Take a look at any comment section of any article related to the Hornets sale and what do you see? Three hundred comments from Sonics fans about how the Hornets are moving there. They say New Orleans doesn’t have basketball history. They say we can’t support a team and point to the New Orleans Jazz as proof. They think what happened 30 years ago in the Superdome has any sort of bearing on what is going on today. They even go so far as to rip the actual city and people of New Orleans.
Remember those Sonics fans who ripped Stern on a personal level for letting their team move? Those guys who destroyed OKC (both the city and the residents) for even accepting the team? Yeah, well they are still around, but they’ve changed their tune.
They don’t care anymore about the moral high ground (if they ever did at all), or anything they said a few years ago. It’s like they forgot what it felt like to learn that there is trouble on the horizon for their favorite team. That or they don’t care about the feelings of others.
Actually, it’s worse than that. They have become downright spiteful toward cities that actually have a franchise. Like a mutinied captain clinging to a piece of driftwood, they are just floating aimlessly through the NBA waters in delusional hope of overtaking some other vessel and claiming power. They want revenge, but don’t seem to care who gets hurt in the process.
They have turned into what they once despised. Shame on you, Sonics fans. You know better.
Apologies to my good friend, Taggert, and any other Sonics fan who doesn’t trash New Orleans without regard for the feelings of those who have committed thousands of hours and dollars to their respective teams.
63 responses to “Sonics Fans Make Me Throw Up a Little Bit in My Mouth”
Remember in Big Daddy when everyone thinks they are playing a defined card game, but in the end it turns out they are playing “I win,” with “I” being the kid?
That is a very common parallel to many a solution set to a collection of moral problems.
Sad, but true.
This is how the NBA works now, get used to it.
This is how Life works, get used to it.
Moral centers seem to move, be fluid.
But this is sports in the modern world. Really, players, owners and fans are are as equally fickle.
Follow the money.
Well if the Hornets do ever leave thats gonna be me. Spiteful, hateful and hurtful. It pisses me off enough listening to these morons on hornetsreport constantly talking about changing the hornets name and colors etc etc. This is my team and id advise nobody to mess with it =)
I’m with you.
It’s a hurtful act, taking a team away. I understand the rage they felt, not the reversal, as now they know what it feels like.
It’s not all of them; it’s a vocal and stunted minority I’m sure.
I went to a Saints game up there when all that junk was brewing. They were very sympathetic to our situation, the fans around us. They identified with us. Maybe they wouldn’t feel it for anyone else, but those folks were with us.
I remember seeing the Sonics here during their last run, and the sadness associated with the last bucket, the last buzzer. It wasn’t the last-last, but it was the last for me.
If they go anywhere, I wish Seattle would get them. That being said, I’ll forsake the NBA and everyone with those initials.
42, since most of us older guys (51) went through the loss of the Jazz, I understand the hurt as well. I also happen to be a Tulane alum and supporter and went through the 4 years of no basketball in the mid-1980’s after the scandal. Trust me, I didn’t watch a single college basketball game for 4 years. It hurt too much.
As for the NBA, I think the league doesn’t realize the financial loss they’ll take in lost merchandise sales, etc. They’ll get a little bump from whatever city gets them, but it will be from people who are probably already pro basketball fans.
For me, as much as I love the Hornets and would be hurt to see them leave, believe me, I won’t be watching any NBA games if they leave. I won’t be buying jersies and T-shirts and other merchandise. I’ll totally ignore it, just like I did for the 25 years between the Jazz leaving and the Hornets arriving. And I’d be willing to bet a large majority of Hornets fans would do the same. There are too many other things to do in this city to waste my time supporting the NBA if they screw us over.
33 here, Tulane alum, ex-visiting-prof, former athletic tutor, primarily men’s and women’s basketball.
I have family that feels the way you do. They lit up partway through a Hornets game, once the fun ate its way through the scar tissue.
I think the classy thing to do here is just for the Seattle folks to want the team privately and not rub it in our faces. I don’t blame them for wanting to be made whole.
