Seattle Sonics fans revile Bennett, owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder, for misleading them about his intentions for the Sonics. Bennett purchased the Supersonics in 2006 on the condition that Bennett would make “a good faith effort” to keep the team in Seattle. When state legislators refused Bennett the $500 million he requested to build a new arena, he announced in November 2007 that he would move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Emails later surfaced showing that Bennett never intended to keep the team in Seattle, The Seattle Times reported. Bennett’s company paid the City of Seattle $45 million to settle with the City of Seattle and terminate its lease early, and must pay an additional $30 million if Seattle does not have another NBA team by 2013. The Sonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder beginning with the 2008-2009 season. Local outrage against Bennett spawned a very publicized rally and a documentary Sonicsgate – Requiem For A Team. Hatred was revived when Bennett was appointed chairman of the NBA relocation committee in April of last year, when fans responded by tweeting other appointments that would be just as ironic: such as “Naming Sharktopic head lifeguard” and “Homer Simpson as doughnut inspector.”
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