When will the store open?
Here’s what I want to know about the NBA team. When will its store open?
Every NBA team, I assume, has its own store to sell team merchandise. The Hornets had one on the street level of the Oklahoma Tower, 210 Park Avenue, where their corporate offices were located and where, ironically, Clay Bennett’s Dorchester Capital is headquartered.
If the Not-the-Sonics headquarter temporarily in Oklahoma Tower — they eventually will move to the Ford Center — they could be street level on Park Avenue, too. I guess they also could put a permanent team store in the Ford Center, but the current space seems too small, and with the renovation of the Ford Center upcoming, that will be a mess of some degree.
Wherever the store is located, I know three things. 1. It won’t open until after the announcement of the team name; right now, there is nothing much to sell. 2. It WILL open not long after the announcement of the team name, because somewhere in Korea or China or some such place, textile workers have a scoop that would be big news in Oklahoma City. 3. The day or two after the announcement, the store will look like Toys R Us on Christmas Eve.
Seattle’s emails have arrived
No great mystery on the subject of this week’s emails. Oklahoma City and the NBA, with a fair share of input from our Seattle friends..
Monty wrote about my leave-the-tradition-in-Seattle column. “Thanks for summing up why I don’t care for professional sports. I agree with all that you said in the column on leaving the memories in Seattle. The best thing about sports is the tradition. High schools and colleges have their traditions and memories and records and they can’t be moved, bought or sold. That’s what makes them great. Pro sports are a business and your column sums it up. I wonder if Conoco’s oil drilling success records are with Dow Chemical or did Phillips get them when they merged with Conoco? Here’s what I say: who cares? It’s business. I realize the upside of pro sports on a city’s image, but we just lost a wonderful distinction I was proud of. One we shared with Alabama and Nebraska. Our college programs were the big shows in town, the focus of their sports fans, the pride of their states, a bit of purity. Now we can count ourselves with the likes of Washington, California and Texas, somewhat corrupted. Gone will be some of our state pride. Mark my words. As someone once said, be careful what you wish for.”
Well, that was certainly an eloquent argument. But I can’t buy it. I think professional sports are much more pure than college sports. Pro sports don’t pretend to be about education; college sports do pretend. Pro sports honor contracts; college sports do not honor contracts. In pro sports, the players are the stars; in college sports, the coaches are the stars.
Dennis, from Redmond, Wash., wrote, “Can’t say that I’ve agreed with much of what you’ve written about the Sonics/OKC drama, but your Sunday article about Sonics’ memories is right on. I can only hope that Clay Bennett follows your advice. He might even gain something back from his reputation in Seattle; not that he probably cares much about that now, and not that most Sonics’ fans will ever forgive him (though Seattle has found plenty of home grown villains to castigate for the loss of the franchise).”
Clay will get back part of his reputation in Seattle when Art Modell is given the key to the city of Cleveland.
Ron from Oregon wrote, “Nice article on Seattle’s history. This whole mess sickens me. I am not a Seattle resident or Sonics fan, but empathize considerably with them. I have been a returning Trailblazer fan, but this Seattle travesty and general disgust with the NBA may end that. That and the cheating refs, lawbreaking thug players, potheads and arrogant King David are not very appealing any more. I felt the same when the Colts slithered out of Baltimore in the middle of the night, or when the Browns left Cleveland. There is not a logical reason for being a fan, you simply invite some whore to steal your money and rip out your heart. OKC will get to experience all of this now. Seattle fans are hurting, nice to see someone from OKC with a slight bit of understanding. I can’t see how any decent person can celebrate at the expense of others’ heartbreak, and I know there are good people down there that do not feel proud of the way this went down.”
I’ve got to tell you, Ron. You sure sound like a Sonic fan.
David also wrote about the memories column. “I applaud you on your fine article. This replica banners idea is truly bizarre behavior and it gives us yet another disturbing glimpse into the sociopathic mind of Clayton. I ask you to continue to be critical of this replica banner madness. What if Clayton accidentally puts a curse on the new Oklahoma franchise if he follows through with hanging old Supersonics banners up in the rafters of the Ford Center? Remember the construction worker that buried Red Sox paraphernalia in the new Yankee Stadium? It’s cute that Clayton wants to play pretend Champion, but this is as reckless as messing around with a Ouija board.”
