Comments on: Ray Allen bringing basketball back to Seattle

By: OKCIgnorants

OKCIgnorants — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:21:36 +0000

No slight to OKC fans, but your owner is a criminal.
He intentionally sabotaged the season in order to get draft picks and alienate fans, and he intentionally alienated politicians, and he along with David Stern intentionally made a greedy arena ultimatatum that they knew Seattle could not currently afford.
Your blindless and devotion to Clayton is what makes us hate you, nothing more.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:18:03 +0000

apparently you do ^ boycotting Starbucks nuff said.

By: anthony

anthony — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:35:11 +0000

wow..I am from Oklahoma City and we are supportive of
our NBA team. It just seems that people want to slam OK as
some sort of backwater/hicktown.. Maybe, some of you big city
Seattle folks will quit whining and get over it! I think Seattle
is an exceptionally beautifully (albeit, rainy place.), but I don’t
have to insult your residents to feel good about my place
of residence. Big business is not kind to anything but the bottom line (ask the 50 or so OKC Starbucks that closed shop) hmmmmm…don’t see us attacking the Seattle Coffee Mafia?

By: chris shirling

chris shirling — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:44:16 +0000

Randy… the message you should take away from all of this is David Stern will screw over OKC if it advances he fundamentally sick NBA business model. The city of Seattle backed the team up well prior to the start of the Bird/Johnson years when the league resembled the movie Semi Pro. He knew he wasn’t going to get a new arena paid for so instead of pulling the money out of the X billion in revenue the league gets each year, he allowed the team to move to a market that has no business with a pro sports team.
You have the leagues top scorer and the only game in town and you are bragging about selling out the arena only half the time???
The long term mistake David Stern has made is he has exposed the league to the real downside and that is a city can survive with out an NBA team and here in Seattle, there is no outcry on sports radio for people wanting the league back. Other cities (sacramento, portland, etc.) will be able to laugh at Stern when he threatens to move the team. They will simply be able to say, “go ahead and move to Fort Wayne or Gulf Shores.”
He is a snake oil salesman..

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:39:37 +0000

The tribal land offer was a joke. 30 miles from anywhere down one of the most dangerous roads in the state. 2 lanes to hell. As for the arena bunk, there is nothing at all wrong with Key Arena and we aren’t done paying for the remodel done to it in the mid 90′s yet. Does it make sense to anyone else that they should have focused on filling up the arena they had before requesting another? The coffee king partnered up with some marginally well of pals when he bought the team. Pro sports franchises are not for the light of wallet. They all loose money until they are sold. Lots of it. I still don’t know how the purchase was approved. Must have been a Jewish thing. Only Howard has a pot to piss in-the rest were just shop keepers. Most had every dime they had in the world tied up in the team. It was loosing money and the weenies couldn’t cover. They all made a ton when it sold however. It was a spin deal from day one or Howard was hoping to screw the little owners over time as they were bled dry.
What should have been done was a simple renegotiation of the lease on the arena. The existing deal was a total screw job for the team. Had that been done out of the gate when Howie and the stooges bought the team, then the team would still be here playing in the Key Arena.
What finished the Sonics was Stearn’s ego when he was told to go f*** himself by the legislature-correctly so IMO. Stearns, Bennett and Howard are chiseling punks. They all deserve many KITN’s. Stearn’s tried to strong arm the State and got his head dunked in the toilet. He got even-that’s all.
Finally, who cares about the NBA anyway? I was a season ticket holder and I have not watched a single NBA game since the Sonics left. Haven’t missed it a bit. When you think about what the NBA was in the 70′s, 80′s and 90′s and compare it to the garbage it is now how could anyone give a s***? The clowns playing have absolutely nothing in common with the clowns paying. Good riddance.

By: Tucker

Tucker — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:46:06 +0000

Just a comment on the Native American tribe that offered the land for a stadium. It wasn’t a bad deal but it was near the city of Auburn, which is 30-40 miles away from downtown Seattle and relatively out in the middle of nowehere. It really wouldn’t have been a great location for a team to make a healthy go of things.

