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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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More Sonics Emails Reveal Owner Duplicity

Co-owners wrote of their 'hope of moving to Oklahoma City'

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(Newser) – Some of Aubrey McClendon's emails to his fellow SuperSonics owners have been revealed in a transcript of his April deposition, and they don't appear to help his case. The inquiry into whether the Oklahoma City-based investment group made good-faith efforts to keep the team in Seattle turned up two relatively damaging messages, reports the Seattle Times.

In one, McClendon discusses his contributions to an anti-gay marriage group, and suggests that the resulting public anger in Seattle "just improves OKC's chances of getting them [the Sonics] here year after next." In the other, he writes to owner Clay Bennett that, regarding the team, "the truth is we did buy it with the hope of moving to Oklahoma City."

SuperSonics fans rally outside KeyArena last year, hoping to convince the team's owners to stay in Seattle. The NBA has since approved a move to Oklahoma City, but lawsuits have ensnared the process.
SuperSonics fans rally outside KeyArena last year, hoping to convince the team's owners to stay in Seattle. The NBA has since approved a move to Oklahoma City, but lawsuits have ensnared the process.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Aubrey McClendon, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy Corp., in a Nov. 8, 2005 file photo. McClendon denies that emails among the Sonics' owners indicate that they planned to move the team all along.
Aubrey McClendon, co-founder of Chesapeake Energy Corp., in a Nov. 8, 2005 file photo. McClendon denies that emails among the Sonics' owners indicate that they planned to move the team all along.   (AP Photo)
KeyArena, home of the Seattle SuperSonics, as viewed from the top of the Space Needle. Sonics owners say they made good-faith efforts to stay there, but their emails tell a different story.
KeyArena, home of the Seattle SuperSonics, as viewed from the top of the Space Needle. Sonics owners say they made good-faith efforts to stay there, but their emails tell a different story.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clayton Bennett, right, stands with Oklahoma City businessman Aubrey McClendon, left, during a game between the Sonics and the New Orleans Hornets in Oklahoma City in 2007.
Seattle SuperSonics owner Clayton Bennett, right, stands with Oklahoma City businessman Aubrey McClendon, left, during a game between the Sonics and the New Orleans Hornets in Oklahoma City in 2007.   (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
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