I don’t think we did that to Charlotte, but don’t know if that’s the same thing since the internet was a different place and the team and the city are at odds. Nothing like that is going on here.
Does Sonics fans know that their city/state political leaders don’t want a team? Are they willing to build a new arena for a new team? Because I don’t know if a new team wants to play in what most consider an outdated Key Arena. Are the city/state politicals now, after just what, 2 seasons, willing to help do what it takes to get a new arena built? Is a new owner willing to build a new arena there?
And who’s going to commit new funds before March when they’ll still be saying no season at their next big meeting around the all-star break.
Logistically, the issues Chouest should have are reservations anyone would have.
The team isn’t moving this off-season.
the answer to your question is yes. steve ballmer, heard of him? ya he will build a new arena and has plenty of money. we dont need the politicians to build us a new stadium
Yes we “does” know this in Seattle, try asking someone from here who knows. Many states, Washington included, are in a budget crisis, unlikely we’ll foot the bill for an arena. That’s very obvious even if you don’t live here.
This new potential owner, well, he is part of this software company that the once richest man in the world founded, it’s called Microsoft, you might have heard of it. Rich D-Bags like him spend their money however they want.
It is a mistake to move the Hornets to Seattle, not just because your folks want it to stay, but because the same problems are still waiting in Seattle but in a tougher to deal with economy.
Most of them have no idea that the Jazz moving didn’t have anything to do with attendance at all. If attendance was the end all be all, then why didn’t the Hornets stay in Charlotte? They had tops attendance for a very long time. Why didn’t the Sonics stay in Seattle if attendance is the end all be all? IIRC, Seattle had no problem with attendance. So why is their team gone then?
It’s pretty obvious why the Sonics left Seattle, Clay Bennett, you know the guy who owns them, wanted to move the team. That’s simply put the reason why.
Actually…we still understand the moral highground. Unlike you guys we actually went through it and were told without any remorse whatsoever that the moral highground does not exist.
I don’t get what you want Seattle fans to do…you want them to be told that a team can move no matter what by the NBA…but then disregard that when a future team comes up? Welcome to the NBA…it couldn’t care less about fans. Sorr you guys don’t know that yet…but you will.
We lost them the same city you did and came close to losing the Saints.
Also…you guys got a team from Charlotte…at what point do you have moral grounds?
Getting a team is not the same as trashing the people you get it from.
No one here is trashing Seattle or the NBA fans there wholesale, just the rude ones.
I’d say Joe Gerrity is trashing Seattle buddy, no other way to spin it. Who cares about his little disclaimer at the end. Hey Joe, when you throw up, don’t do it in your mouth, do it over the toilet.
the hornets are moving to seattle
i doubt it
Man you guys have your backs against the wall and we Sonic fans are the bad guys? Don’t be angry with us be angry with George Shinn! Shame on him for running this franchise the way he has since it began in 1988. No one here was sticking up for us when OKC was blasting our site when we were losing the Sonics. No Sonic fans is happy that you could lose the Hornets but we are happy that we have lots of private money in Seattle and a Microsoft Executive with lots of cash on hand. Nothing against you guys at all so don’t get bitter with us like we are the bad guy. Talk to Mr. Shinn about that.
Did Joe say all Sonics fans are the bad guys? No, he didn’t. He said that those fans who are eagerly wishing for the Hornets to move are bad guys…. its so blatantly and obviously hypocritical. I can understand badly wanting a new team, but wishing to take one away from another city is just wrong and hypocritical.
As for Shinn… trust me, there has always been plenty of anger thrown his way.
“No one here was sticking up for us when OKC was blasting our site when we were losing the Sonics.”
And we don’t expect anyone in Seattle to stick up for us if they don’t have the inclination to. That’s not really relevant. There’s a big difference between “not sticking up” and actively wishing for a city to lose its team, and ripping and fans in the process…
So if the article *doesn’t* apply to you, then good, no reason at all to take offense… move along. Not sure why this even needs to be explained as Joe made it perfectly clear himself. Of course, if the article DOES apply to you… then I guess you’re a jerk.