By: 85celticsfan

85celticsfan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 01:25:39 +0000

Hey jake,hows 6 3s in your mouth and 33 total pts..Not bad for someone who “was a stud”.Man i hope your not a die hard baseball fan too or your probly not far from hangin it up.but if you are did you catch the sox game tonight?Wicked f#ckin awesome dude!!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 03:16:35 +0000

This debate can go on, and will go on forever until Seattle gets an
NBA franchise again. I don’t live in Oklahoma City, but do live in
Oklahoma so the shots some of you take at My state have quickly grown
old. Everyone knows the former owner sold you out, knowing damn well
Bennett was going to move the team eventually. That should be the focus of your anger. I’m sure it stings to see the OKC franchise
thrive, and the fact that the club is backed by money from the energy
sector means it will continue to do so. At least you kept the Sonics name and colors, when My favorite NFL team was plucked from Houston Bud Adams kept the tradition for his own selfish reasons. Someday you’ll have a chance to return to the league like the Browns did in Cleveland years ago. All that being said the Thunder has been a great
story this year, and Durant’s rise to stardom is even sweeter due to
the fact that fans in this region had the priviledge to watch Kevin frequently during his one year at Texas. We knew he would do great
things in the NBA, and watching him do that in our backyard makes the teams rise to prominence all the more special. Seattle fans, we
know you were robbed, and if there’s any justice in the world the
Sonics will live to fight another day.

By: Jake Navajo

Jake Navajo — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:27:17 +0000

@you, Phil: We are almost in agreement on Ray Allen. You say he is a stud. I say he WAS a stud, but we’re close. He was my favorite member of the team formerly known as the Sonics. Cheers!

By: Jake Navajo

Jake Navajo — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:22:06 +0000

@you, Phil: You disputed two incorrect portions of my FACTS (Rose Garden instead of Key Arena and I still don’t know how I did that! and the Mayor, not living in the Seattle area this somehow escped me) successfully. The rest of your comment is more disgruntled fan opinions, errors, mistakes, and sleight of hand comments. By the way, I am not an Okie. I am a fellow Washington State native of 4 generations who was a real fan of the team formerly known as the Sonics (I held 2 season tickets to the very end–how about you?). So you see, Phil my boy, my FACTS still stand as a matter of record (Of course there are more FACTS you won’t like, but I am limited in my posts). Additionally, I take blame just as should all who did not do their best for the team formerly known as the Sonics. You know, I looked in the mirror also. Did you? PS: Maybe the Storm can sign Collison. That might make you feel more like attending their games (before they also fold or move) and he does play like a girl, so it all fits, and he has declared his undying love for Seattle since moving to OK.

By: Jake Navajo

Jake Navajo — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:19:46 +0000

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:19:50 +0000

@Jake
Every one of the “FACTS” you listed there are pretty inaccurate.
First of all, the Rose Garden is where the Portland Trailblazers play, Key Arena is the former Sonics venue.
Secondly, its not that the Mayor of Seattle or the fans didn’t like the proposed land, it’s that the Governor of Washington disliked the half-ass proposal Clay Bennett put forth where he would charge tax payers for almost all the construction costs involved in the new arena. This was the ownerships way of passively getting the team out of Seattle but still appearing to make a “good faith effort” as per the contract they signed with Howard Schultz.
Thirdly, the people of Seattle did oust the politicians involved by not re-electing Greg Nickels the next year.
Here are the facts: Clay Bennett is a freakin snake, Ray Allen is a stud, and you’re a freakin Okie.

