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Published January 09, 2008 10:11 am -

COMMENTARY: Ford Center proposal a bad idea


By M. Scott Carter
The Moore American

So Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett wants to bring an NBA team to town.

And Cornett’s buddy, businessman and NBA fan Clayton Bennett — plus a cast of favorites — purchased the Seattle SuperSonics.

Then Bennett and company decide Seattle wasn’t being nice to his team and they should move it to Oklahoma City.

Further, since Seattle wouldn’t give into Bennett’s extortion, he threw a tantrum to justify his reason for pulling up stakes.

I know, you’ve heard all this before.

And, at this point, the debate is nothing more than a fight between millionaires.

“These are significant issues dealing with big numbers of dollars in taxpayer money,” Cornett told the Daily Oklahoman’s John Estus. “These are significant decisions, and we’re asking people in a matter of weeks to make up their minds. We’ve got a lot to do in a short time.”

Yeah, come up with a bad idea and try to shove it down the public’s throat quickly.

For the record: I have some swampland near Guthrie I’d like to sell you, too.

While I’ve said — and written — before that Bennett’s actions toward the people of Seattle have given Oklahoma a bad name, the proposal to have taxpayers foot the bill to upgrade the Ford Center so Bennett will bring his team here is even worse.

Public money for a private gain.

Bull.

If Mr. Bennett wants to spend his fortune (and, apparently, the fortunes of others) on a basketball team that’s fine.

And if he wants to try and extort money from the good people of Seattle, so be it (of course if I were him I wouldn’t travel there any time soon).

But now Clay, Cornett and company are playing on the home court.



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