Hansen behind STOP $$$

[John Galt]

I hope you guys are right but I just don't believe there will be a negative repercussion to Chris Hansen for all this. He will feign remorse, make some hollow comments about "doing the right thing", and behind the scenes will be high fiving his buddies if he can kill our arena. I don't think he will suffer negative consequences for this behavior... we know he has 8 allies already.. he only needs to win over a few more.

This is an icky cynical business... mega bucks at stake. When push comes to shove, money talks. This is as true of Vivek and his gang as it is of Chris Hansen and George Maloof and 29 NBA owners who will decide what to do when it is time for Chris Hansen to write a big fat check after actively and basically single-handedly killing the arena in Sacramento.

I will eat a bushel full of crow if Chris Hansen is rebuffed outright in a future attempt to own an NBA team (bet my own money it doesn't happen) or if he somehow kills these signatures with legal action (bet my own money it doesn't happen). And I honestly don't think Vivek etc are such good guys that they would turn down his $700M after he knocks them out of the box by killing the arena.

Again I truly hope you guys are right, but I'm gonna start protecting my flank emotionally. Guys like Chris Hansen get away with stuff - always have. He's a narcissist and a sociopath and his little public letter to STOP asking them to do the right thing made me actually laugh out loud.

Please let me be wrong. I will show up at a parade for Hansen if he kills the signatures with legal action. That is the ONLY way he puts his money where his crocodile tears are.

 

[VF21]

I hope you guys are right but I just don't believe there will be a negative repercussion to Chris Hansen for all this. He will feign remorse, make some hollow comments about "doing the right thing", and behind the scenes will be high fiving his buddies if he can kill our arena. I don't think he will suffer negative consequences for this behavior... we know he has 8 allies already.. he only needs to win over a few more.

This is an icky cynical business... mega bucks at stake. When push comes to shove, money talks. This is as true of Vivek and his gang as it is of Chris Hansen and George Maloof and 29 NBA owners who will decide what to do when it is time for Chris Hansen to write a big fat check after actively and basically single-handedly killing the arena in Sacramento.

I will eat a bushel full of crow if Chris Hansen is rebuffed outright in a future attempt to own an NBA team (bet my own money it doesn't happen) or if he somehow kills these signatures with legal action (bet my own money it doesn't happen). And I honestly don't think Vivek etc are such good guys that they would turn down his $700M after he knocks them out of the box by killing the arena.

Again I truly hope you guys are right, but I'm gonna start protecting my flank emotionally. Guys like Chris Hansen get away with stuff - always have. He's a narcissist and a sociopath and his little public letter to STOP asking them to do the right thing made me actually laugh out loud.

Please let me be wrong. I will show up at a parade for Hansen if he kills the signatures with legal action. That is the ONLY way he puts his money where his crocodile tears are.

Wow.

I won't even try to answer all that. I honestly cannot begin to imagine how it must be to be that cynical and negative...

 

[Glenn]

One tactic to take is to put pressure on Hansen as he has feigned guilt. Write to him that we will blame him for depriving Sacramento of a basketball team and also send a similar letter to the NBA. It's an email so takes as much time as it does to write a note here.

I think Hansen has indicated he doesn't want STOP to have those 18,000 signatures and they have disobeyed him. He may easily have a right to get those votes back. I think that link is in this thread.

In other words, let's pretend that Hansen has a soul and if he doesn't, he at least doesn't want to appear stupid or malicious in from of the NBA. I disagree very much that if the spotlight is put on him appropriately, that he will STILL get a team.

Does anyone know how to contact him and the commish? If not, I will poke around and find email and/or snail mail addresses. We already know that a grass roots effort is listened to so lets not lay over as if we are dead. I could even write a template of a complaint but I think it is best that people write using their own words. "You suck and I told Adam Silver" may be just as effective as something I would write.

If there is any feel for this approach from groups already formed, I'd like to hear about it. I'm old but remember my previous avatar. I ain't dead. In the sweet hear of my present avatar lies the soul of my previous avatar.

 

[Trueblood]

I hope you guys are right but I just don't believe there will be a negative repercussion to Chris Hansen for all this. He will feign remorse, make some hollow comments about "doing the right thing", and behind the scenes will be high fiving his buddies if he can kill our arena. I don't think he will suffer negative consequences for this behavior... we know he has 8 allies already.. he only needs to win over a few more.

This is an icky cynical business... mega bucks at stake. When push comes to shove, money talks. This is as true of Vivek and his gang as it is of Chris Hansen and George Maloof and 29 NBA owners who will decide what to do when it is time for Chris Hansen to write a big fat check after actively and basically single-handedly killing the arena in Sacramento.

