Throwdown
Well-known member
vedthree":3iy5qsrv said:dunceface":3iy5qsrv said:Ved, you have just reached hero status with Pinksheets. Thank you for clarifying this stuff for all of us...even if its not exactly what we want to hear right now
IN HANSEN WE TRUST
E.C. Laloosh":3iy5qsrv said:So what you're saying is that our entire thread could be summed up with: :cussing: followed by :white_flag:
Heh, sorry 'bout that - I get off on rants sometimes and get waaaay to wordy .... :lol:
Actually, I don't think Hansen needs to surrender at all - in fact, I think the NBA ****** up, tipped their hand AND pissed off the wrong guys. I think Hansen still has major leverage here
Stern gets away with his Machiavellian BS because other ownership groups are so desperate to join/stay in the club ... but Hansen/Ballmer are different. Ballmer doesn't need to join the NBA Boy's Club for validation - hell, for him it's slumming. As was said, he could buy & sell any of them with his pocket change. And for Hansen, this has always been personal. He wants to be the white knight. He wants the Sonics back. He's on a revenge mission. Combine Hansen's passion with Ballmer's temper and .... there will be blood.
H/B know the situation here in Seattle - they know the political winds and that there's only a limited opportunity for this arena. They also know the fanbase won't survive getting jerked around by the NBA a 2nd or 3rd time. Now they know the NBA's game. That's where Stern showed too many cards. If a lot of National pundits can see this is nothing but a public subsidy grab by the NBA and about sending a message to their other struggling markets then you know damn well Hansen & Ballmer see it.
IMO, there's a clear strategy to beat the NBA at their own game - do everything possible to enforce the sale agreement with the Maloofs. Argue it at the BoG, force the Finance Committee to either approve it or come up with some out-of-their-ass reason to reject it. If it is rejected, bankroll the Maloofs so they refuse to sell to Sacto. Bring in the lawyers and sue everything/everyone in sight. Threaten to drag things out as long as possible. If Hansen does any of that, the Sacto deal that the NBA cares so much about will collapse. Hansen only agrees to walk away from the Kings if the NBA grants an expansion team
I'm convinced it will work - Hansen & Ballmer have the motivation, deep pockets, and phalanx of Lawyers to fight the bully at their own game and punch them in the mouth. The NBA has more to lose in the fight than we do.
I'm going to love watching them do it.
:th2thumbs: :snack:
Annnnd you don't post more why? Lol