It was just four years ago that pro-basketball was abruptly gone from Seattle, Washington. Over 40 years of Seattle SuperSonics history became just that: history. The franchise, which had struggled professionally and financially, was sold to Clay Bennett and moved to Oklahoma City to be the Thunder -- despite Seattle's fans pleas to 'save our Sonics.' In fact, there was even a documentary made about the controversy called SonicsGate you all should Google.
Now the Sonics' records aren't complete history, but they're now owned by the Thunder. What makes 'SonicsGate' more bittersweet by the year for Seattle sports fans is that NBA Commissioner David Stern assured them their team would be intact and/or that basketball would stay in the city. It's 2012 and that doesn't look to be happening anytime soon. On top of that, the team's 2007 first round NBA Draft pick Kevin Durant has emerged as a top 10 NBA player.
In the last two seasons, the Thunder not only became the NBA's most improved team, but made two straight Western Conference Finals appearances -- en route to the first NBA Finals appearance by the team this year since moving to OKC. The Sonics' all-time great player Gary Payton did a recent radio interview and had a message for Seattle's still broken-hearted fans, who are still reeling from losing their team: move on and let's try to bring the NBA back to Seattle. One can only hope. Do you feel for Seattle SuperSonics fans?
Be grateful.
Eventually the delusion that professional sports matters in your life will fade and reason will set in.
I think Payton is right, though. It is time to get over the loss of the Sonics and try to bring the game back to the city. You don't get anywhere by just remembering past glories and wallowing in the misery of not having it anymore.
The city has teams in quite a few leagues; The Seattle Mariners (MLB), The Seattle Seahaws (NFL), The Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL), The Seattle Storm (WNBA), The Seattle Mist (LFL), The Washington Huskies (NCAA)... The list goes on and on. Sports is alive and well in Seattle. So who says they won't ever have another NBA team?
They didn't give in to corporate welfare.
Silly taxpayers, insisting on keeping their own money.
And though I am not old enough to even know the Minneapolis Lakers, as a basketball fan, how do you think I feel about the Los Angeles Lakers??? Don't even get me started!
If we were told from the get go what the true intentions were, things might be different.
Personally I was never into the Sonics, but i don't like people when they say one thing and ask for our trust only to do another.
Yeah it sucks that innocent parties get punished for what a former player did.
One NCAA Basketball coach has gotten 3 schools in trouble... he gets fired... but because he keeps winning (partly because he's a very good coach and partly because he cheats) he keeps getting a new coaching job with no punishment other than he has to move.
Say if Pete Carroll wanted to get out of the NFL and go back to NCAA... he would have no punishment for the USC getting in trouble even though it all happened under his watch. Some other coach had to pay the price for him.
You have to remember, those are the reasons they were sold, then moved. They are the Thunder now, of OKC. Life's tough...get a helmet.