AND, it seems the tribe needs to seriously look at who they are voting on for the 5 member council. I recall not that long ago, many Native Americans SOME DARN GOOD HARD WORKING COMPASSIONATE FOLKS were out of a job, worried about losing their jobs after years of employment within the Native American tanf program. In fact they were more worried about the people they were helping than themselves. I've gone on Native American spiritual retreats, beautiful Washoe land, seminars, pow wows, awaken at sunset to go to the river burn sage and cedar to make it through my pain, stood in healing circles and listened to the elders, heck beaded and wove baskets, in atmospheres where LOVE overshadowed money --the tribe giving money a million dollars for a basketball team adds insult to injury!! I never been to thunder valley and I never will now. And it seems the council has become a bit money driven and when you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas. Surely the native American council could have found a NEED far greater than a WANT of a basketball team to invest money. And to say Johnson made a compelling case is HOGWASH- Seems the tribe has strayed--bit by the casino greed- and is losing their way and looking at money forgetting that the same way they got it is how they can lose it!!-- a gamble

plus ther is no 70 million to invest. it goes back to the bond holder.

I understand their is no 70 million to invest. What I don't understand and possibly you can explain is the same way the bond was taken out for the Kings can a bond be taken out for another investment. Perhaps one that will show a significant profit? Because with the Kings it appears we are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Do you by any chance know how much the Kings have paid back thus far?

Perhaps you are right but the City of Sacramento felt a need to accuse the Maloffs of not wanting to pay them back so if you know their is a snake in the grass that bit you before why would you pick it back up? What would make this business decision any better than the previous one? Why would we think the Kings would stay for the long term because we raise money? Wouldn’t that tell us they would leave if someone later raised more money? It seems the same way you get them will be the same way you’ll lose them. If I'm not mistaken the Maloofs didn't appear impressed with Johnson when he said $7 million was raised. Didn’t they say they allegedly “can’t be bought“? Not to mention the Maloofs warned Johnson (city of sac) not to mess with their business.... Seems we’re beaten a dead horse.

Touche. The Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore and one year later got a team back in Cleveland with new ownership so it's possible. It sounds like if the Kings stay this year, then we will be revisiting this entire pain-staking situation again next spring.

Perhaps it is a business decision but in my opinion it is bad business. But that's just my opinion and I respect yours. Also, I think - in fact I know Indian Tribes share revenues. They support the low income native American community providing greater opportunities than county welfare. In fact their TANF program is impressive and provides more than a hand out but a hand up.... They also assist the government by reducing the amount of social services/ welfare funding from state budgets. While I disagree with this decision I know Native American tribes has shared revenues more than the NBA does and provided more charitable contributions. To answer your last question with a question - why not? Considering all they’ve lost at the hands of the government.

Rhonda

Here in California the gaming compact that tribes negotiated with the state does require some very limited revenue sharing. California tribes with casinos do around $7B in business each year, and from that they contribute around $23M of that to a trust fund shared by all registered tribes. Even if we conservatively estimate about $2.5B of that $7B is profit, that is still less than 1% profit sharing.

http://www.cgcc.ca.gov/?pageID=rstfi

Calling this profit sharing is like me calling myself a philanthropist because I leave a bag of used clothes on my front step for the Goodwill truck once or twice a year.

Once you leave California, the situation is far more pathetic. There is no national program to share profits between tribes, and it is actually pretty rare for tribal governments to share revenues with members of their own tribe. I don't get your reference to TANF, which is simply a taxpayer funded welfare / jobs program and has nothing to do with tribes sharing their good fortune with other tribes.
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/tanf/tanf-overview.html

I stand by my comment. In California, tribes reluctantly agreed to profit sharing when Arnold offered expanded gaming as an incentive. But nationally, the Indian greed is a lot stronger than Indian brotherhood, and NBA management look like saints in comparison.