I will eat a bushel full of crow if Chris Hansen is rebuffed outright in a future attempt to own an NBA team (bet my own money it doesn't happen) or if he somehow kills these signatures with legal action (bet my own money it doesn't happen). And I honestly don't think Vivek etc are such good guys that they would turn down his $700M after he knocks them out of the box by killing the arena.

Again I truly hope you guys are right, but I'm gonna start protecting my flank emotionally. Guys like Chris Hansen get away with stuff - always have. He's a narcissist and a sociopath and his little public letter to STOP asking them to do the right thing made me actually laugh out loud.

Please let me be wrong. I will show up at a parade for Hansen if he kills the signatures with legal action. That is the ONLY way he puts his money where his crocodile tears are.

If Stern was still in charge then I have to think that there would be a stop to this but when Silver takes over, things are going to work a little more democratically and that's unfortunately where someone like Hansen can get their foot in the door.

Mark Cuban and a few others clearly favored having the Kings move to Seattle. If Silver is in charge and the arena here falls apart, he and his allies will strong arm the rest of the owners into Seattle.

As for Vivek, I don't know how that would work. What I know is that the league has the right to take over the team but I don't know at what cost. Do they just have to pay the same amount for the team that Vivek did? If so, I could see the league buying the team for $535 million then selling it to Hansen for at least $600.

OTOH, I think this will be all for naught. The power brokers are on our side. They have the money to fund a pro arena campaign that will knock the socks off the anti arena people. Plus, the people can't be lied to this time. They will be informed on the FACTS of the funding mechanism as opposed to the lies that were told to them in front of the supermarkets about how they are getting taxed and what not. If the citizens of Sacramento look hard and long at what an arena and other development means for their city, they will make the easy decision to vote in favor of the arena.

 

[John Galt]

Wow.

I won't even try to answer all that. I honestly cannot begin to imagine how it must be to be that cynical and negative...

well that's something to say I guess... but... I think it is realistic. I was there chanting here we stay down the stretch. I bought my "here we buy" tickets. I showed up at the rallies. I got season tickets with all the enthusiasm a person could have. I am all in!

Did a cynical and greedy decision by the Kings front office kill the romance for me? I guess. It is still a fresh sting and I'm still reeling. I'll get over it by Oct 14. And I won't go into any detail about what it is. But... do you really believe that this whole thing is about something more romantic than MONEY in the long run? I hope you can carry that all the way to the grave, it must be a nice feeling. I used to have it.

Anyway, like I said... I hope I'm wrong. I honestly do. I want the Kings to stay very much, but I don't have quite the starry eyed thing going on any more, as I've seen what this regime is willing to do to try and recoup its $525M... who it is willing to hurt and from whom it will take money. And it isn't pretty.

And I'll still bet on both counts. 1) Hansen is not denied a team because of his anti-arena efforts. 2) Hansen does not do anything substantial to kill the 18,000 signatures.

 

[Livinthedream]

The fact that the city and the team owners are extremely quiet about all of this gives me some comfort. It's as if they know something we don't and have something up their sleeves. Nothing can be unleashed until those signatures are officially submitted.

 

[John Galt]

The fact that the city and the team owners are extremely quiet about all of this gives me some comfort. It's as if they know something we don't and have something up their sleeves. Nothing can be unleashed until those signatures are officially submitted.

I agree - that is a very good point! Camacho is getting his time in the sun but he might be doing a touchdown dance after only making a first down. I think you're right.

Positive John

 

[VF21]

I agree - that is a very good point! Camacho is getting his time in the sun but he might be doing a touchdown dance after only making a first down. I think you're right.

Positive John

Now that's better.

(Sorry if I came across too harshly before. You know me and my purple-tinted glasses.)

 

[bajaden]

I hope you guys are right but I just don't believe there will be a negative repercussion to Chris Hansen for all this. He will feign remorse, make some hollow comments about "doing the right thing", and behind the scenes will be high fiving his buddies if he can kill our arena. I don't think he will suffer negative consequences for this behavior... we know he has 8 allies already.. he only needs to win over a few more.

This is an icky cynical business... mega bucks at stake. When push comes to shove, money talks. This is as true of Vivek and his gang as it is of Chris Hansen and George Maloof and 29 NBA owners who will decide what to do when it is time for Chris Hansen to write a big fat check after actively and basically single-handedly killing the arena in Sacramento.

I will eat a bushel full of crow if Chris Hansen is rebuffed outright in a future attempt to own an NBA team (bet my own money it doesn't happen) or if he somehow kills these signatures with legal action (bet my own money it doesn't happen). And I honestly don't think Vivek etc are such good guys that they would turn down his $700M after he knocks them out of the box by killing the arena.

