Anonymous League sources have told Sonics Rising reporters that David Stern became concerned when he heard rumblings from Seattle SuperSonic fans that he had orchestrated a meeting between the Maloof Family (the Sacramento King’s majority owners) and Chris Hansen, a long-time Seattle SuperSonic fan back in October 2012. Hansen entered into a binding purchase and sale agreement with the Maloofs in January 2013 and many in Seattle felt this was David Stern’s way of “righting” the perceived “wrong” done to them when he facilitated and oversaw the relocation of the historic franchise from its 41 years in Seattle to cosmopolitan Oklahoma City beginning in 2006. Seattle SuperSonic fans felt this proved that David Stern did have a heart and wanted to see the NBA return to Seattle and because of this, Stern and the Board of Governors of the NBA would swiftly approve the sale and relocation agreement as they had done for his close friend Clay Bennett in 2006 and 2008.

When Stern was told of this change of opinion from Seattle fans, those close to Stern said his face flushed with rage at the misconception. One observer who was present when Stern heard and read some of the positive things which were said about him, slammed his fist on his desk and said, “Godammit, I am not duplicitous!” at which time he proceeded to send out a flurry of instructions to his staff telling them how to instruct Sacramento to “muck-up” the potential sale of the Kings, hurriedly grabbed the PSA between the Maloofs and Hansen from his desk, hastily scribbled “call me and I’ll explain” on a yellow sticky and stuffed it into a Fedex overnight envelope to Kevin Johnson.

Those closest to Stern say that his biggest pet peeve is being labelled duplicitous, having double standards, or running a “kangaroo” court as commissioner of the NBA. One source, when asked about the verity of some of the comments leaked about the Seattle/Sacramento situation said, “oh yeah, absolutely true. Stern hates Seattle and so when he heard that opinions of him were softening, he had to make it very clear to Seattle that he was not duplicitous or hypocritical towards them and is making sure his actions, words, and the assistance he is giving to Sacramento to keep the prove his dislike of Seattle.” When asked about the solid ownership group and arena deal the City of Seattle had put together when making its bid for the long troubled Sacramento Kings franchise, the source shrugged her shoulders and said, “money is never an issue with the NBA, it’s always whatever Stern wants and in this case, he absolutely does not want Seattle to think he has double standards, he does not want the NBA back in that city.”

When Seattle SuperSonic fans were informed of this latest information, many reacted with returned vitriolic dislike for Stern while others, true of most in Seattle, denied that someone could be that dark and spiteful towards their beloved team and city given they had done everything the NBA had required to return the legendary franchise. One frequent poster to the popular website www.sonicsrising.com said, “Oh I don’t believe that, why would David Stern go to all the trouble to work with Chris Hansen and the Maloofs to make a deal happen between them? Maybe we should send Stern a thank-you card and gift basket.” Somewhere in New York, David Stern is reading that SuperSonic fans still keep hope that in the end they’ll get their team back, and a wry smile crosses his lips as he picks up the phone and dials a number in area code 916.