This is very disturbing. I’ve never had to cover a sociopath before.
OK, enough love from Seattle. Let’s move on to the hate. Bill from Vancouver, Wash., wrote “In 1967, I was home from college for Christmas break and my dad and I went to a SuperSonics game. That was their inaugural season and I’ve been a fan ever since. Through the good and bad. Wednesday’s news that the team was officially moving brought up different emotions. None pleasant. Sadness at losing a team I have loved for 41 years. Anger at the city of Seattle and Washington’s legislature for taking the easy way out. Anger at the self-serving pride and blatant dishonesty of the new owners. On Thursday I was listening to Seattle’s radio sport’s station and somebody called in and said, ‘Well, maybe we can get the Memphis Grizzlies.’ The talk show host said, ‘Do you really want that? Could you possibly find pleasure in a team that was taken away from the fans in Memphis? Could you possibly find pleasure in something you’ve gained at the terrible hurt to others?’ Both parties showed us the powerful effect of money and pride in our society. Washington’s leaders sold us down the river. The new owners didn’t seek a team for Oklahoma, they sought prideful self-esteem for themselves.”
I never knew the loss of a team inspired so many soapboxes.
BJ wrote, “Your writing is terrible. You reek of arrogance. If you were any good would you really be working in OK City? Stop patting yourself on the back – you did nothing.”
Hey, who let an OU or OSU fan sneak into this conversation?
Tim wrote, “You’re probably being inundated with emails, but I had to throw in my two cents. I’ve lived in the Seattle area all my life. I attended my first Sonic game in 1969, which was so long ago that a fairly sizable fog would hover above the court from so many fans enjoying a smoke while watching the festivities. Through good times and bad, but mostly just mediocre, I’ve been a fan. As a kid, I would draw the Sonic logo on my school folder. I drew sketches from action shots in the local paper. During my adolescent years in the ’70s, it was a good bonding opportunity to watch games with my parents when it seemed we had very little else in common to discuss. It was probably the happiest day of my first 16 years, witnessing the SuperSonics win a world championship. And today, they’re simply gone -no burial, no closure, just emptiness. I realize my sob story is inconsequential to the fans of OKC, but I would like to include a caveat to parents whose children grow hopelessly enamored with this modern day capitalist toy which masquerades as a public asset: don’t get attached; the same thing could happen to you.”
I’m not trying to be funny. I’m not trying to be mean. But I stand by two of the great wordsmiths of all time, William Shakespeare and Garth Brooks. Tim, aren’t you better off than if the Sonics never had come at all?
Dylan responded, as many from Seattle did, over my proclamation that Oklahoma City shouldn’t feel guilty over obtaining the Sonics. “Enjoy the next 10 years before they move to Kansas City crying poverty and a lack of gold-plated toilets in the suites.”
We plan to do just that.
Trevor is another outraged fan from the Puget Sound region: “Please work with the editors of your paper to take all Seattle SuperSonic logos, names and anything green and gold off your website and keep it out of your newspapers. You no longer have the right to use my team’s history as part of what you now have in OKC. You do not have the Sonics there. You have an unnamed NBA team that no longer has any association with Seattle. The ‘duplicate’ banners and fake 1979 championship trophy you will have in Ford Center will have nothing but heartless memories inside of them. Make sure to educate the fans in OKC about Gus Williams, Spencer Haywood, Nate McMillian and Jack Sikma, because those sacred jerseys hanging in the rafters will mean nothing to them. Nothing close to what they mean to me as a Sonic fan for 30 years. Clay Bennett isn’t the only bad guy in this situation, I’m not ignorant enough to believe that, but he stole my team. And he and his ownership group will never be forgiven (along with the Seattle city council, Howard Schultz, etc.). The only thing I’m asking is that as of today, OKC no longer references the SuperSonics or Seattle as part of their new team. Please understand how much this hurts fans like me who hold no grudges against the people of OKC and would love to feel the excitement of having a new team and a new start to the city. Too bad you will have to enjoy it on borrowed memories.”