By: Jake Navajo

Jake Navajo — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:36:13 +0000

This is a good example of why people argue over history. Here are a few historical facts that Seattle fans, wallowing in their hurt feelings and false sense of betrayal, seem to have conveniently forgotten: FACT–the previous owner repeatedly tried to get improvements made at the Rose Garden. The politicians you elected refused to help. The city failed to help. Check the newspaper archives. FACT: Fan support of the team formerly known as the Sonics quit on the team years before the evil Clay Bennett purchased it. Look up the attendance records. FACT–A Native American tribe offered to donate land for a new venue, but the politicians didn’t like it, the Mayor of Seattle didn’t like it, and the fans didn’t like it. FACT–When it became obvious that the lack of political and fan support was going to cause the team to leave, a group organized to prevent that happening. That group couldn’t even interest enough members to hold a decent rally. Check the NBA news account. FACT–The state and city were repeatedly told that unless something was don, the team formerly known as the Sonics would be moved. Nothing was done. FACT–No one outside Washington really cares very much where Gary PAYTON hangs his jersey. He did not endear himself to many, but of course now he is some kind of icon to the disgruntled. FACT–Fans in Seattle have a professional team that represents about all they are entitled to, the Storm. Even their attendance is poor. QUESTION–How many of the politicians who sat around shaking their heads “NO” are still in office? Have you turned any of them out through the vast electoral power of the hundreds of thousands of disgruntled fans? The answer is: No. If you want to place blame, then that is fine. Everyone outside Washington knows where the blame lies. You will also if you look in a mirror.

By: Green n gold blood

Green n gold blood — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:14:43 +0000

Hi guys. just to point out first. Its PAYTON. Not PEYTON. Just wanted to clear that up…
Now, Randy… If you read the article, no one blames the city OKC for what happened to the Sonics. However, lets put this in perspective. You are a Huge Thunder fan and some out of state guy comes in and makes it really really really hard for the team to stay in town. Purposly makes lame duck seasons, trades away your best player and lets the second best player go to another team. Puts plans in place for a half BILLION dollar stadium to be built with tax payer money and the local government NATURALLY does not go for it….. Think about it Randy, You would be pretty pissed off too. I don’t have any ill will towards OKC Marshmellow fans. I do however HATE Uncle Clay! That Some bitch! However, when I hear people like you say “Get over it” or “Boo Hoo” or “If you really loved your team you would have done more to keep them there” etc. It makes me wonder, if any of you have a heart and feel empathy towards us die hard Sonics fans. I would certanly feel bad for you if Uncle Howie did that to yall….

By: peyton sicma

peyton sicma — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:20:56 +0000

that would be awesome,and a welcome from die-hard sonic people. thugs,gangsters,trouble makers the game is getting a bad name what happened to the n.b.a. we watched growing up. hey randy check your facts before spouting off you sound like a idiot your probably david sterns son he was way off too!

By: Indy

Indy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:33:30 +0000

Seattle Pacers anyone?

By: D. Ranes

D. Ranes — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:12:54 +0000

Ray is such a cool guy. I hated to see him leave Seattle, but as it turned out he went to get a ring and the Sonics left to Chitsville.
It still burns me up every time I see/hear/read about Durant developing into the Superstar that we knew he would become. Stern has driven the NBA into the ground. Hopefully someday there will be a team known as the Sonics in Seattle, but until Stern is gone I really have no interest in supporting “his” league anyway.
Thanks, Ray Ray…you are one class act!

By: Jack Meoffer

Jack Meoffer — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:01:43 +0000

I live on Long Island and the local government is practically telling the owners to go screw themselves. The new owners are willing to pay to refurbish or build a new arena the local gov’t wants the team to pay for one environmental study after another. He finally gave up and will let his lease run out and move or sell the team. I say good. Although I am not a fan Long Island & New York gets what they deserve. It’s the place of NO…NO..No this…no that. NO!!!!!! Unless you want to grease someones palm over and over. Charles Wang played their game for a while, and now he’s done. They can have the ugliest thing ever built in the middle of a massive cement pond. Another thing Wang wanted to do. That was build condos, shopping area, and office bulidings. Buh bye Islanders. Have fun in Kansas City.

By: keogroh

keogroh — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:34:04 +0000

I am from Tacoma right by Seattle and grew up watching the sonics.They were probably my favorite home team.Now I can’t even watch basketball the way David Stearn and the NBA came up and took the team away there is no loyalty in the NBA.If your not New York or LA you better watch out.A couple bad years and your team will be gone.I will raise my kids not around the NBA,but from the NCAA.Which is very sad considering how much I loved basketball.So I hop OKC has a great time now because that attendance dips your team will also be gone.

