Sonics
The Long Haul: What’s Next for the Future of the Sonics
I know how you feel, Sonics fans. I feel the exact same way. We’re frustrated, exhausted, angry, disappointed, all of the above. Why should we care about the NBA anymore? Why should we give a damn about David Stern and his godforsaken league? All valid questions. All valid reasons to walk away from this situation that won’t seem to find its happy ending.
Frankly, it would be easier to quit at this point then continue investing our energy in a dream that may never become a reality. It would be easier to throw our hands up, turn our backs on the Association, and be done with pro basketball altogether.
But what would that say about us? What would that say about the legacy of the hope we’ve kept alive all this time, this flame we’ve kept burning, this battle from which we’ve never backed down? Did Benny Rodriguez stop running when The Beast chased him? Did Frodo abort the journey to Mordor when he got tired? Did Phil, and Stu, and Alan give up when they were handed Black Doug in the middle of the Nevada desert? No, no, and no. There is no quit here. Now is not the time to stop fighting.
In all seriousness, and before we go any further, a reminder: The decision made yesterday by the NBA owners, the decision to deny the relocation of the Sacramento Kings, was wholly anticipated. Sure, we hoped that the owners would find it in their hearts (e.g. wallets) to allow the Kings to migrate north to Seattle, but we knew that result wasn’t likely. Ultimately, our suspicions were correct and relocation was voted down. Seattle’s prospective ownership group invested a ton in pushing for the move and sale of the Kings — money, time, resources, all of that. Likewise, Seattle fans like you and I invested a great deal of energy and emotion. It’s not easy to get rejected upon investing so much. But it happens. And now we need to move on.
There’s a future here. In order to embrace that future, we need to remain committed for the long haul. Yes, we had the Kings situation fall in our lap rather quickly amidst all this madness that commenced when Chris Hansen voiced his initial intention to purchase an NBA team. But that’s just one opportunity. It appears today that that opportunity may not come to be. Think of it like dating. You aren’t necessarily going to find your true love on your very first date. There’s an investment of time and emotion, not unlike the investment we’ve made to this basketball team of ours, that requires a certain amount of patience and resolve. We dated the Kings. We need to date someone else now.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Hansen and his ownership group have agreed to with King County and the City of Seattle allows for a five-year term in which a new arena can be built in Seattle’s SODO district. That term elapses in September, 2017, which essentially gives Hansen, et al, a little longer than four years to secure an NBA franchise. Per the terms of the MOU, once an NBA franchise is secured, ground can be broken on the construction of the new arena. That gives us our most important asset: time. We have time on our side. Time to find another existing team on the auction block, time to engage in expansion talks with the league, time to figure everything out. If nothing else, we have that.
Beyond a MOU and 50-some-odd months in our pocket, we should have more reasonable power players to deal with in the coming months. The hated Stern is on his way out, retiring in February. In his stead, the NBA’s new commissioner will be the seemingly more affable Adam Silver, who went so far as to profess his desire to bring basketball back to Seattle during yesterday’s press conference following the owners meeting. Who knows for sure if Silver will act upon his declarations, but just knowing his predecessor is out of the picture is encouraging. David Stern hates Seattle and we, in turn, hate him. Having that evil little bastard depart for old age can only make the prospect of a Sonics return much more viable going forward.
Power players aren’t just limited to the NBA, however. In Seattle, the political charge is spearheaded by Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine. With these two individuals working hand-in-hand with Hansen’s group, the climate around a Sonics return will always be favorable. It should be noted that 2013 is an election year, though. To ensure a continued favorable political climate, it wouldn’t hurt to cast a vote for our friends in office. But hey, don’t let me influence you or anything.
Finally, we have us, the fans. We’re as critical to the future of the Sonics as anyone with billion dollar bankrolls or governmental wherewithal. It’s up to us to keep the nation aware of our existence, to remind the NBA what they lost when they let Clay Bennett march into town, deceive everyone, and steal our team. We need to keep sporting the green-and-gold colors, keep rocking the gear, keep reminiscing about the greatness that was 41 years of local basketball history. Without the fans, without our spirit, the Seattle Supersonics are nothing more than a fading memory. We are responsible for keeping hope alive. I implore you to not give up.
This will happen. The Sonics will return. There is no doubt in mind. Keep fighting the good fight, sports fans. Our day will come soon and when it does, all of this will be worth it.
Forever and always, Go Sonics.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Adam Silver, Chris Hansen, David Stern, NBA, Sacramento Kings, Sonics
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Why Sports Matter to a City
I know this is a football and, more specifically, a Seahawks website but bear with me. I currently find myself in a state of severe depression. Today, the NBA has essentially told Seattle to kiss its ass. Some of you might be wondering how that relates to football, and it doesn’t. At least not directly.
What it does share with football, and any other team one might support in any city, is what it means to the common fan. People like the ones that write at sites like this for no reason other than their love of their team and the sport in general. A team provides a shared history and culture among all residents. A bond that makes no real sense when analyzed too deeply, but is felt by all of us anyway.
Five years ago, Seattle got robbed. Through a perfect storm of economic downturn, poor political representation and being sold down the river by scumbags like Howard Schultz, Seattle lost its oldest franchise. The only franchise in the city that possessed a national championship. Today, Seattle learned that despite doing nearly everything right, it would not get a team to replace the one that was stolen.
Unfortunately, the process required taking a team from another city that probably didn’t deserve to lose theirs. Nobody liked it, but that is the playbook the NBA has established. It turned out, however, that the rules had changed since Seattle lost the Sonics. Now priority was placed on teams with 28 years of incumbency, never mind that the Sonics had 41 in Seattle. No matter how much money was placed under the NBA’s nose, they simply didn’t care.
If only Seattle got the same advantages that Sacramento did when Schultz got his panties in a bunch and threw a hissy fit that he should be humiliated by until the day he dies. When Schultz decided he was unhappy he sold the team without any notice to Clay Bennett and a cartel of carpet-baggers from Oklahoma City with the help of one, douchebag David Stern. To this day, I refuse to go to Starbucks or watch an NBA game.
I honestly feel sucker punched and my stomach is in knots after Stern’s half-assed press conference this afternoon. I am utterly and thoroughly depressed and am discovering that no amount of booze is making me feel better. I want nothing more than to introduce David Stern to a dark basement and a baseball bat.
I’m also hoping that having another team and sport I love, the Seahawks, that I might find catharsis in some way. At least maybe writing about this might give me some relief. (It hasn’t so far.) It also makes me realize how much sports matter and the civic value they provide a city and a group of people. Seattle currently has the Sounders, Seahawks, and the perpetually crappy Mariners. Seattleites are fans of some, all, or none of these teams. Nonetheless, these teams provide a way for people to support a common cause for certain parts of the year.
Seeing games live has continued to become more and more a rich person’s event. From ticket prices to concessions, it is harder for the “regular Joe” to take his kid, wife, or whoever to games the way my dad took me to Sonics games when I was young. That’s why it was amazing that Chris Hansen and Steve Balmer were willing to privately finance (through bonds) the building of a new basketball arena. Unfortunately, the NBA prefers to strong-arm and rob cities through tax financing of new arenas. Otherwise the teams will be stolen away, a la the Sonics.
Seattle is lucky to have a great owner of the Seahawks in Paul Allen. Portland is lucky to have him as owner of the Trailblazers. He values the civic nature of owning a sports franchise. To borrow a phrase from the human being that is worth less than maggots crawling in the dog crap in my front yard, a “public trust.” I feel reassured knowing that Allen is such an owner. It also makes me feel worse about what happened with the Sonics and the ever diminishing hope of their return.
Through today’s misery, I realize the importance of teams in a city. It doesn’t matter if you have one or four or even more. They all represent something unique and special. Losing one does create a hole that can’t just be filled in with one of the other franchises. And being kicked around a league or other fans makes it even worse.
