SonicsGate!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 15, 2009 10:24 AM PDT
Email
PrintFor anyone that is interested - It is about 120 min long.
SonicsGate was released this last week - A very cool and interesting video about the Sonics eventual move to Oklahoma City.
Sonicsgate HD Part 1 of 2 from sonicsgate on Vimeo.
Sonicsgate HD Part 2 of 2 from sonicsgate on Vimeo.
77 comments
|
6 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
This makes me sad.
That is all.
"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture
I'll watch this when I'm not at work... but
the Sonics were my first sports love. I had season tickets during the 97-98 and 98-99 seasons. I loved cheering for Hersey Hawkins and Detlef Schrempf. I begged my mom to buy Hawkins’ used Landcruiser when I saw it on sale a a Toyota Dealer. Loved having all those three points shooters (Dale Ellis, Greg Anthony, Sam Perkins, I believe we had 5 guys with 3p% of 41.5 or higher that year). I loved booing Payton (sorry Bender) because he got too much love and Baker because he was a fat slob who didn’t rebound enough and loved taking the 18 foot jumper despite being 6’11", having long arms, and shooting unguarded 15 footers at a 46% clip (He shot 45% , Olden Polynice shot 30.9% that year). Seriously, look at Bakers 97-98 seasons to his 98-99 seasons. Just a horrible drop off.
I loved the Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Frodo, Collison etc. new Sonics, and was starting to love the Durant, Green, combo.
I’m glad they made a documentary about it, and I hope it gets attention from more than just PAC NWers.
I watched while here.
Glad I did.
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 15, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
He still lives in Seattle!
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 15, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
No?
He’s almost the Sonics biggest fan ever
Just some of the points he made earlier.
Too much racial talk. I agree with the economic report that the Sonics don’t matter to the community as a whole. If it matters to the black community, great, but the report said the King County region (just going off of what I think the report said) will still spend money in other forms of entertainment, and the cost of having a pro sports franchise does not support having a team.
Ok I guess
I definitely agree with you on the economics of it all. Frankly the NBA is so messed up right now we may be better off not having any of our money tied up in an arena for them. Let them collapse under their own mismanagement and realize smaller markets like OKC, Memphis, and now even NO are unsustainable (hate to include NO, since it used to be such a vibrant city). They’ll be crawling back for the Tacoma Dome and a Ballmer (Key Arena/Seattle Center) arrangement will look sweet and maybe improve a seattle landmark. I love the Hawks and the Mariners but we’ve got an awful lot of money tied up in those stadiums.
Great writer, though. His love of basketball shows up in a lot of his work.
Understand where he’s coming from as a Native American. And if you’re going to go down that road in the film, he’s the guy to quote.
Wait...Alexie...Native American..
We wouldn’t happen to be talking about Sherman Alexie?!
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 17, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I wasn't.
Didn’t watch SonicsGate yet.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 20, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions
He's a really big basketball fan
that lives in Seattle.
"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie
That's pretty cool.
I liked that movie he directed, Smoke Signals
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 20, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions
directed?
Thought he wrote it…
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 20, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Apparently he wrote the novel it was adapted from, too.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 20, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
That's what I meant...
the novel. To be honest, I wasn’t even completely aware there was a movie.
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 20, 2009 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I highly recommend it.
Very touching, poignant, and artful.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 22, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions
If you're man enough
skip Smoke Signals and watch his superior effort: The Business of Fancydancing.
Not man enough, sorry.
Jk, I’ll check it out.
"Mayhap a hidden door lurks nigh. Let us search the environs."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 25, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I find it hard to hate Bennet and Aubrey Chesepeake too much
since it seems reasonable to want an NBA team in your hometown. I still don’t understand Stern’s vendetta against Seattle.
I disagree
That’s like saying you can’t hate a guy for wanting a wife after he stole yours.
"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie
by ninjasocks on Oct 16, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
He can't really steal a wife since she's not an object. I'd probably blame the wife just as much, if not more.
If my wife was as awesome as I’d think she would be, I would assume that lots of guys would be attracted to her, and it would be up to her to stay faithful to me.
