Like most, I am upset about the departure of Seattle's beloved SuperSonics, but I am not writing to vent or point fingers, but rather make other interesting points.

Interesting Point #1:  How will the NBA's western conference be aligned?  Or is the NBA just going to rename the Northwest division?  Oklahoma City is not the northwest and as a resident of the northwest I would be annoyed by the labeling of Oklahoma City as northwest.  It's just not right.  Are they going to be put in the Southwest division, where they belong, making western conference divisions unbalanced?  We'll see.

Interesting Point #2: Oklahoma City will have the same appeal to rookies as Salk Lake City and Sacramento.  I hate to drag those two in here, but let's face it, it's the truth.  It's not surprising David Stern would allow something like this though.  He has proposed the ridiculous idea of the NBA in Europe.  No players are going to want to play their home games in Madrid or Oklahoma City.  This move adds one more unappealing destination for rookies in the NBA.

Continue reading "The Seattle SuperSonics"

I am furious.  The Sonics are gone and America doesn't seem to care.  On today's Around the Horn 3 of 4 panelists said the NBA is better off in Oklahoma City.  That statement is ludicrous.

The Sonics were 28th in the league in attendance (as one of the panelist pointed out), but that doesn't mean the city doesn't love their Sonics.  One, they had the second worst record in the NBA and two, they essentially played a lame duck season.  Neither of those is often associated with tremendous attendance figures.

Once again, DO NOT tell me the NBA is better off in Oklahoma City.  The team will help Oklahoma City.  Maybe the franchise will make money than it will in Seattle.  BUT, there is no way anyone can convince me that a new Oklahoma City team is better than a historic Seattle team if the teams were to make the NBA finals.  Stern, the NBA, and fans in the U.S. would rather have a team from Seattle than Oklahoma City in the finals.  Don't lie to me anymore about that.

Continue reading "Furious"

Major League Baseball’s all-star game is approaching and in all honesty, I am kind of excited.  I like baseball’s all-star festivities, especially compared to the other main sports in the U.S.  And if you don’t mind, I’m going to tell you why.  Actually, what do I care if you mind?

 First, the NFL’s Pro Bowl is a joke and everybody knows it.  Nobody wants to play and when they do play, it’s like playing a game of chess, except every piece is a pawn.  You can’t really do anything, you’re just there.  The NFL should continue to pick the team, but the players shouldn't have to play.  What they should do is play a game of flag football.  I know they do some stuff like that, but the flag football should be their main event.  7-on-7 flag football with no contact blocking, just like we played in college intramurals.  I might consider watching it that way.

Continue reading "All-star weekend...or middle of the week."

I love sports.  That is probably an obvious statement seeing as I do have a sports blog, but I wanted to make that clear before I dig into ESPN’s ESPY awards show.

Let’s be honest, the ESPY’s are incredibly lame.  Just like the NBA all-star game, I liked them when I was 12, but seeing as I am older now, my interest has passed.  Now, just like many lame things, they ESPY's has its moments.  Most notably it’s “images” of the previous year and the Arthur Ashe Award for courage.  Both are great.  Other than that, the entire show is a flop.

The premise is not bad.  Bring a bunch of athletes together to celebrate the previous year in sports.  Unfortunately though, they decide to do this by handing out hokey awards for things like “Best Male Athlete.”  It’s not hokey because it’s lame to be one of the best athletes in the world, but it’s hokey because there is no possible way to compare athletes who compete in different sports.

Continue reading "The ESPY's"

At first I was ecstatic.  A Seattle icon will be the voice of the new Seattle Sounders FC.  Kevin Calabro, in the booth, calling the game, making soccer come alive in Seattle.  But then, I started thinking.  Am I going to like KC calling a soccer match?  When he speaks will I just hear echoes of Sonic basketball?  Am I ready for such a familiar figure donning a different shade of green? 

From a marketing perspective, this is the best move the new franchise could have made.  Calabro is a beloved, respected and trusted broadcaster in the Pacific Northwest.  His voice on the air again will soothe the unsettled stomachs of those still distraught about losing their Sonics.  Others will tune in to watch soccer for the first time just so they can hear the man speak again.  But me, I'm not sure how I'll feel.

Continue reading "Good Golly Miss Molly!"