Dude, Joe didn’t say all Sonics fans, but the tone of the writing insinuates it. I don’t see the title of his article saying “Some Sonics fans…..”
As a Sonics fan I certainly recognize that New Orleans is a great sports town and that there are plenty of loyal Hornets fans. However, losing the Sonics was just horrible. Not to mention losing them with Durant and plenty other young and exciting players. That experience made me ready to take anyone else’s team. Obviously New Orleans doesn’t deserve to lose their team, but neither did Seattle. The NBA is built on corporate greed and whoever is willing to pay the most money. I would feel bad stealing another city’s team knowing how horrible it is, but that’s just how the business goes. For the record I’d like the Grizzlies most since they were originally in the Northwest with the Sonics, but I would be happy with anyone that’s available.
I see nothing wrong with this position.
Attention Sonic’s fans breaking news………eat my ass. NEW ORLEANS Hornets 4 life
Maybe Joe Gerrity will eat yours then throw up a little bit of it in your mouth.
Uh-oh. Here they come. LMAO.
If you watch the end of the film “Sonic Gate” you will understand that most of Seattle knows the pain of having a team ripped from underneath them and wouldn’t ever wish that pain on other fans in other cities. In fact that is direct quote from the documentary. The people you see commenting are the ones that are still upset and angry in which they have the right to be. There is a big difference here between the then Sonics and now Hornets. The Sonics were a 41 year franchise in a basketball city with a NBA championship banner, the N.O. Hornets are an 8 year franchise struggling in a city with lack of support. If anything Hornet fans should learn from the Steal of the Sonics it should be to begin the fight for their team right now. The thing that Seattle slept on was the disbelief that the team could actually re-locate. In the end they did and right now its just the beginning in the process for N.O. They will go if no one stands up and fights. As a former Sonic fan I would never wish the disaster that happened to my team to any one. But before you start to call out Seattle fans and their eagerness to once again re birth the Sonics, take a step back and remember where your team came from eight years ago and the hearts that broke in Charlotte when they left. If you want to reach a decade of team history you should start the fight now, because if these talks are actually underway, the passion of Seattle and it’s fans will be very convincing to the NBA, Good luck N.O.
Dude, well said.
If you are still around, can you post some links to some good resources? Stuff about this movie, a few good articles, a book to buy on amazon.
Out of respect, some of us would like to learn more.
I’ve been following the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL, formerly the Winnepeg Jets. Their future in Phoenix has been unstable for a while and the NHL has interceded. Buyers want the team in Winnepeg, Phoenix, Hamilton, and other places. It’s actually like the Hornets plus the Sonics situation rolled into one to an extent.
I attended a Coyotes game. Scoff at hockey in the desert, but some folks really care and peeling away the flap, attendance isn’t an issue: it’s bad ownership and management. A guy proposed at the game I was at. This drips of pathos, but it’s clear that the relatively new team has inspired some.
Regardless, there is something to learn that could speak to these points in a non-NBA, but meaningful way.
@42: Here’s the Sonicsgate film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Dp20ydm1E
I agree with Travmania we have to start fighting now if we are to stand a chance. In my view David Stern is going to take the highest bidder who ever that may be and really doesn’t care one way or the other, he just wants to maximize profits. If that’s in NOLA then so be it, if it isn’t he’ll go with that too. He has no vested interest in this region as tough as that is to swallow.
Just look at what he did to a franchise that was a staple of the league (The Sonics).
Thanks. I’ll watch.
And agreed.
Thanks for the link Grayson.
I am a Seattle native and I went to college in New Orleans, and my father was born in New Orleans so I would never disrespect the city. New Orleans is a great city that is close to my heart. With that being said my hometown Seattle is a great city too, and to lose the Sonics there are no words to describe how that made me feel. I want the NBA back and keep in mind this is all rumor nothing may happen and the Hornets and Kings or any other team may not move here only time will tell. I hope the NBA comes back to Seattle I miss it.
