Karma Police for Schultz and Company?

The justice system may buckle in Oklahoma City’s favor this afternoon with results of the Sonics trial set to be announced at 4 p.m., but the wrath of God is clearly on Seattle’s side.

Former owner Howard Schultz—the vindictive baby who sold to an ownership group intent on immediate relocation after being denied a taxpayer handout—is already feeling the sting of what is sure to be the first in a long line of curses directed at those who have wronged Seattle basketball.

Starbucks announced yesterday they would be closing 600 stores and laying off more than a thousand employees nationwide. Economists will tell us Starbucks’ downsizing is reflective of current trends across the luxury beverage market, but spurned fans and believers in karma will site Schultz’s embarrassing failure as just the beginning of what’s headed his way.

NBA commissioner and arrogant blowhard David Stern, who went out of his way to insult basketball fans in Seattle, is already suffering serious PR problems as a result of his shady dealings. To Seattlest's delight, he was booed aggressively during the trophy ceremony in Boston a few weeks back. To quote The Big Lebowski, "This is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass!" Get used to it, Stern.

Current owner Clay Bennett, while wealthy and smug, remains immune from any obvious signs of a Sonics Curse to date, but is regarded as a likely candidate for bad karma should the Sonics leave town as a result of his team-moving charade. Stay tuned for any ugly business setbacks or embarrassing personal failures certain to come his way as a result of his ill-gotten gains.

Photograph courtesy of lorilovesyou from the Seattlest Flickr Pool