Save the SuperSonics
Imagine the loyalty you have towards your home town team. Now imagine that team being taken away from you and being relocated because business. This is what is happening in Seattle due to the owners request for several millions of dollars for a new arena, paid for by the residents of Seattle.
I received an e-mail last night by a Sonics fan asking me to lend my voice in helping stop the relocation of the Sonics. When I think of the SuperSonics, I’m reminded of great players such as Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Slick Watts, Sam Perkins, Xavier McDaniels, Tom Chambers, Spencer Haywood and I could go on and on. We here in Chicago remember the Seattle team that went 64-18 and ended up losing in the 96 Finals against the 72-10 Bulls.
As a Chicago Bulls fan, I would be outraged if this team was uprooted and moved to another market. The Sonics have 40+ years of loyalty. The future is even brighter with an emerging young superstar in Kevin Durant and fellow rookie Jeff Greene. Simply put, This isn’t right.
Where you can come in at, is by helping in this cause by signing petitions or heading over to J.E. Skeets Yahoo’s “Balls Don’t Lie” blog to contact other team owners to voice your displeasure with what is going on. Some Cleveland Cavalier fans have also started an online petition you can sign here.
Here is a copy of the e-mail I was sent by Sonic fan, Tyler Kumakura
“Dear Co-NBA Brother,
I’ll start with this: I’m a Sonics fan. I realize, that on any given night, if your team was to go head to head with my Supes, we wold probably not be buying each other beers.Today, however, I’m hoping that you’ll be able to see beyond the court to the bigger picture.
As an NBA fan, I would imagine you’ve been following to some extent, what’s happening up here in Seattle. We are in the midst of having our hearts ripped out by a deceitful ownership group trying to steal our team. A local ownership group has stepped up to the plate in an effort to save the team, and the community has rallied behind them. Despite the local momentum, much of how this all plays out will hinge on how the NBA Board of Governors will vote regarding the relocation bid. The vote is scheduled to take place in 2 days (April 17). Here’s where you come in.
Get your blog readers to let your team’s owner know that you do not support the relocation of the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Have them email him. Write him a letter. Call him. Let him know that all of you will boycott any game next season in which the Oklahoma City Sonics play, whether it be in your arena or on tv. As the administrator of your team’s fan blog, you have a voice among your team’s fan base. Mobilize them! You can do what we never could - we need you!
A warm-hearted Miami Heat fan who has gotten involved in the protest gave us the idea to reach out to other team’s fan bases and had this to say on our Sonicscentral.com blog: “Spread this idea around as much as you can. It’s going to take the other teams to prevent this from happening. Let’s save the Sonics!”
I implore you- if you feel like what is happening is wrong - if you aren’t buying Clay Bennett and David Stern’s lies and cover ups - if you don’t want to see a precedent set where the NBA can rip 40+ years of tradition away from any community that doesn’t bow it’s knee in submission - then take action. The Board of Governor’s meeting is in 2 days. We love our team as much as you love yours. If we don’t stop this travesty from occurring, it could happen to any team or market. Please do your part and help us. It’s the 11th hour, but it’s not too late!
Our most sincere thanks,
Tyler”
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22 Responses to “Save the SuperSonics”
April 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
On behalf of all that’s decent in the NBA community, thank you for putting this up.
Best,
The South Florida Fan
April 16th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I like to thank you for your support. I hope some day the seattle sonics and the bulls fight it out in the nba finals again.
thank you
Angelo
April 16th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
A Sponge, Angelo, you are very welcome. I hope this issue can be resolved in a way that keeps the Sonics in Seattle. It’s a great city and a lot of talk is made about fans from Utah, Golden State and New York, but the Sonics fans I know are truly loyal to that ball club.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Thank you for helping us to try to save our team.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Anything to help great fans keep a valubale assest to the city of Seattle.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
If ithis “move” happens in Seattle, it can happen in your city if David Stern decides your city doesn’t match his long term marketing strategy for the NBA. Can you see the Lakers playing in Beijing? They will have the kind of facility he is looking to leverage once the Olympics are over and he wants to expand into Asia. The man needs to be removed from the Commissionership sooner rather than later. He does not have the fans best interests at heart.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
After a while, money speaks louder and the commisioner is thinking business wise rather than taken a look at what that franchise has meant to the people of Seattle. Money speaks volumes, but I feel when the people come together and he see how much this means to them, he will have to keep the Sonics in Seattle.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Speaking of NBA fan loyalty,the Bulls have always had the best fans selling out all 41 homes games every season since 1987,maybe even before that,the windy city has always been number one when it comes to sell out crowds at the United Center,now this is true fan loyalty,native Chicagoans love their Bulls no matter how much they lose,and only this kind of loyalty will give them more NBA titles for years and years in the near future,because true loyalty has already given them 6 NBA titles in the 90’s.Let’s roll Chicago.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
That’s correct. Now imagine team owner Jerry Reinsdorf moving the team to Idaho because city tax payers don’t want to help fund a $500 million facility?
