When it comes to giving hope to the hopeless, I’m an old pro

I’m selfishly taking this time to say goodbye to my old self.

From 2008 through the day before yesterday, I spent plenty of time turning over rocks looking for signs of life, and shared whatever I found with you. There was a point, I’ll call it 2009 (the entire year) where I joked that I was “Giving Hope to the Hopeless”, but it was mostly to myself.

I examined the empty shell of Key Arena, prodded local politicians to do something, or at least ask that they provide the means for others to do something.
Unlike the new arena that will smell like hotdogs, 2009 smelled like desperation. I’ve lived it, we lived it.

So, with that experience still fresh in my mind I’ll spell out what the near future looks like, and feels like.

For Sonics fans that have had their feet sunk into cement and then pushed into Elliott Bay I have good news, you’re not dead. More than that, you are very much alive, it’s true. Try to be happy about that, seriously, do try.

The path to having NBA basketball back in Seattle is paved with hard work and lots of money from Chris Hansen and company.

But, lets back up a tiny bit, there is that arena, partially financed by public money collected in and around the facility. I had made this point in the past many times, the inevitable requirement for that exact public/private partnership, that interfacing public infrastructure would have to be carried in some way by a local municipality. It’s exceedingly unlikely that anybody like Chris Hansen read anything I’ve ever written. But, meditate on a problem long enough and the solution can become both obvious and seemingly impossible to those without the means, practical and inevitable to the few that do have the means.

And yet, because you shown genuine interest, you’re months away from wondering who those familiar strangers are in Sonics uniforms.

My tiny part has been done for some time. I’m just a Sonics fan now, waiting to write basketball stories in the near future. Sweet freedom.
Go Sonics!

The flip side, the path Kevin Johnson is on is a desperate one. I know desperation when I see it, having lived it. He has nothing to lose, you see, by continuing to travel down this path. The worst thing that could happen is what is obviously happening, the Kings franchise leaves Sacramento.
Whatever KJ can do through the remaining weeks can only make the Sacramento situation better in the long term. I don’t expect that they will keep the team, they were leaving the minute George Maloof pulled the plug on the arena proposal last year. They couldn’t afford to stay, they couldn’t go to Anaheim. At the same time Seattle was working on an arena solution that had escaped Sacramento.
This isn’t a car accident, but a business transaction.
Battling something that looks inevitable is not easy, certainly few Seattle politicians had the stomach for it.

But, the fact of the matter is that there is a formal agreement not involving Sacramento. What’s left for KJ is positioning Sacramento as the the clear front runner for the next available franchise. The bad news for KJ is that his big show in front of the NBA Board of Governors is the easy part. Finding a private partner to champion and commit to building an arena without having a team in town takes a lot more than a weekend of emotional pleas in New York.
It’s desperate toiling, thankless even when you are being thanked.
When you got nothin’, you’ve got nothin’ to lose.

That’s my last word on the Kings, on the desperate recient past for us, and that fear that we are somehow still wearing cement shoes.

Have a great day,
Mike Baker
Seattle, Wa

About Mike Baker

“Wizards only, fools, keep it tight.”—Ice King from Adventure Time (Reign of Gunters). - I have followed and written about the Sonics at SonicsCentral (as one of the "Magnificent 7") and a few other blogs. I have advocated for and written about efforts to find an arena solution for my community for several years. I am a native Seattleite, and lifelong Sonics fan. University of Washington grad. I majored in Communication.
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160 Responses to When it comes to giving hope to the hopeless, I’m an old pro

  1. John_S says:

    **drops mic**

    Very well said. I appreciate all that you have done especially on the fallacy that is I-91.

  2. jenn_gp says:

    Great post, Baker.

    Not gonna lie, when I woke up this morning and read from Chris Daniels KJ is ready to present his plan this afternoon, I got worried. Then I hear he has 3 different potential groups, which made me even more nervous.

