Letters to the editor

Deflated sphere

Time to play ball with sports hustlers has come to an end

Editor, The Times:

The so-called taxpayer "investment" in a new basketball arena should be rejected out of hand. The acceptable public cost of this thing is $0.00 and not a penny more ["Sonics outlook dims at Capitol," Times page one, March 8].

Obviously, someone has local politicians and media eating out of their hand. I can only wonder where the unseen rivers of cash have been going. Our "leaders" can't fund schools and roads — most notably, a replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which was damaged seven years ago and could come tumbling down at any moment — but a subsidy for a basketball team is suddenly an emergency priority. This is so ridiculous that you almost have to laugh.

By the way, I see that no one in the cheerleading media has bothered to ask who pays for the cost overruns. Since the private "contribution" is specified at $150 million, my guess is that the taxpayers are on the hook for those.

If this latest scheme is approved, then voters should exact revenge at the earliest opportunity. Apparently, the politicians haven't been puppy-trained. I'll be ever so happy to help do that, checkbook in hand.

— Charles Pluckhahn, Seattle

In downtown range

Super! The Fab 4 of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Seattle developer Matt Griffin, Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and wireless mogul John Stanton, along with Mayor Greg Nickels, at the press conference with Griffin holding up his checkbook and showing the money! ["Nickels urges lawmakers to fund KeyArena remodel, help keep Sonics," Local News, March 6.]

Hopefully, it's not too late for this 11th-hour deal to be pushed through and gain the state legislators' approval and the interest of NBA Commish David Stern and Sonics owner Clay Bennett.

Why weren't Nickels and the well-meaning saviors there for the rescue more than a year ago, when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was looking for a local buyer so the team could be forever in Seattle?

Isn't it Mayor Nickels' responsibility to be aware of able-minded business leaders with deep pockets who could have helped keep the Sonics in Seattle back when the Sonics were being put on the open market for new local ownership?

Unfortunately for Seattle, Bennett saw an opportunity to buy an NBA franchise (with every intent of moving it to his hometown of Oklahoma City) and watch gleefully as our civic leaders didn't provide a proper arena stimulus package that would tempt him to stay.

As far as Stern, he has to keep on saying that the Sonics are all but gone to Oklahoma City, as it is NBA owners who pay his salary.

Our only hope is that Seattle will win its lawsuit against Bennett to keep the team here another two seasons ["Sonics, city of Seattle trial set for June," Local News, Jan. 30], and that he will tire of this; that Stern will promise him another franchise to move to Oklahoma City; and Bennett will sell the Sonics to the Fab 4.

This surely is "Sleepless in Seattle" times for us Sonic fans!

— Ed Kobak, Greenwater

Squeezed in the bucket

I still don't get it. The reason the SuperSonics may well be departing Seattle is because the taxpayers do not want to ante up tax dollars to support millionaires' private enterprises. It's just that simple. Starbucks' chief Howard Schultz got that message two years ago, and he sold the Sonics because he didn't like it.

The irony here is that professional sports franchises belong to a special, protected class of private enterprise. They have no competition. None.

When it comes to professional basketball, the Sonics are not only the only game in town, they are the only game permitted in town. You'd think someone running a monopoly would be able to be enormously profitable. You'd think they'd want to build and own their own arena or stadium.

But, no, they want our tax dollars to build their arenas and stadiums. (Imagine Bill Gates asking Bellevue or Redmond to build the next Microsoft office complex.)

We keep hearing slogans like "Let the free market work" and yet, when it comes to teams like the Seahawks, the Mariners and the Supersonics, the "free market" wants a handout from the public sector. It has become a bad habit, locally and nationally.

The solution is incredibly simple: Professional sports owners should be required to purchase, refurbish, or build their own venues. With their own money. After all, professional sports franchises are private enterprise.

— John Scannell, Sammamish

College credit

Transfers to the UW

As an Evergreen State College alum (Class of '91), I was sad to read of the recent violence there ["Riot at Evergreen State College damages deputy's car," Local News, Feb. 15]. However, recent condemnation of the school is going too far, with calls for the state to close it down or stop funding it ["Evergreen needles," Northwest Voices, March 8, and "More bad taste: Bitters of Evergreen," Northwest Voices, Feb. 25].

When The Seattle Times recently published "Victory and ruins" [special report, page one, Jan. 27-31], about the illegal and sometimes violent behavior of University of Washington football players in recent years, did anyone seriously consider closing down the UW? Similarly, it's not reasonable to do so with Evergreen.

While this recent incident at Evergreen is concerning, it is hardly a trend, despite some commentators' attempts to link recent peaceful protests by Evergreen students with this violent incident on campus.

Evergreen has long been a safe place for students and community members, and is widely regarded as a world-class college. Let's keep it that way.

— Demian Godon, Seattle

Missing a few points

An Evergreen State College grad stated he is dismayed that incidents such as drug possession, property destruction and assault are now criminally prosecuted instead of getting sent to a school committee ["Uniform misfits," Northwest Voices, March 8]. Last time I checked state laws, these were all crimes.

If he were the victim of an assault or his home were spray-painted, would he like the suspect charged, or "sent to the office"?

Let's remember that this is a college and not a grade school. The students are supposedly adults and should be responsible and accountable. Commit a crime and get prosecuted? Heaven forbid.

— Darryl D'Ambrosio, Kent

Coming-of-age drama

The kid steals the show

"Are we grown-up brats?" [Living, March 10] is right on the money. So many people are rude, ill-mannered, demanding and think everything should be handed to them on a platter, as exhibited by the behavior of cutting off people on the road; not knowing how to say "excuse me" when trying to push one's way through a line, etc. Not knowing how to say, "thank you," etc. And demanding entitlements.

John F. Kennedy is well-known for saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country." It means nothing today.

At town hall meetings, young people demand of a candidate, "What are you going to do to help me pay for my college education?" How about asking parents to help, or working your way through college?

Everyone is gimme, gimme gimme and gimme it now. And don't expect a "thank you."

Because I am entitled to it.

— Karl Wahl, Bellevue