Quotes from players and fans

"I have a lump in my throat with the idea of it. I thought there was a fighting chance ... But what do you say when the mayor and everybody else is taking the money and moving on? I'm just a guy who enjoyed my time in Seattle as a player."

Spencer Haywood — Former Sonic (1974-76)

"Now we're not part of a legacy, we're part of history."

Talvin Skinner — Former Sonic (1985-91)

"Now it's time for the state Legislature to get to work."

Gov. Christine Gregoire

"Someone needs to pinch me. To have them coming here with our name on it, two years earlier than expected, is better than we'd hoped."

Mick Cornett — Mayor of Oklahoma City

"I'm heartbroken. I've been a Sonics fan for almost 40 years. I've been weighing my options, and I've been thinking about taking the train down to Portland. They can be the Oklahoma City Skunks for all I care."

Cindy Darland — Tacoma resident, accountant

"I feel bad for those fans. Without those fans, the players are nothing. They buy our jerseys, they buy our shoes, they buy the tickets to see us play. When I came up there [for a rally], I didn't come for Clay Bennett. I came because of the Seattle SuperSonics fans."

Xavier McDaniel — Former Sonic (1970-75)

"I'll never buy Starbucks coffee again. Schultz should have sold [the team] to local people. That's where all the problems started."

Don Crothers — Redmond, stock trader

"We just don't need to be spending huge sums of cash to support private enterprise in the city. So if they can get a deal in Oklahoma City, let 'em."

Everett Spring — Seattle, architect

"The NBA continues to regard Seattle as a first-class NBA city that is capable of serving as home for another NBA team."

David Stern — NBA commissioner