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They didn’t really want to battle, not cognate this. The city and the Oklahoma Raiders seem like two blustery schoolboys who smack-talked their way hither. They divorced themselves from amicable discussions. They ran out of empty threats. And the situation escalated likewise much that they have nay other choice.

They have to go to war let slip the dogs of war now.

Dukes up. Cover the small degree ones’ eyes. Call the paramedics now.

On Monday, a brawl worthy of Don King promotion and Larry Merchant commentary will commence, a nasty, ungentlemanly tussle that figures to leave both sides looking inhuman and incompetent.

To the victor goes the seemly to house the Sonics. If the city wins, Seattle’s oldest pro sports franchise sticks about for at least two more years. If the Raiders win, they’ll be favored with the team in Oklahoma before sunup.

The court contains a gavel instead of a basketball now. This is the most contentious relocation attempt as Art Modell moved the practised Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson really should’ve based “There Will Be Blood” on this scrum. It’s as unpredictable and unhealthy for the reason that it gets.

“I feel a lot of doubtfulness,” Save Our Sonics co-founder Brian Robinson said. “I never in reality thought the NBA would let this go to trial. I dress in’t think the league thought the city would balk at a cash settlement. Now, everybody is in uncharted waters. I don’t know what to expect at this point.”

The popular conclusion is that the city is likely to win, but Robinson counters, “What does likely to win moderate? Eighty percent? Well, that means in that place’s a unit in five chance you lose.”

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman determine listen to arguments over six days and settle this dispute over the KeyArena lease. It’s wholly up to body person’s opinion. If you can read her mind or judge all the evidence prior to it’s even presented, then you should be doing more in life than following the Sonics, that’s with respect to sure.

The security of us are left to ponder every likely scenario and wince as every exhausted move is thrown during this trial. To put in order matters greater quantity stressful, the bloodshed will be spread besides a couple of weeks.

“You get a suggest from the depositions that it’s going to esteem existence rough,” said Robinson, who expects 500 people at a Save Our Sonics rally Monday in succession the courthouse lawn. “I think it’ll be honest, and the fact strength subsist ugly.”

That goes with respect to the pair the city and the Sonics owners. Both will emerge from this with scars. The bungles of our city leaders will be explained clearly. The indiscretions of the goofiest owners in professional sports will be exposed through even greater depict. And like any good war, the spectators will make things even more complicated.

It’s unlucky that a solution must be so hostile. Perhaps whether Howard Schultz hadn’t been so quick to sell the Sonics, we wouldn’t have being here. Perhaps if the Raiders had been genuine in their attempt to fall in with funding for a new theatre, we wouldn’t exist here. Perhaps suppose that the city or state had dealt with the Raiders with more tact, we wouldn’t be here.

Instead, everyone failed at diplomacy. There was no way that an arena plan could be squeezed into a year, and the Raiders knew it. They thought fleecing Seattle would be much easier. The city thought the Raiders weren’t this formidable a foe.

For months, they stared each other down. For months, they stood nose to nose. For months, they pushed and shoved. Now, they acquire to try the fortune of arms.

If Clay Bennett and his Raiders win, it sends a awe-inspiring message. It says that pro sports have no benefits to cities, that they’re toys that owners trick the public into supporting. Then, when the new owner decides his toy can make money elsewhere, he’s allowed to disregard a 41-year propinquity and hijack another city as long as it funds his most extravagant desires.

Yes, many owners operate by similar selfishness and greed. But most of them respect the bond between a city and a team, and the identity that benefits each. If that weren’t the case, teams would be named after their owners instead of their cities.

Good thing we don’t have to follow the Paul Allen Seahawks or the Hiroshi Yamauchi Mariners. Sadly, however, we’ve been dealing with the Clay Bennett Sonics for two seasons. It’s been 113 losses’ worth of pain, including more public-relations follies than the Bush president and cabinet, all through the threat of decease looming overhead.

No, Bennett shouldn’t get off easily.

“The city has an obligation to do what’s right regardless of the the whole of money,” Robinson said, explaining why he supports the city’s judgment not to treat with a lease buyout. “Clay Bennett has had unethical dealings. He’s lied to the mayor and other elected officials. This guy is trying to steal our team.

“There’s not one enumerate we should take towards the Space Needle. There’s no number we should take for the waterfront. There’s no number we should take for the Sonics. It’s just not for sale.”

So, here comes the fight. Prepare to be shocked. Prepare to scream.

This bizarre battle is about to turn hard-hearted.

. For more columns and the Extra Points blog, visit seattletimes.com/sports