Last Full Season for Legion of Boom?
Browner will be an unrestricted free agent next off-season, making 2013 potentially the last season of the Legion of Boom.
Clarification on Brandon Browner’s status after the upcoming season has been determined. Mike Sando of ESPN, clarifies that after next season Browner will be an unrestricted free agent. Due to the vagueness of the collective bargaining agreement, Browner will have 4 accrued NFL season after 2013. Unless the Seahawks sign Browner to an extension, which they recently did with secondary teammate Kam Chancellor last week, then this potentially could be the last full season for the “legion of Boom”. The Sehawks secondary of Browner, Chanchellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman have been dubbed “the Legion of Boom” because of the physical play and success (all four have either been named All-Pro or a Pro Bowler). If the Seahwks are going to live up to the expectatations of being the current odds on co-superbowl champion favorites (5-1 odds tied with the Denver Broncos) they will need the “Legion of Boom” to carry them there.
I’ve written that Browner can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season because he’ll have four accrued seasons under the collective bargaining agreement. That includes the 2005 season Browner spent on injured reserve with the Denver Broncos.
Patrick and David questioned whether Browner would indeed receive credit for that season in Denver. If not, Browner would become only a restricted free agent after the 2013 season, buying time for the Seahawks regarding a potential contract extension.
Team, league and NFL Players Association sources have confirmed that Browner is indeed scheduled to become a UFA in 2014. Browner gets credit for that season with the Broncos.
Article 8 of the collective bargaining agreement defines accrued seasons as those during which a player was “on, or should have been on, full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games, but which, irrespective of the player’s pay status, shall not include games for which the player was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission List, (ii) the Reserve PUP List as a result of a non-football injury, or (iii) a Club’s Practice Squad.”
There is no reference to the injured reserve list. The Broncos placed Browner on injured reserve in August, before the 2005 regular season. They released him in 2006.
According to an NFL spokesman, players receive credit for an accrued season if they spend at least six games on the active list, inactive list, injured reserve list or the reserve/PUP list.
Browner, 28, earned Pro Bowl honors with Seattle following the 2011 season.
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Maloofs Set Deadline For Counter Offer
Maloofs have set a deadline of 5pm Friday for a matching offer.
According to Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee the Maloofs, owner’s of the Kings have set a deadline of 5pm this Friday to make a matching offer.
The Maloof family has given the Sacramento investors seeking to buy the Kings until 5 p.m. Friday to submit a written, binding “back-up” offer that matches the deal the family has in place to sell the franchise to a group in Seattle, a source close to the deal told The Bee today.
The source told the Bee that if the Maloofs receive a matching offer by Friday, they will consider it as a serious back-up proposal should the NBA nullify their tentative deal with Seattle. If the offer doesn’t arrive, or doesn’t match the Seattle bid, the Maloofs have said any talks are off with the Sacramento group. The source declined further comment about who issued the ultimatum, when, or why.
The source said the NBA a few weeks ago forwarded a “statement of interest” in buying the team to the Maloofs from the Sacramento group, but NBA Commissioner David Stern said the dollar amount in that offer was substantially lower than the offer on the table from Seattle. The source described the initial offer as “not even close” to the reported bid from Seattle of $341 million.
However, following presentations last week in New York from both sides, Stern said the discrepancy between the Seattle and Sacramento offers is no longer an issue.
Contacted for comment, Maloof family spokesman Eric Rose said, “Our policy is not to negotiate in public.”
State Senate President Darrell Steinberg said in an interview today that the Sacramento offer is “strong and fully competitive.”
“I don’t want to get too precise here, but it is as strong as the Seattle offer,” said Steinberg, who took part in Sacramento’s presentation to the NBA in New York. “It is equivalent to the Seattle offer.” Steinberg said he knows the value of the Sacramento offer, but would not say what it is.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and others have pointed out that the offers from Seattle and Sacramento are structured differently and have different components, which could add to the difficulty of determining whether Sacramento’s bid matches up.