A sports team can make some of the lousier periods of one’s life a little bit better. You can get together with some friends and watch a game. If the team is successful you can share that success at least vicariously and take some pride in the fact that that team is representing you and your city. It is a way to socialize and network with other fans. Sure the players are ultimately doing it for the money and glory, but as the Seahawks players realize, the 12th Man is part of it. Their success wouldn’t be as enjoyable without the fans behind them.
I realize this is a rambling post full of non sequiturs, most of which aren’t even football related but I appreciate your indulgence. I was hoping writing this would bring me some peace of mind, but it hasn’t. I still hate David Stern with all my soul. Same with Howard Schultz and Clay Bennett. I wish them misery and failure. There is a hole in my fan experience with the Sonics gone. Luckily the Seahawks’ success makes it a little better, but even they can’t fill it completely.
Today was a sad day for Seattle sports. Through the continued void of the Sonics, I have realized my passion for the Seahawks. The football season can’t start soon enough. And in the meantime, I sure wouldn’t mind if David Stern’s charter jet flew into the side of a mountain, wiping his existence from the planet.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I think there might be some solace to be found at the bottom of this next bottle.
Tags: David Stern, football, nfl, Paul Allen, Popular, Seahawks, Sonics
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Thank You, Chris
With all due respect to Steve Ballmer, the Nordstrom family, minority stakeholders, ex-players, political figures, activists, media members, and anyone else who has helped lead the charge to bring the Sonics back to Seattle, I have to dedicate the following letter of thanks to one man, Chris Hansen. Without Chris, none of this “Bring Back the Sonics” mania even exists. Without Chris, we aren’t sitting here trying to wrap our collective heads around the real possibility that we may get our beloved green-and-gold-clad squad back. And without Chris, we lack the most important thing we need to keep the memory of our team and the prospect of its return alive: hope.
I still remember the day that Chris Hansen came riding into town on a proverbial white horse, seemingly out of nowhere, determined to bring the Sonics back to our fair city. It’s been more than a year. The first time I wrote about the guy was February 9th, 2012. I didn’t even know him, but I wanted to hug him. He got me believing in something that had been comatose, on life support. Who knew if the Sonics would ever come back? It had been three-and-a-half years since they’d left and the political climate from both ends of the spectrum — in Seattle, and with the NBA — was far from favorable.
But then this dude, this hedge fund manager, this guy no one knew — Who? Chris Hansen? The Dateline guy? The predator catcher? — changed all that.
I can’t be more clear about this. I don’t care what Chris Hansen does from this moment forward. I don’t care how he’s gone about trying to get our team back. I. Don’t. Care. The fact is, he’s made one hell of an effort. He’s put this entire town, this entire citizenry of basketball fans, upon his shoulders and carried us to this point. He’s done what no one before him could do. He’s made those who wanted to say “No,” say “Yes.” He’s forced non-believers to believe and believers to believe more. He’s been, if nothing else, inspirational.
It doesn’t all come down to today. Today, the NBA owners decide whether or not the Sacramento Kings can be relocated to Seattle. A vote in favor of relocation would pave the way for Hansen and Co. to buy the team, unencumbered, from the Maloof family. A vote against relocation would essentially allow for a Sacramento-based group led by Vivek Ranadive (and, let’s face it, mayor Kevin Johnson) to seize the team from the Maloofs, assuming the Maloofs would be willing to relinquish their asset to said group. A vote for the latter is what’s expected, the latter that likewise favors the opposition. Regardless of what decision is voted upon, however, there will be backlash. So no, this won’t be over on Wednesday. Not at all.
But let’s say the vote, as anticipated, were to favor Sacramento, not Seattle. And let’s say that the NBA, as anticipated, tried their hardest to get the Maloofs to sell the Kings to Ranadive’s group. Let’s say expansion failed to appear as a viable near-term option. And let’s say that, by Thursday, the situation looked bleak, at best. If Chris Hansen were to give up at that very moment, I wouldn’t blame him. I’d be a little surprised, but I wouldn’t blame him for walking away. And when I looked back upon Hansen’s legacy, I’d be happy for what he gave us over the course of a year-and-a-half. Because he’s given us a ton.
I don’t think Chris will give up, though. I don’t think he’ll quit. Not until the Sonics are more than just a memory. Not until there’s an NBA team inhabiting our city once again. What Chris Hansen and his cohorts have done is beyond amazing. They’ve given us hope, yes. But they’ve also given us clout with a league that turned its back on us just a few short years ago. They’ve given us a voice, they’ve made the world take notice. We’ve scratched and clawed our way back to relevance when it comes to professional basketball, and that’s thanks in large part to one individual who was brought to action by his own bubbling source of civic pride.
Maybe that’s why it will be damn near impossible to ever speak one ill word of Chris Hansen. Because unlike so many other guys who have propped themselves upon pedestals high above us average Seattleites, Hansen is one of us. He cares about this cause as much as we do. He loves Seattle as much as we do. He’s as average as they come, as average as the rest of us, and yet above-average in so many ways. As far as I’m concerned, this guy can do whatever the hell he wants. He’s a saint in my book. He deserves a holiday in his honor. Preferably something in August, because August needs a goddamn holiday. Who wants a day off in August? I know I do. Saint Hansen Day sounds like a good way to spend a summer afternoon.
No matter what happens today, tomorrow, next week, next year, next decade, I have two words for you, Chris: Thank you. You’ve made all of this possible. You’ve brought a legion of fans together. You’ve united a city. You’ve given us passion, you’ve given us fuel, you’ve given us reason to believe. We owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude and I can’t tell you how much all of this means to us. We are the Sonics, all of us. You, me, every fan emblazoned with the Seattle skyline in a green-and-gold semi-circle. Until our ballclub returns, this team is thousands upon thousands deep.
As they say in one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans, “attitude reflects leadership.” You have led us remarkably. And we are one badass group of basketball fans.
Thanks, Chris. Go Sonics.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Chris Hansen, Maloofs, Nordstroms, Sacramento Kings, Sonics, Sonicsgate, Steve Ballmer
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Keeping the Faith
I hate losing. I once sat in a 1991 Toyota Previa in the Factoria Square parking lot and bawled for an hour because I had pitched poorly in a Little League game and had cost my team a victory. My family went inside to eat dinner and I stayed in the van, refusing to eat, refusing to move. I don’t do well with defeat. I never have. Even now, there is little that can be done to assuage me when my team so much as drops a rec basketball game. I will either a) sit in grim silence for an entire car ride home, or b) verbally break down every single thing that went wrong on our failed quest for triumph. My friends deserve a lot of credit for dealing with that version of me that, to this day, struggles to cope with losing.
I guess in many ways it’s ironic that I am a Seattle sports fans — I don’t know how to lose, and seemingly all my teams do is just that. My whole life, I’ve encountered failure from these entities I hold so dear to me, and yet I’ve never learned how to accept the bitter taste of defeat. I sat through an entire childhood of Seahawks futility, labored through thousands (literally, thousands) of Mariner losses, had seats in the upper level for every home game of the only 0-12 season in University of Washington football history, then paid witness to the ultimate heartbreak when the Sonics were taken from us and moved to Oklahoma City.
When I started this website and began writing in a public forum, I didn’t really know what would happen next. On the day I embarked upon this journey — November 12th, 2008, officially — Seattle was in a rut. We were only a couple months removed from losing the Sonics, in the midst of that fateful 0-12 Husky football campaign, had just suffered through a 100-loss Mariners season, and were on the verge of watching the Seahawks put together a miserable 4-12 finish. Things were worse than usual and I felt compelled to share my emotions. For me, it was the only way to cope with, at that time, 24 years of misery come to a head.
