Sonics to city: Hey, it was fun 

Sonics to city: Hey, it was fun

"I'd like to remain friends."

You know what it means when you hear that. You've been dumped. And the dumper already is seeing someone else. That's the gist of the Seattle Sonics' latest ultimatum, a three-page letter sent this week to the city.

The team calls it an "offer." It sure reads like a breakup note.

Our relationship isn't working, the basketball team writes. So here's how you, the people, can fix it. If you won't do what we propose — bear almost all the costs of this union while giving us all the benefits — then we're splitsville.

"We say this without acrimony or recrimination," oozes Sonics CEO Wally Walker. "In the event we do part company, we hope to be able to do so in a mutually respectful way in the spirit of a partnership of such long and honorable duration."

As in: So long, Seattle. It was great while it lasted.

What else am I to think about an offer to stay together that makes such a mockery of the concept of sharing?

The Sonics now say they're willing to pay $18.3 million toward the $220 million cost of a new arena and shopping complex at Seattle Center. The public would pay the rest.

In return for its paltry 8 percent contribution, the Sonics would get all of the revenue from all events held at the arena, as well as from the shopping complex.

For a 92 percent stake, taxpayers would get ... essentially nothing. Though we'd be on the hook to fix the building if anything went seriously wrong.

This deal is so lopsided it makes the baseball and football stadiums look like bargains.

The Mariners paid 25 percent of Safeco Field. Seahawks owner Paul Allen paid 30 percent of Qwest Field.

Surely the Sonics know this plan is not serious enough to cut it at City Hall. Or with voters. It's as if the team's heart is elsewhere — say, in Oklahoma City. Or Vegas.

And yet the NBA commissioner, David Stern, recently had the gall to blame Seattle for being "not interested" in having an NBA team.

Sonics' lead owner Howard Schultz has echoed that, saying he's "stunned by the lack of respect." He added if the team leaves, it won't be his fault.

Which means it's our fault. Which is the last straw.

Look, everyone wants to keep the team in town. I know I do. But not if we have to be in an abusive relationship to do it.

People are trying. City Councilman Nick Licata offered to renegotiate the Sonics' lease so the team is profitable again. Not good enough.

Last year I suggested giving KeyArena to the Sonics, forgiving some debt and letting them fix it up and run it for their own profit. They weren't interested.

OK, how about we at least get an equity stake in the team in return for all our venture capital?

No, the Sonics have become all get and no give. The team wants to be on the dole on the expense side, but a private enterprise on the profit side.

One-way relationships like that never work.

I salute the Sonics for grasping the obvious: This union is broken. A 40-year affair is over.

The only question now is whether we'll humiliate ourselves begging to keep an old flame who's already gone.