The Maloofs agreed in January to sell their controlling interest in the Kings to the Seattle investors, led by hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, for $341 million.
The Sacramento group includes Silicon Valley software tycoon Vivek Ranadive, East Bay health-club financier Mark Mastrov, the Jacobs family of San Diego and Sacramento developer Mark Friedman.
Ranadive’s group and the Seattle investors made competing presentations last Wednesday in New York to a committee of NBA owners that is vetting the two offers. The NBA Board of Governors, consisting of all team owners, is expected to decide the issue at its meeting April 18-19.
Sonic’s Fans wait for an announcement from the NBA owners.
This article from Chris Hansen on Sonicsarena.com breaks down the results of the priority ticket wait-list.
As promised, we would like to announce the results of our Priority Ticket Waitlist… and they are nothing short of stunning.
As can be seen in the table below, in a little over two weeks, we received requests for over 44,000 Full Season tickets, 268 suites and had 983 businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities. Perhaps even more stunning is that we received over 32,000 Full Season Ticket requests in the first 24 hours of our Priority Waitlist going live — including a frustrating first 30 minutes when you all were able to knock our site offline with over 6,000 hits per second!
In addition to significantly exceeding our expectations, you all have sent a very clear message that all Sonic fans know in their hearts… that Seattle has and always will be a GREAT basketball city.
click to embiggen
As we head off to NYC to make our presentation, I would just like to recap the incredible support all of you have provided along the way. It is all of you that made the difference and got us to the point we are today… and all of Seattle should be proud and thankful for your efforts.
- 62,700 Facebook Fans of Sonics Arena
- 15,329 Twitter Followers
- 8,000+ people showed up to our rally on June 14, 2012
- 23,272 emails were sent to elected officials through SonicsArena.com, and countless numbers more directly from our fans
- 11,255 people signed the online petition
- 164 business signed our online petition
- 85 business lobbied the City Council on our behalf
- 1,000+ fans showed up at the City Council meeting to express their support for the return of the NBA – and the City Council stayed until midnight to hear all of you!
Seattle, this is one of the biggest days of my life and a seminal moment for our City. I know I am carrying the hopes and dreams of so many of you with me and I again just want to thank all of you for the privilege of having the opportunity to carry the torch for our Town. It is hands down one of the most meaningful things I have ever done in my life.
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Issue over “Dunk City” Trademark
Florida Gulf Coast University has coined the phrase “Dunk City” during their amazing run.
This year’s “Cinderella” story from the NCAA tournament is undoubtedly the Florida Gulf Coast Univestiry Eagles. The first 15 seed ever to make the “Sweet Sixteen”, how has the public’s eye. A school that was established in just 1997 and only in their 2nd year of eligibility for the NCAA tournament. Not only has FGCU been the ultimate underdog this March Madness, but the style of basketball has been captivating as well. The phrase “Dunk City” has been coined to describe the numerous fast break dunks, inside stuffs and alley oops that the Eagles have been executing on their amazing run. A spin off of the LA Clippers “Lob City”, West Palm Beach has officially changed the city’s nickname to “Dunk City”.
This article by Darren Rovell dives into the controversy surrounding the trademark “Dunk City”.
A music producer who lives in the town where Florida Gulf Coast University is located has filed for a trademark for the words “Dunk City.”
Charlie Pennachio, of Fort Myers, Fla., filed papers with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office on Monday, just a day after the FGCU men’s basketball team defeated San Diego State 81-71, to be come the first No. 15 seed in tournament history to advance to the Sweet 16.
Pennachio told ESPN.com that his son goes to the school and he was encouraged to make the business move by one of his clients, local rock personality Trip Tribbett, who, among other things, appeared on a VH1 reality show.
“It’s a real phenomenon what’s going on in Fort Myers,” Pennachio said. “We want to start a company and doing something associated with basketball seemed like a perfect opportunity. We know the university is using it now, but we want to take it to a different kind of level.”