Over the course of four-and-a-half years, I’ve witnessed firsthand what bonding over tragedy truly looks like. We tend to think of the loss of human life as one of the few instances where the term “tragedy” applies. On a much smaller (and undoubtedly, less important) scale, however, losing a game, a playoff berth, or a team is viewed as a tragedy in the microcosmic world of your typical sports fan. Knowing that, Seattle sports fans must be some of the most grief-stricken people in the history of organized athletics. We should be miserable. At all times. And occasionally we do get that way. But for all the shit we go through so frequently, there is this perpetual hope existing amongst all of us that bears mentioning. It is not at all insignificant in its existence.
I remember the day the Sonics left town back in 2008. I didn’t mourn that day, or anytime shortly thereafter. It took me until the opening day of the ’08-’09 season to realize that we weren’t getting our team back anytime soon. Up to that point, I had refused to accept the inevitable. I just could not do it. That might make me the least credible person in the world when it comes to saying what I’m about to say, but screw it, I’ll say it anyway.
I may be naive. I may be on an island. I may be the only one who still believes after the events of Monday afternoon that Seattle is destined to get its NBA team back. But I truly have faith that this good thing, this return, is going to happen. I have no sound logic behind my faith, because really, that’s not what faith is. Faith is believing in something not knowing if that thing actually exists. Faith is blind and sometimes stupid and often irrational and possibly inane. But faith is necessary. Faith exists to give us hope and reason to get up each morning. Faith exists to make us smile even though we’re sad, to persevere when times are tough. I have faith that, even though the NBA has told us we won’t get someone else’s basketball team on this day, we will still get our Sonics back.
On this day, things kind of suck. We’re hurting, and no one wants to hurt. We’ve been down this road before, this path to what appears to be yet another tragic ending. All along, though, we’ve never given up. This city and its fans have pulled together time and time again for reasons unknown. We’ve bonded in moments of adversity on countless occasions and we’ve done so with little more than faith holding us together. I don’t really know what it means to be truly exceptional, but I like to think that Seattle sports fans are exactly that. We don’t settle for the tragedy of losing. We fall, and then we rise again. Every single time. So why should this time be any different?
If the NBA spurns us — if the NBA spurns Seattle and Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer and all the good people who have made this new arena we’re going to build a reality — it will be a blow to our collective psyche that I don’t want to try to process right now. It appears today that the NBA may be one step closer to disappointing us, but I like to think there’s something else going on, something good, that maybe we don’t know about yet.
I have this unreasonable amount of hope for us. I know that. I may be foolish for that. Whatever. When you’ve been through as much crap as we have, there really is no other way to approach obstacles as they present themselves.
I believe in Seattle. I believe in Seattle’s sports fans. We are strong individually and even stronger together. We’re destined for good, I just know it.
So I leave you with this clip. As dumb as it is, it makes sense on this day. Because nothing is over until we say it is.
Filed under: Other Sports
Tags: NBA, Other Sports, Seattle, Sonics, Sonicsgate
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SSN Twitterbag: Antoine Winfield’s future, Mariner busts, the limit on what we’ll let fall in our beer, and more
It’s like a mailbag, but with Twitter. Because outside of work, no one sends emails anymore. To participate in future Twitterbags, look for the #SSNTwitterbag hashtag and follow along, @alexSSN.
Will Antoine Winfield sign [with the Seahawks]? -via @caseyc8
Winfield, a 35-year-old free agent cornerback just released by Minnesota, is one of the premier players at his position, even at this late stage in his career. A former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl honoree, Winfield reportedly worked out with the Seahawks just a few days ago.
To atone for my relative ignorance on Winfield’s contractual prospects, I went to one of the brightest football minds I know for some help. My buddy Curtis Crabtree (speaking of Twitter, follow him @Curtis_Crabtree) — who covers the Seahawks for Sports Radio KJR, as well as the west coast for ProFootballTalk — was able to provide some insight for us on the situation:
“Winfield would fill a big need for Seattle as a slot cornerback,” said Curtis. “Seattle has more cap space available than Minnesota and his release from the Vikings wasn’t particularly amicable. Minnesota is pushing hard to keep him, but the manner of his release may push him to head to the Seahawks.”
Winfield was released by the Vikings on March 12, a move made in large part to clear cap space. His termination was brought to his attention while he was working out at the team’s facility, hence the less-than-amicable separation.
With more money to offer and the potential of a Super Bowl season ahead, it certainly appears like the Seahawks may have the inside track on Winfield right now.
Is it still too early to call [Dustin] Ackley and/or [Jesus] Montero a bust? -via @AndyTheG
Yes. Without a doubt, yes.
Sure, both Ackley and Montero have struggled for the bulk of their tenures in Seattle, and have especially struggled of late. While each were deemed top prospects, both have been seemingly cursed by the expectations that come along with such lofty praise.
Though there’s still time for both Ackley and Montero to develop, perhaps most concerning is the fact that neither player has shown much in the way of improvement over much of the past year. Ackley has showcased a revamped batting stance that looks about as comfortable as a pair of skinny jeans, while Montero’s weight transfer has been atrocious, sending him flailing out in front of pitches before they’re halfway to home plate.
Ackley will be granted plenty of time to work out his issues, with seemingly no other options at second base. (Unless the team wants to shift Kyle Seager over there and see what they have in a third base prospect, such as Nick Franklin; unlikely at this point.) Montero, on the other hand, is under the gun with 2012 first-round draft pick Mike Zunino off to a blazing start at Triple-A Tacoma. Fans are already eager for Zunino’s arrival, and if the organization is forced to promote him out of merit, it will likely be Montero that either finds his way to the minors or suffers from limited playing time.
Another factor in all this is Justin Smoak, who may be closer to “bust” status than either of his younger counterparts. Smoak is hanging by a final thread with the M’s, and if he can’t reveal any promise over the first few weeks of the season, his days in a Mariners uniform are undoubtedly numbered. Smoak and Montero are inextricably tied to one another in that each can lay claim to a finite number of at-bats in the lineup. Should Zunino arrive in Seattle and remain entrenched behind the plate, as expected, the team will need to find an alternate plan for Montero. Were he to shift to designated hitter, that would push Kendrys Morales over to first base, eliminating Smoak’s role with the ballclub. Longer term, the M’s may have plans to utilize Montero as a first baseman, since that is really the only other position on the field he could capably play.
Either way, one fact remains: Zunino’s arrival in Seattle will dramatically alter the roles of either Montero or Smoak, and possibly both. And it’s not so much “if” Zunino arrives as it is “when.” Between Montero and Smoak, will a bust emerge in due time? Probably so.
How much are you going to miss Abdul Gaddy running the point next year? -via @AZinSeattle
About as much as I miss Ed Hardy shirts, episodes of Gilmore Girls, awkward middle school slow dances, and Chone Figgins, combined. Good riddance.
What will our NHL team be called? Thunderbirds, or something new and fierce like Seattle Frozen Rain Droplets? -via @waltswarriors
First of all, nicknames that invoke nature or acts of nature are usually reserved for WNBA teams. The Sun, the Storm, the Sky, the list goes on. That said, a fiercer act of nature like Frozen Rain Droplets may have potential. Perhaps something even more geographically relevant — like Seattle Icy Pavement, or Seattle Drive Slow In The Rain — might be worth considering.
In reality, the favorites in the clubhouse so far seem to be Thunderbirds and Metropolitans, with Metropolitans getting the early nod. The Metropolitans reference is a tip of the cap to days gone by — the Seattle Mets were the first Stanley Cup Champions, after all — while the Thunderbirds are of course most pertinent to today’s generation of local hockey fans. Personally, I’m not really biased towards either nickname, which may mean we need something new altogether. Perhaps a naming contest is in order…
How good will Husky hoops in general be next year? Nationally ranked? Tourney bound at least? -via @AndersJorstad
Over the span of a few weeks, the Huskies have gone about revamping their roster in a curious fashion, putting themselves in the conversation for a return to Pac-12 relevance in 2013-2014.
