July 11, 2006
Sacramento, Kings at it again
Not even two weeks after breaking off arena talks, the city of Sacramento and the Kings are meeting again - this time at the Las Vegas casino owned by the Maloof family, owners of the Kings.
As for what's changed since the two sides reached a stalemate last month - basically, neither party could agree who would pay for an arena, which is a pretty fundamental sticking point - nobody's saying, though Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo did say that it was "helpful" that the NBA commissioner's office was now sending a representative to the talks to help "mediate." Let's see now: Do we think that the sports league is going to side with one of its own memebers, or with the city that is resisting pumping money into the league's pockets? Hmmmmmmm, let me think...
As for the Maloofs, brother Joe told the Sacramento Bee on Sunday: "Sacramento is a big city, and regardless of who owns the team, it needs a new arena. We all have be realistic and find a way." Area residents disagree.
At various times in my life, I've met Fong, Steinberg and Dickenson. Of the three, I know Steinberg best. I talked with Dickenson for a minute, at most. Went to Junior and Senior High School with Fong.
These three are all cut from the same mold politically: Liberal to very liberal Democrats. In most cases, I am on the same page as these three.
And that's just the problem. Steinberg is supposed to represent the Maloofs, and Dickenson, the County, Fong, the City. You could move these three around to any configuration you want, and the dialog would not change a bit. So you don't have Fong and Steinberg debating points; you have Fong and Steinberg about 98% in agreement on all points.
So there's no debate in this meeting. It's more like strategizing; "How will we talk voters into this?", not give-and-take where Dickenson is trying to force the Maloofs to pay their fair share.
I'm hoping that these three agree on a plan that is SOOOO stupid that even Kings fans admit the Maloofs are simply plundering the County budget. I think that's the plan: County will pay for 100% of it, and the Maloofs will pay rent. I think that's the agreement they'll come up with.
Posted by MikeM on July 11, 2006 07:53 PM
Well, if the Maloofs pay enough rent, then it wouldn't even be a bad deal for the county. Somehow I don't see them agreeing to a $30m/year rent, though.
Posted by Neil on July 11, 2006 08:45 PM