March 01, 2008
Sonics on the stage

Bill Simmons, aka the Sports Guy, has taken up the cause of the Sonics probable departure over at ESPN with long offerings here and here (I recommend the latter).

Simmons is highly displeased at the manner in which Clay Bennett and the NBA are sticking it to Seattle by pilfering a major sports franchise, largely because it sets a wretched precedent for other cities and their teams.

Aside from Simmons's musings on how the Sonics could stay in Seattle, the volume and passion of emails he's been receiving and publishing on the topic speak to how much fervor for the team formerly permeated the city. For good or for ill, it apparently doesn't appear to have critical mass at the present time.

UPDATE: It should be noted the torrent of emails Simmons received on the topic of the Sonics was the result of a lone solicitation for such missives at the end of this mailbag column.

Posted by Eric Earling at March 01, 2008 09:22 AM | Email This
Comments
1. He outlines a pretty logical franchise-swap that would be a good way to Save our Sonics.

Allowing Bennett's group to cart off the Sonics would be pretty sad.

Posted by: Anthony on March 1, 2008 09:27 AM
2.
Clay Bennett isn't to blame. He bought the Sonics fair and square and he is right -- the Key Arena is a terrible venue.

The real culprit is crybaby Harold Schultz who couldn't manage a sports team and so took his money and dumped the Sonics willy-nilly.

Posted by: John Bailo on March 1, 2008 09:52 AM
3. If a sports team can't attract enough fans to support its own expenses - then off to Oklahoma for you. The fans there will love them and support them. Great for them.

We can always use the Key Arena for something more important, like a swap meet to raise money for the disadvantaged children of the International District, or something.

Posted by: steve miller on March 1, 2008 10:23 AM
4. So.... u think Kevin D. is gonna like OKC?

And what's Bennett gonna do if they trash his sales tax increase?

Posted by: Hinton on March 1, 2008 11:10 AM
5. If it means keeping the Sonics in town I am willing to let Clay Bennent fuck me up the ass!!

Posted by: Jim Turner on March 1, 2008 12:18 PM
6. If it means keeping the Sonics in town I am willing to let Clay Bennent stick his big long penis in my hot tight manhole. Ya baby do it to me Clay!!

Posted by: Jim Turner on March 1, 2008 12:22 PM
7. Jim Turner~ you belong at Horsesass.org with the rest of the children with a complex.

As for the sonics, repeat after me...."Oklahoma, here we come!"

I'm a Miami Heat fan anyway.

Posted by: Rick D. on March 1, 2008 12:44 PM
8. Can't they just leave already! Then I can switch on KTHH and actually hear the host I turned on the radio for instead if listening to the sonics lose another game.

Posted by: Right Wing Wacko on March 1, 2008 02:33 PM
9. Bye Bye Sonics, Hello happiness I think i'am going to save some mulla

Posted by: george on March 1, 2008 05:54 PM
10. I read an inspecific article recently, either by the Times or the PI, where some back-door dealing has been going on. According to the article, the "negotiators" behind closed doors have an idea of 50% private financing for a 500 million rebuild of Key Arena and the other 50% of the price tag being publicly financed. The article didn't mention anything about I-91 passing in 2006, but wouldn't the passing of I-91 now prohibit using public funds for Key Arena? Why are some folks behind closed doors still talking about publicly financing Key Arena when the voters already said no to that by 74% via I-91?

Posted by: David Wolbeck on March 2, 2008 02:07 AM
11. I read on SonicsCentral.com whispers of a plan to tear down KeyArena, while saving several of the old beams that would be used in the new structure. The new structure could then be termed a "re-model," so as to bypass the requirements of I-91.

Or, the new stadium could be built in Renton, AKA 'the new Bellevue,' since I-91 only applies in Seattle.

Posted by: russell garrard on March 2, 2008 04:20 AM
12. Stopped giving a rip about basketball when the player grabbed his coach, (PJ Carlisimo) in a choke hold. It has been over 10 years, and I could not care less about a sport than what basketball seems to represent. Do you think ANYONE who is listening to KTTH during the day is happy to have the regular shows interrupted? See ya Sonics, now I can listen to all of David Boze, or Bryan in LA. (KVI, now, were they a station that had a presence in Seattle at one time?)

Posted by: Craig in Puyallup on March 2, 2008 03:21 PM
13.
I loathe the plan put out by Greg Nichols because it wants to "improve the Key Arena".

Again?

All of these plans to keep densifying Down Town Seattle simply add to the strife of traffic, pollution, taxation and oppression of the center city to us Exurbians.

I welcome the Sonics to Kent or to Renton or even to Tacoma -- anywhere where they can build a spacious arena with ample parking that is accessible to traffic.

If they do leave, I won't miss all the backed up cars trying to cram their way into the Mercer Street exit on I-5 Northbound.

Posted by: John Bailo on March 3, 2008 09:44 AM
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