Back in March, the Huskies landed a verbal commitment from JUCO swingman Mike Anderson, a 6-5 guard-forward who averaged 16.9 points and 9.8 rebounds at Moberly Area Community College this past season. Though not a big name, Anderson’s résumé immediately invoked memories of another former junior college transfer from days gone by, Tre Simmons.
In addition to Anderson, it’s been rumored in recent days that UNLV forward Mike Moser will be playing his senior season on Montlake as a graduate transfer, meaning he’s eligible to contribute immediately and will not need to redshirt. Moser is finishing up his undergraduate studies this year and because of a prior redshirt season taken when he migrated from UCLA to Las Vegas, still maintains a year of NCAA eligibility. Though he’d only play one year with the Huskies, the 6-8 Moser would undoubtedly be a major contributor if healthy. Coming out of high school in the Portland area, Moser was heavily recruited by a number of teams across the nation, including Washington. Though Lorenzo Romar ultimately missed out on Moser, he may have a chance to secure the ex-Rebel for his collegiate swan song. You can read more about the impending transfer here.
With another senior, 6-9 power forward Perris Blackwell, set to make his Washington debut in 2013, the Huskies suddenly become an intriguing blend of young and old. Should C.J. Wilcox forgo the temptations of the NBA and return for his senior campaign, the Dawgs will boast a trio of fifth-year players who could lead them back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons.
Beyond the aforementioned additions, Washington brings in a freshman recruiting class led by McDonald’s All-American Nigel Williams-Goss, a 6-3 point guard from Happy Valley, Oregon. Darin Johnson, a 6-4 shooting guard from Sacramento, and Jahmel Taylor, a 5-11 point guard from Los Angeles, round out the crop of first-year players. Williams-Goss, especially, should have an instant impact, offloading some of the playmaking duties from returning redshirt sophomore Andrew Andrews, and likely assuming a fair share of the scoring duties, as well.
It will be interesting to see how the new players blend with the returning roster. With a marked improvement in talent, at least on paper, it will be up to Coach Romar and staff to mold personalities and ensure a comfortable working environment for all involved. Should this team play up to its potential, and more importantly play together, a return to the Big Dance and national relevance isn’t out of the question at all.
You seemed so confident about the Sonics next season. Are you still? -via @bryanwhite05
For months, I’ve operated under the assumption that the Sonics will be playing in Seattle in 2013. All of Kevin Johnson’s pomp and circumstance, all of the NBA’s rhetoric, and all the back-and-forth between the Maloofs and the city of Sacramento can’t change my opinion: I’m convinced the Kings are destined to become Seattle’s team before year’s end.
Sure, I’ve followed the saga on sports radio, in the news, on Twitter, etc., but I’m not letting the roller coaster ride sway me. I’d rather stay positive, trust the businessmen (and the lawyers) involved, and look towards that light at the end of the tunnel. I’m absolutely confident.
Regardless of how you may feel, however, we should have a better idea of where things are headed within the next eight days. Assuming everything goes according to schedule, we’ll know by April 20 whether we will or will not have an NBA team in the Emerald City next season.
Will Saved By the Bell ever do any 20- or 30-year high school reunion specials? -via @HuskyThor
This is one of those things that’s near and dear to my heart. Saved By the Bell is without a doubt one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time, and in recent years the people behind the show have gone about teasing us with the prospect of a reunion special on more than one occasion. Problem is, there are two holdups: Lisa and Screech, or more accurately, the real-life actors who play them, Lark Voorhies and Dustin Diamond.
Voorhies has battled her own personal demons, a battle that has been documented in the press over the past year or so. It’s rumored that she may be bipolar and, as a result, has all but given up acting while she sorts out her personal life.
Diamond is the cast’s pariah, an abrasive figure who has fallen out with just about all of his former Bell-mates. Whether or not he’d be on board for a reunion wouldn’t so much be determined by his own desires as it would by his standing with those he’d be working with. If Screech can’t get along with everyone else, a reunion project probably can’t be green-lit. While spinoffs of the original show have done okay without Lisa’s character (Lisa did not appear in recurring fashion during The College Years), the role of Screech has graced every SBTB-related project to date.
It’s been two decades since Bayside High School’s most famous class received their diplomas. A 20-year reunion would be well-received by an entire generation that still watches SBTB reruns to this day. For now, though, we continue to wait.
What is the limit to what you would let fall in a beer while still chugging it? Given that a sports beer is ~$8, when is enough, enough? We saw [the beer catch] but what about an earpiece, etc? -via @johng365
First of all, if you haven’t seen Wednesday night’s beer catch, go, now. It’s pretty amazing. Definitely worth a few seconds of your time. Catching a baseball in one’s plastic pint cup has got to be a bucket list item for any self-respecting, beer-drinking baseball fan. Would any of us not be willing to sacrifice a cold one for a souvenir as coveted as a foul ball? I like to think we’d all give up our beers for that.
This raises that all-important question, however: Where is that line on stadium beer sacrifice? A debate for the ages, without a doubt.
For me, personally, the cost of a stadium beer pales in comparison to a moment of infamy. Catching just about anything worth YouTubing in my drink would be valuable. But I’m a media whore, so naturally a bit biased. And this all assumes that a camera is in place to capture the moment of (glory?) glory. For instance, if someone chucked an earpiece into my Coors Light and it wasn’t recorded, then I’d just be some poor sap who wasted $8 or $9 on a now-tainted beer. The thought of guzzling a drink that may contain a fair amount of ear wax turns my stomach, so that beer is bound for the garbage either way. I can happily live with it, though, if I’ve found my way to the pages of Deadspin as a result.
If we operate under the hypothetical of a camera-free world, the list of things I’d let fall into my beer dramatically shortens. A baseball is still a definite yes, and likely rises to the top of the list when it comes to exciting beer finds. Anyone who’s ever taken a baseball home from the ballpark understands the excitement associated with that moment. Including me:
After the prospect of a foul ball gracing your beverage, the awesome sports-related paraphernalia you could drop into an already-full pint glass are few and far between. A hockey puck? Totally cool. A golf ball? Absolutely. A tennis ball? Sure. But then what?
A player’s mouthpiece? Eh, probably not worth it.
A batting glove? Maybe.
A wad of Bazooka chewed by your favorite player? Some might go for it, but not me.
A shooting sleeve? No.
Really, outside of a baseball, there aren’t many coveted stadium items that would warrant losing a beer over. If you want to open the book up to include the likes of a World Series ring or a $100 bill then yes, we can absolutely talk about ditching that ale you’ve been chugging. Beyond that? Well, let’s just be thankful for cameras and the world of social media. Because really, those fleeting seconds of fame and relevance are all that make an $8 waste of money okay.
Thanks to everyone for contributing their questions to this edition of the Twitterbag. Stay tuned via Twitter for our next Twitterbag request.
Filed under: Twitterbag
Tags: Antoine Winfield, Beer Catch, dustin ackley, Husky Basketball, Jesus Montero, Sonics, Twitterbag
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Here’s Video of Shawn Kemp Going Off at 1994?s MTV Rock-N-Jock Basketball Game
Tags: MTV, Rock N Jock, Shawn Kemp, Sonics
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Politically Correct with Kevin Johnson
Has anyone seen Kevin Johnson’s Sacramento arena plan? Does anyone know if it actually exists? Has anything been written down? Drawn up? Are there blueprints? Has a location been settled upon? What the hell is the deal here?!
As the mayor of his hometown, Johnson has held press conferences on consecutive days to let the world know two important things:
1) He has a plan, which allegedly involves a lot of money and a new arena, to save the Kings.
2) That plan involves at least 21 investors, some of whom are whales.
Unfortunately, neither of those nuggets of information add up to much substance. Which leads everyone to believe that Johnson may just be talking out of his ass to save face in the wake of an inevitable defeat.
Here’s the thing about politicians. When it comes to their careers and their livelihoods, most of them want to climb the proverbial ladder. Climbing that ladder leads to more exposure, more money, and in theory, lends itself to a better life.
