More e-mail evidence in Sonics' case

May 25, 2008 - 1:17 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Seattle SuperSonics co-owner Aubrey McClendon's testimony last month has been contradicted by additional e-mails released in a transcript of his deposition, according to a published report Friday.

The Seattle Times reported that more evidence has emerged which supports "several well-publicized statements in which McClendon and other team owners talked enthusiastically of moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City."

The report said that McClendon, who has denied that relocation of the Sonics has been the plan all along and claimed that the ownership group poured its heart and soul into trying to keep the team in the Seattle, will now have to fend off two potentially damaging e-mails.

McClendon predicted in a 2007 e-mail that a controversy over his contributions to an anti-gay marriage group would "improve the chances of the Sonics moving to Oklahoma City."

In the second e-mail, he apologized to Sonics principal owner Clay Bennett for admitting to Oklahoma newspapers that he intended to move the team from Seattle, the Times said.

Citing a copy of his e-mail read aloud during the deposition, the newspaper reported that McClendon also said in the message to Bennett: "The truth is we did buy it with the hope of moving to Oklahoma City."

The Times reported that the transcript of McClendon's deposition, and others in the City of Seattle's lawsuit against the team, were released in response to numerous public disclosure requests.

A trial date has been set for June 16, with the city seeking to hold the owners to the remaining two years of the team's KeyArena lease. Lawyers for the city obtained earlier e-mails that show Bennett and the other owners may not have been forthright about their plans to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

Among the many that have been exposed is another message written by McClendon that stated: "We didn't buy the team to keep it in Seattle; we hoped to come here (Oklahoma City.)"

The statements made in that e-mail drew a $250,000 fine from the NBA.

"I operated in good faith and that will be vetted through the trial and will be clear," Bennett said.

Season ticket holders also have filed a class action lawsuit that contends they were tricked into buying tickets under the belief that the Sonics would be staying in Seattle.

Bennett, however, insisted that he initially thought he could make things work to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

"I feel personal disappointment in that I couldn't effect the building improvement (to KeyArena)," Bennett said. "I was convinced we could get it done. Now we have to turn our attention to Oklahoma. I'm thrilled for the people of Oklahoma City."