Phoenix Suns on Sonics, OKC
The Phoenix Suns played the Sonics last night in Seattle and Shaquille O’Neal had some not-so-nice things to say about our fair city. Grant Hill, too.
Shaq called the Sonics’ prospective move to OKC “dumb” and “stupid.”
“Seattle has tradition, the Space Needle, and there’s water here,” Shaq said. “Oklahoma City’s a college town. You’re not going to have the T.V. market there.”
When I think of Seattle, I think of (Gary Payton), (Shawn Kemp), (Jack) Sikma, Lenny Wilkens,” Shaq continued. “The Oklahoma City Sonics? When my son asks me about that, I’ll say there’s no such thing.”
Said Grant Hill of OKC: “That’s a bad road trip. It’s cold. This shouldn’t happen. Seattle’s a great market, a great city, and I would think there’s a lot of money in this city. It’s a shame. They had a good product. When I think of Seattle, it’s hard to see what’s going on now. When I came into the league, it was rockin’.”
The article says Hill and Shaq remember playing at the Tacoma Dome during the 1994-95 season while KeyArena was being renovated and now it’s considered obsolete.
My first reaction was that was 13 years ago. In two years, when the KeyArena lease is up Hill and Shaq will be obsolete, too.
It’s not my place to say which is a better home for the Sonics. And since Shaq and Hill have been in the league a combined 27 years, I’m going to say they know better than I. But the logic? Come on. Let’s see, Shaq thinks Seattle’s a better city for the Sonics because it has the Space Needle and water? Grant Hill, who remember played his first six seasons in Detroit, is griping about OKC being cold???
During the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, I asked Shaq about what he thought about OKC. He didn’t say anything negative. He talked about walking through Quail Springs Mall and “shutting down” IHOP, referring to star-struck patrons clamoring for his attention. I asked him what he ate.
“Got me a little sausage and cheese omelet,” he said. “Pancakes. O.J.”
That conversation obviously occurred when the Hornets were in town and faced an uncertain future.
The Hornets “belong to New Orleans,” Shaq said. “But if someone in Oklahoma City puts up the money I’m sure they can get something done.”
-DM-
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Comments
and darnell, its not just the space needle and water. there are thousands of reasons why seattle is superior to okc!
Stern and the BOG have the only opinions that matter and they are about to make an example out of Seattle.
Seattle is about to be taught a lesson.
And just what lesson should Seattle be taught Phillip?
Should they be taught that when the NBA demands a “State of the art facility” and they build it their specs that they should expect to have to replace it before the debt is even paid off?
Should they be taught that when the NBA signs a lease that they should expect them to try and break it early?
Should they be taught that when a businessman signs a letter committing to spending a year working towards a new arena deal that he would never put a serious package on the table, refuse to negotiate with any elected officials, and then quit after a couple months worth of effort?
Should they be taught that the taxpayers should provide a never ending stream of public money to bail out their bottom line?
Should they be taught that supporting a franchise for 41 years, during good and bad times for the NBA, setting attendance records and showing undying loyalty is worth NOTHING when some clown from OKC decides to defraud them?
Please Phillip, give us your “expert” advice on just what lesson Seattle needs to be taught?
Keep in mind that OKC hasn’t learned ONE lesson from what is happening in Seattle and other cities as they gush over the chance to poor hundreds of millions of dollars right into Clay Bennetts pocket only to find out in about 5 years that they will have to do it all over again.
You better be careful what you wish for because you will be the ones being taught a lesson. The same lesson all the other small markets are learning, that they will be next.
So please, seriously, tell Seattle just exactly what lesson they need to learn?
the lesson learned here is dont sell to out of town carpetbaggers that care nothing about history or a city and fans that have supported a team for 41 years. Its to bad Shultzh had controll of the team because he has no local ties only his money. Since Shultz is a New Yorker its makes perfect sense that he sold the team for spite along withh fellow New Yorker stern….. its a very sad day for the nba
joey, etc,
Let’s not get in another argument about who’s city is better than the others. Obviously, both sides believe their city is better. Obviously, there a lot of reasons to believe Seattle is better for the NBA, but for people who have never been here, it would be hard to understand.
pete, perhaps your right? ignorance is bliss. and i thought shaqs words were a breathe of fresh air. and i dont think he is a minority amongst NBA players.
wow!! shaq shutdown a ihop!! darnell i would call that a sarcastic diss on okc!! its unfortunate you didnt pick up on that!
and pete, save it!!