It totally sickens and pains me being a Sonics fan all my life to see the Hornets being treated this way by The evil that is David Stern. People want to talk about all that is wrong with NBA well they should start at the top. This guy would NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS allow the Knicks to leave NY or the Lakers and Celtics to leave Boston and LA, but he would do it to any other team in the league. The league makes a billion dollars in profit but he still wants to destroy teams to make it more profitable.
Seattle’s Key Arena is out of date but Steve Ballmer the Microsoft CEO has stated that he wants an NBA team and the man is almost if not richer than Paul Allen the other Microsoft cofounder with Bil. Steve recently took out over a billion dollar in stock and put it in his bank account. The state doesnt have to build a new arena this man can build one on his own and still have enough money left over to buy an NBA franchise. He put up 150million of his own money to try and get the state to commit another 150 million to keep the Sonics. Its not a matter of if but when he deciedes to do it and speculation is that if he can get a team he will.
NOLA should be pissed. We dont want to steal another cities team we truly dont, but David Stern will never give us an expansion team so this is all we have. The city of seattle has also been linked to Sacramento a team that can move whenever they want because they own their building outright. It pains me to say i want the Hornets or any other team, but its better that they move to another city than have Stern dissolve their existence because he wants to make a buck. NOLA you need to stand up and make your opinions known like we did here in Seattle and hope your politicians dont sell you out like ours!
I’m a Sonics fan also and want a team back but I don’t want the Hornets. That area has been hit tough with Katrina and the BP oil spill which are two situations completely out of the control of anyone which has had an affect on attendance and ownership. I hope they find a solid local owner and are able to keep the team in NO. If for some reason they make it up to Seattle, at least they are going to a city that can relate to your situation. Plus, nothing is going to happen without an arena in Seattle so I think you guys are good until arena blueprints are drawn up.
I don’t know how anyone who calls themselves a Sonics fan can go on an internet forum and antagonize fans of a team with ownership issues given what we went through. That said, I’m desperate to see the Sonics back in Seattle and until Ballmer comes out and says I am/I’m not involved in an arena/ownership move the whispers are going to continue.
ya, seattle take the grizzlies or the twolves
Sonics fan here (err… that’s kind of like being a HDDVD fan), to put some comments into context.
1.) Yeah, we want your team. Or at least, most people I’ve heard in/around Seattle want your team. I do.
2.) That does not in any way make trashing New Orleans acceptable. I apologize for that behavior, I actually really like New Orleans and Louisiana (came very close to attending LSU, still my 2nd favorite college team, Hornets my fave NBA team and Saints a top-5 NFL fave for me).
3.) I’m not looking forward to ripping a team from a city, like our Supes were ripped. Make no doubt about it, that sucks. If we manage to get a team, and have to do it via franchise theft (which is almost assured), well, that bites.
4.) I do want your team, though. And I don’t apologize for that. Not having a team really sucks – it’s weird to watch NBA games and not have an emotional attachment, except when I root against the Thunder. I miss having a team to root for, and I miss watching other teams thinking “okay, so if so-and-so loses what does that mean for Seattle”. I don’t want it to happen to you guys (I’d much prefer the ZombieSonics or the Kings, just because I’ve met some douchebags from Sacramento), but, well, rather you than me.
5.) The writer talks about the high road. No offense, but I can’t think of something that appeals to me less. We took the high road – look where that got us. The media supported us, the public supported us, but we still lost a team. David Stern is not about the high road, he cares nothing for your history or city. The high road is part of why Seattle does not have a team (sleazy ownership pre and post sale and incompetence from elected officials are the other 2 parts).
Stern and the owners and the potential owners control the situation entirely. Nothing fans think or say matter much to them so I can’t get too worked up about anything somebody says on the net. The fans are just revenue streams to them.
That is the Seattle lesson.
My apologies to New Orleans, if Seattle gets your team. Trust me, I know how it feels, and no matter how hypocritical i maybe to be excited to get the NBA squad. I don’t doubt that there are great fans in New Orleans.
