I tried to just set up the POD and let it be, but I just have to weigh in on this whole Sonics debacle...and believe me, I will be brief (or should I say, as brief as I can). If you would like to experience this tirade in its entirety, I would be happy to accompany you to any fine local establishment for some fine ales and discussion of the finer points....for now, this will have to do.
Let me first say straight out of the gate that for whatever reason, over the last several years, I have seen myself falling out of love with the NBA. (This is a whole different topic, and one that I think a few of you may agree with...but I won't go there.) That being said, I can't tell you how incredibly sick this whole thing has made me. I am excited to see the story getting national attention....finally. I am also encouraged to see that the "attention" is mostly negative towards the NBA, David Stern and the business model that continues to hold local governments hostage and extort/divert public money (that could/should/would be spent on more importatnt issues) into the coffers of billionaire "business" owners that change the facts as it becomes convenient. When they need money, the team is a viable local and cultural icon. When they want to move because the public stands up and says "...pay for some of this shite yourself", the team is an "asset"...and they get to be good business owners, and treat the team as an "asset", without any responsibility to the community that has embraced the team for 4 decades. I think it's also interesting to note that the people of OKC really want an NBA team, but even those local yokels don't want somebody else's "hijacked" team...because that's what is going on here. A business deal between two longtime douchebags friends.
Do I agree with the way that Seattle government officials an the state legislature have handled this situation? Does it matter? Do I agree with the way our state officials handle anything? Does it matter? (For the record, the answer(s) are 'can you blame them', 'not really', 'sometimes', and 'no'.)
This "debate" has changed direction now, which is why we are seeing people changing their ideas, and coming across the fence. I do believe that the "debate" is still founded on principle, and I believe that is all that Seattle has said so far. The team is important and it's important to keep them here, but it also important to stare a pack of a**holes straight in the eye and tell them to bugger off.
Read the blogs. Read the Sports Guy (Part I & Part II). Listen to the interviews with the local group that is pledging their cash to renovate a public facility. Call or email your legislators. Step up. Weigh in. You can do something, and you don't even have to "do it" for the Sonics....just do it because this whole thing just feels wrong. (You may also do nothing, but please just shut up).
...and for the record, we wouldn't be here if Howard Schultz actually had a pair. Please tell me again how difficult it was to be an NBA owner and make $150 million when you sold Seattle's soul?
Labels: Clay Bennet Douchebag, David Stern Douchebag, NBA, Sonics
I'm still reeling from the Sonics leaving Seattle news that finalized yesterday afternoon. Adande mentions that the team is willing to leave the SuperSonics' name, colors and history behind -- with owner Clay Bennett said "I was always amenable ... to reserving the name for Seattle fans." Even that quote pisses me off. Basically he's admitting that he wanted to leave all along. I haven't really hated many people in my life. Clay Bennett is one of them.
With the gavel finally coming down on the side of the franchise, now I have a seemingly unthinkable decision on whether to follow the surprisingly well-run Blazers squad down South in Portland. Did anyone see the draft? I loved me some Jerryd Bayless, even thinking the Sonics messed up by picking Westbrook over Bayless at #4. Everyone praised them for picking Rush, but then they upgraded their point guard position (the only noticeably weak link on their team) with the draft day deal.
The memories of my favorite team will remain. Unfortunately, so will the pain of that team leaving thanks to a shady back room deal between David Stern and Clay Bennett. What a douche. I want to pul an X-man and strangle them both. I'm feeling myself moving towards the darkside with these events. Hate leading to anger and all...