Bennett bought the team, he’s moving them to OKC and there is not a thing anyone in Seattle can do about it.
What Shaq thinks doesn’t matter.
It must be nice to live in a bubble of ignorance.
I’d bet him his car that the team is staying in Seattle but what would I do with a P.O.S. 70’s pickuip truck?
yeah a 70’s pickup truck. but your forgetting the gun rack, and the crystal meth residue.
once again,save it pete!!
CandyAndy, Joey……your little man love thing is cute but why don’t you two find a quite little Seattle board where you can be alone and let your relationship blossom.
We’re not really into the public acts of affection that come so easy to you in the PNW.
In other words……get a room.
i guess that one bothered you phillip? i love how progressive and forward thinking you okies are. and to think the NBA wants to move from a cultural mecca, to oklahoma. its diffacult to write that, without bursting out in laughter.
phillip, you obviously lack confidence in your own man hood. HENCE. well, you know.
Phillip
Seattle won’t be taught a lesson. They may lose their team but it is the NBA that is being being schooled over this. The next owner who thinks the grass is greener somewhere else will think about it a lot longer than Bennett did before he chances it. The next owner that threatens to leave unless the taxpayers build him a 500 million dollar arena and give him all the profit will be more likely to be told to drag his ass, if he can, but not before he is bled like a stuck pig financially.
The Sonics will cost Bennett over 500 million dollars before they ever set foot in Oklahoma City. It will be years before he can even dream of a break even point. The NBA is taking a publicity hit, as is Oklahoma City, that will take years to live down.
All the goodwill Oklahoma City generated by helping out the Hornets is being lost and the only ones who don’t see it are the people in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City is the butt of jokes by NBA players, did you read the article? Ever heard Charles Barkley’s comment son this?
The Sonics, or whatever they will be called, will eventually show up. How long will they stay with Bennett being given a free get out of town card in the lease?
Bennett says we need a New Events Center? The old ones hasn’t even been remodeled yet? Now we need a new one? That’s what happens when you try and be Big Time.
Joey, we Oklahomans have no problem with your choice to engage in the gay lifestyle. We just find it distasteful to have it flaunted in our faces. Who you choose to sleep with is none of our business and we would prefer to keep it that way.
I doubt the NBA will have a problem with that.
Mickey….I understand how bitter you must be feeling after Bennett has made all the state and city leaders look like a bunch of bumbling fools.
Even Sen. Skeletor is looking old and senile at this point.
You just don’t mess with Oklahoma bred businessmen.
yall need to realize the sonics are a business just like in any sport, they will leave Seattle like any sort of franchise that is losing money would despite how long the team has been there. Baltimore Colts, Brooklyn Dodgers, L.A. Rams L.A. Raiders, New Orleans Jazz, Charolett Hornets sound familiar they faced such problems and criticism from ignorant people that had no say in what they did. Fact is its a business an whomever owns em wherever they may be from doesnt like losin money like any other rational business man. If the Sonics come to OKC they will have the attendence an support to provail no matter what any of the veteran players or anyone else says. Lol how can u take shaq seriously he sounds like a DA. If Seattle wanted to keep the Sonics they shouldnt have waited till the last minute to get it together. An not to worry the starbucks addicted city will more then likely get a replacement franchise once they do what they did for the Seahawks an Mariners. Didnt they use public money for those Arenas? An yall keep the Sonics logo if its that important but not many cities cant
OKC, take those comments from Shaq and Hill with a grain of salt. Ask yourself, who did the interviewing? Where were they at during the interview.’
Oh wait, it was SeattlePI/Times who conducted the interview – IN SEATTLE!!!