Again I truly hope you guys are right, but I'm gonna start protecting my flank emotionally. Guys like Chris Hansen get away with stuff - always have. He's a narcissist and a sociopath and his little public letter to STOP asking them to do the right thing made me actually laugh out loud.

Please let me be wrong. I will show up at a parade for Hansen if he kills the signatures with legal action. That is the ONLY way he puts his money where his crocodile tears are.

You know what, I simply don't believe you.. You've come down on the negative side so many times that you've lost all credibility with me. Sorry!

 

[bajaden]

well that's something to say I guess... but... I think it is realistic. I was there chanting here we stay down the stretch. I bought my "here we buy" tickets. I showed up at the rallies. I got season tickets with all the enthusiasm a person could have. I am all in!

Did a cynical and greedy decision by the Kings front office kill the romance for me? I guess. It is still a fresh sting and I'm still reeling. I'll get over it by Oct 14. And I won't go into any detail about what it is. But... do you really believe that this whole thing is about something more romantic than MONEY in the long run? I hope you can carry that all the way to the grave, it must be a nice feeling. I used to have it.

Anyway, like I said... I hope I'm wrong. I honestly do. I want the Kings to stay very much, but I don't have quite the starry eyed thing going on any more, as I've seen what this regime is willing to do to try and recoup its $525M... who it is willing to hurt and from whom it will take money. And it isn't pretty.

And I'll still bet on both counts. 1) Hansen is not denied a team because of his anti-arena efforts. 2) Hansen does not do anything substantial to kill the 18,000 signatures.

If your going to imply something, then either tell us what it is, or don't bring it up. That's called a cheap shot! No points for inference. And, if you actually think these billionaires and Millionaires buy sports teams to make money, your crazy as hell. Believe me, there are much better and safer investments. That's not to say they want to lose money, and won't try to make a profit. Their not charity orginizations. These teams are for most part, toy's to these guys. Maybe even childhood dreams. Who wouldn't want to own an NBA team? Not everything in life is driven by money. Money may be the fuel that runs the machine, but that's all it is to some of these guys. Do you honestly think Mark Cuban bought the Mav's so he could make more money?

 

[kennadog]

well that's something to say I guess... but... I think it is realistic. I was there chanting here we stay down the stretch. I bought my "here we buy" tickets. I showed up at the rallies. I got season tickets with all the enthusiasm a person could have. I am all in!

Did a cynical and greedy decision by the Kings front office kill the romance for me? I guess. It is still a fresh sting and I'm still reeling. I'll get over it by Oct 14. And I won't go into any detail about what it is. But... do you really believe that this whole thing is about something more romantic than MONEY in the long run? I hope you can carry that all the way to the grave, it must be a nice feeling. I used to have it.

Anyway, like I said... I hope I'm wrong. I honestly do. I want the Kings to stay very much, but I don't have quite the starry eyed thing going on any more, as I've seen what this regime is willing to do to try and recoup its $525M... who it is willing to hurt and from whom it will take money. And it isn't pretty.

And I'll still bet on both counts. 1) Hansen is not denied a team because of his anti-arena efforts. 2) Hansen does not do anything substantial to kill the 18,000 signatures.

Business is always about money. At least not losing money. I have no delusions about that and never have. But Glenn is right. Its not right to hint something stinks about the new ownership, when you are not willing to back that up with anything more than your word. That's really dirty pool. That's smearing people by rumor.

 

[John Galt]

You know what, I simply don't believe you.. You've come down on the negative side so many times that you've lost all credibility with me. Sorry!

Funny I get credit for "always coming down on the negative side" when I was practically all alone defending Vivek and PDA and pleading for patience during the summer personnel moves. Is that really fair - maybe I was positive back then, but negative now. That's a little more balanced.

The Kings have made decisions about sponsorships that were crass and hurtful to people I care about, and have fired some people I liked in the organization. There has been some ruthlessness about it all and it made me feel a little down on the group, that's all.

I think I was so over the top in my adoration of this group that some of their colder moves recently have caused an overreaction in me. But you guys don't really have to beat me up personally over it do you?

Over the next couple years, keep an eye on the sponsors the Kings acquire, and the sponsors they dump. And the long time locals they fire. and make your own mind up whether it is icky or not.

They're not all bad, but they're no saints either.

and stop being so mean to me. it isn't nice.

 

[VF21]

...The Kings have made decisions about sponsorships that were crass and hurtful to people I care about, and have fired some people I liked in the organization. There has been some ruthlessness about it all and it made me feel a little down on the group, that's all...