    I was thinking about this last night…why can KJ counter at this point? When David Stern gave him the go ahead, the sale had not been reported to league offices yet. It was simply a rumor at that point, unless they knew more than they led on. We now have a signed transaction between Hansen, Ballmer, the Nordstroms and the Maloofs.

    This is like submitting an offer on a house that has already been sold. I guess the catch here in our case is that the sale hasn’t been approved yet.

    Anyone else as woried as I am about what today could bring? Baker thinks KJ is desperate, which I totally get. But KJ’s been a pitbull every step of the way when it appeared the Kings were headed out the door. His fight is real.

  3. James says:

    I can’t see anything KJ does that will worry us on the vote on relocation. It’s all posturing to let the NBA know that even though we have lost our team, don’t count us out. We’d like to get anothe team down the road, and prove why they should be at the top of the list. The roller coaster has stopped, the train has left the station and it has picked up too much speed to be stopped now.

  4. Christopher Michael says:

    Baker hit on the main thought I had as I went to bed last night.

    Only one group has an agreement submitted to the NBA and that is Hansen’s group. KJ can bring all sorts of proposals, handshakes, etc. But when he stands in front of the BOG, he will be trying to convince them to turn down an already submitted agreement in favor of hypotheticals. As I’m sure we’ve all heard a bunch of times in our lives, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

    Removing all the extra baggage of PR, better market, law suits, limiting owner’s powers, etc. At the end of the day they will have one agreement in front of them and it will be yes or no.

  5. Brian Robinson says:

    Ellison is their last great hope and he is not going to be in. If Kevin Johnson comes out today and says “I have been approached by several high net worth investors who at this time want to remain anonymous but are willing to participate in city efforts to retain the Kings.” then it is ballgame.

    Its been interesting watching the Kings fans work to manufacture hope. Hope is a great resource and completely and totally necessary to give them a shot at success. Its the area where fans can make a difference.

    • John_S says:

      I remember when Charles Barkley on TNT said that moving from Seattle was a travesty, the fans are wonderful and that for the longest time he thought his middle name was ‘sucks’.

      We all thought that was great news and it was wonderful for Charles to say it.

      Well, Sacramento fans had that moment last night with Chris Webber and Kenny Smith and they are pumping this up big time.

      When you are looking for anything and make it into hope you know the end is coming.

    • Xteve says:

      If the league wanted Larry Ellison in, he’d have been in a long time ago.

  6. Danimal says:

    Sac downplaying today’s presser

    http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2013/1/22/3903188/kevin-johnson-press-conference-sacramento-kings

  7. Taylor Made says:

    You guys remember when our team was sold to out of towners who wanted to move it but at the last second Ballmer came in and renovated the Key and bought the team back?

    Oh wait, that didn’t happen. Sad to say, but this situation is eerily familiar.

  8. Riboflavin says:

    Is there really a chance Sacramento will get a NBA team anytime soon? As manufacturing continues you grow in the midwest again, people there will look to spend their money on entertainment venues all year round. I’d imagine that Cincinnati and Kansas City have a better shot of retaking the Kings name and history then Sacramento does.

    I don’t know, just thinking out loud(on a blog).

    • BarelyAble says:

      Cinci is probably a no go on market size and proximity to indi and Cleveland. Also the league needs western teams more so kc looks better. All depends on owners and arena deals I guess

  9. Otto says:

    Brian: any concernvabout some of the political wrangling from cal?

    • Taylor Made says:

      It’s posturing. You can’t threaten someone’s business based on something completely unrelated.

      • BarelyAble says:

        It has to be posturing. What is the guy even going to propose? A boycott on Microsoft products in the state? Taxes? These sort of threats would never come to reality because they would hurt other businesses and would likely start a back and forth between legislatures.

  10. Silvio says:

    Hmmm….so the most important investors(the ones with the $) aren’t being mentioned?

    That either means that KJ’s still searching for them or at least doesn’t really know what they’d be willing to spend/how much into it they really are.

    • John_S says:

      If you’re a ‘whale’ would you want to pay most of the tab on a purchase where they want other people in the ownership to be the face?

