Shocking news ... or not. This does seem to let David Stern off the hook a bit though. I read elsewhere that Governor Gregoire was going to ask the NBA not to approve the relo next week due to these revelations and to instead find a way to have some REAL "good-faith" efforts to keep the team in Seattle.

Quoted: E-mail messages between SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett and team co-owners appear to show Bennett misled NBA commissioner David Stern on the group's intentions to move the team to Oklahoma City before all avenues for a new arena in Seattle were closed. The messages have become part of the team's dispute with the city of Seattle over the two years remaining on its KeyArena lease. - National Basketball Association news

If road teams won't want to play in OKC, how hard will be be to get players who will actually want to be on a team based in OKC?

Quoted: Shaquille O'Neal and other Phoenix Suns personnel say they can't see Oklahoma City as a better NBA city than Seattle.

wow ... this thing is escalating ...

Quoted: Seattle city officials filed a lawsuit Monday to keep the SuperSonics from leaving town. The lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court was a counter move to a Sonics' attempt to be released from their lease on KeyArena. According to the complaint, "The Sonics promised to 'play all home games ... exclusively"' at the arena at the Seattle Center through Sept. - National Basketball Association news

Boo!

Quoted: OKLAHOMA CITY - OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma City energy tycoon says the group that purchased the Seattle SuperSonics hopes to move the NBA franchise to Oklahoma City, but he acknowledges the team could make more money in the Pacific Northwest.