Like Darnell said, Shaq had a different tone (and opinion) of Oklahoma City when he was interviewed by the OKC media.
Take what the players/media say with a grain of salt (and pay attention who is doing the asking/where they are being asked). Then, you can read between the comments and see what is being said reflects reality OR sympathy/pity.
oh and phillip, your forgetting tim hardaways comments. the NBA does have a problem with backward thinking.
PRAISE JESUS!!
“My first reaction was that was 13 years ago. In two years, when the KeyArena lease is up Hill and Shaq will be obsolete, too.”
What…..? What kind of comparison is this?
And if your response to Shaq’s comments about “the Space Needle” and “water” are that he enjoyed an OKC mall and an IHOP, that’s pretty weak. How many malls and IHOPs can you drive past road tripping from OKC to Seattle?
I could go further but I don’t know where to start with your inconsistencies…
Hmm…Shaq and Hill speak out against the relocation of the Sonics to of all places and OKC and automatically disregard his comments. Of course, Chris Paul’s perceived love affair with OKC based on comments he made about the town he was forced to work in proves that NBA players love OKC. You’re either telling the locals what they want to hear or you’re stuck so far in your hole like so many Oklahomans that you just don’t get it. OKC is not a world-class city. Do you really think that the young players coming into the league have some great appreciation for what OKC has to offer whereas old guys like Shaq and Hill
…who have been in the league for so many years can’t see the appeal that OKC has to the newer guys? I’m sorry DM, Shaq is right, relocating the Sonics to OKC is “dumb.”
we need to let the sonics die for two more years in seattle before they come here. let people in seattle not go to the games, let them lose money, and then I (as an oklahoma citizen) and others like me won’t be embarrassed about the way we got a team. i’d love to have the NBA, but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. name-calling, from both sides, is silly. seattle needs to chill and understand how big sports business goes, and oklahoma city needs to chill and understand that ripping a team up and moving them in less than a year is ridiculous. just because david stern has bennett’s back doesn’t make it right.
“I’m sorry DM, Shaq is right, relocating the Sonics to OKC is “dumb.””
Dumb is letting a team of 40+ years move because the state is unwilling to extend a current tax paid mostly by tourists
take shaq’s words as a grain of salt???? tell that to all the young oklahomans that idolize him!! and it wasnt ihop. the classiest eatery was “golden corral”, right off the interstate, although, i did have a good steak once at the petro truckstop once!HA! meanwhile, shaq was dining at salty’s on alki here in S-town. right on the ocean, and you can actually take a water taxi downtown seattle accross the sound to the place, all dressed up. chris paul left the hotel once for a meal. guess where it was at in okie city??HAHAHA! okie city needs to keep badmouthing veteran players, your making your city look MARVELOUS to the rest of the U.S.! See ya in June!!!
love,
mike u.
yeah mike u, you’re a real class-act and credit to your city. why don’t city leaders make you, some dude on the internet, the spokesperson for the seattle tourism board? because you’re talking out of your butt.
don’t you see that taking shots at okc doesn’t exactly make seattle “look MARVELOUS to the rest of the U.S.!” in your own right? show some of this ’seattle class and culture’ i’ve heard SO much about.
we’re sticking up for our city, not randomly bad-mouthing someone else’s. i’m glad you’re so much better than us, just keep your superiority where it is. i’m fine with oklahoma, but you seem defensive about seattle. it must be a lovely place…
oh, and people still idolize shaq? i didn’t know it was still 2001.
as i posted elsewhere, mike u, i’m going to do you a favor. it’s obvious you can’t make a point without insulting oklahoma, but your references are laim. here’s a few funnier, more topical things to make fun of (if you won’t try harder, i will):
crystal meth problem (not as bad as it used to be, but not good)
OU sooners choking constantly in every sport
terrible road conditions
quality beer available only in liquor stores
sally kern
now look, i love oklahoma, but every state has problems. and if i have to read comments by small-minded people, i at least want to read something new and original now and then. please try harder seattle, thank you.
Darryl Mayberry is a homer, pure and simple. No objectivity.
(He might be. Darnell Mayberry, however, tries his best to remain objective. 
