I understand that the Sonics had to leave Seattle, but to relocate to Oklahoma City? No offence to people that live in Oklahoma but even you have to agree, this is stupid. Let's take an NBA franchise and place in one of the whitest states, who only care about football. I know they really got behind the Hornets when the Hornets had to play there a season ago, but there is so many better cities out there for a basketball team. The majority of NBA players are black, and not that they are racist or nothing but I can't imagine one of them just dieing to play in Oklahoma City, unless the $ is right. But as I type this I realize that Utah is really the whitest state and is filled with Mormons and they are one of the better franchises in the league. But anyway...
Here's a list of cities that are much better for an NBA franchise.
St. Louis, MO
They are a successful sport city and the NBA team would give them all the major sports.
Pittsburgh, PA
I don't know if that's really a basketball city, but I just like that all their teams are black and gold and they have some of the best fans.
Helena, MT
I am just kidding, could you imagine? Who the hell lives in Montana?
Honolulu, HI
I am sure everyone wants to play in there, but constantly having to travel in out of Hawaii would suck.
Las Vegas, NV
Because Las Vegas wants a sports team, and NBA players never get in trouble.
Well good luck Oklahoma City.
Put it on the board, Oklahoma City Cowboys is the name
Actually, Mafy, the team will not be known as the Sonics; Seattle got to keep the name, colors and history. But I agree that St. Louis would be a great stop; they had the Hawks when they won their only NBA title, and the Spirits of the ABA, so that would be better than O.K. City.
You are 16 and you may know more about sports than I do, but not the world. You should feel embarrased that neither the education that your city or state has provided you has depth.
If you hope to create peers here, you're off to a bad start. And, if you don't care, you can prepare yourself now for a long life of feeding off the dregs of this society.
It takes a lot to take the Christian out of me, but blanket ignorance takes the cake.
Good luck. And keep an eye out for Okalahomans as most I know are badasses if you get on their wrong side.
Mafy
Whilst the Hornets were relocated there the fans came out and showed their support for the team. Whilst not all of us are in agreement as to how things went down. I'm sure that once the team is up and running they'll be supported very well.
The whole state is a basketball hotbed and it does have talent within its midst there as well.
Deserve a team, yes. Ours, no, and HELL no. An expansion team that can make their own history.
That man has no right to take the divisional and championship banners and retired jerseys and hang them in the Ford Center and claim that "his" team won them. "His" OKC Whatevers did not, the Seattle SuperSonics did.
It's not about the city, it's aboout deep pocketed owners. Clay paid his way out of Seattle.
New stadiums/arenas are the current blackmail benchmark in sports.
So Key Arena was upgraded in 1995, it's a dump by current standards and Seattle found a way to finance NFL and MLB stadiums.
Seattle hurt themselves on this one.
As long as we're pointing fingers, blame the former owner, who sold to a foreigner.
'Oh, you're from OKC, the place that housed New Orleans and sold out, but you'll keep the Sonics here. Ok, I'll sell."
Though I'm surprised and unhappy Seattle lost their franchise, we went through OKC a few years ago to stop and meet some locals to pick up some antique furniture. They were really excited the Hornets were relocating due to Katrina and supported them well. Can't blame the city or the fans.
Get over it!!! Concentrait on improving your infrastructure for a "new" team or get out of the business. Teams are bought & sold everyday - teams ask for new & improved stadiums everyday - your situation is not special. If you want to keep your players - get a new team & negotiate. The NBA has decided and your city folded!! Put your efforts, money & mouth into improving your city and your situation. Think possitive!
Get over it!!! Concentrait on improving your infrastructure for a "new" team or get out of the business. Teams are bought & sold everyday - teams ask for new & improved stadiums everyday - your situation is not special. If you want to keep your players - get a new team & negotiate. The NBA has decided and your city folded!! Put your efforts, money & mouth into improving your city and your situation. Think possitive!
Get over it!!! Concentrait on improving your infrastructure for a "new" team or get out of the business. Teams are bought & sold everyday - teams ask for new & improved stadiums everyday - your situation is not special. If you want to keep your players - get a new team & negotiate. The NBA has decided and your city folded!! Put your efforts, money & mouth into improving your city and your situation. Think possitive!
St Louis lost both their pro football and basketball teams due to lack of fan interest because both team stunk. They then went out and stole another pro football team.
OKC or anyone else may not support the Sonics because they stink so bad. If that doesn't change quickly they same may happen here that happened in Seattle. The supported the up and coming Hornets fine during two non playoff years because they could see the potential.
Calling Oklahoma one of the "whitest states" is just out and out ignorance. Oklahoma has the highest % to population of Indians of any state in America and has large black communities in both OKC and Tulsa (88 miles northeast of OKC). Perhaps you were thinking of Minnesota which is over 95% white and has a pro football, basketball and baseball team.
Oklahoma City's last population count was:
66.9% White, 14.7% Black or African American, 3.5% Native American, 3.5% Asian American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. 12.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Seattle's last population count was:
67.1 percent White, 16.6 percent Asian, 9.7 percent African American, 2.38 percent from other races, 1.00 percent Native American, 0.50 percent Pacific Islander, and 4.46 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3 percent of the population.
technically, is less white than Seattle. Maybe you should actually read about a place before you judge it.
When the Hornets came to OKC, they had a loosing record the year before (18-64), but that didn't really matter as we were excited to see the NBA games. We supported them, sold out almost every home game, and that money helped them build a great team. The Hornets loved OKC, showed their gratitude, and Byron Scott even kept a home there.
The NBA decided to give OKC a chance after they proved themselves. The OKC team already has over 12,000 responses about season tickets, I think the Sonics, or what ever they will be called in OKC, will find they like their new home.
