Boo Hoo

This is a special feature from guest blogger Christopher Sells

I think most would agree that it’s true that money can’t buy you happiness. Money can certainly buy you things that can perhaps bring you happiness on some level, but it won’t be that everlasting happiness that people are supposed to seek in life.

That being said, there are still quite a few people who would sacrifice their living situations and possessions in exchange for millions of dollars without thinking twice about it. There are also those who would have little sympathy for those who could be forced to uproot their lives and move to a new, strange place. 

One of the people who fall into the first category is Brent Gooden, a PR guy from Oklahoma. One of the people who fall into the second category is Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett who, by the way, employs Gooden.

If you’re not familiar with the whole Sonics situation, it would be good for you to take some time to get up to speed by searching around on the ‘Net. A brief synopsis: Bennett bought the team and tried to get Seattle to build a new arena. When the city wouldn’t agree, Bennett announced he was moving the team to Oklahoma City. Seattle filed suit to keep them in-city through the end of their lease, some e-mails surfaced that made it clear that Bennett wanted to move the team all along, former owner Howard Schultz files suit against Bennett claiming he was dishonest during the team purchase. Court trials loom to decide the fate of the team next season, for sure, and perhaps beyond that. Like I said, do some research.

So the new development in all of this, which I alluded to in the lead, is Bennett’s feelings about his employees’ concerns about having to move and play in OKC. In an e-mail to Gooden, Bennett wrote “Boo hoo” in response to hearing that some of the players were upset about the potential move. Gooden wrote back, “Great response. I would play wherever for half of the lowest paid player on the team.”

First off, Bennett should recognize that he needs his players to want to do their jobs and to attempt to be happy while they’re doing them. You may not give a crap about their feelings, but these are the guys who are ultimately responsible for making you money. The fans are there to see them play. The worse they play, the fewer fans they perform in front of. Fewer fans equals less money. It’s simple really. Maybe Bennett should just stop sending e-mails because he apparently can’t stop saying things in them that will haunt him later. 

Secondly, Gooden can’t assume that because he would do something, that an NBA should eagerly do the same. All too often we hear someone say something about the NBA followed by some sort of qualifier detailing their salary. “If I made that much money, I’d do this” or “They make enough money, why can’t they do that.” I understand where people are coming from when they say these things, but how would they feel if they were put into the situation? 

How do you guys feel about it? Should the Sonics players and everyone who works in the organization be ready to move from the Northwest to the Plains because of their salary? Do you feel they deserve to have their feelings addressed by Bennett? What would you do if you made that kind of money? Would you be happy or would you feel that your happiness even mattered? Leave your answers in the comment box.

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