Gov. Gregoire, state and local leaders urge NBA to postpone relocation vote

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire, joined by state and local officials, today sent a letter to the National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern and NBA owners urging them to postpone this week�s vote on relocating the SuperSonics until legal and financial issues can be resolved.

The letter cited a breach of contract with the previous ownership group and a breach of faith with fans as prime reasons to postpone the vote. Other parties signing the letter include House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin.

The groups� action comes on the heels of former SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz�s announcement that he intends to sue the current team owners for breach of contract.

The governor said she is disturbed about recently revealed e-mails between Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett and his business partners.

�I have to believe that if we were negotiating in good faith, there would have been a reasonable chance of getting something done,� Gregoire said. �The current owners never gave us that opportunity.�

A copy of the letter is located at http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/2008-04-15_NBA.pdf