Nickels-2-edit.jpg
Sonics fans have been trying to figure out for a few years now who should get the blame for the team leaving for Oklahoma City, and NBA commissioner David Stern has some new candidates. (AP Photo/file)

Blame former Mayor Greg Nickels for Sonics' exit

BY Chris Sullivan  on May 3, 2011 @ 6:39 am (Updated: 12:22 pm - 5/3/11 )

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Sonics fans have been trying to figure out for a few years now who should get the blame for the team leaving for Oklahoma City, and NBA commissioner David Stern has some new candidates.

Former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Speaker of the State House Frank Chopp are at the top of Stern's list of who should be catching the heat.

"There was a hostility by the mayor who was interested in doing nothing," said Stern, speaking to reporters after his decision to give Sacramento a year to try and keep its Kings.

Stern said it's "night and day" between the way Sacramento and state legislators in California are fighting to keep the team, and how Seattle and the legislature in Olympia failed to do anything.

"The speaker of the house was hostile to the NBA and its players and was not the least bit interested in moving any legislation," Stern said.

Sacramento and its former NBA point guard Mayor Kevin Johnson (he played for Cleveland and Phoenix) have a year to come up with a plan for a new arena or the team will move after 2012.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (34)


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  • artimus wrote...
    There's plenty of blame to go around
    May 3, 2011 8:06 am
    Stern's trying to wiggle off the hook but he, and the current NBA business model, are right at the top of the rat list. The NBA and individual owners strong arm cities by threatening to move teams unless the city in question foots the bill for a new arena. --- Nickels and the City Council (take a bow Nick 'The Key Arena Will Become a Vibrant Arts Facility' Licata) deserve recognition for their ineptitude, Howard Schultz for his poor management followed by disingenuous sale to out of town ownership. I don't blame Clay Clay his OKC crew; stealing another cities team is how you gain an NBA franchise under the current NBA business model. As for KJ and Sacto getting another year to 'try to save the team', 1 more year is all they're going to get. The people of Sacramento aren't going to publicly subsidize a new palace and, unless a private investor steps forward to finance a facility, the Kings will be off to a new home after 1 lame duck season. Hear me now, believe me later.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • itelingent wrote...
    a grip
    May 3, 2011 8:31 am
    around the n*ckx of the pols here
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • corn2112 wrote...
    sonicsgate.com
    May 3, 2011 8:42 am
    There is a lot of blame to go around. For the whole story go to sonicsgate.com.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Closer Examination
    May 3, 2011 9:01 am
    Intially, the old coliseum with it's terrible lease agreement with the Seattle Center/Seattle city hall was the blame, so some visionaries said"hey" after this season, let's renovate the place, dig out 25' of floor, club seat's luxury suites and Key bank offering sponsorship,So we all reluctantly drive to T town for a season and a half, while the upgrade proceeds, The Ackerley family Signs Trader bob whitsitt who brings in Kemp, Payton and other's to put us in the Finals, with a fist pumpin Howard Shultz at mid-court who buy's the team, goes back to traditional Green/yellow with his 5-year plan and put's the team on the market,david stern say's Seattle not committed to pro sports(see Seahawk and M's venue's),enter the oakie from miscogee who buy's the team and "says no sweetheart deal on a venue, no team" and here we are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • slaggg wrote...
    WHAT IS CRIMINAL IS
    May 3, 2011 9:21 am
    AFTER the team move, the legislature did not pass the stupid law that would have allowed Seattle to collect another $30 million from the previous owners. They gave up $30 million!! For no reason!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DLTooley wrote...
    Even if you support the Sonics
    May 3, 2011 9:25 am
    Even if you would've personally voted for a tax subsidy for the Sonics realize that being able to say no in Seattle - whether it is a Pro Sports Team or the Seattle Viaduct is a good thing. What needs to happen is the same 'NO' to every corporate welfare government entitlement program for millionaires throughout the Country - this little game they call the US of A is a whole lot more important than any professional sports league....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Loud Larry wrote...
    Plenty of buffoonery to go ‘round
    May 3, 2011 9:27 am
    Apathetic, inept buffoon’s best describe Nickels, Licata & Chopp. The NBA was asking for political dialog to at minimum discuss tangible possibilities. These “limp richards” were more interested in their “greenie weenie” agenda. The Weasel Schultz absolutely understood that he was blowing up his stewardship of the Sonics franchise. There were and still are investors who are willing to put their money where their mouth is, the Ballmer group and “Downtown” Fred Brown’s group among others. They still need politicians with (basket) BALLS to be forward thinking civic assets, rather than a55 wholes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    JUST SAY NO!
    May 3, 2011 9:27 am
    ..to taxpayer funded sports facilities for professional leagues. It is completely insane that billionaires should take money to finance their team ownership hobby from people struggling to put gas in their cars.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    I guess this is a idiot since this is an idiot statement.
    May 3, 2011 10:08 am
    What a moron. NO VISION WHATSOEVER! How much money does Safeco Field and Qwest Field Generate each year? How many jobs are here because of baseball, football & Soccer? (Not to mention that Safeco is PAID FOR AHEAD OF TIME)It is also INSANE to sponser Boeing for the Gigillion dollars they took as kick backs for decades here(Same reason Boeing Left here). WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF THAT. A NEW AIRPLANE? PLEASE All you moronic non thinking idiots please step on the next subsidised plane that boeing built and PLEASE LEAVE THIS CITY! What about the Arts I could care less about the arts yet we subsidise those. But i dont complain because i am SMART enough to understand the value in the Arts. I dont go to them but am more than willing to pay for those. Just like school levies I dont go to school and my kids are all grown but i vote YES on every levy. Because I am SMART enough to know the value of that even if i dont directly benefit from them. Those two stadiums are the Jewels of Seattle. They bring more families together for great times and memories that you can NEVER put a stupid price on. IF you dont like the pro sports franchise DONT GO AND SHUT UP! I and every single sports fan in Western Washington dont want you near those facilities if all you are going to do is wine about something that was built 10-13 yrs ago. Go fill up your economic SUV and leave. PLEASE! It is your narrow minded thinking along with other why we are not bonding and going nuts over the possibity of an NBA Championship this year since MY team is in OKC making that run. Do you think all the business around Key Arena right now could use an influx of cash during these playoffs? You bet they could. It could be the difference between eating or going hungry for some of those merchants and their families. But Idoits like you would rather put on your blinders and say NOT ME! You know why because it is ALL ABOUT YOU. I learned long ago that it is not always about YOU OR ME!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sir wrote...
    if quest field and safeco field lost money EVERY YEAR since they were built
    May 3, 2011 12:46 pm
    you would probably sound pretty foolish, right about now, huh?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • artimus wrote...
    gd7277467
    May 3, 2011 9:40 am
    Buzz off, Nancy. This is a big boy topic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Blame
    May 3, 2011 9:43 am
    WIll blaming anyone make any difference? Nope. Let it go already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }