Former SuperSonics owner and Starbucks Corp. chairman Howard Schultz has amended his lawsuit against Clay Bennett and the group that purchased the Sonics saying that they breached the contract on the sale of the franchise by not making an effort to keep the Sonics in Seattle. As reported by The AP:

"Mr. Bennett wrote to Mr. Schultz that 'it is our desire to have the Sonics ... continue their existence in the Greater Seattle Area' and specifically denied any 'intention to move or relocate the team," Schultz's latest filing said.

"That statement was false from the moment it was made. ... They were willing to lie, and did lie, to complete the deal."

Schultz argues that Bennett and his co-owners have "intentionally mismanaged the Sonics to improve their case for breaking the lease." The team recently finished the worst season in its 41-year history in Seattle, with a 20-62 record and declining attendance.

Owners voted 28-2 in favor of allowing Bennett and his ownership group to relocate the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Mark Cuban and Paul Allen were the two owners that voted against the relocation.

The City of Seattle has filed a separate lawsuit against Bennett, which looks to hold the team in Seattle until the current lease expires in 2010, as opposed to letting Bennett and the Sonics relocate this off-season.

In emails from 2006, just 2 days before the sale of the Sonics between Schultz and Bennett’s Professional Basketball Club LLC, show that the prospective ownership was looking to leverage the Seattle area into a new arena or relocate. (see more on the emails) The email read, in part, that the Professional Basketball Club could just sell the team in a "sweet flip," and still leave the ownership group "in good shape for something in OKC."

OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• Fan in Critical Condition After Fall at Turner Field - The Biz of Baseball
• DirecTV Launches "GameSearch" for Blackouts - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Addresses Pace of the Game Rules - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Predicts Attendance Increase. To Date, Remains Flat - The Biz of Baseball
• Kaline, Williams, Winfield, Lasorda Reps for '08 Draft - The Biz of Baseball
• Boxers and P.J.s? MLBP Reaches Deal with Vineyard Vines - The Biz of Baseball
• BREAKING: NFL Owners Opt Out of Collective Bargaining Agreement - The Biz of Football
• Cox Communications and the New Orleans Saints Announce Multi-Year Agreement - The Biz of Football
• NFL Owners Hint They Are Closer to Opting Out of CBA - The Biz of Football
• Auction-Rate Securities Market Collapse Impacting How NFL Stadiums Are Being Financed - The Biz of Football
• Cheapest Season-Ticket Seat at New Cowboys Stadium to Run $59 - The Biz of Football
• A Look at the NHL Coaching Openings - The Biz of Hockey
• Russia defeats Canada, Renew Rivalry at World Finals - The Biz of Hockey
• XM Satellite Radio To Carry 3 Different Broadcasts of Every Stanley Cup Final Game - The Biz of Hockey
• USA’s "Miracle on Ice" Voted Top Ice Hockey Story of the Century - The Biz of Hockey

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.