But in this case...
the guy befriended you and said one thing to your face while plotting to seduce your wife the whole time whenever your back was turned.
Mancrushed. Jake Locker for Heisman 2010.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 17, 2009 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Just like the Sonics
your theoretical wife could be bought. :(
16:40 of the second half,
Stern answers a question before some reporter is done asking the full question, the reporter continues to finish the question, then Stern says he doesn’t like being interrupted, next question. God I hate Stern.
What the hell?
I didn’t know that Clay Bennett has the Sonics’ history, championship banner, and trophy. I thought we bargained and got to keep that…
Yeah that's fucked up
I didn’t know he got to keep it all either… just one more thing that pisses me off.
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Oct 15, 2009 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Ya this really rubbed me the wrong way
Whats the point of keeping the name and not the history? So if GP goes into the HOF does he go in as Thunder?
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 15, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Good for him
Although his speech towards the end was a little self serving ( he is a professional athlete I guess) it was nice to see an athlete stand-up for a community that had his back for so long. Its nice to see those bonds last past a trade and through a career. Unlike a certain NFL quarterback who likes to spit on those who would have died for him and even seems to insult them.
So much hate in my heart right now.
Child please...
by Airborne Hawk Guy on Oct 15, 2009 1:44 PM PDT reply actions
great film
I went to the seattle premiere and it was a sad house let me tell ya.
My daughter was born that wednesday the judge ruled on the motion to move the team so my daughter is tied to Seattle/Sonics history forever.
sadest day of my life and the best day of my life all at once.
Ok, 3rd saddest day; hawks losing the SB was 2nd, and the day my mother died was 1st.
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
Amazing film
I attended the home opener the last season they were here, it was such an electric environment, the whole game shouts of “Save our Sonics!!”. I could barely talk the next day I was so hoarse (usually only happens at Hawks games). I’ve been a lifelong Sonics fan and when they left, it ripped my heart out. I still follow KD and Collison, but I have no respect for the Thunder as a franchise.
Fuck Clay, fuck Nickels, and fuck Stern.
SOS forever.
Karma police, arrest this man.
I can't handle this shit right now...
I’ve had a less than stellar 48 hours, and I got as far as the chant by the crowd in the first minute or two before I was in tears.
FUCK YOU Stern. I hope that fucking man dies a miserable fucking pain wracked death by cancer. The kind where there is no cure, only pain. My grandmother was a good person, and she had to deal with that, he deserves much much worse.
I played college basketball, as a 9th grader put two lines as a part in my box flat top like Kemp (I’m white mind you) and loved the 80’s and 90’s Supes more than any other team in any sport, college or pro. And the NBA is dead to me.
Fucker. FUCK!
I hope someday I can watch that movie. Right now, I still can’t… even if the last 48 hours were roses, I still couldn’t.
Mancrushed. Jake Locker for Heisman 2010.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 15, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
IMO Stern runs the NBA like a goddamn mob boss
He has his group of ‘good ol boys’ and he gives the middle finger to anyone who tries to usurp any of his authority and the iron fist that he rules with.
Karma police, arrest this man.
by wyte_lightning on Oct 15, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions
and it will bring the NBA down
Thankfully, but hopefully not to just become owned by the russian mob
You know, I was never a huge sonics fan.
The Seahawks and Mariners were always my two big teams (and the Sounders have stolen my heart as well). So I was unable to react with the pain and misery that some did. It definitely sucked, and I always loved Gary Payton. But I was too young to fall in love with the mid 90’s Sonics, and the Sonics I grew up with were the Schultz Sonics. A hard team to fall in love with. But as I watched this movie, I couldn’t help but think, “What if this was the Seahawks? What would I do? How would I feel?” And I could empathize. And you’re just left with a feeling of…“I hate this, it sucks, it’s breaking my heart. And there’s nothing I can do…”.
And that’s the worst part of it all. There’s nothing you can do, no hope. Because as Sherman Alexei said, even if we get a new team it won’t be our team. It will be someone else’s team. And we will be breaking the hearts of another team. And we won’t even get our history back.
Well, now I’m depressed.
Just another reason I don't want an NBA team.
