So Long, Sonics | SeattlePapi11's Blog

I have lived in Oregon my entire life, and I wont even try to claim to be an NBA Fan. For god sakes I root for two teams in the same division (well, I did). The Blazers and Sonics have provided me with some very good moments, for not being a Basketball fan. Today I am left with an empty feeling when I think about Basketball... more than usual. And to tell you the truth I should be excited, With thoughts of Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernendez, Jarryd Bayless, Travis Outlaw, LaMarcus Aldridge, etc. coming to a Rose Garden near me soon... but no... all I can think about is the fallen Green and Gold.

I am 23 years old and don't remember Jack Sikma or any of the 79' NBA Championship team(wasnt alive for 4 more years). But I do remember growing up with Gary Payton, Nate McMillan, Detlef Schrempf, and of course a childhood hero (please dont laugh at me, anyway this ended when he stood up a youth basketball camp I went to speciffically to meet him) Shawn "Reignman" Kemp. I remember seeing the highs and the lows... Damn Deikembe Mutumbo and the 8th seeded Nuggets. And even though I have had a falling out with the NBA, this episode depresses me to levels I never thought I could feel in sports.

I want to be clear I have no harsh feelings toward the people of OK City. You guys have proven you deserve professional sports in Oklahoma... This just is not where I wanted it to come from. Seeing Message boards lit up with the Seattle Vs. OK City fans kills me, because the fans have nothing to do with it. This was a terrible owner in Schultz being so incredibly naiive to think an ownership from OK would not try to skip town, or he knew, didnt care and now is trying to save face with his ridiculous lawsuit. Some people may forgive him, I wont. Dutch Bros Coffee, exclusivly for me. If you care about the sonics and like coffee I urge you to do the same.

Clay Bennett and David Stern... You two are complete ****. I understand Clay's urge to bring pro sports to your state, but after all the lying and your snakeish tactics in ripping this team from us... I refuse to root for your team as long as you own it, No offense Oklahoma but if this team wins a championship under his ownership I will be absolutly sick to my stomach. Forgive me for rooting against your teams but once this tool gives up this team I will lift all hard feelings toward them. And Stern... the words I have to say to you dont belong on a public website like this. How dare you question Seattle? After spending over $1 Billion on rennovations to Key and the construction of Qwest and Safeco field you have the gall to tell Seattle iit didnt care enough because it wouldnt fund another $500 Million for an arena? How dare you... I hope your league continues to fail under your commision, because you care more about global NBA and the high class shopping centers you call arenas, than the cities that built the NBA. You make Bud Selig look like Mr Perfect. I wish I could enjoy the young exciting Blazers this upcoming year but this has left me with the most sour of tastes in my mouth. I hate your league, because you lied to us. I thought the NBA cares... sorry I dont see it.

To the Players that have made the sonics the most successful franchise in Seattle, thank you!! Thank you for your Blood, Sweat, Tears and the heart you poured out on the floor of the Kingdome and Key arena over the last 41 years. Thank you Jack Sikma and all the players from your era that brought Seattle its only Mens professional title. Thank you Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Detlef Schrempf, Nate McMillan, and all the sonics that brought Joy to me as a kid. And Thank you to all the recent sonics; Ray Allen, Rasard Lewis, Luke Ridnour, Delonte West, and even Kevin Durant and Jeff Green for never giving up on the fans of Seattle and playing youur heart out every night through all the uncertainty. I hope Seattle gets to build new basketball memories, but if this is how the NBA Cares... I dont think I want to care about it anymore.

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July 5, 2008 02:29 PM ET

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SeattlePapi11 has offered an intelligent discourse on how many of us feel. Thank you. It is hard to imagine that there are a lot of bad folks in OKC and they certainly should not be treated poorly simply because the Sonics relocated.

But let's be honest. Clay Bennet had one intention all the time he got his mitts on the Sonics. He proved himself to be a liar as he would do whatever it took to get his way. He manipulations and statements were simply ways to buy time until he could make the move he had always designed. Nobody believes he is an example of what the people are really like in OKC. Certainly most folks there are honest and have integrity. Seattle surely has it's share of dishonest people. Clay simply happens to be a public example of dishonesty that the whole nation has watched.

Clay tried to kill the fan base by putting on two of the worst teams we had in 40 years of basketball here. This was simply his manipulation. Seattle has been very supportive of it's teams. In the past few years Seattle speant over 1 billion dollars to support base base and football. Key Arena was refurbished at the request of the league for 75 million a few years ago. Now Stern is demanding more. This isn't about the fans. It is about what the NBA wants from local governments. It doesn't care about the 100 bucks a fan might pay for a ticket. The NBA wants tax dollars to subsidize its product.

The NBA could care less about its fans. The proof is in how it treats them. This is all about money and now there is serious doubt if the NBA has any redeeming value at all. Seattle was lucky to unload these people because it will save us dollars that will be used in schools and organizations that help people. Buy cutting ties with the Sonics we lose connections with a dishonest man in Clay Bennet. I hope the next franchise that comes is led by honorable men.

nps

Total Comments (3)

July 5, 2008 02:48 PM ET

The Oklahoma Wife Beaters Management will be very dissapointed with your recent comments

thebasketballguru

Total Comments (668)

July 5, 2008 03:01 PM ET

Ouch

*LSU*

West Monroe, LA

Total Comments (3042)

July 5, 2008 11:14 PM ET

This was an excellent, well-written blog. Please know that the entire sports world stands with the people of Seattle in their time of loss. This is a sad, sad day for basketball. Long live the green and gold!