The school has licensed merchandise with its logo and “Dunk City” on it that has been selling at local retailers, but the school itself has not yet made a formal claim to the mark.
That could soon happen, given the stance the school is taking on the phrase.
“Our position is that ‘Dunk City’ is inextricably linked with FGCU,” said Michael Van Wieren, general counsel of Licensing Resource Group, the firm that controls the FGCU’s licensing program. “Had it not been for FGCU, ‘Dunk City’ would not have achieved its fame or notoriety.”
Filing for intent to use a trademark, as Pennachio has done, isn’t good enough to establish a legal claim to it. A registrant must also show first use in interstate commerce. Although FGCU hasn’t filed for the trademark, the school does believe it has the sole right to use the mark and recent interaction with both authorized and unauthorized retailers can help prove a first use in commerce claim should the school eventually file for a trademark, Van Wieren said.
“Third parties interested in making gear have reached out to us, recognizing that FGCU is the owner of ‘Dunk City,’” Van Wieren said.
Van Wieren also said that he has sent out cease and desist letters, on the school’s behalf, to people using “Dunk City,” and some have even agreed to give the school back royalties for their infringement.
The school has further attached its brand to “Dunk City” this week by making 1,600 novelty IDs for students with the university logo and “Dunk City” on it. The IDs are free, but the school is encouraging students to make a donation to a food bank in exchange for the hard plastic item.
The “Dunk City” phrase is also featured on a splash page that comes up for anyone typing in the school’s website.
So far this month, the school said it has sold more than $200,000 in merchandise, compared to roughly $20,000 last March. Data from Fanatics, one of the largest online sports retailers in the country, shows that over the past five days, FGCU is the best-selling school on its website, with items shipped to more than 40 states.
The nickname comes from FGCU’s high-paced, high-flying offense that has yielded 144 dunks this season. But according to the local paper, the Naples Daily News, the nickname only emerged after last Thursday’s defeat against Georgetown.
“Someone in the media came up with ‘Dunk City,’” Sherwood Brown, one of the team’s stars, told the paper. “We heard about it and just ran with it.”
Pennachio said he is not worried about an impending battle with the school.
“I’m just rooting for the team right now,” Pennachio said. “At the end of the day this will all work out.”
The school plays the University of Florida on Friday night for a spot in the Elite Eight.
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Sonics Ticket Waitlist Now Live
Interior Design for Proposed Sonics Arena.
As of 10:00 Pacific Standard Time the Seattle Super Sonics Priority Ticket wait-list is live. This is a critical survey by the Sonics investment group and the NBA. Chris Hansen, Steve Ballmer, Peter and Erik Nordstrom need a high positive feedback from Sonics fans in order to gran the NBA’s attention and persuade the owners to approve the sale of the Sacramento Kings. Basically this survey is to get a temperature gauge of how bad Seattle has “Sonics Fever”. Here is the official link to sign up http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sonicsarena.
This piece is from Sonics Arena.com. We’re happy today to release some preliminary designs for the seating bowl in the new Seattle arena. Fans will see that the design features some non-traditional elements that are inspired by the unique sports culture of the Seattle market. Most notably, the upper seating bowl is dramatically shortened and the top rows are replaced with three stacked balconies (what we have dubbed the “Sonic Rings”) that slant inward toward center court as they stack. We believe these balcony levels provide several key advantages versus traditional upper bowl seating including:
- Improved Viewing Angles: The creation of the Sonic Rings and resulting ability to significantly increase steepness of the lower bowl, results in MARKEDLY improved sight lines for all seating categories
- Reduced stratification between seating levels: Creating a more vibrant, festive, and social experience in the upper levels and giving typically premium seating amenities to all of our fans
- Significant Flex Capacity: In addition to seating for over 2,000 patrons, the design of the Sonic Rings allows for significant incremental standing room capacity so we can “flex up” for the big game or “flex down” for more intimate events
- Increased Intimacy, Energy… and Noise: We believe that pushing the entirety of the seating bowl closer to the court and having 2,000-4,000 fans literally overhanging the game not only creates the most intimate venue in the NBA, but will also provide you with the opportunity to create the loudest, most energetic atmosphere in yet another pro sport—or better yet two!
