For those we lost, We will not forget 09/11/2001 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
— The Continental Congress, July 4, 1776

“The task of statesmanship has always been the re-definition of these rights in terms of a changing and growing social order.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt (Commonwealth Club Address, 1932)

“Roosevelt was wrong! The principles laid down in the Declaration of Independence are the principles of individual liberty. Our unalienable rights, given to us by God are given to us as individuals. Our rights do not come from society or the government, and they cannot be redefined by politicians. The nature of these rights carries with it the implication of individual responsibility, without which we surrender them.”
— Perri Nelson, November 6, 2008

A victory for the people!

Published Wed, May 30 2007 5:09 PM
Technorati Tags: Entertainment

Maybe a small one, but it's a start. 

Sonics and Storm owner Clay Bennett says he's "out of ideas" for landing an arena deal in Seattle and plans to file this November with the NBA for permission to move the teams after next season.

It will be a shame that two of the area's major sports teams are leaving. Even so, it's about time that multi-million-dollar professional sports organizations had their bluff called when they try to blackmail the public out of massive amounts of funding with threats to leave.

Let's just hope the state legislature doesn't decide that it's an emergency and give them a half billion dollars just to spite the people, like they've done with other sports teams. If professional sports can't stand on their own then maybe we don't need them all that much after all.

Perhaps professional sports organizations might learn from this, but I doubt it. It's long been my belief, especially when it comes to basketball, that professional athletes are paid considerably more than they're worth.

They don't serve as good role models anymore either, unless the roles you want modeled include criminal behavior. Do we really want our children learning that it's OK to take illegal drugs if it helps you ignore pain, or bulk up just so you can hit a baseball a few extra feet? Do we really want them to believe that the risk of cancer is worth a few extra rushing yards per play?

People have long complained that sports stars are paid to much and get away with too much bad behavior. The sports fanatic's answer has been that they're worth it, because otherwise the people wouldn't come to see them. It looks like both sides are right, because the people aren't coming in enough numbers to keep the teams off of the public dole.

Good riddance to the Sonics. Good riddance to another extortionist organization that can't pay it's own way without public funding. We don't need them nearly as much as they need us.

Cross posted to NW Bloggers.

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Angel responded with:

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cant say I really know much bout this but thanks for enlightening me..lol..:)

Perri Nelson responded with:

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It's really pretty simple. Professional sports teams need places to play. Stadiums are expensive, costing several hundreds of millions of dollars. Governments can "afford" that sort of expenditure, so the professional sports organizations seek to have governments build and pay for the stadiums, but the teams want exclusive control over them.

In Seattle, the King Dome was an aging, but still unpaid for stadium, shared by the Mariners and the Seahawks. The Mariners threatened to pull up stakes and leave if they didn't get a new stadium. The stadium was proposed, a funding package worked out and put to a vote of the people. The people rejected the funding package, so the state legislature passed a funding package, declaring it an "emergency". It was signed into law over the people's objection and the stadium was built.

An earthquake damaged some of the ceiling tiles in the Kingdome, and some fell. Temporary repairs were made. The Seahawks threatened to leave if they didn't get a replacement stadium. The Kingdome, still unpaid for was demolished and the Seahawks had a new stadium built. This time the stadium was supported by a vote of the people... just barely.

The Sonics wanted a replacement stadium for the Key Arena, where they've played for many years. The Key Arena is not damaged or falling apart, it's just not "new" and doesn't hold as many people as some other basketball arenas. They demanded a new stadium with threats to leave if they didn't get it.

Do you notice a pattern here?

The people of Seattle voted to deny any funding to build a new arena for the Sonics. So the Sonics went to the state, hoping for a new arena in a neighboring city, such as Renton. They argued that it would benefit the state, and provide a place for conventions and exhibitions. Never mind that there are already several of them in existence. Anyway, the legislature voted against their funding package.

In short, the Sonics owners threatened to leave if they didn't get their slice of the public pie. They didn't get it. Now it's time for them to leave.

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