Ball in Seattle’s court

Put up or shut up time in Seattle.

Everyone with a stake in the SuperSonics’ future is roused by Aubrey McClendon’s declaration that Oklahoma City was the goal from the beginning for Clay Bennett’s ownership group.

Seattle city officials. Sonic boosters. Seattle media. All are saying ah-ha! to Bennett. The smoking gun.

It’s getting a little old to Bennett, who does not determine the fate of his franchise. That responsibility falls to Seattle business and government leaders.

Produce an arena plan and the Sonics stay. Fail to produce an arena plan and the Sonics go. That was the deal in July 2006, that’s the deal today. Nothing has changed.

Has Bennett been disingenuous in talks with Seattle? I don’t see how.

He spent millions of dollars with architect HOK to produce an arena model. Lobbied the Washington legislature for funding. Heck, Bennett saved the Sonics from San Jose; previous owner Howard Schultz was set to sell the Sonics to Larry Ellison, who was ready to remove the team sans negotiations.

Bennett at least has given Seattle a chance.

Here’s a quote that trumps McClendon’s in the Journal Record. Washington state senator Margarita Prentice, who championed Bennett’s cause in Olympia, told the The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry, “I’ve been waiting for Clay Bennett to flip us all off and tell us to go jump in the lake.”

Bennett’s critics say he’s not serious about staying in Seattle and cite the $500 million arena as proof. But Seattle’s own history supports Bennett; the city tried to go on the cheap last time, inadequately renovating KeyArena in 1994.

Bennett’s theory: If you’re going to build an arena, build it right. If not, say the word.

Seattle seems to be saying the word.

Make no mistake. McClendon did Bennett no favors. Bennett has been fighting the perception that he’s dead set on bringing the Sonics to Oklahoma City.

I can understand that fear, and here’s another quote Seattle can sink its teeth into. On Feb. 9, 2006, when Bennett announced formation of the ownership group that sought an NBA franchise for Oklahoma City, be it the Hornets or another, he said, “The bottom line is, we want a team for this market.”

But the closer OKC has moved to permanent NBA status, the more pragmatic Bennett has become.

Even in private chats, Bennett has touted Seattle and its vibrant economy, while expressing apprehension about Oklahoma City. Yes, he would like to bring the NBA here, but he also is a businessman.

Bennett really does think about the bottom line more than McClendon does; maybe that’s because McClendon’s got a lot more money than Bennett or maybe that’s because Bennett is more involved in daily incomes and outflows.

But again, vilifying Bennett does Seattle no good. Bennett did not introduce the idea that KeyArena was an inappropriate venue.

Here’s another quote, this one from NBA commissioner David Stern, who some in Seattle want to bring in as an ally against Bennett. Seattle, Stern said more than a year ago, is “not interested in having the NBA there.”

When Bennett grew frustrated with Seattle, he got in line behind Stern.

So again, it’s put up or shut up time. You want to expose Bennett as a fraud? Offer him an arena plan. And not a renovation of KeyArena or a coliseum with the Muckleshoots way south of town. The NBA is not going to go into a business with a casino, not in the wake of the referee/gambling scandal.