Virtual Bliss

For Sonic fans anxious to develop a mean case of blue balls, visit the official site of the proposed King County Events Center (aka, the Sonics new gym). The artist rednerings look fantastic, and the text reminds people of a very important element of the proposed public financing package that seems to get lost in the bluster: that there are (read my lips) no new taxes involved, just extensions of existing taxes. But here's a major flaw with the legislation: if -- and this is a big if -- it makes its way through Olympia, it merely gives King County the authority to levy what's spelled out in the package on its citizenry. And despite the fact that County Executive Ron Sims is an out and proud supporter of the Supes' arena, the King County Council is likely to punt the issue to voters. If that scenario bears out, even if the arena passes in Renton, Kent, Bellevue and the like, the girth of Seattle's ardently anti-sports populous is likely to torpedo the poor thing. Fuck.