[View the story "Kings Moving to Seattle? Follow the Story as it Unfolded on Twitter" on Storify ]Kings Moving to Seattle? Follow the Story as it Unfolded on Twitter Storified by CapRadio News · Wed, Jan 09 2013 15:06:49
The first word of a possible deal involving the Maloof family selling the Sacramento Kings franchise to a group in Seattle came from Yahoo Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski Wednesday morning.
The Maloofs are finalizing an agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to the Hansen-Ballmer led Seattle group, sources tell Yahoo! Sports.Adrian Wojnarowski
This story quickly spread across the Twitterverse, with thousands of re-tweets and reports by other media outlets in Sacramento, Seattle and across the country.
The story went back-and-forth throughout the day, as the rumor mill was working overtime.
Yahoo! Sports: Kings owners reportedly selling team to Seattle group http://on.kcra.com/ULFeET #breakingkcranews
Sac. Kings spokesman tells KCRA the team is not sold. Hansen spokesman not commenting on Twitter rumor. http://kng5.tv/Wz33d6KING 5 News
The latest information from Seattle sports reporter Dave Softy Mahler (http://www.sportsradiokjr.com/softy) has the parties engaged in negotiations:
What we r hearing from a source: Deal moving along nicely but not done. No pending announcement. Hope to have deal done by end of monthDave Softy Mahler
Front page of http://NBA.com http://yfrog.com/oeyq9npyjDave Softy Mahler
Mahler is a booster of Seattle sports, and an advocate of the NBA returning to the city. He likes the idea of changing the name to the Super Sonics (the name of the former NBA team there that is now the Oklahoma City Thunder.)
BOOOOOMMMMM!!!!! SUPER!!!! SONICS!!!!Dave Softy Mahler
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson joined the conversation:
Bottom line Sacramento: it's not over... #keepthefaith #playingtowinKevin Johnson
meeting with the press to respond to #SacKings news...3:30PM @ city hall #keepthefaithKevin Johnson
Fans are also having their say:
@softykjr part of this rollercoaster I'm on with this sonics news is i have a bad feeling that Kevin Johnson will find a local groupShaun Wright
1st and goal from the 1 lol more like 1st and goal from your own 1 #Kingswebelieve #SACKings #MaloofsDave
So the only thing I can be mad at the Maloofs about is them not being honest with us fansE.G.
Maloofs finally going to sell the Kings to a person who will move them to Seattle. About time Seattle gets a team againFlask Gordon