      The local buyers in Sacramento cannot afford to but the team and to chip in to the arena as well. KJ has said that the local owners would be the face of the franchise. Who would want to put in the most money and get the least out of it as far as being visible?

  11. Squatch says:

    So whats the next step now ? Time frame etc.

  12. Paul Rogers says:

    Remember a few months back when a few of us noticed that Calabro wasn’t on his own show nearly as much and we thought something might be up because of it?

    Seattle SuperSonics ‏@SeattleSonics
    Good Golly, Miss Molly: Kevin Calabro Quits Radio Job At KIRO’s ESPN 710 — And It Happened Four Months Ago http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2013/01/kevin_calabro_quits_710_kiro_espn_radio.php …

  13. BarelyAble says:

    @Ryan_Lillis: Mayor Johnson today will unveil more than 10 local business leaders seeking to be part of new #NBAKings ownership group

    @Ryan_Lillis: Today’s announcement by Mayor Johnson not expected to include deep-pocket investor - aka ‘the whale.” #NBAKings

    • Otto says:

      Feel bad for the kings fans that think they have a legitimate shot at this

    • Danimal says:

      Basically a presser saying “Roseville Tire and Battery and Frankie’s Deli want the Kings to stay, but don’t have any money” is what I’m getting out of this. Its not completely dumb for KJ. He needs any positive press he can get.

      • Taylor Made says:

        I feel like it’s probably going to be another public call-to-arms for the big money guys, too.

        • BarelyAble says:

          I also thought there was supposed to be some arena speculation as well but maybe that will be on hold. I really think this presser was all PR and was pushed way up by the submitted sales agreement. Still, these reports make it look even more dire than I thought.

          • SonicsDawg says:

            Yeah I was worried about this presser. But if no whales and no arena details, then Sacto running low on time.

  14. Riboflavin says:

    I have a question, last night Aaron Levine was reporting that the BOG won’t vote on the sale until April 1st. Is that correct? I swore that the relocation deadline is March 1st and assumed the BOG would want to vote on this in time for the relocation committee?

  15. Mike Baker says:

    Don’t sell short local corporate support. That can really help them be 1st in line, but not stop the current sale.

  16. Menace says:

    I saw a tweet about the $30 mm deposit. Cant remember who it was from. It said that once the deposit is down……if the team is sold to someone else it give CH the basis for a good lawsuit against the NBA. Did anyone else see that? What was the law term again?

    Im no lawyer. Didnt stay at a Holiday Inn express last night. But if the agreement is done in principle……..not really sure what KJ and Sactown can do at this point. I mean if the BOG cant really decide for an owner who they sell to. They can accept or decline an owner after the fact……..but they cant do anything presale. Im very curious to what they see happening down there if things go their way.

  17. Menace says:

    I played NBA 2K13 last night as the Kings. They are a terrible team. They need to blow up that entire team. Lots of bad contracts. Its going to take a long time to clean up this team.

    Josh Smith has a $13 mm expiring contract.

    Trade Cousins and Salmons or Thornton to Atlanta. Amnesty whoever they wont take. Let Tyreke Evans walk in FA. Trade Jimmer to Utah for Randy Foye or Earl Watson and Tinsley, or Raja Bell.

    • leBleede says:

      As a fellow NBA2K fan, I love that this is how you research a team. Here’s the scene in my head:

      INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT
      Larry Bird sits in a bean bag chair, XBOX controller in hand. He looks troubled. On a massive TV in front of him, the NBA2K13 version of the Sacramento Kings slump off the court behind the graphic:

      OKLAHOMA CITY 103
      SACRAMENTO 71

      Larry picks up a nearby phone. It’s one of those phones that’s shaped like a tennis shoe. Green converse, of course.

      LARRY
      Yeah it’s me. These guys are worse than I thought.

      INT. PENTHOUSE - NIGHT
      Phil Jackson holds a phone up to his ear. Huge rings on every finger.
      He’s doing yoga.

      PHIL
      Yes Larry. It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?

