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A press conference was held in Seattle yesterday, and it was announced that the majority of the Seattle SuperSonics and WNBA Storm were sold to an investment group from Oklahoma City.

This would be a great answer to what will happen when the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets go back to New Orleans after this next season. NBA Commissioner David Stern told us here in Oklahoma City that chances were really good that we would end up with a NBA franchise sometime after the 2007 season when the Hornets were due to return to new Orleans after the rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

With this news being reported it would point to the Sonics being the NBA team that would play in the downtown Oklahoma City, Ford Center. In first season the Hornets were here they sold out or nearly sold out 35 home games. The same is expected for the up coming season before they head back to New Orleans.

After listening to the press conference on my way home from work yesterday I believe there is a very strong possibility that after the upcoming season the Sonics will be playing in OKC, OK. The new ownership group chaired by Oklahoma City businessman Clay Bennett, said that he plans to give it a go in Seattle and they plan to negotiate a deal with the city to make it work in Seattle. But, many here in Oklahoma City are reading between the lines and seeing that ultimately the Sonics will be relocated to Oklahoma City in the near future.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for an Oklahoma based investment group to purchase the NBA Sonics and WNBA Storm and then not move them to Oklahoma City. With the Hornets leaving to go back to New Orleans after this coming season and the success that the owner had here in Oklahoma City, it is obvious that our market can support a NBA franchise.

I guess only time will tell what will happen with the Sonics and Storm, but I am hoping that they make the move to Oklahoma City.

I was surfing online and I came across a couple of news stories that took me by surprise; Steve Yzerman announces retirement and Ben Wallace plans to sign with the Bulls.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Yzerman finally decided to retire after 22 years in the NHL. What is surprising that he spent his entire career with one team; Detroit Red Wings. As a Red Wing fan for most of my life I have been watching Yzerman his whole career and the Red Wings are definitely a better team with him on the ice and he will be missed.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and the Red Wings will have to move on. The loss of Yzerman for next season will equal the loss of long time coach Scotty Bowman a couple of years ago. I fully expect the Red Wings to carry on their winning ways this coming season, but without their long time leader it will be an adjustment.

I wish him well in future endevers and I will miss seeing him on the ice.

Now to Ben Wallace, he has made it known to the Detroit Pistons that he will not be resigning with them for this coming season and as soon as it allowed by rules (July 12th) he will make it official. He will be signing with the Chicago Bulls for a undisclosed amount of money.

The reason he will be leaving the Pistons was he couldn’t come to terms on a new contract. The Pistons offered Ben Wallace a 4 year $50 million dollar contract which would have made him the highest paid player on the team. So I would gather that the Bulls came up with a bigger number and Wallace made a business decision to leave the Pistons.

I wish him well with the Bulls and I am sure Detroit Pistons President Joe Dumars will do his magic and bring in a new center and we will carry on. Since coming to the Pistons, Wallace has made a huge contribution to our recent success. I will also not dishonor his contribution by bad mouthing him for making the decision he has made.

I wish him well with the Bulls.