Why are all you damned Seattle fans being so nice? Just kidding. I’ve been there a few times. Almost everyone I met seemed wonderful.
Why are all your damned comments so stupid? Just kidding, I’ve read some of your stuff. Almost all of it seemed wonderful.
Growing up a Supersonics fan, I was devasted to the core when Stern facilitated our team to be stolen away from us. New Orleans fans I sympathize with what you are going through and as much as I would love to see the Sonics playing once again in the green and gold in Seattle, I think I speak for the majority of fans when I state that we do not want the Sonics back as another blood diamonds team smuggled by Stern.
I’m stealing this from a local Seattle blogger:
After watching the Seattle Sonics relocate to Oklahoma City, snatched from the grasp of die-hard Sonics fans, it’s natural to want a replacement. SonicsGate, for instance, has done an outstanding job bringing light to the process by which the Sonics left while lobbying for another franchise in Seattle. With the NBA purchasing the New Orleans Hornets on Monday, that dream may become a reality in the near future.
I, like many, would love a franchise in Seattle. But not this way. Not the same way we watched the Sonics snatched from us. In fact, the handling of the Hornets, and the saga that will predictably follow, may just be worse.
The NBA is purchasing — actually taking-over — the Hornets at a low, low foreclosure price. David Stern bought himself an NBA franchise for next to nothing, as far as NBA money goes. Then what’s next? Inevitably, the NBA will sell that team for a higher price, inflating the value of the Hornets based on the ability to put the team wherever the new owner so chooses.
But, of course, as we saw with the Sonics, the public mantra will continue to be “we want to keep the team in New Orleans.” As the public facade continues, back-room deals will be worked, brokering an agreement to ship the team off to whichever city the new owner chooses. In a moment of deja-vu, the team will move, leaving fans in another city high and dry. And thus, the vicious cycle of the NBA continues.
Stern will make all sorts of demands, attaching strings to any sale of the Hornets. An arena must be built that suits the league’s demands, money must be spent at a certain rate and the NBA must continue to make a profit. It’s all part of the dirty game that the league, and its commissioner, plays.
Our city’s franchise is gone. The titles, the records, everything else, went with it. A void can be filled, but it doesn’t change the fact that the original Sonics are gone, off to make an impression in the league under a new name. That will never change, and those that watched in horror as Clay Bennett and David Stern pick-pocketed the team from Seattle won’t forget.
Do I want a hand-out from David Stern in the form of another NBA team, this time bought and sold by the league itself? No. Screw the NBA, screw David Stern and screw everyone involved in the mess that was the handling of the Sonics. Call me when we can get our own franchise, not steal one away in the same fashion the Sonics were stolen from Seattle. I refuse to endorse bending to Stern’s will to secure a franchise the league acquired via a takeover.
As a kid who grew up a sonics fan his entire life, I would like to say I feel your pain. I couldn’t stand the Oklahomans on our boards talking about getting our team. That being said, I’m sure the Seattle people of whom you speak are just a vocal minority as I now realize the case probably was with the Oklahoma trolls. To be honest, I do want a team back in Seattle, but I don’t want anybody done like I was and would like for the league to expand, although I know this scenario is extremely unlikely… Either way, I think it’d be hard for me to watch a new team in Seattle anyways because it won’t feel like ours that we had. I’ve been so hurt by what happen I’ve gone from a huge NBA fan to somebody who’s watched probably a grand total of 8 quarters of NBA basketball (some of last years finals and a quarter of the lebron era in Miami) since they left, and even that was hard. I’ve since refused to use money to buy anything that will support the NBA and they’ve lost a great deal of my support. I’m not going to say that I can never be won back by the league because never is a big word, but I know even if we get a team back, it will take a lot of time and effort to win back my allegiance, I’m guessing years if not decades. I’ve become somebody who could really care less for the NBA, because the NBA does not care about you although they state to… I grew up a Sonics fan my entire childhood just to have them ripped away as I was reaching adulthood and it hurt. I want MY team back… The only way I want that to happen is through expansion or getting our true team back from OKC… Otherwise I can go along as I have the last few years and not care at all about the NBA without a blink. Will I still feel the pain of losing my team and miss them? Yes, but the replacement just isn’t the same thing and in showing that he doesn’t care about 41 years of history, David Stern has turned me into somebody who is apathetic to the NBA.