Johnson isn’t stupid. The former NBA point guard wants a better life. Everyone wants a better life. It doesn’t matter how great your life is, it can always get better. Even Bill Gates could probably stand to be on the receiving end of a few more BJs, I’d imagine. We’re all human. We want the best, even if the best is entirely unattainable. And so, like many, Kevin Johnson is doing all he can to lead himself to his own little slice of heaven.
In order to get to where he wants to be, Johnson needs to be The Man. And part of being The Man includes appeasing the people. In this case, Johnson’s people are the citizens of Sacramento who don’t want to see their basketball team leave town. It’s up to the 46-year-old Californian to make these people happy. He knows his efforts to save the franchise from relocating might very well be futile. But much like in sports, the end result isn’t nearly as important as the effort given to reach that result. We can’t all be champions. But we can all try. So Kevin Johnson will try.
Johnson may be onto something. Maybe he really does have a great arena plan. Maybe he does have committed investors in place to buy the team. But the fact remains that the Kings are a privately-owned commodity. And the owners of that commodity have already agreed to sell their good to someone else, someone who has every intention of moving that good north. Even if Johnson does everything right, he still can’t force the Maloof brothers, owners of the good that is the Sacramento Kings, to engage a handful of handpicked whales in a transaction.
And that’s just it. This deal has already been agreed upon. To what degree, we don’t really know. Have papers been signed? Maybe. Have all details been finalized? Possibly. If that’s the case, then there’s little else to determine here. In a short while the Kings will vacate Sacramento and become the new Seattle Supersonics. The citizens of Sacramento will be sad, angry, pissed off, heartbroken, all of the above. Johnson, himself, will likely be disheartened. But above all else, those very same citizens will always remember Johnson for his effort. And in turn, they’ll vault his career up the ladder, one rung higher than he would have found himself clinging to had he failed to try.
Kevin Johnson is a politician giving his people what they want. It’s a tried and true formula for political success. Whether he manages to succeed in delivering the people their desired outcome is irrelevant. He understands that, but they may not. And really, they don’t need to. They are buying into what Johnson is selling because it’s the only choice they have. And months from now, when the Sonics are running back and forth across Key Arena’s hardwood floor, Johnson will still exist as a voice of the people, a voice that refused to remain silent right up to the bitter end.
The people of Sacramento will lose their Kings. Seattle sports fans will be the benefactors of Sacramento’s loss. And despite being the man at the helm of a city that watched its NBA franchise exit, Kevin Johnson will still be a winner. Plan or no plan, whales or no whales, he’s a politician playing the game the right way.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Kevin Johnson, Sacramento Kings, Sonics, Whales
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Saves Sonics Roster. Drops Mic.
Got rid of every player on the Kings roster. Except Isaiah Thomas.
Got Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Ray Allen in exchange.
IT’S A NEW BEGINNING, SONICS FANS!
*Disclaimer: Please understand that this trade would never happen. Ever. The moral of the story is that the NBA is coming back to Seattle, the Sonics are alive again, and playing with ESPN’s Trade Machine is once again relevant to us. Enjoy it, Sonics fans. We’re back.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: ESPN, Heat, isaiah thomas, Kings, Knicks, NBA, Sonics, Trade Machine
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We Deserve Our Sonics
The accountant who leases the office space in my company’s building has never said much more than a casual “Hello” to me in two-and-a-half years. I always politely greet him in return, and we’ll occasionally share a “How ya doing?” followed by a “Good, good. You?” We may have exchanged comments on the weather a few times, and perhaps even celebrated the occasional TGIF moment as we’ve checked out for the weekend. But in all, we’ve never really talked about anything of substance.
***
There’s a clerk at the grocery store I stop at on my way to work. He’s silver-haired, probably in his early-fifties. I’ve watched him interact with other patrons, as well as his coworkers. He has a sense of humor and a gregarious personality. He’s likable and appears to be well-liked. He can deliver a joke and is quick with a laugh. We had never spoken before, until one day when I stood in the aisle perusing cold drinks and heard to my left an abrupt, “Hey!”
***
At a different supermarket, a pretty, dark-haired girl who appears to be in her early-twenties rings up my late-night purchases one evening. I’m the lone person in line, and only a handful of nocturnal shoppers populate the landscape around us. As she runs a few unhealthy snacks across the scanner, the checker notices my shirt. “So,” she inquires, “do you think they’re coming back?”
***
I look through old photos of my childhood and find one of my brother and myself standing in a field. The field seems to greet the horizon, miles and miles away. I am probably 10 years of age in this picture, my brother no more than seven. The year is 1994.
We’re in Kenmare, North Dakota, a small mill town in the western part of the state. You’d barely notice it on a map. It’s where my relatives lived, and here in this picture we stand amidst knee-high grass across a gravel road from my great-grandfather’s farm. It’s the middle of summer, probably late-July or early-August.
Summers in Kenmare are hot, sticky, infested by mosquitoes who riddle your body with itchy, swelling bumps. Over the course of that summer trip, as well as trips before and after it, I build collections of mosquito bites and tally the wounds on a nightly basis. To a 10-year-old without a care in the world, each bite is like a trophy I wear upon my skin, a badge worthy of sharing with anyone who will give me two seconds of their time.
Twilight lingers around us as a single blemish dots the graying sky above our heads. The moon hangs there, a telltale sign of the time of day this photo was captured.
In the waning light you can make out the logos on our t-shirts. Green-and-gold semi-circles are stamped upon each garment.
***
“Hey, how ya doing?” The accountant waits by the elevator as I exit the nearby staircase.
“Good,” I reply. “You?”
“Good,” he responds. “I like that shirt.”
I’m wearing a kelly green Supersonics sweatshirt, crewneck, early-nineties style. It’s colorful, it’s loud, it’s exactly how I feel about the basketball team we used to have here in Seattle.
“Oh yeah?” I laugh. “Thanks!”
“They’re coming back soon,” he affirms.
With a grin, I agree. “Yep, they’ll be back shortly.”
We go our separate ways. It’s a ten-second interaction. It’s filled with more substance than any interaction we’ve previously had over the past 31 months.
Thanks to the occasional UPS package that’s been left in our care as office space neighbors to the accountant, I know his name is Brad. And after today, I know that Brad, like me, is a Sonics fan.
***
“You think we’re gonna get the Kings?” asks the silver-haired clerk.
“Man, I hope so,” I respond. I’m wearing a bright green Sonics t-shirt on this day, a throwback to two decades earlier.
“I bet we do. And here’s what I think should happen…” He goes off into a well-thought-out mission statement of sorts on what the Sonics will do once they return to Seattle. He alludes to draft picks and free agents — “What do you think about Durant? You think we can get him back?” — and unleashes as much knowledge as any NBA fan could possibly have.
I nod. I listen. I offer what I know.
We speak for almost 10 minutes in front of chilled sodas and bottles of water. We’re beaming from ear to ear as we talk, getting ourselves excited over nothing more than a hope, a possibility.
As our conversation comes to a close, he pauses, then remarks, “It was great talking with you.”
“Likewise,” I say. And it was, too. There’s no hint of forced exaggeration in either of our voices. We’re just two fans, chatting.
He goes back to stocking shelves. I grab my drink and head to the front of the store. We acknowledge one another each time we meet thereafter.
***
“They’re coming back,” I assert. I’m sporting a grey hooded sweatshirt with a Sonics logo on it, a purchase I made just days after the team moved to Oklahoma City back in 2008.
“Really?” asks the dark-haired checker. “Good. I can’t wait to go back to games.”
“Yeah, it’s not done yet,” I admit, “but it’ll happen soon enough.”
“That’s awesome. I’m excited!” She smiles wide as she hands me my receipt. “Have a good night!”
“You too,” I reply.
I can’t suppress a half-smirk as I walk away. People are excited about this. People are excited about the Sonics.
***
The photo tells the story. From a young age, I grew up a Sonics fan. So did my brother. So did my friends. We were all Sonics fans.
