Sonics Owner Clay Bennett is a jowly-faced bastard. I'm doing him a favor by calling him that because that’ s probably one of the kinder things he'll be called from now on by heartbroken Seattle residents, who after two years of thinking their beloved 41-year-old franchise would stick around if they lobbied hard enough, now get to watch Kevin Durant play in Oklahoma City next season, even though their town wasn't washed away by a hurricane. The WSJ Daily Fix blog , which did a brilliant round-up of the whole ordeal, floats this little life raft out there for the fans:

Former Sonics owner Howard Schultz, of Starbucks fame, is suing Mr. Bennett’s group to strip them of ownership, arguing that Mr. Bennett reneged on a promise to negotiate in good faith for a new arena before trying to relocate. If Mr. Schultz prevails, the Sonics could potentially be forced to return to Seattle — Mr. Schultz and his lawyer aren’t seeking an emergency injunction to stop the move in hopes of building a better case, and that case isn’t expected to go to trial for nearly a year.

But most Seattle Sonics fans are probably too worn out from the last painful legal saga to even get worked up over this slim-to-none possibility. The Sonics story, if anything, should make all sports fans wary of what could happen to their own franchise once new ownership takes over. All of your hard-earned time and investment could be taken away from you with a quick handshake in the night, no matter how hard you root for them. Then you have to watch press conferences like this and just cringe:

"We made it," Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. "The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season."

Seattle, Bennet Slam Door On Sonics [WSJ Daily Fix]

Basketball Still Has A Future In Seattle? Are You Kidding? [The Seattle Times]

A Shot To The Gut Of Seattle Fans [True Hoop]

The darkest hours in Seattle sports history [ESPN]

Yes, Bennett is fighting with some members of the Oklahoma legislature over tax incentives the team is expecting. No, demanding.

Rep. Charlie Joyner, R-Midwest City, who also voted against the bill, said he received an e-mail from Bennett that said the team might not come to Oklahoma City unless the House passes the tax incentive. "I just don't think this thing has been handled right. That's kind of holding legislators hostage," Joyner said.

Ah, yes, the seedy underbelly of, you know, the seedy process of having a guy swipe a team from a loyal fanbase to play in your state. Eventually, he's going to screw you too. So nice to have this guy as an owner of a professional sports team, isn't it?

Clay Bennett To OK Legislature: "I'm An Equal Opportunity Dick" [Hot Dog And Friends]

In an incredibly odd interview with an Oklahoma newspaper, Aubrey McClendon, one of the new Sonics owners, blatantly admitting that they're gonna move the team to OK City, even if it costs them money.

McClendon said the team would probably make more money if it stayed in Seattle.

"But we didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here," he said. "We know it's a little more difficult financially here in Oklahoma City, but we think it's great for the community and if we could break even we'd be thrilled."

A prediction: The team won't "break even." Unless Seattle fans — who McClendon keeps saying "kind of look down their nose at us" — burn down the Sonics' offices, that team is gone, people, regardless of whatever apologetic press release McClendon sends out today.

Hard Work, Luck Make Billions [Journal Record]
Clay Bennett Is A Liar [Sonics Central]
Sonics Owner Aubrey McClendon: We Bought The Sonics To Move Them To Oklahoma City [Enjoy The Enjoyment]

The NBA announced yesterday that, because of Hurricane Katrina, the team will play 35 of its games this year in Oklahoma City which now, deep breath here, officially makes them the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, or, as we like to call it, NOOCH.

Please, PLEASE let them put that on the front of their jerseys.

Hornets To Play 35 Games In Oklahoma City [NBA.com]