maybe the old lady in the electric stair climbing chair with the cats.

Stern works for the owners. he will do what they want. 28-2 of the NBA owners were in favor of relocation. We want to get info out there so others might understand the situation better.

If anything my lack of interest stems from over saturation with the subject.

Every institute ever considered a “public trust” whether it be a sports team, a religious organization, and especially the government is going to be littered with “scandal and betrayal” stemming from viewpoints as different as the individual public perception.

Howard Schultz and Seattle’s local government is truly some of the biggest villains in this film. Clay is no angel either but his actions are part of the ugly business of moving a team. This film concentrates on the history of the Sonics, how much the team means to a community and how it lost favor in Seattle’s eye over the years. Maily due to the competition from the Mariners and Seahawks flanked by a horrible NBA product on the floor. Then a large part of this film is detailing the nitty-gritty of how the Howard/NBA/PBC/Seattle leaders went about destroying a “public trust”(howard schultz called the Sonics a public trust) and how the fans did everything they could in the face of an impossible situation.

The main theme in the film is:
“stick to the facts”

Don’t feed the NBA after midnight or get it wet. That cute fuzzy creature will turn on you.

There are the basketball purists, who, despite the lack of a local NBA franchise, still bought league pass, still watched every playoff game, still kept up with their favorites. They did it because they loved basketball. Most of them cheered for their college team first and foremost, and the NCAA tourney is still a big deal here.

Then there are the regular sports fans, who like sports of all kinds, they like the entertainment value, they like the experience of game day. They didn’t follow an NBA team specifically, but possibly bought several tickets to Hornets games for a while and caught the fever.

The first group is small, the second group is large. Most of my friends and in the second group. From their perspective, the move from Seattle happened about like this…

“Hey, you guys wanna have an NBA team?”
“Why, sure mister!”
“Okay then, here you go.”
“Gee, thanks mister! WooHoo!”

Then they get online, or watch TV, or whatever else, and they see and hear people attacking their city, and often, them directly. They see and hear ill-will being sent their way, with negative wishes tossed toward their new favorite players. And like any red-blooded human being, they get defensive when attacked, and lash back. Suddenly, everyone turns into “that guy”.

I posted on this blog ages ago about being “that guy”. He’s the one who uses his association to a sports team as a means to judge other people to be “better than them”, and their city, etc… It’s all misguided, illogical, immature, emotional and unfounded.

I have never said a single negative word about Seattle or their Sonics fans that I haven’t said about any fan of any sport in any city. Some are normal people, some are “that guy”. Everyone has them, everyone has to deal with them.

If this online movie accomplishes it’s goal, and people are moved to compassion for Seattle’s Sonics fans (which, btw, is just nearly everyone who’s ever paid any attention) and that results in a change of heart towards their experience for a few of our local “that guy” fans, then good deal. If their local legislature changes hands, and the new guys listen to the voice of the Sonics fans, then good deal. If the movie serves as an educational tool for people who were focused on other areas of life at the time of the move, then good deal. Even if the only thing the movie does is serve as a form of closure for a few people, then good deal. I plan on watching it regardless.

But, if all the movie does is keep the door open for “that guy” to keep bashing the other “that guy” from the other city, then this movie just made things worse for everyone, and it won’t be such a good deal. If the movie alienates people as a way to “get back”, not a good deal. If it serves as a way to keep people divided, not a good deal. I plan on watching it regardless.

I’m an Oklahoma City resident. I was allowed to vote on arena expansions. I voted yes. My family and I owned season tickets to all the Hornet’s games, and all the Thunder games. I’ve missed two home games in all that time. My official take on the whole situation is that I took my opportunity when it presented itself, and that’s all I did. I refuse to take insult or blame. I refuse to feel ashamed or bad about it. I feel empathetic to Sonics fans. I realize they got a raw deal and I benefited from that raw deal. I realize that their loss is my gain. But I do my part to keep from being “that guy”. That’s about all I can do.

Some of the Sonic blogs continue to state obvious falsehoods as fact (Ford Center stories, team financial inaccuracies, constant OKC bashing), no doubt due to the emotion involved with the relocation. Hopefully the film doesn’t go into this territory.

Thanks Sonicsgate for posting…..

But thanks a lot for sharing the movie!

The ‘city’ bashing just shows ignorance. Besides collegiate titles, the Thunder are the best thing that has happened sportswise to this area as long as I’ve lived here. Why wouldn’t we embrace the opportunity that is the NBA in OKC?