Consider it done, Trevor. By the way, I just had a thought. Is it possible that passion for the SuperSonics is at an all-time high?
Chad from Springfield, Mo., wrote, “I’m just passing through Oklahoma on my way to Austin and read your column. I liked the historical look at sports franchises that move. People need that kind of context when emotions are flying about sports teams. But when you talk about Clay Bennett putting ‘the screws to Seattle,’ you miss the entire point of frustration Seattle residents are feeling. These sports owners who threaten to take their teams elsewhere are practicing a legalized form of extortion: And while we all love our sports, I can understand the citizens and leaders of Seattle feel they’ve done enough to help what you call ‘big business’ thrive. Many cities in this country are running up record deficits because of the interest payments they now owe on bonds taken out to build sports stadiums, all in the name of economic development, after the Clay Bennetts of the world put ‘the screws’ to them. These cities are mortgaging the future of their police and firefighters’ pensions, streets and other infrastructure, all in the name of pleasing millionaire ballteam owners.”
There’s an easy solution for cities. Don’t do it. Don’t build stadiums. Don’t spend the money. Clay Bennett didn’t invent the process. He didn’t have the Seahawks and the Mariners get new palaces so that a few years later he could extort Seattle into doing the same for him.
Jason also didn’t appreciate my “team move” column. “It’s nice to know that on the day a city lost 40 years of basketball history, you decide to spit in their face with this garbage article. I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know, but you are a complete ass. Grow up.”
Sudden thought. How will Seattle react if someone ever really spits in its face?
Ricky wrote, “Feel guilty, feel very guilty for being part of the broken model that is currently called an NBA franchise. I can’t wait till players leave your pathetic city year after year in search of endorsement money, you complete morons!”
Well, it’s almost a week later, and I have to confess. I still feel no guilt. And neither should anyone in OKC.
A reader who identified himself as Jetsfan wrote, “You, sir, are a jackass of the highest order. Your owner was a deceitful SOB who flat out lied to get the team to Oklahoma City. While I agree the fans don’t need to feel guilty, to treat the Seattle fans with such disrespect shows that you lack any sort of class or journalistic sense of ethics. I hope Bennett has another move in store for the team.”
Can we take a break from this Seattle sensitivity theme to address one point. I’ve heard about enough of Clay Bennett’s honesty. Clay bought the team and said in a very dispassionate manner, you’ve got one year to arrive at an arena plan or the team will be moved. No arena plan developed, and he moved. Maybe Seattle is fixated on Clay’s dishonesty because it can’t handle the truth.
David from Kirkland, Wash., wrote, “Your comment that you give no regard to the thoughts of a city that has recently built stadiums for professional baseball and football teams. You fail to point out that the city also did the same for its NBA team, just 13 years ago! An arena that commissioner David Stern hailed as the best in the league. In the ensuing years a number of things have happened that beg the question about who the real culprit is in our mess that has become your civic opportunity. But to me, the biggest culprits are not Clayton Bennett, Howard Schultz or the elected government officials of Seattle and the state of Washington. The NBA is the real guilty party for not being able to sustain a model, that could support what was state-of-the-art little more than a decade ago. I respect the fact that your community
is enthused about the prospect of having a major league presence. Your column stated well, the nomadic history of professional sports teams in this country. As a young boy, growing up on the North Dakota prairie, I watched the Lakers move from Minnesota to LA. As a young man, living in Cincinnati, I watched the Royals move to Kansas City. I think you would be hard pressed to find another league that presents itself as close to a carnival, as the NBA.”
David, I have one request. Don’t move to Oklahoma City.
Renault wrote, “I was born and raised in Seattle. Sonics have been there as you know, for 41 years. Seattle has every right to bitch and moan about losing the team. It is not the city’s (people) fault. It’s Schultz No. 1, and Bennett and his unreasonable $500 million blackmail. I don’t blame OKC or the people, but the attitude that it serves us right or the fact that the Seahawks and Mariners got stadiums. How can you fault a city for not wanting to do ANOTHER stadium? You act as though since Seahawks/M’s got theirs, then the Sonics should have too. I would love for the Sonics to have a new venue, but not at the expense of the taxpayer (again). Clay Bennett should dole out some of his cash and privately finance a new arena (which he as we all know had no intention of remaining in Seattle). Pepsi Center/Staples Center in Denver/L.A were privately financed. There is nothing wrong with KeyArena. It’s only 13 years old. Are you going to tell me in 13 years your Ford Center will be obsolete?. But you and OKC people appear to be clueless on how the Sonics are dear to the hearts of people that have been a fan of the team since its inception.” Your article was heartless and unnecessary.”