There was this portrayal by the nation’s media in the aftermath of the team’s departure that this region was littered with apathetic pseudo-fans. That no one here really cared that the team left. Even in our own city, where lawmakers publicly questioned the value of the basketball team, there were those who didn’t know just how important the Sonics were to us.
As time has passed, people’s eyes have been opened. They’ve seen how much this matters to us. They’ve seen how badly we miss our team, and how eagerly we await their return.
It’s not so much if they return, but when. And a week ago, when news broke that this was it, that it was finally on the verge of happening, well, we rejoiced.
This is more than a basketball organization. It’s more than a logo and colors. It’s more than a few players, more than a uniform. For Seattleities, the Sonics have embodied what it means to hope, what it means to dream, what it means to believe in something. We bond over their memory. We unite over their future. We share moments of memorable interaction over a team.
Losing the Sonics was the worst thing that’s ever happened to sports fans in this town. But now, in the wake of their revival, we can reflect on the past four years and see them for what they’ve been. The adversity that came along with our collective loss brought us all together. And no quantity of statistics, no congregation of naysayers, no antagonists of our fight can refute that.
We are stronger than we were five years ago. We deserve this team. We deserve the Seattle Supersonics.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Kings, NBA, Sonics, Sonicsgate
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A Visual Chronology of the Sonics Rumors That Damn Near Broke Twitter Last Night
Damn you, Daina Falk. Keeping people up all night, getting their hopes sky high, making us think the Sonics might be coming back to Seattle. And she may be correct after all. We don’t know yet.
Regardless, the daughter of NBA agent David Falk got everyone all riled up on Tuesday night with a tweet announcing the sale of the Sacramento Kings to the Seattle-based group led by Chris Hansen.
The tweet issued by Falk had been deleted as of this morning (only furthering the conspiracy theories), but read as follows:
“So I hear that the Seattle Kings is officially a done deal! The Maloofs finally sold the ailing Sacramento team. #NBA”
This, naturally, created chaos. The following is a timeline of the tweets and events that ensued, attempting to logically examine, well, chaos.
The “rumors” that are circulating come via Daina Falk, @thehungryfan. Who does have some clout…
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Daina Falk is the daughter of sports agent David Falk, according to my trusty news source @curtis_crabtree.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
David Falk, says @curtis_crabtree, “is to the NBA like Boras is to baseball.” However, we still don’t know how reliable her sources are.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Note that both of Daina Falk’s tweets are semi-old (10 hours and 4 hours).
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Again, until we hear it from one of “our guys,” I wouldn’t freak out. But like we said, Daina Falk does have some (SOME) clout.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
I’ll tell you this much. If @thehungryfan is just flat-out wrong, she’s gonna get eaten alive by Seattle fans.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
You DO NOT mess with us when it comes to the Sonics. We never forget.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
However, if @thehungryfan is right…well, she kept a lot of people from sleeping tonight for damn good reason. #SONICS
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
.@curtis_crabtree is trying to logically explain to me right now how this could actually be going down. BUT THERE IS NO LOGIC FOR THIS!
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Where is @chrisdaniels5 right now?! He’s like the Jim Forman of Sonics news. Someone get him for us!!!!
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
While other rumors have circulated, Daina Falk is the only person thus far with some (SOME) credibility to really blow this thing up.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Now @bcondotta is trying to logically explain to me how this could be going down. Fuck it. EVERYBODY FREAK OUT! #SONICS
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
*I’m not responsible for everyone doing stupid shit as a result of freaking out over rumors. They’re just RUMORS right now. Don’t blame me.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
She backtracks ever so slightly… RT @bcondotta @alexssn Did you see her further response on her Facebook page? facebook.com/TheHungryFan
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
I mean, the Virginia Beach deal just fell through, and…(I just did some research, hold on, not used to this)…
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The NBA’s deadline to announce relocation plans comes in March. So if a team (say, the Kings) were going to be sold AND relocated…
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
…all of that would have to come to fruition before March. Which would be now, for those of you handy with the calendar.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
I’d like to thank the internet for providing me the content for that last tweet. To further confirm, NBA relocation deadline is Mar. 1.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
He’s here! RT @chrisdaniels5 Was it Yogi Berra or Lenny Kravitz who once said “It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over?” Or Both?
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Keep in mind, fans, that no matter what happens, Clay Bennett is still the head of the NBA Relocation Committee. I f**king hate that guy.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
That seals it. We’re drafting Sene. RT @bcondotta @alexssn I noticed one of Falk’s clients used to be Wally Walker.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Son of a… RT @bcondotta @curtis_crabtree @alexssn Course, he also had Vin Baker.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
To appease the conspiracy theorists out there, please note that @chrisdaniels5 neither confirmed nor denied the rumors. So…
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Logically, even if a sale were to be agreed upon, you’d probably wanna sit on this thing for a while, maybe not announce it right away.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
So even if it were to have gone down, I wouldn’t necessarily expect an announcement, say, tomorrow. At McGinn’s press conference.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
But yeah, McGinn is having a press conference tomorrow. So everyone can keep freaking out. We don’t know what it’s about though.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Which could theoretically involve the Sonics. There’s the lighter fluid. RT @chrisdaniels5 @alexssn It’s about his plans for 2013
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The official McGinn presser news. RT @bcondotta @alexssn Here’s our story on his press conference tomorrow: seattletimes.com/html/localnews…
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
My opinions: Even if it doesn’t happen today, tomorrow, or this week, we’ll still get the Kings. It’s “density,” as George McFly would say.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The Maloofs are flat broke. They got rid of The Palms, which was like their personal poon palace. So yeah, they need the cash. Bad.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The Maloofs are flat broke. They got rid of The Palms, which was like their personal poon palace. So yeah, they need the cash. Bad.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The Maloofs are flat broke. They got rid of The Palms, which was like their personal poon palace. So yeah, they need the cash. Bad.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
The Maloofs are flat broke. They got rid of The Palms, which was like their personal poon palace. So yeah, they need the cash. Bad.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Okay, everyone. Go to bed. Enough of the rumors for tonight. Let’s just hope that at some point soon, this all gets done. #SONICS
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
I did all that tweeting in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pants. So consider where you got your news. From the guy in the cartoon pants.
— Seattle Sportsnet (@alexSSN) January 9, 2013
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Daina Falk, Maloofs, Sacramento Kings, Sonics
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Four Years, Two Months, and Nine Days
If you would have told me on July 2nd, 2008 that in four years, two months, and nine days, Seattle would be celebrating the Supersonics, I would have laughed at you. The Supersonics were gone, taken from us on that very day. And September 11th, 2012? It was a date so distant, so irrelevant to anything more than, well, you know, and so seemingly non sequitur to NBA basketball that it would have made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.
If you would have told me on July 2nd, 2008, that four years, two months, and nine days in the future, I’d be celebrating along with a community of passionate, tight-knit, basketball-loving, Sonics freaks, I’d have scoffed. Because on that day, way back when, we weren’t that. None of us. We were just…individuals. Who had been hurt. Badly. And didn’t know what to do with our introverted pain.
If you would have told me on July 2nd, 2008 that our community would grow closer over those four years, two months, and nine days, I wouldn’t have believed you. Seattle sports fans had scattered amidst the wreckage of a professional basketball franchise departing our region, distanced ourselves from one another as nearly every one of our local teams staggered to finish their respective seasons of misfortune, and grown apart while losing divided us. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves. Our situation was miserable. We were miserable. And nobody wants to share misery with the equally miserable. So we wallowed alone, miserably.
