So you want to know why pretty much all legitimate news organizations have strict policies on when to use anonymous sources and under what circumstances, even if they don’t always live to them? Because otherwise this:
As the Friday deadline looms for NBA franchises to file for relocation, Seattle’s hope of acquiring the Kings from Sacramento appears to be fading. “It’s now Sacramento’s to lose,” one NBA source close to the bidding process told David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida. “The Seattle investment group was supposed to deliver a non-refundable $30 million dollars to the Maloofs (by Feb. 1), but it never happened. The Seattle group wasn’t going to make that down payment without the NBA’s approval to move the team.”
Only one problem with that “breaking news” report, from David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida: It was totally untrue.
A Seattle group led by Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made a nonrefundable payment of $30 million by Feb. 1 as part of their agreement to buy the Sacramento Kings, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
The Sacramento Bee first reported the confirmation in a quote from Joe Maloof, one of the members of the current controlling owners, the Maloof family. A separate source later confirmed the news to the Times.
(And yes, I get the irony of the Seattle Times using an anonymous source to contradict an anonymous source. At least Joe Maloof is a real, named person, anyway.)
Back in what passes for reality, the Bee reports that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson could reveal his “whale” bidders to buy the team and keep it local in tonight’s State of the City speech. Though that would “have to be a back-up offer” to would-be Seattle buyer Chris Hansen’s purchase plan, since Hansen has an exclusivity deal with the Maloofs at least until the NBA votes on his purchase in April, according to … a person familiar with the situation.
Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother…
Damn straight the Maloofs got their $30M.
Hookers and blow don’t pay for themselves, ya know.
You bother because it’s fun. It’s the very same reason I go to fan pages, but never participate in the utterly loony conversations that go on there. I love the way some weak theory starts there, and then other posters “build on the backs of giants” to build an even weaker theory.
Take this story as an example. Because the categorical denial came from George Maloof, the fans are now completely convinced that the down payment was never sent. “If George said it, the opposite must be true!”.
Insert your favorite “Life of Brian” reference here.
“He is the Messiah!”
what else do you expect from Sacramento? It is not even a real city…just a collection of suburbs…there is NO downtown Sacramento, just a bunch of state workers milling around wasting the tax payers money…elect a pedophile Mayor who likes to shower with 15/16 year old girls…hire failed planners from Portland to act as City Managers and then fire them because they are nothing but hot air and then hire some failure from Cincinnati who is now facing billions in dollars of Sacramento debt (Stockton anyone?)
Maloof’s warned Sacramento in 08 or so that they were going to supply very little in money for the arena…IN PUBLIC…and then reporters had to file a freedom of information act with the Federal Courts to open the former arena fiasco to the public…Federal Judge wondered just what kind of fraudulent deal was going on in Sacramento…same with the Grand Jury…
There are some folks with money in Sacramento but they don’t live there…try the neighboring foothill communities and basically they have zero to do with Sacramento…it’s a fine trip between the Foothills/Sierra and San Francisco and one need not stop in Sacramento…why bother?
Sacramento magazine has the headline today, “Sacramento versus San Francisco”…that’s how delusional the people in Sacramento are…as if one can compare Boise Idaho to Paris France…but Sacramento’s finest just get out their inner tubes swill a few Bud float down the river and then drown…
At least you gave them a break Sergio, and didn’t bring up the Terminator. Otherwise, a brutally apt description. Maybe a little soft on them. Downtown
Salt Lake City is more exciting. It’s still a bummer that they are getting screwed out of their team though, in my opinion. Sacramento is not as bad as Hampton Roads; not that they are going to move there anymore. The fact that they thought about it, however, proves many of Sergio’s points.
Maybe the Peoples Front of Judea can purchase the team.
Well, Burkle and Mastrov have been introduced as the major partners. Downtown Plaza has been announced as the location (which means everything in the arena plan as to be restarted). Mitch Richmond wants to invest. There will be a WNBA team.
But, no funding plan for the arena. Also, there is no indication whatsoever that the Maloofs even have to review the offer (this is what happened in Golden State, too, when Larry Ellison came along — after a PSA had been submitted to the league for approval).
I can’t wait to see the size of the offer (being described as “competitive”, FWIW) and the arena plan. Putting the arena at downtown plaza wipes out 3,700 parking spots. I’m betting that reduces the value of the lease-out.
I know Sacramento has to try, but I still believe it’s first and goal at the 1 for Seattle.
yes, they’ve lined up the ultimate bevy of beauties in Sacramento for the Queens
Kevin Johnson, Ron the flying sex machine Burkle, Marquis de Sade, Long John Holmes, Bill Clinton, Dirk Diggler, the Mitchell Brothers of SF with silent partner Marilyn Chambers (they’re in charge of getting first class acts booked)…and these guys are all compatible for they are in the same sex club
If one has ever viewed the magnificent ARCO, scratch that Whacko Bracelet, scratch that Sleep Train Arena one would realize what a pitiful place Sacramento is….It was a dump when it was first built and it never got any better…but there is hope because it is in a suburban flood plain and maybe all the trash will get washed away….
Sleep Train? these guys are going to pull a train alright…
Sergio is one funny guy. Actually, I mean that.
Keeping me entertained, for sure.
Excuse me, I have to go chase away some cross-burners. No big deal, happens every night.