Fancy Store-Bought Dirt

These Questions Aren't As Difficult as Jim Caple Makes Them Out to Be

"What obligations does a city have to a team that is so often considered vital to the community? What obligations does a team have to a city from which it expects undying loyalty and frequent taxpayer support?"
--Caple, referring mainly to the Supersonics' (NBA) attempt to get out of Seattle.

The answer to the first question is almost blindingly simple (unless the city already has contractual obligations); the answer to the second depends on where goodwill fits into one's business model.