If you would have told me on July 2nd, 2008 that anger and determination would replace misery, that we would get mad — not sad — over what had become of us, that we would fight, relentlessly, to get our team back, I would have raised an eyebrow. Curious? Yes. Doubtful? Maybe. Intrigued? Definitely. How would it happen? Why would it happen? Would we have any reason to make it happen? There wasn’t much hope on the horizon that day. And without hope, without belief in a destined outcome, there is no reason to spend one’s energy striving for something greater. On that day, in that moment we had our hearts torn to shreds against the backdrop of an inept city council giggling over whatever it was they found amusing about such a downright shitty situation, we had nothing greater to strive for. We were upset. But we didn’t know what to do about it.
And then, over the course of four years, two months, and nine days, everything began to change.
We have become accustomed to fighting for the Seattle Supersonics since July 2nd, 2008. It’s second nature to us now. We wax poetically about a basketball team that we absolutely loved. We blast those people — absolutely blast them – who speak ill of our misfortune, who chafe at our zealousness, who can’t seem to grasp why the hell we continue to battle the masses to bring back a franchise that they deem “defunct.” Defunct means dead. Defunct means forgotten. The Sonics may have left temporarily, but they are not dead or forgotten.
We are stronger now than we were then. Think about it. Think about all the people you’ve gotten to know in the past four years, two months, and nine days. Think about the common bonds you share. And think about how the Sonics, supposedly defunct, play into those relationships you have. I have friends I’ve made solely because of the Seattle Supersonics. And maybe I always had that; I likely did. But now, in the absence of that very thing that bred friendships, it’s become even more apparent that an entire relationship can flourish around the memory of a basketball team. And in turn, around the faith we have in resurrecting that team anew.
I’ve benefited directly because of the Seattle Supersonics. You probably have, too. Seattle City Councilman Nick Licata once stated that the Sonics held “near zero” cultural value. Over the course of four years, two months, and nine days, he’s backtracked on those comments significantly. He knows he was wrong. We knew he was wrong. And when you think about the value, as a whole, of a community staple like the Sonics, examine your life and see where that team — or really any sports team, for that matter — has impacted you. I can point to specific examples of good things in my life today that would not exist if the Seattle Supersonics had never existed. And I’d imagine that you can do that, as well.
In those four years, two months, and nine days, a savior has emerged, inspired by his community, and has become the figurehead of this mission to bring back our Sonics. Chris Hansen has been at the forefront of a new arena deal, has been the face of the fight, has been our Paul Revere, and has brought all our hopes and all our faith to fruition. If you ask him, though, he’ll point the finger the other way. Sure, he has the money to back the cause, but this is a community effort. He wouldn’t be doing this without us. He wouldn’t be here without us. He wouldn’t have been this patient, this dedicated, if Seattle wasn’t behind him. He believes in us. And us? We believe in him.
So now what? We have an arena deal in place. We have the funding in place. We have everyone’s approval. But this fight isn’t over.
We need a team. We’ll get a team.
We need players. We’ll get players.
We need a championship. We’ll get a championship.
Everything seems possible right now. And frankly, it is. We’ve proven it to be possible thus far. We’ll continue to do so.
It has been four years, two months, and nine days since we started over. We’ve made undeniable progress today. We’re almost there. And we’ll keep up the fight. But for right now, we take a moment to celebrate. Because what we have done to this point is flat-out amazing. We’re a special community. Most communities wouldn’t do this. They wouldn’t fight for what they love as viciously as we have. Every fan has played a part in bringing us to this point. And every fan deserves credit for preserving that hope we’ve all shared.
We are absolutely great, Seattle. We’re doing it. We’re really doing it. We are bringing back the Sonics. And I gotta tell you, it feels…amazing.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Bring Back Our Sonics, Chris Hansen, Sonics, Sonicsgate, Supersonics
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Where There’s A Wheel, There’s A Way (or, Overcoming Doubts About An Arena, a True Underdog Story)
Seattle has a knack for approving stupid municipal projects. It’s basically our forte. Take, for instance, the Great Wheel. The Great Wheel, for those of you who don’t know, is a brand new Ferris wheel located on Seattle’s Pier 57. It’s huge and it’s stupid.
Sure, the Great Wheel might very well be a lot of fun. I suppose if you’ve spent the $13 — yes, THIRTEEN American dollars — to ride the Wheel, you’ll probably enjoy your trip up and around its axis. But for the rest of us, the Wheel serves as an example of this city’s utter idiocy when it comes to making decisions.
What practical purpose does the Wheel serve? It carries people, yet doesn’t transport them. It’s big, but not big enough to be considered a landmark of any kind. It’s as tall as a building, yet no one can house an office there. It’s a neat little toy and that’s about it. Beyond that, it does next to nothing for the citizens of our region.
The Great Wheel isn’t the only example of Seattle’s foolhardy public projects (the Monorail and South Lake Union Trolley would certainly like a say in the matter), it just happens to be the most recent. It also comes at a time when the city and its people are contentiously debating over whether or not to approve a much larger project in the form of a multi-purpose sports arena.
These two projects, of course, are apples and oranges. One will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and benefit thousands of people on a daily basis; the other is round and entertains children, not unlike Barney the dinosaur. That shouldn’t stop us from comparing these civic investments over reasons of principle, however. If we can get an oversized carnival attraction erected faster than a virgin on prom night, why can’t we be a little more rational in executing the construction of a venue that will benefit a much greater constituency?
There are all sorts of things that have been written about the prospect of this arena. These pages, themselves, have played host to a running diatribe on arena-related matters. What it really comes down to, in shorthand, is the fact that a private investor wants to fund the cost of an arena for his hometown. And in funding the cost of an arena, he is effectively giving the city he grew up in a multi-million-dollar gift. It is actually that simple. Yet for some reason, we can’t seem to wrap our heads around that.
The people that seemingly can’t grasp the concept of the very expensive, very generous donation that Chris Hansen would like to supply us with are likely the same people that find themselves justifying the expense of a public transportation device that links two points of walkable distance — yes, Monorail, this means you. In fact, one opponent of Hansen’s arena moonlights as an outspoken fanatic of our dear Monorail. She also wants to explore the possibility of renovating the antiquated Key Arena to serve as a home for NBA basketball once again (control your laughter, please). And what’s more, she even sits on Seattle’s City Council. Yes, it doesn’t get much dumber than that. So don’t hesitate to let Sally Bagshaw know how you feel.
For every Sally Bagshaw — who might simply be crazy, we don’t know — there are dozens of other ornery S.O.B.s who simply don’t want to understand the gift Hansen has wrapped so nicely. Their lack of understanding is complemented by a strong desire to scare others into believing the sheer ridiculousness they spew upon the masses. No, they don’t get it. But worse than that, they don’t want anyone else to get it, either. Why they impose their will upon us like door-to-door Jehovah’s Witnesses pitching Watchtower propaganda is beyond me. Shouldn’t we let our fellow citizens make informed decisions? Is that so wrong? Doesn’t that help us evolve as one? Let’s be reasonable here.
But wait, there’s more!
In addition to those politicians and people of designated repute who want to misinform the impressionable, we have to worry about our very own Seattle Times and an editorial board on a mission to shoot down anything pertaining to an arena. Why? Well, rumor has it that the higher-ups at the Times have ties to groups affiliated with the Port of Seattle. The Port of Seattle, as you’ve probably heard, opposes the arena due to “traffic concerns.” (“Traffic concerns” are really just code for “we want you to pay attention to the things we need before you pay attention to that Hansen character, so we’ll fight this until we get our way.”) Because the Port of Seattle opposes an arena, and because the bonds between the Port and the Times are just that strong, by virtue of the transitive property, the Times is anti-arena.
So what does the Times do as a result? They unleash a slew of misinformation upon the public in the form of questionable op-ed pieces. It’s an absolute slap in the face to journalistic integrity. I know what you’re thinking and the answer is yes, this is just like when Britt Reid forced the Daily Sentinel to give his alter ego front page coverage on a daily basis. But did the Green Hornet ultimately come to his senses? Damn right, he did. If Reid can do it, why can’t the Times’ editorial board? These are the questions to which we futilely seek answers.