      INT. BASEMENT - NIGHT
      Larry smiles and hangs up the phone, picks up the XBOX controller with a half-grin. On the screen:

      RESTART GAME? Yes - No

      The cursor highlights YES.
      DING!

      FADE TO GREEN AND GOLD

  18. Brian Robinson says:

    Local support is great but it is not what they need right now. They need a whale.

    I think that an earlier comment referring to this as a “call to arms” is really spot on.

    You do a call to arms when you don’t have the tools you need to get the job done. They are running out of time to be assembling their roster and coming up with a gameplan when our team is already on the floor ready for tipoff.

    • Gene Hunt says:

      If the “whale” or “whales” already thinks the Kings price is too high then won’t this call to arms fall on deaf ears and be more political posturing then anything else?

  19. Brian Robinson says:

    BTW - I have a feeling Kevin Calabro may have another job lined up.

  20. leBleede says:

    Had my first Sonics-related-high-five-with-a-stranger yesterday.
    Me: Out for a run by the stadiums, rocking a Sonics shirt.
    Him: “They’re coming back!”
    Us: *high-fiving white guys*

  21. Gene Hunt says:

    And here’s the front page of the Times

    http://bit.ly/WkGNok

  22. bobbywilbury44 says:

    Wearing my Skyline Logo Sonics jacket today, and getting it’s getting the attention it deserves! It is bringing smiles all around. People are happy to see that the Sonics returning. I feel so good wearing this jacket : )

  23. rambisfan-rmcd says:

    I still have a copy of the Times Sonics Comemerative Edition when the team left. I will burn it when it is official.

  24. Paul Rogers says:

    Has it been mentioned on here a few times that it’s not cool for us to troll the Sacramento boards? Even if the comments you post are what you think of as conciliatory or nice?

    Well it’s happening any way and the Sacramento fans are rightfully outraged. Could we please not post on their boards. Nothing we say won’t infuriate them.

  25. kba says:

    It will be interesting to see how many fans show up for the home game against Phoenix tomorrow.

  26. Gene Hunt says:

    Economist Andrew Zimbalist talking about the deal to bring the Kings to Seattle

    http://kuow.org/weekday

    From KUOW

  27. Taylor Made says:

    The Sonics will need a new “anthem.” I hope Macklemore or Blue Scholars put something together.

  28. Riboflavin says:

    I say, have these guys do another collabo!

    http://youtu.be/7ZeRlGP6UHQ

  29. seattle_brett says:

    On Sactown royalty, there is a rumor right now that they found their whale. Mark Mastrov they say is going to match Chris Hansen’s offer.

  30. Omar says:

    Play-by-play guy for Kings said he’s very confident that KJ will come with an offer very similar to Hansen’s, including an arena deal.

    hmmm…

    • Christopher Michael says:

      Will it include an agreement that the prospective ownership group can’t back out of? Don’t see how it can. Which is going to be KJ’s issue all the way to the vote.

    • Taylor Made says:

      So if all else is equal, KJ has the team staying on his side, we have a signed piece of paper on ours.

    • soundersfan84 says:

      Yea an actually completely arena deal with complete details. They don’t have one that is complete with all the necessary details contrary to what they are claiming that they have an arena deal.

    • kba says:

      He might but in the end the owners will vote for Hansen. I will be glad when this is final.

    • soundersfan84 says:

      http://www.sportsradiokjr.com/player/?mid=22803128&station=KJR-AM&program_id=softy.xml&program_name=podcast

      I assuming this is where Napear was talking about it.

      • Taylor Made says:

        He says “what does the NBA do if there is an equal offer with an ironclad arena deal?”

        Well… there’s still only one sales agreement in place.

        • soundersfan84 says:

          It makes me wonder if he realizes how long it takes to get an arena deal done with everything financed.

          Their suppose arena deal that 200m that would came from selling parking to a private group has yet to even take place.

  31. Jared S. says:

    I don’t know if KJ will be able to save the team, but I don’t think he’s doing all this just to save face, and I don’t think people should be ridiculing him for doing whatever he can to try and keep the team-especially since we’ll all never forgive Nickels for capitulating.

