?
 
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