March 16, 2005

Give to the needy

The Seattle Sonics have downgraded their public subsidy requests, from a $200 million renovation of the Key Arena to a $60 million bailout of the arena's construction debt, plus a $10 million practice facility. They also unveiled a new p.r. tack: channeling the spirit of Sally Struthers. "We embrace KeyArena, Seattle Center and Queen Anne as our home," Sonics CEO Wally Walker told Washington state lawmakers yesterday. "We'd love to call it our home for a long, long time to come. But to do so ... we need your help."

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler remained unimpressed, replying: "I just can't imagine we would have the votes for that." It was not recorded whether Walker then offered that if legislators pledged now, they would receive an attractive canvas tote bag.