Over the next couple years, keep an eye on the sponsors the Kings acquire, and the sponsors they dump. And the long time locals they fire. and make your own mind up whether it is icky or not...

When you have a personal connection to a decision the Kings made, it's easy to understand the negative feelings and disappointment. I've known you a long time, though, and I know you're a real fan of the Kings. Much like hot dogs, sometimes it's better if you don't know how things are made.

 

[folsomfella]

STOP has been documented lying to gather signatures. Wouldn't that mean the whole of them will have to be thrown out? If one was obtained with documented lies, all signatures are tainted.

 

[Warhawk]

I have another question - aren't "shovels hitting the ground" (OK, demolition should be taking place) before a vote could be taken anyways? The CC will already have approved this before a vote could happen since they missed the cutoff for a special election, right? The election/vote would be in June if it makes it, but wasn't construction activity supposed to start by then?

 

[JB_kings]

I have another question - aren't "shovels hitting the ground" (OK, demolition should be taking place) before a vote could be taken anyways? The CC will already have approved this before a vote could happen since they missed the cutoff for a special election, right? The election/vote would be in June if it makes it, but wasn't construction activity supposed to start by then?

I asked this question to Ryan Lillis at the press club debate. He said it's a good question because that could happen. With SB-743 designed to streamline the CEQA process, it could be deal where they can get an agreement done in May '14. KJ seemed pretty confident when he said groundbreaking in August '14.

I'm one of those people who think they had to present a pretty iron clad plan to the NBA to get the arena up and going by 2017 at the latest or they would lose the team. And not just some hopeful plans, but some backstops where things like lawsuits and petitions become irrelevant issues. Take that to mean whatever you like, but we just saw Steinberg push through the SB-743 and shelve his broader CEQA bill. I think the bill is a key component to speed up the timing and make a vote in June pointless.

My 2 cents though, I don't think they will get the petition on the ballot anyway. Those 18,000 signatures from Hansen were not validated. They could lose many thousands of them for various reasons. Like withdraws, non-residents, non-registered and duplicate names. Non-residents are the biggest hitter as most people don't tend to know if they are city or county residents. And a lot of the paid signature gatherers were even more clueless about non-residents.

 

[Glenn]

And a lot of the paid signature gatherers were even more clueless about non-residents.

The signature gatherers re paid by the signature and not the accuracy, also. I THINK I am correct about that.

 

[fansinceday1]

If they got half-way done with the arena and it was turned down by the voterrs the whole thing would grind to a halt. Anyone remember the twin 50 story towers that were suppose to go up on L and I-5? They drove the piles and almost had those towers sold out. Money ran out and everything stopped. Place is still sitting there as it was 5 years ago. The developers are gonna wait for the whole thing to be approved before they start sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into the place.

 

[VF21]

My 2 cents though, I don't think they will get the petition on the ballot anyway. Those 18,000 signatures from Hansen were not validated. They could lose many thousands of them for various reasons. Like withdraws, non-residents, non-registered and duplicate names. Non-residents are the biggest hitter as most people don't tend to know if they are city or county residents. And a lot of the paid signature gatherers were even more clueless about non-residents.

My sentiments exactly!

 

[Livinthedream]

What is the deadline for having the signatures submitted?

 

[ninjabiscuit]

We're all going to die.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

We're all going to die.

Eventually. But in the meantime, we're going to enjoy the hell out of that new arena in downtown Sacramento!

 

[ninjabiscuit]

Eventually. But in the meantime, we're going to enjoy the hell out of that new arena in downtown Sacramento!

Agreed. Just tired of all of the negative stuff.

 

[fansinceday1]

We're all going to die?

 

[kennadog]

I have another question - aren't "shovels hitting the ground" (OK, demolition should be taking place) before a vote could be taken anyways? The CC will already have approved this before a vote could happen since they missed the cutoff for a special election, right? The election/vote would be in June if it makes it, but wasn't construction activity supposed to start by then?

Actual construction probably not starting before the vote. But they might squeak the approval of the deal, before the vote. That's what I'm hoping for, because I am pretty sure the initiative is not retro-active.

I wouldn't expect to see any actual construction until August and that's being pretty optimistic.

 

[kennadog]

If they got half-way done with the arena and it was turned down by the voterrs the whole thing would grind to a halt. Anyone remember the twin 50 story towers that were suppose to go up on L and I-5? They drove the piles and almost had those towers sold out. Money ran out and everything stopped. Place is still sitting there as it was 5 years ago. The developers are gonna wait for the whole thing to be approved before they start sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into the place.

Not even comparable. That deal went south, because the private developers went bankrupt on the deal. Completely different from a public project.

Deadline to get signatures in is sometime in December. I don't remember the exact date. Maybe the 19th?