An Ultimatum from the Sonics

Either the city agrees to rebuild Key Arena by this time next month, or the Sonics will leave Seattle after their lease is up.

That's the threat Sonics President Wally Walker lobbed at city politicos in a letter today. Let's see if it will have the same effect as threats like:

"Play hard for all 82 games, Jerome, or we'll bench you."

or

"Accept our lowball contract offer, Nate--you'll never find a better one."

After directing the Sonics from perennial contenders to stifling mediocrity, Walker turned his attention to lobbying. And when two years of appealing to the state legislature came to nothing, he focused on the city. He, team owner Howard Schultz, and NBA commissioner David Stern have spent most of this month pillorying city politicians for having the audacity not to roll over when a pro sports team says boo.

Three cheers to the mayor and the city council for looking with appropriate skepticism on the Sonics' plans for a bloated, $220 million entertainmarena that would hijack revenue from local businesses and do nothing to solve the critical flaw in the Sonics business, which is that their sales staff can't sell luxury boxes.

With the Sonics pledged to stay in Seattle for three more seasons, what are the chances they're going to make a final decision on moving next month? We'd say pretty damn slim. But the team has surprised us before, so who knows.