It appears to me that since Frasier went off the air, Seattle has been a little short on good therapy.
Not everyone wants to hang Clay. Rob from Texas wrote, “Clay Bennett is an all time great Oklahoman. Right there with Frank Phillips, Gaylord and the Tulsa oil guys/philanthropists. Bennett and McClendon and Ward are three more legends. They put their money where their hearts and mouths are. Clay Bennett hung in there. He took a lot of abuse from Seattle media. Clay bought the Sonics, made a good faith effort to get Seattle to provide an NBA-level arena … OKC voters stepped up to make extensive improvements to their newer Ford Center. He’s an OKC guy. And it was clear his desire was to bring the NBA to Oklahoma. Seattle residents were quick to pile on Clay. But they refused to step up to provide a NBA level arena for their team. The Seattle group – especially former owner Schultz (Starbucks) – has been unethical and disingenuous.”
Actually, I hope Kevin Durant becomes an all-time great Oklahoman.
Phil from Edmond wrote, “Good for what you said, OKC should not feel guilty. Seattle did not have its ducks together from day one. Why they did not have an agreement from the Starbucks CEO to buy them or something else when he sold the team is beyond me. Makes one wonder if the Starbucks CEO saw that Seattle was not going to get things together and so sold the team while the getting was good.”
Howard Schultz’s plan backfired. He sold the team so he wouldn’t be the bad guy, and he’s the bad guy anyway.
Al wrote, “Liked your story on Sonic guilt. People around Seattle like to squawk about Clay, but they know that Schultz is the one who betrayed them. That is not something I could ever see Bennett doing. I was living in Raleigh, N.C., when the Whalers moved to town. It was Raleigh’s first pro sport franchise and people thought they were nuts. Plus, they had to play in Greensboro for two years first. But with a solid team, they eventually got the fans behind them. OKC is going to go nuts for the NBA right off the bat and that team should start to improve quickly.”
You learn something every day. I never realized the Carolina Hurricanes had to play in Greensboro.
And of course, readers remain fixated on the team name. Corbin wrote, “Tell the powers that be we should name this team the Oklahoma Thunder. Brian Williams is doing national stories on our state, nationwide we are known as the Tornado capital of the world. Movies have been made: Twister. Way better than Cowboys/Indians or cheats who left early to take their land. Let’s dumb it down for the county and go with Thunder.”
I’m anti-weather name. No Thunder. No Twisters. No Cyclones. Remember, it’s Thunderbirds all the way, baby.
PJ wrote, “I think I have come up some names for our new NBA team that are distinctly Oklahoman. After traveling across the state, there seems to be one consistent generalization about Oklahoma that other states can not really claim. Suggestions have been made of Twisters, Tornados, Lightning, Thunder and Storm. But those are common to many other states. No, I have found something that Oklahoma is known for and has been known around the country as being the leader for at least the last 20 years. If there is one thing we are Big League about, far and away ahead of any other state, it is bad roads. I therefore propose we name the Oklahoma City team the Potholes.”
There are two things everyone in America likes to gripe about. Their bad roads and their hometown newspaper.
Stuart wrote, “Having at one time lived in Gatewood in OKC and being pleased they are finally getting a big league sport franchise, and thinking of the awful name and logo of the old USFL team, the Outlaws, and all the other less than inspired names that various teams have, I hope they pick something really great that fits the state’s heritage and marketing needs, but I must say, I hate the name Thunderbirds and all the others I have seen or heard floated. Picking the right name is really important. I actually kind of like something natural and historical, like the Cimarrons, the Big Sky, but I don’t quite feel like that is it. Please use your influence to get the best marketing people in the world to get a good name. Thunderbirds is awful.”
