Stern Says NBA Likely Will Not Return To Seattle If Sonics Leave

Stern Indicates Seattle Unlikely To Get Another NBA Team If Sonics Leave

NBA Commissioner David Stern Thursday indicated that the league “wouldn’t look to return” to Seattle if the Sonics move to Oklahoma City, according to Greg Johns of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. Stern: “If the Sonics do move, that would be too bad, because the NBA would be very unlikely to have a team in Seattle again.” Seattle Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis said that Stern’s comments are “creating more animosity instead of helping the region’s attempt to find a suitable arena solution.” Ceis: “If his strategy is to increase pressure on the city and state, it’s not working very well. He’s creating an exact opposite reaction.” Ceis added, “We hope [Stern] isn’t trying to aid and abet [Sonics Owner Clay] Bennett’s strategy for trying to break the [KeyArena] lease.” Washington state Speaker of the House Frank Chopp last year indicated that the NBA needed to “get its own financial house in order instead of seeking public money,” and Stern yesterday said, “To have [Chopp] say, well, they just spend too much money on salaries anyway, so we need it for other things … we get the message. Hopefully, maybe cooler heads will prevail.” Stern Thursday also criticized Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council for Initiative 91, saying that the measure “means no city money could ever be used on an arena project.” However, Chris Van Dyk, who headed the campaign for I-91, said that Stern’s interpretation “is wrong and that the city can help fund a new or remodeled arena if the team is willing to share the burden” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 11/9). Nickels spokesperson Marty McOmber said, “Our response to Mr. Stern is he ought to take a bit of his own advice and begin to work constructively with us and not to lob comments through the press” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 11/9).

TALKING POINTS: In Tacoma, John McGrath writes, “There was a time when Stern was regarded to be the most successful executive in pro sports. That time has passed. Stern has become just another eccentric grump … desperate to champion a cause.” McGrath: “Stern has made it a cause to be [Bennett’s] mouthpiece. One of these days, [Stern] will be unseated by a habit that has ruined better men with more important tasks. He talks too much” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 11/9).