To make a long story short, I think many of us do understand your pain and hope we don’t do you dirty like we were done… And also by moving teams for short term monetary gains, Stern is losing many fans such as myself in the fanbases he’s abandoning that he may never gain back, and thus, he is hurting his league’s long term gains. With each city you leave and come back to, you will find less and less interest each time around. Anyways, best of luck with your situation!
Common fellow Seattle fans stop acting like such polite skirts! We have nothing to appologise for if some jack ass is coming into a hornets site and making fun of them leaving then they’re idiots. I don’t want any team to move but if a team relocates to Seattle you bet your ass I’ll be happy. If the team was to leave some city would take them. The NBA doesn’t give a shit about fans and through this process you guys will see that. At least he’s trying to keep the hornets in new Orleans. He didn’t give a rats ass about Seattle all he cared about was his weasel partner in crime clay Bennett. Watch Sonicsgate if u wanna see what might happen to your team.
The difference between the Supes and Hornets situation is our team was actually stolen. When it was sold to Clay Bennett, he promised to do all he can to keep the team in Seattle. Broken promises. Lies. At least you guys didn’t/wont have to go through that.
Not for nothing. But there is no way True Sonic’s fans are wanting the Hornets. True Sonic’s fans are supporting their local high school and college teams in basketbal and HATE THE NBA. Real Sonic’s fans hear this story about New orleans and cringe at what david Stern has in store for their fans. Real Sonc’s fans will tell the City of New Orleans to forget about professional sports and root for each other in these hard times. Real Sonic’s fans would look at a New Orlean’s fan and say, I told you so. Now lets watch some College Basketball. Screw Stern.
The difference between the sonics moving to OKC and the hornets potential move to seattle is a lot different and you cannot call us sonics fans hypocrits. First of all we were not at a point where we had a minimum attendance we had to reach, we had a lot of support even when they traded away or superstars, allen and lewis. We had a losing team and still showed up to games. You guys are winning and have one of the best players in the league, paul, and cannot get enough fans in the seats to meet a small attendance goal. Also there is no secret that our guy would buy the team and move them to seattle. Bennett bought the sonics and gave us a b/s lie about keeping the team in seattle, he gave seattle a b/s arena proposal to fail and paid off stern to agree to the move. Huge difference. Maybe if you had more fans you wouldnt be in this dilemma in the first place.
I doesn’t feel good to think that New Orleans loss is potentially Seattle’s gain. Who should know this better than us. I apologize on behalf of our “expert journalists” like Steve Kelly who make ignorant statements like, “New Orleans doesn’t care about the NBA. It never has supported the Hornets. It’s an NFL town. Period. When the Hornets leave, there barely will be a whimper.” http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2013619810_kelley08.html
I want to believe that he knows what he said is stupid and they are just trying to sell papers.
Steve. It’s time to apologize to the city of New Orleans.
Patrick
ripl.com/pbfireball
patrickbarthe@msn.com
linkedin.com/in/patrickbarthe
Steve Kelley might be one of the worst sports columnist in America. He’s a hack with Portland roots. I don’t know a single person in Seattle that reads the Seattle Times for his writing. Heck, Percy Allen is the guy you want to read for hoops in the 206.
This said, I think he’s playing off of the national perception that despite having CP3 and and 11-1 start to your season that the Hornets attendance this season is at a pitifull 13,860 per game or roughly 80% capacity. To put things in perspective the Sonics last 3 season were 2008 at 13,355 (when everyone knew they were leaving) or 78.8% capacity, 2007 at 15,955 or 93% capacity and 2006 at 16,198 or 95% capactiy. Now I’m not going to defend Kelley being an idiot, because I think he is. However, it’s unacceptable that you can have playoff caliber team not get more than 14k per game.