Don’t like Thunderbirds. My good man, please select your weapon of choice and meet at 20 paces. One of us is going down.
Mary can’t get the Howard Schultz lawsuit out of her mind. “I was wondering if you think we need to lose much sleep over the Schultz lawsuit. I can’t believe a columnist at ESPN thinks there is over a 50 percent chance that Schultz could win his suit. Would they really force the team to move back to Seattle? I don’t know how they could show breach of faith in this instance. Clay Bennett did honor the agreement to give the city one year. I would sure like to know your thoughts.”
I think you’re talking about ESPN consultant Lester Munson, and Lester Munson’s legal insight seems to be on par with the city of Seattle’s attorneys. In fact, ESPN should give the guy a regular column and call it, “My Cousin Lester.”
Gerald wrote, “Hooray! The wait is over. I have been wondering, not a new thought either, was the mess concerning KeyArena one of the main reasons that King Howard the First sold the Sonics to Bennett in the first place? Had the Commish told Schultz to take care of the venue situation or else? Did he need someone to take the heat? Just a nagging thought.”
Here’s where Howard Schultz’s lawsuit ends. When he gets on the stand, and Clay Bennett’s lawyers ask, how did Clay Bennett get closer to a new arena than you did?
Jo wrote about former mayor Ron Norick. “Saw Ron Norick’s picture on the front page of Saturday’s paper. The Oklahoman can hype him up, but to all the old hardcore 89er fans, he (is) responsible for that name change from a great 89er team with legend to this Oklahoma RedHawk. All the OKC residents are still waiting for Tulsa to change their team name to the “Oklahoma Oilers,” because a lot of Oklahoma City residents go to Tulsa on a regular basis to watch and support the Oilers. What a joke this dude Norick is.”
Apparently, Jo doesn’t go to Tulsa. If he did, he would know the team has been called the Drillers for more than 30 years. Let’s see. A guy has a vision for transforming Oklahoma City. He puts the vision into practice. The vision becomes reality. OKC is transformed. And you can’t forgive him because some of his friends (not him) changed the name of a minor-league baseball team?
K.S. is thankful for my NBA introduction stuff in the Sunday paper but wants more. “Thanks for giving us a start-up on how the schedule will be worked out regarding games for the season. I doubt that I am the only one who needs even more information than that in order to fully appreciate the pro game. I watched some of the playoffs this year and had many times of puzzlement in some of the calls made on the players. I even heard the announcer talk about one player who was playing with five fouls. Excuse me? You can tell I’ve mostly watched college ball, but now that we do have a pro team here in town, I obviously need some sort of NBA 101.”
Actually, I think the NBA should go to five fouls per player.
When will OKC debut?
For months, or even years, we’ve debated on what year Oklahoma City’s NBA team might debut. Now the question becomes, what day will OKC make its debut.
The NBA season could start on Halloween. The season also could start Thursday, Oct. 30, but Friday night, Oct. 31, is a possibility, too. A nationally-televised doubleheader is planned, and you wouldn’t think the networks would be jumping all over the Ford Center. It’s a nice story, and the place will be hopping, but you’d think some form of Lakers, Bulls, Celtics, Pistons, Spurs will comprise the doubleheader. Some years, the NBA has a game or two scheduled along with the doubleheader, but some years not. In 2007, there were three games on opening night. In 2006, two. In 2005, four. In 2004, two. In 2003, three.
That means Day 2 or Day 3 is the more likely tipoff for OKC. Which could mean Nov. 1. You know what Nov. 1 is. A big football day. That Saturday, OU hosts Nebraska and OSU hosts Iowa State. Can you imagine the torn loyalties if OU-Nebraska is put on Saturday night, and the Ford Center hosts the inaugural NBA game for Oklahoma City’s permanent franchise?
There would be no problem filling both venues. That’s not the issue. The problem is the people who want to be both places. It’s possible Oklahoma City could start on the road that Saturday, then host a game Sunday night.
The NBA schedule should come out in early August, and the home opener is a date to keep an eye on.
