More Sonics Emails Reveal Owner Duplicity

Bill Spooner Says It Questioned His Integrity

(NEWSER) - Another first in the world of digital-age lawsuits. An NBA referee is suing an AP sportswriter over what he calls a "derogatory" tweet issued during a game, reports Wired . The fuss began when Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis complained to referee Bill Spooner about what he thought was a lousy call. Later in the game, sportswriter John Krawczysnki tweeted this: "Ref Bill Spooner told Rambis he'd 'get it back' after a bad call. Then he made an even worse call on Rockets. That's NBA officiating folks." More»

(AP) - Thunder can be heard from miles away, an early warning that a storm is about to arrive. So, perhaps it's only fitting that a full 6 weeks after the name first surfaced, Oklahoma City's NBA officials announced today that the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics would be known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. "It's hard to keep a secret," noted team chairman Clay Bennett. More»

City will be paid up to $75M to let team move to Oklahoma City

(NEWSER) - The Seattle Supersonics have reached a last-minute deal with their hometown that will let the team move to Oklahoma City for the start of the next NBA season, reports the Seattle Times. The agreement, made just hours before a judge was to rule on a lawsuit over the team's arena lease, will give the city $45 million now and $30 million more if it has no new NBA team within five years. More»

Says league wants to 'financially destroy' ex-ref for singing

(NEWSER) - A lawyer for Tim Donaghy, the NBA referee who bet on games he officiated, has accused the NBA of going after his client in retaliation for statements that detracted from the NBA Finals, AP reports. "The message from the NBA is quite clear: If you cooperate in a federal investigation against the organization, we will take you out," John Lauro writes in asking the court to reassess the $1.4 million his client has been asked to pay in restitution. More»

Seattle's star guard joins mentor LeBron in honored group

(NEWSER) - Kevin Durant was so excited to learn he had just won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, he went back to sleep. That's what seven months and 82 games—more than double the amount the lanky 19-year-old had played in any previous season—can do to a teenager. More»