Sonicegate....

[Coug00]

Re: Sonicegate....

It's a shame Seattle (really good basketball market) doesn't have a NBA team and the NBA dropped the ball on the Vancouver market (Stern told the original owner to hire Stu Jackson as the GM).

At this point, there's nothing but hate for the NBA in Seattle. I was listening to one of their sport stations and the hosts asked a question, would you rather have a NBA or NHL team, and the NHL won in a landslide.

The NBA doesn't get local media coverage in Seattle or Vancouver anymore. It's like the league doesn't exist. The NBA did come back here for a pre-season game (Suns vs. Blazers) this season and the game was a sell out despite almost no advertising.

QFT. I think the NHL would do really, really well in Seattle. Sadly the NHL gets little to no media coverage in Seattle as well. You'd barely even know the Canucks exist. However, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Everett, and the Tri-Cities have all proven to really support the WHL. A professional Seattle team could easily pull from those regions. The only problem? Oh yeah, no arena. Key Arena was remodeled in the 90's by the Sonics owner at the time to make it impossible for an NHL team to succeed there. Guess we'll have to settle for the NFL, MLB, and MLS for now.

BTW...the Sounders average attendance ranked in the top 50 in the world. Amazing. You can't tell me David Stern isn't kicking himself in the butt with all of the struggling markets in his league and no team in Seattle with a fan base that can rabidly support their teams.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Sonicegate....

QFT. I think the NHL would do really, really well in Seattle. Sadly the NHL gets little to no media coverage in Seattle as well. You'd barely even know the Canucks exist. However, Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Everett, and the Tri-Cities have all proven to really support the WHL. A professional Seattle team could easily pull from those regions. The only problem? Oh yeah, no arena. Key Arena was remodeled in the 90's by the Sonics owner at the time to make it impossible for an NHL team to succeed there. Guess we'll have to settle for the NFL, MLB, and MLS for now.

BTW...the Sounders average attendance ranked in the top 50 in the world. Amazing. You can't tell me David Stern isn't kicking himself in the butt with all of the struggling markets in his league and no team in Seattle with a fan base that can rabidly support their teams.

Apparently the Sounders are contemplating opening up more seats, and they're at 36,000 now which is amazing for an MLS team.

[hokupguy]

Re: Sonicegate....

I didn't have the heart to watch the whole thing, but didn't Seattle keep the Sonics name and have the right to retire jerseys for guys like GP and Kemp?

from the video: they keep the name and share the history "even" if there is a team back again. And OKC have all the banners and nba trophy. And doesnt state if the banners on trophy go back to settle if there a team again.

But from what i can tell from the video that OKC people saw the problem knew they could get away with it. Based on the issues with city and state. And from what they show its still an issue with the city and the state. And because of the that the team is still getting away with stuff because off issues.

I would like to see the sonics back, but not at the cost of a team relocating. Read something some where that the original owners of the grizz wanted to buy the pacers and bring them back to vancover. I think if a team has been around for ever and is part of the history of the city and the league they should leave. Like the sonic or the pacers.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Sonicegate....

As a Browns fan I have a ton of sympathy for the people of Seattle. Fortunately, our local government (which sucks at about everything else) fought the NFL to allow us to keep our colors and history and eventually get a team back. Anybody know when they're going to show up?

[hokupguy]

Re: Sonicegate....

As a Browns fan I have a ton of sympathy for the people of Seattle. Fortunately, our local government (which sucks at about everything else) fought the NFL to allow us to keep our colors and history and eventually get a team back. Anybody know when they're going to show up?

I dont know why the city lawyers did look at browns as a an example you can leave but we keep everything of the team. That should of been a no brainer...

[DustinT]

Re: Sonicegate....

The only way I can learn to cope with this is if Durant is traded from OKC and Seattle gets an "expansion" team.

[WazzuRC]

Re: Sonicegate....

Sorry, but I never want to see a team in Seattle again. It won't be the same. The NBA is pretty much dead to me. Since the Sonics left, I've watched a total of about an hour of NBA games, including playoffs. The only reason I even remotely follow the NBA anymore is because I'm a sports junkie.

Honestly, I'd support any other league or sport before I ever supported something by David Stern.

