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Moving day
Sonics appear headed to OKC
By Ross L. Timbrook
H&N Sports Writer
I am frustrated with the NBA and commissioner David Stern.
For the last few seasons, there have been rumors of the SuperSonics leaving Seattle. As a native of Seattle and a lifelong Sonics fan, I am somewhat distressed over the possibility of the Sonics leaving the Northwest.
For 41 years the Sonics have been a part of the Seattle sports scene, that’s nine years longer than the Seahawks and 10 years longer than the Mariners, and the Sonics are the only one of the teams to win a championship, in 1979.
The central issue behind the Sonics has been that owner Clay Bennett wants a new arena and he wants the people of Seattle to pay for it. I have been to KeyArena many times and can attest that it is a sub-par facility, but I don’t think it is necessary to spend $500 million on a new arena.
The Mariners and Seahawks have gorgeous new stadiums and the Sonics can use one, but Bennett, who I’m sure has a pretty fair amount of zeros in his bank account, doesn’t want to spend the cash.
As for all the Sonics fans, Bill Simmons wrote a column about the issue and published numerous emails he received from readers, which can be found here and the prevailing sentiment is that the Sonics leaving is like ripping out the heart of some of the best sports fans in the city.
A writer for USA Today posted a story about Seattle not being a basketball town and to him I have to say, “Have you ever been to Seattle.”
Hoops are huge in the area, high school, college or professional. Just look at the number of players in the league with Seattle ties — Brandon Roy, Martell Webster, Rodney Stuckey, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Spencer Hawes, to name a few.
Granted, the Sonics are awful now, but when I was growing up the Sonics were the topic in the Seattle area.
I was 13 when they started their run of six straight seasons with at least 55 wins in 1992-93, and I can still remember the Gary Payton-Shawn Kemp combo as vividly as I remember anything.
My Sonics memories go back even further to Xavier McDaniel, Dale Ellis, Derrick McKey and Michael Cage, and I hope that something happens at the last minute to prevent the Sonics from leaving Seattle.
Besides, where is the logic in leaving the 14th largest market in the country for the 41st largest market.
Anyway, I realize that most of the people reading this are Trail Blazer fans, but post you thoughts below.
For the last few seasons, there have been rumors of the SuperSonics leaving Seattle. As a native of Seattle and a lifelong Sonics fan, I am somewhat distressed over the possibility of the Sonics leaving the Northwest.
For 41 years the Sonics have been a part of the Seattle sports scene, that’s nine years longer than the Seahawks and 10 years longer than the Mariners, and the Sonics are the only one of the teams to win a championship, in 1979.
The central issue behind the Sonics has been that owner Clay Bennett wants a new arena and he wants the people of Seattle to pay for it. I have been to KeyArena many times and can attest that it is a sub-par facility, but I don’t think it is necessary to spend $500 million on a new arena.
The Mariners and Seahawks have gorgeous new stadiums and the Sonics can use one, but Bennett, who I’m sure has a pretty fair amount of zeros in his bank account, doesn’t want to spend the cash.
As for all the Sonics fans, Bill Simmons wrote a column about the issue and published numerous emails he received from readers, which can be found here and the prevailing sentiment is that the Sonics leaving is like ripping out the heart of some of the best sports fans in the city.
A writer for USA Today posted a story about Seattle not being a basketball town and to him I have to say, “Have you ever been to Seattle.”
Hoops are huge in the area, high school, college or professional. Just look at the number of players in the league with Seattle ties — Brandon Roy, Martell Webster, Rodney Stuckey, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Spencer Hawes, to name a few.
Granted, the Sonics are awful now, but when I was growing up the Sonics were the topic in the Seattle area.
I was 13 when they started their run of six straight seasons with at least 55 wins in 1992-93, and I can still remember the Gary Payton-Shawn Kemp combo as vividly as I remember anything.
My Sonics memories go back even further to Xavier McDaniel, Dale Ellis, Derrick McKey and Michael Cage, and I hope that something happens at the last minute to prevent the Sonics from leaving Seattle.
Besides, where is the logic in leaving the 14th largest market in the country for the 41st largest market.
Anyway, I realize that most of the people reading this are Trail Blazer fans, but post you thoughts below.
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Reader Comments
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Razgriz wrote on Mar 3, 2008 10:01 AM:
" Not a TrailBlazers fan, but I recently moved up here a few months ago from Oklahoma City.
My opinion is that the Sonics have been needing a new arena for years, and little has been done about it. Clay Bennett takes over, tries to get one, and still to no avail. He sets up a deadline that is months away in order to try to get one, and still, nothing. The deadline comes, and then people start getting mad at the possibility of them leaving when it was known months beforehand. Now you have people hanging on by a limb, doing crazy things such as suing. "
My opinion is that the Sonics have been needing a new arena for years, and little has been done about it. Clay Bennett takes over, tries to get one, and still to no avail. He sets up a deadline that is months away in order to try to get one, and still, nothing. The deadline comes, and then people start getting mad at the possibility of them leaving when it was known months beforehand. Now you have people hanging on by a limb, doing crazy things such as suing. "
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jim b. wrote on Mar 7, 2008 5:05 PM: