NBA Commissioner David Stern Regrets The Sonics Moving From Seattle

[Brian Damage]

NBA Commissioner David Stern regrets the Sonics’ contentious exit from Seattle.

“My regrets are that we didn’t do a – weren’t able to do a better job of getting a building moved along so that we could have kept a team there,” Stern told ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons during Simmons’ podcast Tuesday.

Simmons prompted Stern by asking him about previous comments on the departure of the Grizzlies from Vancouver.

“I have regrets about both Vancouver and Seattle,” Stern said.

Stern seems eager to fix the problem. he said Seattle is an attractive destination for a team in the future once it solves its arena problem.

“I think it’s a very prime city for an NBA franchise,” Stern said.

Stern said Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, the Tampa Bay area and Anaheim are cities with serviceable arenas that could host NBA teams in the future.

“But our goal here is to keep all of our teams where they are,” Stern said, “but recognizing that that hasn’t been a goal that we have successfully achieved in the past.”

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlespo...t-sonics-move/

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

NBA Commissioner David Stern regrets the Sonics’ contentious exit from Seattle.

“My regrets are that we didn’t do a – weren’t able to do a better job of getting a building moved along so that we could have kept a team there,” Stern told ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons during Simmons’ podcast Tuesday.

Simmons prompted Stern by asking him about previous comments on the departure of the Grizzlies from Vancouver.

“I have regrets about both Vancouver and Seattle,” Stern said.

Stern seems eager to fix the problem. he said Seattle is an attractive destination for a team in the future once it solves its arena problem.

“I think it’s a very prime city for an NBA franchise,” Stern said.

Stern said Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, the Tampa Bay area and Anaheim are cities with serviceable arenas that could host NBA teams in the future.

“But our goal here is to keep all of our teams where they are,” Stern said, “but recognizing that that hasn’t been a goal that we have successfully achieved in the past.”

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlespo...t-sonics-move/

That might just be the world's biggest understatement! No major sports league in North America has seen more teams move to new cities than the NBA. As a fan of the both the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Seattle Sonics I find Mr. Stern's regrets to be way too little way too late. Where was Mr. Stern when our teams were being pulled out from under us? Unless I'm mistaken he was doing a lot of the pulling or at least doing everything in his power to make the pulling possible. Forgive me if I don't take your "regrets" seriously Mr. Stern but your track record in this part of the world is very poor!

[isiahthomas]

I don't agree with David's statements either because if he regrets Seattle moving to Oklahoma, he would've done something to keep the team in Seattle. I bet it's gonna be hard for free agents in the future to come to Oklahoma because i know it isn't much there to do hahahahahahahahaha. Seattle seems like it has things to do as far as nightlife like clubs and restaurants.

[Dork]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

NBA Commissioner David Stern regrets the Sonics’ contentious exit from Seattle.

“My regrets are that we didn’t do a – weren’t able to do a better job of getting a building moved along so that we could have kept a team there,” Stern told ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons during Simmons’ podcast Tuesday.

Simmons prompted Stern by asking him about previous comments on the departure of the Grizzlies from Vancouver.

“I have regrets about both Vancouver and Seattle,” Stern said.

Stern seems eager to fix the problem. he said Seattle is an attractive destination for a team in the future once it solves its arena problem.

“I think it’s a very prime city for an NBA franchise,” Stern said.

Stern said Kansas City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, the Tampa Bay area and Anaheim are cities with serviceable arenas that could host NBA teams in the future.

“But our goal here is to keep all of our teams where they are,” Stern said, “but recognizing that that hasn’t been a goal that we have successfully achieved in the past.”

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlespo...t-sonics-move/

Moving the Sonics is stupid but who cares about Vancover? I do not think Vancover has much of a fan base...

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by Dork

Moving the Sonics is stupid but who cares about Vancover? I do not think Vancover has much of a fan base...

As someone who lives in British Columbia I care! And Vancouver had a great fanbase during the Grizzlies tenure here. The building was always full. It was the corporate community that didn't support the team. There was a concern among the corporate community that the Grizzlies wouldn't be here long term so why invest in them. And then the NBA had to justify that fear by moving the team to Memphis!!!

[Dork]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

As someone who lives in British Columbia I care! And Vancouver had a great fanbase during the Grizzlies tenure here. The building was always full. It was the corporate community that didn't support the team. There was a concern among the corporate community that the Grizzlies wouldn't be here long term so why invest in them. And then the NBA had to justify that fear by moving the team to Memphis!!!

Ahh, oh well! Well, even though moving the Sonics is stupid, it is not a bad thing because I get to go to Oklahoma City Thunder games against the Orlando Magic (I am a Magic fan)

[MrCleveland]

Well...now The NBA may have a year to consider this mistake, for the NBA may be locked-out for a year.

I think cities such as St. Louis, Vancouver, Montreal, Kansas City, Richmond, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Seattle, Cincinnati, Des Moines, or even Monterrey could use an NBA Team....

[Dianne3]

Mr. Cleveland - I'm not too sure Montreal is a basketball market. I can't comment on Vancouver, since I live in Eastern Canada.
All I know is that I get a lot of Toronto Raptors coverage where I live, and all I seem to hear every year is one player after another not wanting to play in Toronto. I think basketball players are prima-donna's and the worst of the 4 major sports, and I think a labour dispute would put them in their places.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by Dianne3

Mr. Cleveland - I'm not too sure Montreal is a basketball market. I can't comment on Vancouver, since I live in Eastern Canada.
All I know is that I get a lot of Toronto Raptors coverage where I live, and all I seem to hear every year is one player after another not wanting to play in Toronto. I think basketball players are prima-donna's and the worst of the 4 major sports, and I think a labour dispute would put them in their places.

That's why I think there should be another League, not the ABA (or that new one), or the NBA Developmental League...I mean something like an NBA2 League. Have cities like Montreal, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Albuquerque, etc. to play in that League.

[Dork]

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

That's why I think there should be another League, not the ABA (or that new one), or the NBA Developmental League...I mean something like an NBA2 League. Have cities like Montreal, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Albuquerque, etc. to play in that League.

No offense but that is the worst idea I ever heard