- More Cost Effective and Sustainable Building: This introduction of the Sonic Rings and resulting compression of the seating bowl significantly reduces the roof spans — which makes for a more cost-effective and sustainable building
There are unconventional elements in the premium seating areas as well. The lower levels suites are located less than ten rows off the floor—and even closer to the ice. They’re designed as “pocket” suites that give direct suite access to the suite holders without creating an unsightly gap in the camera view of the lower seating level. We believe the upper suite level also represents both an evolution in Arena design and a recognition of the unique attributes of the Seattle Business Community. Instead of creating a level of “hermetically sealed” suites with a dedicated corridor that speaks to status superiority and isolation, we have instead opted for a flexible “Loge Suite” design that will allow us to offer varying suite layouts to groups and businesses of all sizes. The suite layouts provide a much more social, inclusive and fun atmosphere around shared bars and amenities with a balcony that overlooks the main club.
Again, the major point here is that our seating bowl design will maximize the intensity of the game experience and minimize the stratification of the different tiers of tickets. Both of these design goals we believe will strongly appeal to the Seattle sports community.
We designed the unconventional seating bowl to be ideally suited for music as well. The uniqueness of the seating bowl and flex capacity of the Sonic Rings create a much more intimate venue for concerts of varying sizes. The Sonic Rings will also have sound treatment directly behind their seats, adding to the natural sound absorption of the rings themselves.
In the coming months, we will begin announcing some of our sustainable building features. There will be renewable energy features as well as an aggressive water recapture and cisterning solution that will reuse rainwater inside the building and in the water features in the north plaza.
And in case you missed it, the exterior is a “SuperSonic” jet turbine . . . not a flan!
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Seahawks Complete Trade for Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin is Formally introduced as a Seattle Seahawk Tuesday by Pete Carrol and John Schneider.
Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times reported, it’s official. The Seahawks announced what the NFL has known for more than 24 hours: They’re acquiring Percy Harvin, wide receiver from the Minnesota Vikings.
They’ll be giving up three draft picks to acquire him: their first-round pick this year (No. 25 overall), one of their three seventh-round picks this year and a third-round choice next year.
In turn, they’ll get Harvin and Harvin will get a new contract. No numbers are available yet, but it’s expected to be a five-year deal that could average more than $11 million annually. It’s a big number.
The Seahawks will have a press conference starting at 3 p.m. where Harvin will be introduced, and while we can’t expect to hear numbers regarding a contract, it will be interesting to see what number Harvin plans on wearing in Seattle. He was No. 12 in Minnesota, which is — of course — retired here in Seattle.
Update: Harvin will be wearing No. 11 with the Seahawks, something he said he had no problem with. He also described this is an opportunity that was — well — hard to describe: “I can’t express how much this opportunity means to me.”
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Harvin’s Last game was in Seattle last season when he was injured against the Seahawks.
Doug Farrar of Yahoo Sports reprting. According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to trade receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks for draft picks. Harvin, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2009, had expressed displeasure about his current contractual situation — according to some reports, he had demanded a trade out of Minnesota recently. Glazer reports that the deal is done pending a physical.
The move would re-unite Harvin with two old friends — offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who served that same function for the Vikings from 2006 through 2010, and fellow receiver Sidney Rice, who was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Rice signed a free-agent contract with the Seahawks before the 2011 season.
In his four NFL seasons and through 43 starts, Harvin has 280 catches for 3,302 yards and 20 touchdowns. A multi-positional threat, he’s also amassed 683 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns on 107 carries. In addition, he’s one of the more dangerous kick returners in the NFL, amassing at least one return score in each of his four seasons.
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