Dear Adam Silver: Give the Los Angeles Clippers to Seattle
By Todd Pheifer
p Apr 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver addresses the media regarding the investigation involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (not pictured) at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Dear NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:
I understand that there may be a basketball team available for sale in the near future. Apparently you decided that Mr. Donald Sterling was no longer fit to run the Los Angeles Clippers. Something tells me that most of the basketball community will agree with you on that.
Now, I’m not going to get into the details of how this whole mess unfolded. What is done is done, and the wheels appear to be in motion to force Mr. Sterling to sell his franchise.
May I humbly suggest that you allow Mr. Chris Hansen to purchase the team and move it to Seattle? Obviously you will have many individuals who would be against that move. I understand that it would be a slap in the face to Clipper Nation if the team was moved out of the state right after the despised owner was finally ousted.
Still, how about a truly fresh start?
Look at it from multiple angles. The NBA owes the city of Seattle a team. I am not going to get into a long rant about the despicable practices of one Clay Bennett, but it does play a role. I am also not going to rehash the Sacramento Kings situation, where Mr. David Stern allowed his personal disdain for the Emerald City to get in the way of making a far superior business transaction.
The faithful fans of Seattle have suffered enough and it is time to give them a team again. The City of Angels is definitively owned by the Los Angeles Lakers, even if they are currently a train wreck. There is a core of loyal Clippers fans that have been faithful for many years, but there are also a lot of fans with sparkling new jerseys who are in danger of breaking their ankles when they eventually jump off the bandwagon.
So, thank Magic Johnson, Oprah, Floyd Mayweather Jr., David Geffen and Billy Crystal for their interest. Then, tell the NBA owners to get out of the way, particularly Mr. Bennett and the relocation committee. If I may, I still can’t believe he is on that committee. A sad irony.
Step away from the legacy of the vindictive Mr. Stern, and do the right thing. Send the Clippers to Seattle. Thank you for your time, Mr. Silver.
Sincerely,
The loyal fans of the Seattle SuperSonics