I have this funny feeling I'm going to be getting a couple of calls today...
This morning I have the joy of being featured in an article by Danny Westneat who incidentally reads this site. He called me for commentary after reading some particularly harsh commentary regarding the Bennett ownership group. People are going to ask, does this article really represent my current feelings?
The answer is yes and no.
I do not believe as stated in this article that Clay "urinated all over our efforts". Bennett and company have been suprisingly helpful and supportive during this process. It's not about taking things personally or wanting credit for our own efforts. We've accomplished some things and we've failed at others. All said I think Clay is correct to some level that all of our jobs would have been easier had there been a bigger public outcry over this issue. I will say however that the fans who attended the games and provided what I consider to be great support during a pathetic season need to get more credit than this. People in Oklahoma City constantly point out the caliber of presentation that is made at the Ford Center and how the basketball product there is the best in the league. That was never provided for Seattle fans and the crowds turned out regardless to support some truly terrible basketball with an ownership and arena cloud hanging so thick that you could barely see the court through it.
That said Danny did not misquote me or misrepresent me in any way. While the commentary of Clay as "inept" is not a direct quote and a little harsher than I would like to be on record for in print it is reflective of my feelings regarding the arena effort to date. That was a particularly bad day in which ownership decided to make public comments regarding Kansas City on the very same day fans had a rare moment of enjoyment and satisfaction. Getting quoted about the chance to relocate even as a love-fest with Kevin Durant dominated Seattle radio, TV, and general chatter.
In conversation with Danny I stated to him what has become a consistent refrain of mine. "At some point you need to begin doubting either the man's intentions or at the very least his execution." I continue to see no real reason to doubt his intentions. Every person who has spent time with him comes away convinced of the fact that it is in his best interest to resolve things here. I still see no real reason to doubt them. The execution however is becoming another story.
It has been made abundantly clear to this ownership group in multiple conversations that there is a great rift that needs to be re-built between the team and the fans. While they did not create it they did inherit it and they simply cannot get a feel for Soncis basketball until they take some steps to re-brand their company and market their own ownership group and intentions. It has been explained to them that they got involved in a situation poisoned by sheer hatred of Vin Baker and more than a decade of mistrust and that the settlements for SafeCo and Qwest field have left the public burnt out on stadium issues. They have acknowledged fully and completely that the civic ties between the Sonics, the corporate community, media, and the general public are almost non-existant and that the teams corporate office needs to be severely beefed up before it can handle this problem.
My frustration comes from the fact that ownership has taken virtually no steps to address these issues before judging our community. Despite repeated pleas they have chosen not to reach out in any meaninful way to the media nor really engage the fans whatsoever. For all the claims of money spent on the arena quest there has been no Advertising firm hired, no significant effort whatsoever to educate the public or release information. No real effort to pass a vision onto the community. In a real nutshell they have continued to have dialogue with the government without stopping for a second to talk with their customers. The city of Renton along with our organization actually made more of a sales pitch than the team iteself. Furthermore all public commentary is, at this point indicating that he has given up 6 months into a 1 year due dilligence and without having taking any effort to adjust to the situation. He took one shot at legistlature and now is simply sitting back waiting to see what they bring to him. This is not acceptable.
Many people will read this article and assume that I am done with Bennet and company forever. This is not the case. What is fair to say is that while I personally like and respect Clayton Bennett I do understand who he represents and that in the end he will do what is in their best interest. He knows that I represent the fans and people of Seattle and that in the end I will take whatever is best to save basketball in this community. We continually re-evaluate our relationship with each other and stay friendly to the point that it helps our respective positions. At this point in the evaluation it certainly looks like the role will be more adversarial than in past.
Fans should understand that the best hope of resolving this problem involves working with Bennett. We need to demand of him that he keep his promise and give us a first class product, which he has not done to date. Show him that this market does respond to a great team and dare him to try to move regardless. The league is going to be extremely hesitant to move a 40 year team if the fans become active. If they can be convinced to demand a local sale, or another years effort it adds pressure to the team to look even harder for a solution. Perhaps that gets it done.
The door of to a cooperative working relationship is closed for now, but it is not locked nor will it be.
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