Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett declines to sign the letter sent to players and league: NBA News
It’s not just the National Basketball Association players that are suffering the consequences of the lockout; the cities have also received a hit in their revenue earnings, which they used to earn by hosting these games every year.
As a result of that mayors of 14 NBA cities had sent an open letter to both parties (league and players union) recently. In this letter the mayors of these 14 cities have requested the two parties to end this lockout.
The number of mayors would have been 15, if the Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett hadn’t refused to sign the letter. However, Cornett had his own reasons because of which he declined to become a part of this move.
Expressing the reason behind the refusal, Cornett said on Wednesday that, “I just felt like the players and owners are on the same side as we're on. Everybody wants it to be resolved. It just seems disrespectful to sign a letter
that seemed to imply somebody was necessarily at fault.”
This might have surprised many because Cornett had a deep interest in the game and it was he, who helped the city in enticing an NBA franchise. However, this doesn’t mean that Cornett’s interest in NBA had come down, as he is keeping
a close eye on the ongoing talks between the owners and players.
When asked which side he’ll take if forced, Cornett replied, “If forced to take a side, I would side with the owners in this deal. If anyone believes commissioner (David) Stern or the owners want to start cancelling games, I just
can't imagine where that line of thinking is coming from. That's the last thing anybody wanted to do.”
Cornett also added that owners are extremely serious in getting a good deal out of these talks with the players. While players should realize the fact that a lot had been changed economically and they are getting a good agreement,
not equivalent to the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement, but still it’s good.
Regardless of the fact that being the third smallest market in the NBA, OKC had became a wealthy team in terms of monetary value that have a bright future ahead of them, especially after they had qualified for the Western Conference
Finals in the preceding season.
The financial condition of OKC can be judged from the estimated figures given by the city manager’s office. According to that estimate the economical impact on city is $1.28 million for a game and for 41 games it would be $52.48
million.
It was because of these fine numbers that Cornett said that it’s quite unusual that a small market team is making money in this system and from his city’s viewpoint big markets sharing revenues with small markets would be a good
idea. However, if it would be, sharing profit with non-profitable franchises that’s not going to work for us.
Because, as per, Cornett, in second case it would be like profitable franchises helping the ones which failed had to get their act right.
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