By: Butters

Butters — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:23:56 +0000

Shawn Kemp and his 47 kids should come. Love thy rain man

By: Cam

Cam — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:23:08 +0000

Dude, you’re a jack ass… Just because you’re from the South or a rural area doesn’t mean you talk like you have 4 teeth. You, in fact, are one that seems like the ignorant one. OKC fans should and are embracing their young team. Sonics fans got a raw deal, much like Charlotte Hornets fans did in the late 90′s. It’s business… owners who don’t care about the fans move teams to a more profitable area… Executive Suites and Sky Boxes are a big money maker for teams, it’s understandable that the owners want another arena to make more money, however, it’s criminal for the owner to take away a community’s team because they don’t want to line the pockets of some self-interested wanker who only cares about the bottom line.

By: Stevo

Stevo — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:03:20 +0000

2nd question? What real Sonic fan doesn’t know how to spell Sikma? YOUR A FRAUD RANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: shorty

shorty — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:02:51 +0000

REALLY? This article has nothing to do with OKC VS Seattle, Bennet, Shultz, the governor or anything else related to the transfer of the team to anywhere.
Its about celebrating the strong basketball hertige here in Seattle with guys that played here or are from here.
Way to suck the life out of a great idea with your own personal agendas.
This is a positive thing, put on by a great player for a great basketball city!

By: Stevo

Stevo — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:59:56 +0000

2nd question? What real Sonic fan doesn’t know how to spell Sikma? YOUR A FRAUD RANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:44:16 +0000

1 question ????? Who is Gary (PEYTON)? Good God the least you all could do is get the name right of a future hall of famer especially if he has ties to your team GARY PAYTON !!!!

By: txdog

txdog — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:40:36 +0000

SOUNDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:40:30 +0000

http://www.sonicsgate.org
Watch this and tell me that the public didn’t get screwed.
It was not the public’s decision to not promote the Sonics or its young new star to the area.
It was not the public’s decision to gut the franchise so the fan wouldn’t attend games during the last season.
It was not the public’s decision to accept a deal on the litigation that would have kept the Sonics in Seattle
It was not the public’s decision to blame OKC for taking a franchise that was not struggling, per se, but had been entrenched successfully over 40 years and would not take to blackmail, it is the decision to blame Clay Bennett, David Stern and the government. All rightly so.
If this can happen in Seattle, it can happen anywhere, the intent was never to give Seattle a chance to keep the team, but to move the team all along, there was nothing we could do to stop it. Someone in the old boy network was owed a favor and one way or another, he was going to get it. Even after Ford Center finishes its renovation, it isn’t up to par compared to the facility that was REQUIRED to be built in Seattle for them to stay.
THAT is why we will never let it go, we must let everyone know that no team is safe. Market size, geographical location, smart business, doesn’t matter. Tell me how a team in OKC is better for the NBA than Seattle when China is the next big market you are shooting for.

By: MoeSnaps

MoeSnaps — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:35:32 +0000

first of all thank you ray allen for puting something like this together for the true seattle supersonic fans. second the seattle supersonic fans could care less about okc fans or the city itself, they are i repeat are not the problem. we never said they were. we just feel that 40 years of professional basketball should have meant something to david stearn, howard schults, greg nickels, clay bennett and any other knuckle head who had a hand in taking our team away. seattle deserves an nba team. if this is a start to somehow someway for us to begin that process ,then i’m all for it. i understand we need to remodel, hell maybe even start from scratch, but at the same time we the fans could have been treated better. provide us with a winner and you will get your money period.
and on that note bring me my seattle supersonics back, retire gary payton, shawn kemp’s jersey.

By: lee

lee — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:33:37 +0000

It’s Oklahoma man, what kid of response did you expect from an okie. “O whelp those darn gun sonic fans think we stole the chickens from um. Well golly, i spit on them there sonic fans”

By: NICK GERZ

NICK GERZ — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:31:28 +0000

YEAH WHO REALLY CARE