Everywhere I go, everything I read has bloggers already kicking the Sonics out of Seattle and into Oklahoma City; I’m not one of those bloggers. Nope. While many see Sonics’ minority owner Aubrey McClendon’s comments as the punching of the team’s ticket out of town, I see it as a desperate act by a desperate man. How can I be so confident in my analysis of the situation? Easy… been there, done that.

Remember this?

“We are meeting with officials in Kansas City today as part of our effort to explore all of our options regarding a new arena,” Lemieux said in a statement on the team’s Web site. “We have heard many great things about their new building, which is scheduled to open in time for the start of the 2007-08 NHL season.”

Yep, this is exactly the same strategy used by the Pittsburgh Penguins ownership used to get their new stadium deal done with Pennsylvania legislators. Let’s look at the similarities:

• Current arena is crap-tastic
• Taxpayers don’t want to pay the cash after footing the bill on two new stadiums (Seahawks and Mariners/ Steelers and Pirates)
• The city of the supposed move cannot, ever, support the team

And the real kicker? Seattle is locked into Key Arena for three more seasons. That realistically gives Seattle taxpayers/ legislators the upper hand and much longer than Clay Bennett’s self-imposed deadline of October 31.

And finally, if that’s not enough, there is David Stern who has already publically stated that he wants the team to stay, and that “sometimes in situations like that, something that you couldn’t have contemplated comes to the forefront and maybe there’s some possibility.”

So put the pieces together and see Aubrey McClendon’s comments for what they really are; a frustrated, small man who is used to getting everything he wants is finally told “no” and this is apparently the best idea he could come up with: antagonize Seattle even further. Nice work Andrew. Before, all we know about you was that you are rich… now we know you’re a d-bag too.

The more you know…

[Editor’s note: even more evidence today is this article in which Clay Bennett told NBA sources “Aubrey McClendon does not speak on behalf of the team.” Even better was the quote from State Sen. Margarita Prentice who was pretty much expecting such an outburst: “I’ve been waiting for Clay Bennett to flip us all off and tell us to go jump in the lake.” Considering all the bad blood I’m not so sure Stern can let the team leave like this and the NBA might even have to step in as did the NHL in Pitt.]

• Sonics minority owner says team destined for Oklahoma City (Seattle Times)