As predictably as the Sun rising in the east and the Phoenix Suns rising in the NBA’s West, the Sonics’ out-of-state owners have formally demanded a taxpayer-subsidized multiuse arena/palace as the prime condition for not packing up their sneakers and trucking ’em to Oklahoma City. The citizens of the state, the county, and/or Bellevue or Renton would pay to build it; the team owners would keep the profits.

It won’t be in Seattle because (1) Seattle voters passed an anti-arena-subsidy initiative last fall, and (2) besides, the team owners want a building that would be the only thing like it anywhere near it, so their own food concessions wouldn’t have to compete with off-premises restaurants and bars.

Consider this a first offer. Slam the plexiglass case over the red button and shout “No Deal, Howie.”