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Constable Echelon
Apparently unsatisfied with merely ripping the Seattle Supersonics away from a loyal fanbase of 40+ years, Clay Bennett’s ownership group has turned their bullying homeward. In a shocking change of policy, Bennett is literally threatening the Oklahoma legislature with the prospect of not moving the team unless lawmakers approve a tax rebate for the organization.
The nerve of this motherfucker is unbelievable.
Per newsok.com, the team is seeking “a rebate on a portion of payroll taxes it will pay if it relocates”. Some local Republicans view the proposed rebate as corporate welfare. It has already failed once in the state senate.
“I want the Sonics here. I’m just not favorable to this sweetheart deal,” Rep. Paul Wesselhoft – R said. “We’ve been blackmailed from the beginning on this.”
Rep. Charlie Joyner, R-Midwest City, who also voted against the bill, said he received an e-mail from Bennett that said the team might not come to Oklahoma City unless the House passes the tax incentive.
“I just don’t think this thing has been handled right. That’s kind of holding legislators hostage,” Joyner said.
“I’m not anti-NBA, but this is not right.”
Now I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m totally oblivious to Oklahoma state politics, and this sort of surprised me. I was under the impression that the city and state would bend over backwards to accommodate their robber baron. Consider me impressed.
On the other hand, I find it wholly indicative of Bennett’s character that he appears to be unsastified with the terms under which he’s being permitted to hijack a team. You don’t amass billions by forgetting to ask for more, after all.
In case anyone (cough, Bomani Jones, cough) thinks this Sonics story is refreshing in a “Isn’t it awesome that this guy bought a team for his hometown because I would totally do that if I had that much money” sort of way, it’s not.
This is a story about one asshole (Bennett) who, with the help of his asshole friend (Stern), demands everyone plays by his rules and threatens those who dare defy him. There is no altruism here. There is no joy here. Just assholes.
Sonics owners push tax incentives (The Oklahoman)
Clay Bennett has one fan, at least (Page 2)
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I want to crush Stern’s balls in a vice.
must resist urge to kick some butt…..
Only a douchebag like Stern would think leaving the vibrant Seattle market for the cow pastures of Oklahoma City was a wise move.
Oklahoma City is a cool, and vibrant, city and the NBA will thrive there. I don’t like how this deal is going down, but Oklahoma City has proven it’s an NBA city.
This guy is unbelievable, all he had to do was tell the truth, we’re moving the team to Oklahoma, when he purchased it, and I would have respected him more for being honest, even though we would miss the team!
Oh great, the creepy guy from myspace has an opinion.
Yeah “Tom”…and if I had tits and a snatch I’d be a girl.
Look, I love Tom Coburn (R) Oklahoma, but if you think Oklahoma City or any other part of that state can compare with Seattle as a sports city, then you Tom, are delusional. Supporting the Katrina struck Hornets for a couple of hours doesn’t prove anything compared to us up here in the Emerald City. Besides, putting Clay Bennett in your Hall of Fame doesn’t do a whole lot for your states credibility.
Believe me there are thousands and thousands of Oklahomans that are p*ssed off that we, the taxpayers, are now going to have to pay for Clay’s elite welfare!
We are not all hicks here, we do have a brain and many of us have fought this since the day the rumors started. And yes we are getting screwed but there is a groundswell of protest growing across this state. And hopefully our mayor will go down with the rest of them. We are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore!
I’ve been agains’t the Sonics move to OKC from the get go. The citizens of OKC were ready and willing to swallow a bill of goods to improve the cities poor self image.
First we were told that the Ford Arena had be be renovated with taxpayer money or it was no deal. We were told that the revenue for improvments would be payed with an extension of the Maps for Kids tax that was due to expire. The decrease in taxes was supposed to be returned to the taxpayer. Instead we’re stuck with a tax we should not be paying. People swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker, tax is tax is tax now matter how you smoke screen it.
Now we’re being told there has to be a tax rebate or its no deal. Gee I thought blackmail is a crime as well as fraudulent intent for monetary gain. Guess not.
I’ve been saying all along that if we allow the Sonics to move here, within 5 yeqrs Bennett will be demanding the taxpayers of Oklahoma City pay for a brand new arena, otherwise he will move the team. I say give the bastard the boot and let him move the team elsewhere if he can find a city so stupid as to allow him to dictate terms and conditions.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma City will only gain major league status when it loses its inferiority complex about its neighbor south of the Red RIver.
In the immortal words of Dark Helmet. “I’m surrounded by assholes!”
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article Clay Bennett to OK legislature: “I’m an equal opportunity dick”, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
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