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fed toward third a couple of times, then did it again and trapped Cur
Topic Started: Oct 10 2013, 02:22 PM (6 Views)
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SEATTLE -- Investor Chris Hansen has contacted the Maloof family about buying the Sacramento Kings, setting up the possibility of the NBAs return to Seattle. Hansens interest was confirmed Wednesday by people with knowledge of the situation. They spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no deal has been reached. One person said the Kings could sell for more than $500 million. The Kings future in Sacramento has been uncertain because the Maloofs and the city havent been able to come up with a long-term arena solution. Yahoo! Sports first reported the discussions between the Kings and Hansen. Yahoo! reported a possible sale could land the Kings in Seattle for the 2013-14 season, where the team would play at KeyArena as a temporary home until a new arena is constructed. "I know as much as you do," Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said when asked about the situation. "If its true, aint it cool?" His counterpart in Sacramento thought the news anything but cool. At an afternoon news conference, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said Wednesday was significant because for the first time Kings fans know the team is for sale. Johnson said he would do all he could to try to find a buyer with a Sacramento connection to possibly purchase the team and keep it in Californias capital city. "Were going to fight, and were used to being in this situation," he said. Hansen, a Seattle native and San Francisco-based investor, reached agreement with local governments in Seattle last October on plans to build a $490 million arena near the citys other stadiums, CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field. As part of the agreement, no construction will begin until all environmental reviews are completed and a team has been secured. Hansens group is expected to pitch in $290 million in private investment toward the arena, along with helping to pay for transportation improvements in the area around the stadiums. The plans also call for the arena to be able to handle a future NHL franchise. The remaining $200 million in public financing would be paid back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making up the rest. Other investors in the proposed arena include Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom department store family. Hansens goal has been to return the SuperSonics to the Puget Sound after they were moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. Asked in September if he could envision a team being in Seattle for the 2013 season, Hansen was cautious about finding an option that quickly. The NBA had no comment. Representatives for Hansen did not return messages seeking comment. Any franchise looking to relocate must submit its plans to the NBA by March 1 and the move must be approved by the league. "As we have said for nearly a year, we will not comment on rumours or speculation about the Sacramento Kings franchise," Maloof family spokesman Eric Rose said when contacted Wednesday by the AP. The Kings asking price would top the NBA-record $450 million the Golden State Warriors sold for in July 2010. Johnson said hes had past discussions with more than one group about possibly stepping forward as owners if the Kings were up for sale. "All indications that I have seen and read and heard is they are exploring opportunities to sell the team, and that is public and that is the first I have ever heard," Johnson said. "We need to put ourselves in a position to find an ownership group and buyers to keep the team here in Sacramento." Johnson said he had not spoken with any members of the Maloof family or NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday. News of the discussions came a day after officials in Virginia Beach, Va., announced they were dropping their efforts to build a new arena. Virginia Beach had been reported as a relocation option for the Kings. The Maloofs backed out of a tentative $391 million deal for a new downtown arena with Sacramento last year, reigniting fears the franchise could relocate. Johnson and the Kings broke off all negotiations in the summer with the Kings, saying the deal didnt make financial sense for the franchise. In 2011, the Kings appeared determined to move to Anaheim before Johnson convinced the NBA to give the city one last chance to help finance an arena. At one point, Johnson seemed so certain the team was gone he called the process a "slow death" and compared the citys efforts to keep the Kings a "Hail Mary." Johnson made a desperate pitch to the NBA Board of Governors in April 2011, promising league owners the city would find a way to help finance a new arena to replace the teams current outdated suburban facility. That pitch bought the Kings time, before the brokered deal between the city and the Maloofs fell apart last year. Johnson said the Maloof family still must repay a $77 million loan to the city and other lenders. While some players around the league took to Twitter on Wednesday to express their excitement about the possibility of the NBA returning to Seattle -- especially those players from the Puget Sound area -- others were more reserved. "Theres a part of me thats disappointed because Sacramento, Ive enjoyed my times. I think Sacramento is a great town," said current Denver coach and former Seattle coach George Karl. "Im not going to lie -- Im happy that Seattle is going to have a team more than Sacramento. But I am disappointed that Sacramento cant keep their team." cheap jerseys . Prime Minister Stephen Harper awarded the athletes medals marking Queen Elizabeths Diamond Jubilee at a ceremony Wednesday in the Senate chamber. cheap jerseys us . The level-headed skipper said all along his young, powerful hitters would eventually put things together. Whether that was wishful thinking or well-placed confidence, Melvin was right. Yoenis Cespedes had his first career four-hit game, including a homer and three RBIs, and the Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 9-4 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep. NEW YORK -- Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano stepped toward third base and bluffed a pickoff throw, then twirled and made a soft toss to first. No dice, the Tampa Bay runners didnt fall for that ol trick -- theyd seen it too often. Starting next year, no one might ever see that exact play again. Major League Baseball is poised to pick off the much-maligned move, the fake-to-third, throw-to-first ploy that often succeeds only in getting the whole ballpark to shout "Balk!" "I think they should get rid of it," Yankees reliever Boone Logan said. "Us lefties cant do that. If we do, they call a balk." "Besides, how often does it work? Maybe once in never," he said. The Playing Rules Committee has approved a proposal to make it a balk, too, with MLB executives and umpires in agreement. The players union vetoed the plan for this season to discuss it further. MLB is allowed to implement the change after a one-year wait -- no telling whether that would happen if players strongly object. Under the new wording, a pitcher could not fake to third unless he first stepped off the rubber. If he stayed on the rubber, as Soriano did Wednesday night, it would be a balk. Most every pitcher now makes the move the same way Soriano did. "Some people think youre just trying to deceive the runner at first, that you have no real intention of getting the guy at third," Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Youre not trying so much to get a guy off third. Youre not going to do that very often," he said. "But it can be a huge deterrent for the runner at first." Scioscia is a member of Commissioner Bud Seligs panel for on-field issues. Would Scioscia be sorry to see the play tossed? "I dont know if sorry is the right word. It means youll just have to find another way to control the running game," he said. Scioscias team has had great success using what some clubs call the "horn" play -- the naame comes from managers extending their index and pinky fingers in a "Hook em Horns" gesture, indicating opposing runners at first and third.dddddddddddd Last August, with Los Angeles leading 6-4 at Yankee Stadium, New York put men at the corners with two outs in the ninth inning. Rookie Jordan Walden bluffed toward third a couple of times, then did it again and trapped Curtis Granderson off first for the final out. This year, the Angels struck again in the Bronx when starter Ervin Santana faked to third and nailed Brett Gardner at first. The play is specifically addressed in the Official Baseball Rules under Rule 8.05 (c), which states: "It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal." Hence, no balk. Not yet, anyway. "Major League Baseball and the players decide what the rules of baseball are. We just enforce them," longtime umpire Jim Joyce said. New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, chairman of the Playing Rules Committee, points out "its evolved over time whats acceptable on what you can do at different bases." A bluff to third is legal, for example, but the same fake to first is not. Fleet San Francisco leadoff man Angel Pagan isnt too worried about whether the move is made illegal. "Ive been dealing with it my whole career," he said. "Theyre always trying to do something to trick you." Same first-and-third trap they pulled in Reggie Jacksons day. The Hall of Famer is known for his slugging, yet he also stole 228 bases. "I wish they wouldnt get rid of it. That plays been part of the game forever," he said. "But I guess thats part of change." A pickoff move thats been part of baseball strategy for years might get picked off next season. ' ' '
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