I don’t think we’re seeing the problem here. Sonics fans aren’t the source of your distaste. Take away a 40 year old institution from a rabid fan base, and who should be surprised when they become bloodthirsty? OKC wanted a team and they got one, and the dominoes started to fall. The NBA is a multi-million dollar entertainment business that is all about the money…and the fans when it will make them more money. Who’s brilliant idea was it to effectively exchange the Seattle Supersonics and the NO/OKC Hornets? The NBA as a business has to resort to mercenary tactics to remain profitable. That is the real issue.
Like many Sonic fans, I was pissed when we lost our team. I wanted one back, both then and now, and understood the unfortunate fact that it meant another city would have to go thru what Seattle did. As you can see from the many comments already posted, no one is happy that New Orleans fans could potentially get shafted like we did.
That being said, Mr. Gerrity’s post is a joke. I did what he asked, I looked at articles about the Hornet’s situation, as well as the comments. Over 100 people have left comments on the Seattle Times (our paper) article by Steve Kelley, a well known idiot. Of those 100+ comments, a whopping 2 people said New Orleans didn’t care, and couldn’t support the team. On ESPN, with 50 comments and counting, there was 1. So please, Mr. Gerrity, even though this is just a blog and nothing more than your opinion, don’t spread lies. The people of Seattle are not ripping New Orleans or your fans. We’re not saying you can’t support a team. If you want to call us hypocrites for wanting another cities team, go ahead, we deserve it. But don’t make up false accusations just to vent your anger towards the current situation. That only belongs with 2 people, George Shinn and David Stern.
I’m a New Orleans guy and write here often. I was treated very well by Seahawks fans when I visited for a Saints game there. I respect your city tremendously.
I think most of us agree on who the bad guys are. Shinn, Bennett, maybe Stern. Additionally, anyone that goes into someone else’s territory and ‘kicks’ the wounded is pretty low.
We’re more alike than different, and the reasonable portions of our populaces should recognize that if New Orleans keeps this team, it’s in part due to the loss in Seattle, and they would deserve our deep thanks.
We need to cut Gerrity some slack, he thinks just because he has a blog and can stir a pot he can pose as a true journalist. Truth is, he’s a hack like Steve Kelly.
How do these apples taste?
HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES?
Tell you what. How about you guys just beat the ever living crap out of OKC tomorrow night for us, K?
Ha! I think we have common ground.
Bennett pays Seattle $30m if the NBA hasn’t awarded a team to Seattle in less than 5 years after their move. They stared in Oklahoma in Fall 2008, so someone who would move the team to Seattle by 2013 would save Bennett $30m.
I see a couple implications. Vindictive Sonics fans should want a team in 2014, and an owner who’d move a team to Seattle would save Bennett $30m. I wonder if he’d help subsidize a move through some capital investment in the owners main business etc. Spend $25m to save $30m and help outbit the locals?
Ooops. I didn’t finish the movie. That clause is no longer in place.
Bad research!
Sorry folks. I wish I could say it won’t happen again, but it will.
Information overload . . .
I followed the Sonics and cheered for them my entire life. They’re gone now, and now that they are, I could care less for the NBA, the Thunder and your Hornets that you yourselves took from another city under similar circumstances.
Let’s stick to the hard facts of financial life, it was a dumb move by the NBA to leave an important market like Seattle at the onslaught of a down economy. The NBA wants back into this market.
The correct financial decision here would be to contract the league and shut your team down. If, and I really mean a long shot if, this team comes to Seattle, it will encounter the same problems as before but in a much more dire straights economy. As a taxpayer, I say forget about the NBA and moving a team here.
On the flipside, the move is inevitable, what city would you prefer your Hornets go to or would you rather they close up shop? It’s a tough spot to be in that you’ve been in before. Hopefully you can keep your team, but honestly, once the very corrupt David Stern tags you, you’re it.