Early signing a no-brainer
If you missed Mike Baldwin’s special report on the early-signing period in today’s Oklahoman, go back and read it. It’s a very interesting discussion on the pros and cons of the early-signing period for college football.
And it’s a no-brainer. College football needs an early-signing date. Virtually every sport in the NCAA uses two signing dates: November and April. But football uses early February.
Football should adopt the same schedule as the other sports. The benefits are many. Coaches don’t have to babysit commitments. Players can get the process over earlier, which should relieve pressure on their senior years; it’s probably going to save money, too.
But the No. 1 reason is what it could mean to the culture of coaches moving around. Currently, coaches are fired from jobs and hired away from other schools before the season ends. The bowl games have become this odd segment of the season where many teams play without the coach who led them throughout the season. Schools fire coaches in early December or late November, and coaches jump to other jobs, because neither side wants to get behind in recruiting.
That’s madness and it’s got to change. The early-signing date would help.
What’s next for OKC?
I asked Rick Horrow, the sports consultant who helped Oklahoma City with the first MAPS vote and again for the NBA vote in March, what could be next for OKC. He said not to discount an NBA All-Star Game in the future.
I don’t know. The NBA All-Star Game has developed into a cultural phenomenon that has little to do with basketball and stresses the hosting capabilities of megacities. The league went to some of its smaller markets in the ’90s — San Antonio, Salt Lake, Orlando — but in recent years has been hitting either convention cities (New Orleans, Las Vegas) or huge cities (Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix next season). Only four current NBA cities have yet to host an All-Star Game, and three are single-franchise towns: Memphis, Portland and Sacramento. (Toronto is the fourth.)
Plus, some reports say the All-Star Game is headed overseas, which would be a compromise for all those who want to see a franchise placed in Europe and for all those who never want to cross the Atlantic.
What does the future of major-league sports hold for Oklahoma City? Well, if the city’s population doesn’t explode, I wouldn’t expect much. We need to prove we can sustain the NBA over the long haul. We don’t want to be another Charlotte.
The NBA Hornets began play in 1988 and took Charlotte by storm, leading the league in attendance for many years. But when the NFL came to Charlotte in 1995, the Hornets slowly began losing their fan base. (Run-ins with owner George Shinn didn’t help either.) Now Charlotte has a second NBA team, and frankly, the verdict is not in on whether two major-league franchises will flourish in Charlotte.
Others markets that went from one to two major-league franchises:
* Indianapolis. The Colts in 1983 joined the Pacers, and both have mostly prospered, although the NBA, naturally, will get lost at times in the NFL’s shadow. The Pacers always must guard against fan apathy in the face of a losing season.
* New Orleans. The Hornets in 2002 joined the long-standing Saints and struggled from the start. The Hornets return to New Orleans in 2007 after Katrina started off sluggish, though the Chris Paul-led team turned into a powerhouse, and the fan base caught fire. Few expect New Orleans to be able to sustain the Hornets over the long haul.
* Phoenix. Hard to believe, but 20 years ago, the Suns were the only team in town. Then the Cardinals moved to the desert and no one sank. In fact, Phoenix soon enough had all four major-league sports.
* Baltimore. After the Colts left, the Orioles had the town to themselves for 13 years. In 1996, the Browns moved to Baltimore, became the Ravens and slowly cut into the Orioles’ great attendance. Part of that is the Orioles’ ineptitude, but attendance at Camden Yards has been slashed drastically.
* Miami. Sort of like Phoenix. Hard to imagine, Miami having only one major-league franchise, but the Dolphins had the city to themselves from 1966 until 1989, when the NBA Heat arrived. Then came hockey’s Panthers and baseball’s Marlins. The Dolphins remain Miami’s hot ticket. The other franchises run hot and/or cold.
* Nashville. A great lesson in sports. Don’t jump in the water too fast. The Tennessee Titans moved from Houston to Memphis (temporarily) in 1997, then over to Nashville in 1998. That same year, the NHL Predators joined the league. Going double-major league in the same year seems suicidal, which it wasn’t — both teams survive. But the Predators have been a struggle, especially in the wake of the NFL’s popularity.
A special Fourth of July
Originally, I was scheduled to write a column that talked about how much I love July 4. Which I do. It’s my second-favorite day of the year, trailing only Thanksgiving.
