CBA -- Sun Kings remain tribe's

YAKIMA -- While the Yakama Nation made it quite clear last week that are finished with the Sun Kings, the tribe remains in control of the Continental Basketball Association team's fate.

That will hold true, barring a buyer stepping up, for at least another month -- and longer if efforts within the tribe to retain the team are successful.

CBA deputy commissioner Dennis Truax confirmed Wednesday that the league received a letter from the tribe stating their intention to give up ownership of the franchise, which was announced last Thursday.

However, Truax said the league won't act on that letter until their spring meetings May 16-18.

"The Nation is still in control of the team," Truax said.

That means the tribe has the ability to sell the franchise to recoup some of their reported $1.3 million in losses since purchasing the team from John and Darren Uceny in the summer of 2005.

It also leaves the door open for an effort on the reservation to rescind last week's 10-1 vote by the Tribal Council to shut down the Sun Kings.

Tribal supporters of the team can call a meeting of the general council sometime before the CBA meetings and ask for a vote to reject the Tribal Council's decision. The general council has been meeting off and on since last November working on tribal issues.

Those backers have said that the tribe should honor the three-year commitment to operate the team it made prior to the 2006-07 season.

Last week, those voting to get rid of the team said the three-year window began with the team's first season of ownership, 2005-06. However, that argument is countered by the fact that the tribe signed a three-year lease agreement for the SunDome that concludes with the 2008-09 season.

"It's a three-year deal and we expect them to honor that in some way," said Greg Stewart, president and general manager of the Central Washington Fair Association, which operates the SunDome.

Stewart noted that there is a clause in the agreement that calls for the tribe to pay compensation for any days they don't use the SunDome during the upcoming season. The Sun Kings played 24 home games last season, and also frequently practice in the building throughout the season.

"It's spelled out in the lease," Stewart said. "We've sent them a letter asking what they're going to do. We don't know what their strategy is ... but they're honorable people and hopefully they'll get back to us."

Ralph Sampson Jr., president of the Tribal Council, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

If the current situation remains unchanged, league owners are expected to take some action during their meetings, Among the options are taking control of the team or even approving a sale should a qualified buyer emerge, Truax said.

"There are a lot of different ways we can go," he said, adding that the final fate of the Sun Kings would not necessarily be determined during those meetings.

"It's not a cut day, but it's an important date," Truax said. "Of course, we want to get something done as soon as possible ... and the spring meeting is very important because it shows the course of the league."

Truax said the league wants the Sun Kings to survive, and he's been working with CBA president Ricardo Richardson trying to identify potential buyers for the franchise that's been in Yakima since 1990.

"We're disappointed that they (the tribe) feel this way, but we're working to rectify the situation," he said, calling the tribe's decision a "total surprise."

"Yakima's a great city and been a supporter of CBA basketball for almost 20 years," he continued. "Yakima deserves a CBA team we're going to so what we can to see it returns this fall."

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