  32. Gene Hunt says:

    Good Golly, Miss Molly: Kevin Calabro Quits Radio Job At KIRO’s ESPN 710 — And It Happened Four Months Ago

    http://bit.ly/10nVVmv

  33. Gene Hunt says:

    Sonics Arena to be reviewed in a public meeting tonight

    http://bit.ly/10EQMLP

  34. Nap says:

    Now that my team is back I had a chance to review the upcoming draft. My choice for the first pick of Sonics 2.0 is Ben McLemore, SF, Kansas! I feel like we have a good Big and a couple pretty good guards. We need Forwards… This kid can HOP! YouTube him.

  35. Numbers Guy1984 says:

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonynitti/2013/01/21/golfer-phil-mickelson-may-call-it-quits-due-to-climbing-tax-rates/

    Interested to know what impact the rising tax rates in California will have on the owners final decisions (if at all). I don’t know enough about jurisdiction revenues are considered earned (e.g., TV revenue) but going from an absurdly high income tax state + sales tax to a no income tax state has got to be appealing for the NBA owners and the players. This could be an afterthought to the owners but seems like it would be at least be in the “+” column for Seattle.

  36. LiteSeattlite says:

    Hey guys how’s it goin?? Pretty DARN GREAT ISN’T IT!!!! I’ve been off the comments for a while, but I’ve been checkin in every now and then. Boy oh boy, remember the old comments and arguments with the port and mariners back at sonicscentral??? Feels like ages ago with how close we are to this now.

    Anyway, I was coming home from class and heard on the radio that MOViN 92.5 radio is giving away a hundred bucks at the team shop and 2 free tickets to a Sonics game. They even changed the name of the station to SONICS 92.5 for this week!!! I can’t believe it!!! IT’S HAPPENING!!!

  37. charliesonic says:

    great post, mr. baker. sums up my feelings, too. one added point — mayor kj is being a smart politician. focus the hatreds on the maloofs (not that that’s very hard!) and away from himself. he needs to be the mayor who fought to keep the kings, not the mayor who let them get away. . .

    and yes, to position sacramento for the next available franchise, if and when. . . it’s that old musical chair game. they’re about to be ‘out.’ the nba is heartless, and doens’t care who’s out, as long as someone is. it scares the other cities. . . the french army liked to shoot a few mutineers every now and then ‘pour encourager les autres.’

    • Menace says:

      Even if he wasnt fighting for this………I think you would be hard pressed to put the blame on anyone but the Maloofs. The city of Sacramento as a whole has done more than their share to work with them and keep the team. And that was even after the threats of Vegas and Anaheim were there.

  38. Sean says:

    Sounds like KJ has plenty of dogs and ponies for his show, just no whales.

  39. Matt Parker says:

    This is less to worry about than we thought.

    https://twitter.com/andria_borba/status/293836183228788737

    1. Identify local ownership group
    2. Identify major equity partner
    3. Demonstrate City’s commitment to partner on new downtown arena
    4. Demonstrate viability and strength of Sacramento market

    Reading los on rumors here and there about the “whale” being announced by Friday. Curious though that there isn’t a peep about this from the national media.

  40. Cysco says:

    if anyone is interested you can watch the KJ press conference here:

    http://www.news10.net/video/liveonline/default.aspx

  41. Menace says:

    Even if there is a “whale”. Its done folks. Once that deposit is put down……..Hansen can sue the pants off the NBA or the Maloofs.

    Its really hard to buy a car that someone already put the down payment down for.

  42. Cysco says:

    Seriously? that one lady on stage holding a “Seattle: No NFC Championship, No Kings” sign? What does KJ hope to accomplish with something like that?

  43. Matt Parker says:

    ^ I think everybody would prefer to not have a lawsuit though. Also, I don’t think AEG is number “2.” I don’t think they have anybody.

  44. BarelyAble says:

    Chris Daniels love tweeting

  45. Taylor Made says:

    There is a new thread for the press conference.

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