Sonicsgate film release...

[Showtime]

http://www.sonicsgate.org/

Very interesting documentary on the relocation and history of the sonics. I've seen some similarities between their situation and ours.

 

[Trueblood]

Just watched. Not bad and I especially like that while the league and Bennett were demonized, the bottom line blame was put at the feet of the political leaders up there. Being that it was a Seattle production and not a neutral or even OKC oriented film, that pretty much cements the fact that city leaders are ultimately to be blamed.

On the other hand, they botched the ending. Actually, they had it right and then ruined it. What I mean is that they could've and should've ended it on an optimistic note, talking up how and what needs to be done in order to secure a new team. I say they had it right because you heard the players, from Crawford to Collison to Christie, talking about how they need to be proactive. I not only would've ended the movie with that but I would've expounded on it even more, possibly extending it to 15 minutes with not only quotes from the players but talking to the few politicians who have interest in a team returning. Get Ballmer and his buddies in there talking about their vision for the future of the league in Seattle.

Instead, Ballmer wasn't even interviewed at all and just when it looked like it would take an optimistic turn, you had it turn somber with Sherman Alexie almost saying that he doesn't want a team back because it would hurt another market just like it hurt him. Here was supposedly the #1 fan of the team hinting at becoming apathetic towards the situation and then the credits ultimately showing that it's likely that Bennett will not be on the hook for $30 million. If the #1 fan doesn't necessarily want the team back, the public is going to conclude that a return is a lost cause.

Secondly, they completely glossed over and dismissed the possibility of the Renton proposal. They made it sound like it was a non starter and completely illogical when in actuality, the Renton arena is cheaper than what is being proposed in Sacramento and Brooklyn. No showing whatsoever of all the time, money and effort Clay Bennett put into getting the arena proposal. Just a picture of him standing in Olympia with Lenny Wilkens and some female politician, probably Margarita Prentice.

I wasn't too keen about how the anti-NBA crowd continually made it look like the NBA is the only league that asks for publically subsidies. If you think about it, they can justify it more than anyone else. Their buildings host conventions, concerts, kids shows, MMA, WWE, circuses and high school graduations. There's literally something for everyone so it's wrong to say that they should completely front the bill for construction.

In the NFL, you have 8 dates and a building that hosts almost no other events. The league makes a ton of money in shared revenue to the point that new facilities aren't really needed. Why do you think that SD, KC, Buffalo, Minnesota, San Francisco, Oakland are playing in buildings that are almost 30 years or in some cases, way older than 30 years old? The NBA and NHL have a much better case for public help than does the NFL.

Despite those shortcomings, I will say that I generally liked the production and feel for the fans. Regardless of what Alexie said, I don't think other markets losing their team is the equivalent to what Seattle fans went through with their inept elected leaders. I'd like to see them back in the game and it wouldn't make me the least bit sad if one of the bottom feeders in fan support winds up losing their team to Seattle.

 

[Trueblood]

That being said, I don't consider Sacramento to be one of the "bottom feeders" nor was I thinking about us when talking about a team to relocate to Seattle. More like New Orleans, Memphis or New Jersey if the Brooklyn thing falls apart and no Newark investors step up.

 

[Showtime]

Here was supposedly the #1 fan of the team hinting at becoming apathetic towards the situation and then the credits ultimately showing that it's likely that Bennett will not be on the hook for $30 million. If the #1 fan doesn't necessarily want the team back, the public is going to conclude that a return is a lost cause.

His point was that getting another team to relocate there isn't getting his "team back", it would be getting a team that is NOT the sonics and doesn't have the history of the sonics. So it's not that he doesn't want the sonics back, it's that he can't get the sonics back.

If you think about it, they can justify it more than anyone else. Their buildings host conventions, concerts, kids shows, MMA, WWE, circuses and high school graduations. There's literally something for everyone so it's wrong to say that they should completely front the bill for construction.

But the point the film was making is that they were using the new arena requirement as leverage to essentially hold a city hostage. It's a "my way or no way" stance, because the city already had an arena, but the NBA's stance was essentially: build one huge arena and include public funding, or else. They knew it wasn't going to happen with the local government, so it was a dead idea to begin with. They weren't looking to do whatever it took to stay, they were looking to get what they wanted either way.

With Sacramento, the public funding wasn't going to happen, so now they are exploring every possible alternative, which would include private investment. It's clear that they are putting forth a concerted effort to do everything to keep the team here within reason, while it's hard to make the case for that in Seattle.

That being said, I don't consider Sacramento to be one of the "bottom feeders" nor was I thinking about us when talking about a team to relocate to Seattle.

I think his point was keeping track of the teams who are in bad enough shape to move, and the Kings are most definitely one of the few teams likely to relocate if a new arena deal isn't worked out in Sacramento.

More like New Orleans, Memphis or New Jersey if the Brooklyn thing falls apart and no Newark investors step up.

Make no mistake, the Kings will move in the next few years if they feel an arena isn't a solid option for the near future. They may not make it up to Seattle, but they won't stay in ARCO for that much longer if they can't work out a deal.

My money is on San Jose first, then possibly Anaheim, Kansas City, and Seattle as alternatives.

 

[Trueblood]

Regarding my "bottom feeder" portion of the post, I know what Sherman was talking about and he's correct. My point was that I'm a Kings fan and this is a site dedicated to the Kings so I just wanted to make it clear that I'm not jumping ship nor do I think others should do so. Outsiders may look at Sacramento as a relocation possibility and they're correct, I just hope not and wanted to confirm that I didn't mean to offend any fans on this board.

The Sonics name and colors remains in Seattle. Players come and go all the time. If I'm a big time fan of the NBA in Seattle, history shouldn't matter. Getting the team back with the name and colors should trump history and statistics. Plus, they didn't give it away to Bennett. The team history is just something that both city's are sharing. I disagree with it but at least Seattle can still claim it even if they have to share it.

Sherman's point was that he would hate to do to other markets what the league did to him. My point is that it's different in some instances. I'd feel bad if Sacramento or Milwaukee left. You would see similar sentiment from those fans that you did from Seattle. But I don't think the people in Memphis or Clipper fans would care that much if they're team left so it would be a win win situation where not many feelings are hurt.

The difference between Sacramento and Seattle is that Sacramento has made it known that they want to find a way to get this done. They want to work with the league in order to come up with a solution. The mayor has made it one of his priorities whereas in Seattle, just about every politician imagineable was apathetic or against the project. I feel horrible for the fans but also realize where the finger needs to be pointed when pointing the blame. Even the filmmakers and Slade Gorton agreed that the ultimate blame lays with the politicians up there.

Agree all the way about San Jose. They are the clear cut front runner if something doesn't work out here. The biggest hurdle is how to work out a lease. The fact that the Maloofs seem as pro Sacramento as they've ever been hints that they don't like the terms that SJ is throwing at them. When you have to share with the NHL, generating revenue is that much tougher. They won't control the building revenue so I still hold out hope that something eventually gets done here.