Slog - Comments on All The Shouting in the World, but Who's Listening?

Comment by laterite

laterite — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:10:54 -0800

Mark Cuban. Sigh. The more I learn about him the more I realize he's largely a boob for whom the stars aligned once, allowing him to proceed with loudmouthed impunity ever since.

Comment by Gomez

Gomez — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:18:46 -0800

FSN was totally toeing the line on the broadcast. Snapper and Brian Davis (especially that giant industry tool Snapper) were curiously mum on the subject of the impending move. If Davis so much as mentioned it, Snapper immediately cut him off and changed the subject.

Fuck you, Snapper. And fuck you too, Clay Bennett.

Comment by Suge206

Suge206 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:24:24 -0800

How fucking embarrassing is this shit?

Jesus Christ

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:32:32 -0800

nice to end it with a victory.

we're keeping the name, OKC bitches.

Comment by cressona

cressona — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:33:54 -0800

The standing O for Payton reminds me of a moment in the summer of 2006, shortly after the Sonics had been sold to Bennett et al, shortly after the Miami Heat had won the NBA title. You'll recall that before Payton was sent packing in the Ray Allen trade (a pretty smart trade in retrospect), he and Howard Schultz had quite the falling out. After the trade, there was no possibility of Payton returning as an honored guest, so long as Schultz was still the lead owner.

So it's summer 2006 and a Storm game at KeyArena. And Payton shows up to attend the game. He must have gotten the exact-same courtside seat Schultz would sit at when he was still in charge. If it wasn't the very same seat, it must have been one over.

The time came for the PA announcer to acknowledge GP's presence. Long before he could get a word out, the crowd launched into a just a huge, prolonged standing ovation. No introduction required. I can't recall such an ovation for a guest at a Seattle pro basketball game.

The vindication of it all was not lost on those Seattle basketball fans. It wasn't just Schultz out, Payton in. It was Schultz out as disgraced owner who sold the hometown team up the river; it was Payton in as conquering hero, having finally claimed his long-sought-after NBA championship.

You can take the NBA out of Seattle, but you can't take the "basketball town" out of Seattle.