I used to like New Year’s Day — wall to wall football — but two things have happened to New Year’s. 1. We get wall to wall football every Saturday of the college football season. And 2. I’m usually working on New Year’s, and while I appreciate the wall to wall football in some Miami or Phoenix hotel room, it’s not the same.
So Thanksgiving and Independence Day it is. I like Thanksgiving because the weather is great, the food is splendid, the football is good and I’m always with family, never in some faraway city. July 4 doesn’t have good weather, doesn’t have football, but I’m always with family, and often the day comes in the middle of the week.
I love holidays that don’t cater to the Monday tradition. Nothing against July 4′s summer brothers, Memorial Day and Labor Day, but a holiday that sticks to its date packs a punch. It’s got attitude. And Friday is the best day for July 4; most people get off, plus they have Saturday off to recover from late-night fireworks.
Of course, if I did write about why it’s great to be American, this would be a special year to do it, for Oklahoma sports fans. Dreams do come true. The NBA is in Oklahoma City, not temporarily. The Sonics — sorry, I’m calling them the Sonics in an act of rebellion against the authorities until the team gets a new name; the team’s phone bank answers calls by saying “Thank you for calling the Sonics…” — are here, and the city is buzzing.
This is a monumental time for Oklahoma City. All those grand plans by politicians and business leaders and Bricktown pioneers has continued to pay off and pay off, and OKC soars. All of Oklahoma, too.
Around Oklahoma lakes and gas grills today, the NBA will replace the price of fuel as the No. 1 topic of conversation. It’s a special time. We’re on the ground floor of Oklahoma City’s elevation into the national consciousness.
A team with no name
We’ve encountered the first problem with having a major-league franchise. What the heck do we call this team?
I don’t mean Thunderbirds or Barons or Energy or any of the myriad names suggested for Oklahoma City’s NBA franchise. I mean, what do we call them until they pick a name?
The order came from the sports editor Wednesday night. Can’t refer to them as the Sonics. They’re not the Sonics anymore. ESPN’s SportsCenter alluded to the same thing.
I don’t know. Sounded a little like Pierre Trudeau, the old prime minister of Canada, who wouldn’t let Taiwan into the 1976 Olympics using the name Republic of China. “They’re not China,” Trudeau said, a logic he did not extend to the cold-war states of East and West Germany.
Anyway, the team formerly known as the Sonics have no such fallback name as Taiwan. Ex-Sonics doesn’t work; sounds like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Oklahoma City’s NBA team is a mouthful.
I don’t know what to call them. Everyone will call them Sonics until a different name is picked. I wrote around them last night, but if they’re not going to let us call them what everyone around town is calling them, I’m lost.
The new name has got to come quickly. I don’t see how Clay can sell his team to sponsors or much of anyone until he’s got a name to hang his hat on. Stumbling over all those words to describe a team, when a simple word like Sonics could do it, only gets in the way of marketing.
Hurry up, Clay Bennett, and pick a name. Business of the NBA in Oklahoma City can’t start without it.
Awaiting the Sonics verdict
It’s going to be a strange, strange day. We await the ruling from Judge Marsha Pechman, who will post her Sonics/Seattle decision on a federal court website at 6 p.m. Oklahoma time.
Do you remember the climactic scene in “A Time to Kill”? Everyone just milling outside around the Southern courthouse. The cameras don’t show us the courtroom. All of a sudden, the doors open, and a little kid screams the verdict. There’s an instant of silence, then pandemonium.
That’s what today will be like. The Internet has changed many things, and now it’s changed courtroom drama.
If the Sonics win, there is one major question. When are they coming? Immediately? Within a few weeks, which would bring the NBA to Oklahoma City?
If Seattle wins, there is one major question. Will the Sonics still come to OKC in two years? Does Clay Bennett and his partners have the stomachs and the pocketbooks to stick it out?
In the frantic two or three hours after 6 p.m., we’ll try to answer those questions for you. Until then, we’re like the interested residents in that sleepy Southern town, awaiting the fate of Samuel L. Jackson, awaiting the Internet doors to burst open and deliver the news.