April 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Whoa my man Chris don’t even have me imagine that,because I’m not down and straight at all with our Bulls team moving anywhere,but that would be the case if city tax payers did not want to participate funding up a $500 million facility.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
That’s the case in Seattle.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I am a native Houstonian and went through the same thing when I watched my beloved Oilers move to Tennessee to become the Titans. It was crushing for me and a lot of other fans that still to this day brings about bitter feelings that seemingly won’t ever end. Yes, we finally got another team in the Texans, but it’s not the same. I’m a season ticket holder, and I cheer on the Texans, but I’d give my lefticle to have never endured that. Good luck to you.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
that’s some die hard fandum right there. It’s always tough because these teams become a part of you, no matter if another team is eventually placed back in the city, it’s still not going to be the same because another tradition has to be started.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
just want to say thanks from the bottom of my heart as a sonics fan for showing the love.
Me and my family live and die NBA basketball during the winter. we watch nba baskeball every night. I have a one year old son that I always imagined I would bring to his first Sonics game. Now that dream is being dashed because billionaires are deciding that my thousands of dollars spent over the years was not enough.
We as fans feel the tide turning, thanks to others like you.
THANK YOU
Save our Sonics.
Jim
April 17th, 2008 at 12:06 am
That is what it’s about right there. Thanks Jim for touching on another point. How about all of those fans who want to bring their children to those games, helping usher in another generation of fans. Sometimes making more or a little bit more money isn’t always the answer. Money is starting to overshadow loyalty and responsibility and that is the case here.
No need to thank me Jim. I would want the same if someone was threatening to take something dear to me away as well. I hope you do get to take your son to his first Sonics game.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I read something totally lame from the Chicago Sun Times,GM John Paxson has ‘09 playoffs on mind,this is a title winning tradition,Chicago has always wanted NBA titles,not lame old postseason appearances,and as for the Chicago Sun Times, I know you can come up with way better words than that,man come on now,yall have always been the most hated and the most outspoken city in the damn good old U.S.A,so come up with way better words than that,this is the windy city, the most hated and outspoken capital of the U.S.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
John Paxson is just loooking at the situation realistically. His thought is, once in the playoffs, anything can happen. Unless something truly great happens, like the offseason Boston had last year, than the playoffs is the only goal we can set.
April 17th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
As a long time sonic fan thank you for your support.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
As a Mother to four sons who live for B-Ball…we are die-hard Sonics fans too in our family here in the Seattle area. My sons especially my youngest, is not only heart broken and devastated that we could lose our Sonics, he feels let down. He says what about kids like him who Love the Sonics and because of growing up in Seattle as Sonics fan, aspires to play for them one day. He works every day to be the best basketball player he can, and when we lost Ray Allen he was crushed, literally. But when we got KD his hopes and spirit were renewed. We joined all local efforts to Save our Sonics, he asked me to help. He asked how could he help. This all coming from an eleven year old. This is more than just about business, money, this is about a city of people who for more than forty years, for generations of families, who the Sonics are a part of their livelihood.
Clay Bennett can afford to buy and build his own team, he doenst give a darn about Seattle or the SEATTLE Sonics, he just cares about what he wants, he has proven that in the way he handles business. Without the Seattle fans, there would have never been a Seattle Sonics. We wont give up trying as a Family, nor will we give up hope. I would like as a Parent to see an organization like the NBA stand for what sportsmanship is about, Honor, Respect and GOOD FAITH, etc… Send the message that this type of business is not acceptable. That without ALL the NBA fans who have supported all the teams, all the good ol’ boy money in the world doesnt mean a _amned thing!
SAVE OUR SONICS!!!
Thanks…from Sonics Fan Mom
April 17th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
No problem.
As for you Jamie, I feel vwey sympathetic for you. As a basketball fan and someone who has extreme love for the game, I can say I would have never had this love had it not been for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls on my television set. I can imagine how your son feels now and that truly can have an impact on him.
What Clay Bennett needs to understand is the tradition and connection that the Sonics have to the city of Seattle. I hope this situation can end with the Sonics remaining in Seattle.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Chris,
Thank you all for supporting us!
You know, I have to say that MJ and the Bulls are as much a part of the reason we love B-ball as the Sonics. Back around 95-96 when it was a very good year for Seattle in basketball, it was the best time overall for me personally watching the NBA! Wow the games, the players, what an exciting time! For me it was The Bulls, and yes even with that oh so lovable Rodmann :), the Jazz and of course the Sonics! I have such fond memories of basketball then! Sometimes early in the morning here in seattle I belive its ESPN classics, they play all those games and I just love to watch them!
And as for MJ…well there just is no other! he will always be the perfect representation of what Basketball is and should be all about. Hmmm…couldnt he take Stern’s place?
Jamie
April 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Those were great years of NBA basketball. Michael Jordan embodied comiitment to one’s business and career. I have no doubt he would be great in Sterns place, but Stern isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Those memories and experiences helped me gain the love of what I do now, that’s why I don’t want to see Seattle lose a franchise because some 8 year old is hoping to be able to see Kevin Durant do big things for his hometown and if he is gone, that kid losses a part of himself.
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