That said, this is one of my favorite YouTube vids of all-time. Dude is what Amare Stoudemire wishes he could be. (Language in song)

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[GaryT531]

Re: Sonicegate....

The 1998-99 NBA Lockout is the worst thing that ever happened to Shawn Kemp's career. Put on like 50 lbs.

That, or maybe the trade to Cleveland.

That, or maybe when it became public that he fathered 13 children or something.

Shawn Kemp: 1993-96. Amazing.

[hokupguy]

Re: Sonicegate....

The only way I can learn to cope with this is if Durant is traded from OKC and Seattle gets an "expansion" team.

he might soon be gone from OKC, his deal is up soon i think he is a east coast guy.

The 1998-99 NBA Lockout is the worst thing that ever happened to Shawn Kemp's career. Put on like 50 lbs.

That, or maybe the trade to Cleveland.

That, or maybe when it became public that he fathered 13 children or something.

Shawn Kemp: 1993-96. Amazing.

worst things was he discovered pot and a season of no playing and smoking and munchies did him in.

[Coug00]

Re: Sonicegate....

The 1998-99 NBA Lockout is the worst thing that ever happened to Shawn Kemp's career. Put on like 50 lbs.

That, or maybe the trade to Cleveland.

That, or maybe when it became public that he fathered 13 children or something.

Shawn Kemp: 1993-96. Amazing.

That was also the worst thing that happened to the Seattle Sonics. The day Kemp left it all slowly started downhill.

Those mid 90's Sonics teams were so fun to watch. I'm sure I'll never enjoy the NBA as much as I did in those days. And I still hate Dikembe Motumbo and the '94 Nuggets.

[hokupguy]

Re: Sonicegate....

That was also the worst thing that happened to the Seattle Sonics. The day Kemp left it all slowly started downhill.

Those mid 90's Sonics teams were so fun to watch. I'm sure I'll never enjoy the NBA as much as I did in those days. And I still hate Dikembe Motumbo and the '94 Nuggets.

that was great series, wasn't that the last year at the old seattle center before it was turned to keyarena?

[Coug00]

Re: Sonicegate....

that was great series, wasn't that the last year at the old seattle center before it was turned to keyarena?

Yep, it was. And they kicked off the new Arena by getting dumped by the Lakers in the 1st round in '94/95 as well.

[hokupguy]

Re: Sonicegate....

Yep, it was. And they kicked off the new Arena by getting dumped by the Lakers in the 1st round in '94/95 as well.

weren't they in tacoma playing in the dome that season, was 95-96 there 1st year in "key Arena" with new logo and unis the year they got to the finals?

[Coug00]

Re: Sonicegate....

weren't they in tacoma playing in the dome that season, was 95-96 there 1st year in "key Arena" with new logo and unis the year they got to the finals?

Yep, they played that one season in the Tacoma Dome. New arena and new uniforms in '95/96.

[thaima1shu]

Re: Sonicegate....

Sorry, but I never want to see a team in Seattle again. It won't be the same. The NBA is pretty much dead to me. Since the Sonics left, I've watched a total of about an hour of NBA games, including playoffs. The only reason I even remotely follow the NBA anymore is because I'm a sports junkie.

Honestly, I'd support any other league or sport before I ever supported something by David Stern.

See, I am conflicted here. One the one hand, I keep holding out hope that one day, the Zombie Sonics (thank you Bill Simmons) somehow get uprooted out of OKC and come back to Seattle. I think Oklahoma deserves a team, as they obviously are supporting it fine from what I see. But they don't deserve the SONICS. Nobody but Seattle does. No one can convince me that anyone deserves to take our franchise and history away from us. That was complete BS and I sincerely hope David Stern rots in hell. If we don't get the Sonics back, I don't want the NBA back. I don't want an expansion, and I DEFINITELY do not want another city's team.

On the other hand, I have lost so much interest in the NBA as a whole after this. I used to follow the Blazers a lot just to watch Brandon Roy, since I'm a huge UW fan. I'd follow what Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes, Jon Brockman are doing. But now, I just can't get interested anymore. I'll check a box score here or there, but I can't remember the last time I watched a whole NBA game.

I'm still bitter as all hell.