OT: Bring Back the Sonics: a cry of sympathy to sports fans everywhere!
So.. I know this has nothing to do with Michigan Sports, but I think its fair to say that everyone on this site loves Michigan sports and loves sports in general. So I wanted to share something that means just as much to me growing up a Sonics Fan for 17 years and then seeing them stripped away like it didn't mean anything. As a fellow sports fan, I am sure you can sympathize. Everyone in Seattle failed. Howard Shultz gave the team away, Clay Bennet stole the team from the city, and the Seattle city government, and the NBA administration let him do it with ease. I thought of the Sonics today because my boy Bill Simmons has always been an advocate for returning the Sonic's to their rightful owners, the city of Seattle. In his most recent piece mostly concerning soccer he explained:
After Obama appoints me the czar of sports, my first move will be giving Seattle an expansion NBA team. My second move will be making the Olympics and World Cup switch to every three years. And my third move will be allowing any woman with gigantic Morganna-like breasts to run onto baseball fields and kiss ballplayers without getting arrested.
Thanks Bill, from everyone in the Emerald City for your continued support and love! Thank you for staying true to what is right and seeing David Stern for the true piece of trash that he is.
Anyone who enjoys sports documentaries, hates the administration of the NBA, or is a fan of justice should watch this movie. It is a very well done piece and recently won multiple awards for Best Sports Documentary and Best Editing for an online documentary.
Check it out if you have time and imagine what it would be like to lose your favorite sports team: Sonics Gate the Movie - Requiem for a Team!
The Sonics Live!!!
I grew up a Sonics fan as well, and it hurts me to think about the circumstances under which they left. There isn't one person at fault; there were many, many people responsible for this. But ultimately I can't believe that Stern would let the smug and sleazy Bennett (even though they are best friends or whatever) move the Sonics to OKC. Thanks for sharing that link; it's one documentary that I've watched a ton. And to those who haven't seen it, it's crazy the lengths Bennett went to get the Sonics out of Seattle.
And while it hurts to see the Soincs gone (especially with a young, talented nucleus in OKC), I think it's important for every sports fan to realize that it could be their team someday. The Sonics had 40 years of tradition, some recent success ('96, '03, etc.) and still couldn't hang on to their team in a much larger market thank OKC. So while this probably doesn't sting people on this blog like it has stung you and me, Swenet, learn from our mistakes and don't let this happen to you. It just sucks that after spending so much money on Qwest and Safeco, Stern was forcing Seattle to build a third new stadium instead of using the money for, say, education.
*Getting off my soapbox*
So I'm curious. As a Sonics fan growing up do you now:
1. Root for OKC
2. Picked some other NBA team to root for
3. Given up on the NBA
I've never known a Sonics fan, but I've been wondering what their thought process has been these past few years
Yeah, that's a tough question. I don't think there is a blanket answer from Sonics fans, but for me personally I've given up on the NBA until: a) David Stern is no longer the commissioner, and b) Seattle has a team back. By "giving up on the NBA," I mean no longer purchasing NBA items. Every now and then I might turn a game on, but that's about it. That's a good question, though.
I'm sort of in the same vein. I have a very strong disdain towards the NBA and the OKC Thunder Team but I love KD, and Westbrook, (actually met him in seattle and he is a super nice guy and was very sympathetic towards Seattle fans) Nick Collison still hangs out in Seattle, Quincy Pondexter from Washington just got drafted. It actually makes it harder since I like almost every player on the team but I could never root for it because I hate the ownership so much. I don't really watch the NBA any more because a) It makes me sad, and b) I actually dont really enjoy watching the NBA that much when I dont have a team playing because I hate the ref's and the foul calls and I hate the ridiculous fines for coaches and players that point out the bad foul calls. So i guess at the end of the day, I am not a fan of the NBA or OKC but watch occasionally during the playoffs etc. Although in the playoffs I usually root against teams rather than for them (i.e. Against the Lakers, or OKC)
I think if the Pistons were stuck in a crappy arena (which they are not, thankfully), there is a great chance we'd be out of our Bball team as well. Team's quick spiral to basement of the league, plus change in ownership, plus poor economic situation is not a good combo.
I just get help but wonder, if Nickels and company hadn't let them move and taken the buyout what would have happened? Sonics still had two years left on their lease. This past year would have been the last year, and it makes you wonder, if the Sonics had made the playoffs a la the Thunder (this is assuming Presti makes the same moves), then no way Seattle lets a playoff team leave.
Howard Schultz is an asshole. When Ackerly sold the team, he took less in order to sell it to a local buyer (Shultz). Schultz could have sold it to local buyers but instead sold it to an out of towner who was known for wanting to bring a team to Oklahoma City. Then he tried to save face later and file some bogus lawsuit. Like that was gonna work. Gotta say, everytime I hear about Starbucks having to close another store, I smile a little.
I completely agree. Its just like when the mariners wanted to leave in the 90's. Ken Griffey and Co had a magical run to the playoffs and Seattle rewarded the team with a new stadium. I think that if last year was in Seattle, there is no way that a new stadium and a long term lease wouldnt have been in the motions.
but i wish seattle still had their team. i moved to seattle a year ago (yeah just as the thunder were getting good), and i live 7 blocks from key arena. it wouldve been so awesome just to buy season tix, sell half of them off, and go to games i wanted to go to. i couldve seen my pistons, heckled kobe, laughed at sheed when he came to town.
but key arena is a craphole. it really is. and qwest and safeco being as nice as they are just make key look even shittier.
I think the 4 major pro sports are all watered down.
I would love to see the 3 sports (football, basketball and baseball) cut 2 teams
NHL needs to cut 4 and get a damn TV contract worth something
I'd be all for Seattle getting a basketball team again. I'd rather see it come from one of the existing teams. We don't need any more expansion.
My suggestions would be - Jax and St Louis for the NFL
KC and Florida in the MLB
NBA would be harder since there are so many crap teams but I'd go with Memphis and the Clippers
The NHL - that would be tough since half the league is broke aren't they? But off the top of my bald head I would go with Atlanta, Florida, Anaheim and Phx since they are in fact broke last I read. And since I'm making up rules, take the Blue Jackets out of Columbus and give them to a Canadian city.
1) if the expos couldn't get contracted, why do you think the Rams and Royals would?
2) just curious - some sort of Rush and Radiohead hybrid you are?
3) sorry about your bald head
...but a look at how Cleveland fans feel about the Baltimore Ravens might answer your question.
If one of "my" teams moved away, no matter what market they inhabited, I would probably hold them in the same esteem in which I hold OSU or MSU right now; I would cheer for whoever was playing them. Eventually, my anger would turn to apathy, and they would somewhat cease to exist for me, other than to laugh at their lowlights if they appeared on SportsCenter.
As for Seattle, I think they deserve a team, but I see contraction to be more likely than expansion for any major professional league until the economic conditions improve. This would leave Seattle's best option as doing to someone else what OKC did to them. This, incidentally, is what Baltimore did to Cleveland.
I want the Jets back before the Whalers.
I was the biggest Shawn Kemp, "the reign man", fan growing up. Peyton and Sam Big Smooth Perkins made it hard to not root for the Sonics. I would also be amiss to not mention Schrempf. Loved the Sonics and was sad to see them leave even though I grew up in Pa.
Those old school Sonics teams were a blast to watch, even for this Pistons fan.
I grew up a Hornets fan and losing that team was devastating. They were good when they left (Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, Jamal Magloire, PJ Brown). What makes is worse is that they now have hometown hero Chris Paul and the Bobcats are stuck with Raymond Felton.