Up and coming contender to a lame duck. Think the latter right now. Most Northwest fans are in a funk right now.  I feel I've been kicked in the ba**s, after being stabbed in the back following robbery seen in the past Super Bowl.   

It is truly sad to see the writing on the wall regarding Seattle's oldest professional sports franchise and one of only two teams to bring a world championship to the State of Washington heading to a state that cannot appreciate the history and tradition of this franchise.  From the 1979 World Championship banner (I was there when it was raised in the rafters of the coliseum) to the retired jerseys of Lenny Wilkins, Fred Brown, Jack Sikma, Nate MacMillan, and the countless number of Division Title banners, it just won't be the same.

I was looking for the upcoming NBA season and seeing how our local Seattle Supersonics were going to respond to some great draft picks (Mohammed Saer Sene and Denham Brown), last year's French draft pick sensation, Mickael Gelabale, as well as last year's aquirees in Chris Wilcox and Earl Watson.  If this is any indication, since the announcement of the sale, the WNBA Seattle Storm (another world champion) are playing on fumes with absolutely no heart whatsoever.  Sonic Free Agent, Chris Wilcox is waffling. Heck, if I knew the team I was hoping to play for on a long term contract - would be moving to Oklahoma City, I'd have second thoughts also.  Going from a city of clean air, ocean vistas, pristine mountains, organic living, micro breweries, great coffee, cultural diversity, liberal politics and easy living - to a state that is totally the opposite, how could anyone not have second thoughts.  I would be depressed too about moving to Oklahoma.

With past blogs flooded on opinions on the sale of the team, I did not intend to belabor the issue.  However, yesterday  I just saw the press conference represented by Clayton I. Bennett, the representative of new owner; Professional Basketball Club LLC, of Oklahoma City.  He mentioned that if a new deal if the Key Arena could not be reach in one year, the team will likely move to Oklahoma City.  The deal is, he was not fooling anyone!  That was his and his group's intentions all along - no one is that stupid.  New Orleans wants their team back and they are going back home in a year.  With New Orlean's gone in a year how convenient to have a team in the wings!  Clayton's cronies knew the City of Seattle and State Legislature was not going to give another obligation of public money to support another sports rennovation following similar deals done with the Seahawks and Mariners.  Taxpayers have already said enough is enough.

The second thing was that he did not appreciate the way he was depicted in local media back in Seattle.  Oh shut up you big baby.  What a whiner.  Seattle fans would appreciate the new owners more if they just give their intentions to move the team and not give all these false expectations that the team would stay in the Northwest if a deal could be reached, when they knew all along a deal had a snowball's chance in hell of ever getting passed.  The local media in the Pacific Northwest had every right to give the opinions the way they did.

I will cherish watching Sonics Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Johan Petro, Chris Wilcox (?), Luke Ridnour, and the rest of the lads this season.  Give a great performance for the hometown fans who stood by you guys since 1966.  The business side of the NBA really sucks.  Most owners want the kickbacks they get from the local tax breaks, luxury boxes, high food sales, and $40 tickets - and they wonder why we non-billionaires don't show up at games.   With high gas prices, families even think twice about going to the movies.  Come on!!! Learn from minor league baseball or the CBA.  Have a few family nights, $10 Tuesdays, concerts following games, take your daughter/son to the game nights, door prizes, corporate giveaways, etc.