-DM-)
“Dumb” is taking Clay Bennett’s word at face value. If you still believe Bennett’s group made a good faith effort to keep the Sonics in Seattle, but then the lame city govt just couldn’t be bothered, then you, my friend, are a moron. Aubrey McHomophobe said the exact opposite TO THE MEDIA. It doesn’t get much clearer than that. So you can stop blaming the city government.
Then explain to me how your one cent tax to revamp the mighty Ford Center is the equivalent to the 1/2 billion dollars demanded from the city of Seattle. Yeah, it was Seattle’s fault. Keep telling yourself that. I guess that’s how you justify stealing sports teams from people.
Good Point DM, Shaq is chomping at the bit to get back to OKC to hit up that IHOP again.
Shaq and Grant Hill have no allegiance to Seattle, they are just keeping it real.
You hicks are delusional.
Admit that your city is a nice little midwestern town for a college and a series frat party induced hate crimes.
The NBA doesn’t have a clue. They are about to fall out of the ‘big three’ sports (the NHL will take their place.) C’mon Howard, the only reason Clay wants to move from the economically wealthy 12th largest market in the US to the comparatively destitute 45th largest market is because he is a homer and wants to be a hometown hero to feed his fat ego. The other 3 major sports wouldn’t ever allow such a move. But since David and Clay are buddies, he will allow the move anyways. Since revenue sharing is an issue, the owners will support the immediate return of a franchise to Seattle, a good chance it may be OKC’s beloved Hornets. And Durant, Green and any other good players the OKC team may obtain will bolt for greener pastures as soon as their contracts come up… The fans will lose interest, especially at the tune of $10K+ per seat for season tickets… Clay, Aubrey, Stern & Co. will feel the financial pinch and threaten that they need a better building to produce the revenue to support the team, the taxpayers won’t be able to swallow the 1/2 billion or so it’ll take to appease the owners and the NBA, and *poof* your dream of being a ‘major league city’ is down the crapper. I give it inside of 10 years to happen
(And *poof,* it all makes sense now. -DM-)
apparently okc’s newspaper also believes in censorship. i make one reference to the tulsa riots and you delete my post. this is like the reincarnation of the nazi party running your “free press”. very noble.
on the basketball side. whoever this writer is is a real bad representation for sports journalism in okc.
“But the logic? Come on. Let’s see, Shaq thinks Seattle’s a better city for the Sonics because it has the Space Needle and water? Grant Hill, who remember played his first six seasons in Detroit, is griping about OKC being cold???”
he should be embarrassed to use the word ‘logic’ followed by his display of simeon logic.
there’s no argument that okc is a better venue for an nba franchise. none. the sonics have always had support in seattle, even in their lowly seasons, and now people are shying away because a redneck crook owns them and has blatantly lied to the entire city, league, and country about his intentions. and shultz, a man who has become a billionaire thanks to seattle, completely sold out our city. seattlites will not be blackmailed by hick tactics into paying for a new arena with public funds. unlike okc, we have priorities such as education, transportation, and the environment. however, there are wealthy investors who have been and are ready to buy the franchise and pay for renovations. they make your boy bennett look like mickey mouse—-he is the bubby sparxxx to our jay-z, so to speak.
enjoy the dream, that’s all you have.
(Yes, this blog gets filtered. If you want to read it then read it. If it’s so terrible then don’t. If you disagree with a post, fine. No problem in voicing your disagreement. But offensive messages will get deleted. -DM-)
If Stern were a good man and a good friend to Bennett, he would have recommended an expansion franchise within 2 years. That way the OKC team would not have been run through this nasty lawsuit. I think everyone expected Seattle to roll over and give up the team because there are a large amount of voters that are tired of paying for half billion dollar arenas. Good looking out Stern.
you’re all a bunch of dummies. seattle is cool, okc is cool. it’s all relavent to who and where you are.
‘08 SOONERS, undefeated, national champions
that’s really what matters.
long live the OKC Sonics, or OKC whatever we name them.
darnell, sticking up for okc, is simply futile.