Supporting such a stupidly practical cause is exhausting. This is an open-and-shut case that a few idiots won’t let us close. And because of that, we’re left standing here trying to rationalize with filibustering malcontents. These are moments of our collective lives that we can never recover. And these morons are taking those moments and crapping all over them. Why? I really don’t know. Maybe they are that dumb. Or maybe they just hate nice things. Whatever the reason, it needs to stop.
The one thing we’ve learned through this process is that stupid people with their stupid questions and stupid logic can ruin everything. Or at least try to ruin everything. Likewise, there are a lot of bad people in this world who will stop at nothing to get their way — even if it means poking holes in selfless, honorable acts of altruism.
At times in this arena battle, it can feel like we’re going in circles trying to explain ourselves to the ignorant swaths of excrement that choose to oppose such a great freakin’ cause. In reality, however, we keep making progress. And while that may not be evident every day, the fact that we keep the conversation about this project simmering is reason enough to be positive about an impending outcome.
So with that, I urge you to keep hope alive. For every mistake this city has ever made, and there are plenty, there are an equal number of redemptive success stories to hang our hats on. Two of those success stories sit in close proximity to the site of Hansen’s future arena. And wouldn’t you know it, there is no means of irrelevant public transportation, nor any semblance of ill-advised tourist traps spanning the landscape between those dual beacons of righteousness.
We can do this, Seattle. Whether the villains stand in our way or not, we can do this. Keep fighting, keep discussing, keep debating, and keep believing. It’s going to happen.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Chris Hansen, Great Wheel, Key Arena, Monorail, Sally Bagshaw, Seattle Arena, Sonics
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Let’s Hear It For The 2012 NBA Runner-Up Oklahoma City Thunder!
Seriously. Heckuva season. No shame in almost winning it all. Lots of people to thank here, so let’s not waste any time.
First off, congratulations to Clay Bennett and Aubrey McClendon, owners of the coveted second-place trophy. That’s fantastic.
Second, to my man Brian Davis, former Seattleite and employee of Fox Sports Northwest who left to become Oklahoma City’s play-by-play guy — stay true, Big Dawg.
Third, to all the players who tried really hard, good effort, good job.
Fourth, shout out to the kids in Africa rockin’ the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Championship gear. Enjoy that shit.
And finally, to all the fans out there who don’t know what it feels like to win a title, I give you this:
That’s how it’s done.
Thank you, Miami Heat.
Go Sonics.
Give us our team back, David Stern.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Miami Heat, NBA Runner-Up, Oklahoma City, Sonics, Thunder
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How The Return Of The Sonics Will Effect The Seahawks
In the big scheme of things, the entire issue can be summed up in 2 words: It wont. The Mariners* are very worried about the effect the Sonics will have on them, but the Seahawks have nothing to worry about.
In case you’ve missed it, the Sonics … [visit site to read more]
Tags: featured, football, nfl, Seahawks, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Supersonics, Sonics
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We Are All Heat Fans
The following is a piece I was graciously asked to write for allucanHEAT.com, a Miami Heat site on the FanSided.com network. You can check out the article on allucanHEAT by clicking here, or simply read on…
First of all, I don’t give a damn about the Miami Heat. The Big Three, in particular, annoys me.
LeBron James? He’s an aloof weirdo incapable of normal social interaction. Sure, he’s athletically gifted. But ask him to tell you something honest and he’ll likely panic and jump out the window instead. You can’t trust a guy like that. When he said he was taking his talents to South Beach, he didn’t mention anything about interpersonal skills.
Chris Bosh? He looks like the spawn of Mike Epps and Jar-Jar Binks. Rooting for him is like rooting for Day-Day from the Friday movies. You know, assuming Day-Day was part-alien and referred to himself as “mee-suh.” Take a look at this description from Wikipedia and tell me it doesn’t perfectly detail Bosh: “His primary role was to provide comic relief, but many reacted negatively to his character upon his debut.” Yeah, that’s some info on Binks, but you wouldn’t know it. Could be Day-Day, too. Bosh is the love-child of a doofus from South Central L.A. and a Gungan from the planet Naboo.
Dwyane Wade is fine when he isn’t tied down by crazy chicks. It’s going to be tragic when he turns Gabrielle Union insane. If the dude plays like he did in the Eastern Conference Finals, that moment may be shortly upon us. Run, Gabrielle, run! Now’s your chance! I hear Norris Cole is free! And there’s nothing wrong with that guy. He’s about the only Heat player I can respect. Scoring 41 points for Cleveland State while sporting a Kid ‘n Play flattop? I’m down with that.
So yeah, I guess you could say the Miami Heat bug the crap out of me. Usually. But that’s all about to change.
You see, I might not like the Heat, but I certainly don’t hate them. The Oklahoma City Thunder, however? There is not a word in the English language yet invented that could capture how much I despise that entire franchise. Imagine if some jerk slept with your girlfriend, stole your car, and befriended all your buddies in the same freakin’ day. How much would you hate that guy? Multiply that by infinity. That’s how much I hate the Thunder.
And I’m certainly not alone in that twisted way of thinking. Everyone in the city of Seattle can back me up on this. The Thunder are the enemy. That’s just the way it is. If you don’t know why, allow me to tell you a little story.
Back in 2007, a cowardly billionaire by the name of Howard Schultz sold the Seattle Supersonics to a group of puppy-hating kitten-kickers led by a pair of bastards named Clayton Bennett and Aubrey McClendon. Schultz, who knew a thing or two about investing since he owned effing Starbucks sent his hometown up the river by relinquishing control of the organization to a coalition of Midwesterners who had every intention of moving the team to their hometown of Oklahoma City.
Bennett and McClendon weren’t simply going to take the team and bolt, however, oh no. Instead, they lied to Sonics fans, announcing they had every intention of keeping the club in the great State of Washington — when in fact that wasn’t the plan at all.
By the spring of 2008, it was readily apparent that the Okies were prepared to pull the team out of Seattle at all costs. No matter that fans were showing up for games, rallying to keep hope alive, and doing everything in their power to prevent a hijacking.
The Sonics’ final game as an active NBA franchise became especially emotional for Seattleites. One look at the atmosphere as the ’07-’08 campaign came to its conclusion would indicate this move wasn’t borne out of fan apathy (though the current owners and fan base of the Thunder would like you to believe otherwise). There was anger, bitterness, sadness, and disappointment among the citizens of Seattle, who had supported the Sonics for 41 proud years.
With so many culprits to point fingers at, and so many parties to share blame over the relocation, a group of filmmakers went to work chronicling the entire mess. The result of their efforts was an award-winning documentary called Sonicsgate, which will be re-aired on CNBC at 9:00 p.m. this Friday. I encourage anyone with any interest in the NBA to watch.
It has been four years since the Sonics left to become the Thunder. In that span, Seattleities have had to grit their teeth and pay witness to the rise of one of the best teams in the league. It hasn’t been easy. Watching as Oklahoma City secured its first Finals berth just a few short days ago was the salt in a wound that still has yet to heal. Which is how we’ve gotten to this point with the Heat.
There is a bandwagon movement across the nation. And perhaps surprisingly, it favors Miami.
Three-thousand miles from South Florida, the Pacific Northwest has claimed a team we once shrugged our shoulders over. We might not be anywhere near the Heat’s biggest fans, both geographically and in spirit, and frankly, we’re not trying to be. But what Miami now has the opportunity to do is give some solace to a fan base that supports past memories and a future filled with hope. We don’t want you to just beat the Thunder. By all means, please feel free to destroy them.
I didn’t used to give a damn about the Miami Heat. LeBron? He’s still a bit of a weirdo. Bosh? He’s still goofy looking. D-Wade? He still might have a penchant for crazy chicks. But for the love of God, here’s hoping that trio can come together and conquer a villain we’ve all learned to revile.
For the next seven games, at least, we are all Heat fans.
Filed under: Sonics
Tags: Big Three, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sonics
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