I don’t want to steal a team from someone else, even if it’s the Grizzlies. Because even though Grizz fans are probably very small in number, I still don’t want to take their team away.
Also, I don’t want to support a David Stern associated product.
Thanks for posting.
Very well done documentary.
Does anyone know what the verdict would have been on the Key Arena lease, or was that document destroyed?
The judge still hasn't said what her verdict was going to be.
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 16, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't think so.
But I know she has declined everytime someone has asked which makes me believe she would of held them to the lease.
NEEDS MORE FREEDOM!
by Scruffy Lefty on Oct 16, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
They said in the video the verdict could be appealed.
In other words, even if Seattle lost the decision, the city could have further delayed the move with the court system.
I believe the judge was going to hold the Sonics to the lease because the contract had specific clauses the lease couldn’t be broken.
I am still so fucking angry at the City for taking that deal without hearing the judgment
Horrible decision-making and horrible counsel
by lemonverbena on Oct 17, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Great great viewing.
Made for some interesting raison bran breakfast companion.
JSWO - Josh Scobey World Order 4 Life!
Fantastic Film
Tough to watch though. I am still extremely angry about the whole debacle
by TheSteelersRuinedMyBirthday on Oct 17, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions
While the crowd chanted "Save Our Sonics!" during the last game in Seattle,
I wept.
Fuck Bennett. Fuck Nickels. Fuck Chopp.
I’m depressed now.
Nickels, Bennet, Chopp, Schultz, Seattle Ciry Council
FUCK YOU!!!!
YOU STOLE THE HISTORY OF OUR FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.
How can Clay Bennet sleep at night knowing his teams history doesn’t belong to them?
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
It's an excellent documentary. I'd love to comment more.
But I can’t. I’m still too angry & bitter over the whole mess – any attempted comment would devolve into a 10 paragraph rant that ended with a call for Stern’s head on a Pike outside Key Arena.
I’m still just trying to let it go.
"I'm tired of chasing after my dreams. I'll just find out where they're going, and catch up later." - Hedberg
Let's give a whole new meaning to
Pike Place Market.
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 20, 2009 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions
what do you want?
a little song, a little dance, Stern’s head on a Lance.
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
If the Nets move to WA, my neighborhood will freak the fuck out.
I live by their proposed new stadium, and it’s attracted all kinds of criticism.
The Clippers are Cripplers
that team, along with several others, are crippling the NBA.
Now that the Sonics are gone, I never want another NBA team. FUCK the NBA for letting Clay Bennet steal this team from us.
I could say FUCK to a whole bunch of folks on this but ultimately the NBA didn’t do anything to step in and say “hey wait a minute here, this isn’t right” so I say FUCK the NBA.
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
I've heard it said Seattle losing the Sonics was the fault of the fans.
Durtee says certain teams are crippling the NBA. While I think he’s closer, I don’t think he’s right either.
All the fan wanted was basketball to watch. Blame those that made the basketball bad and the cost prohibitive. Blame those that didn’t adjust to keep their fanbase and instead behaved smugly assuming we would just cheer at their empty parade. But don’t blame the fan.
The fan IS the game.
Once upon a time, long long before the NBA but considerably after Dr. James Naismith put peach baskets up in a gymnasium, it started with guys playing ball— they played because they enjoyed playing. They played for the thrill of it, for the pure joy of competition, for the challenge and mastery, and all the myriad of reasons we pick up sport as a hobby.
Then something happened. They actually got pretty good and it. And what’s more, it was interesting to watch. But they still played the game because they were good at it, and loved it, loved to play the game.
And more people saw, and word spread, and some even came from distances to admire their exploits.
Eventually, enough of these folks, these “fans” wanted to see the game, and then someone realized there was money to be made in the process.
That was when “The Game” was truly born.
But sadly something else happened at the same time. Money corrupted. Over time, everyone getting the money became more concerned with money and the hustle than the actual playing of the game… as we stand now, far down those treacherous currents has traveled “The Game.”
But remember, without the fan, there is no “Game,” only game.
Players will play, and the fan will always be there watching, and paying what they can, as long as “The Game” treats the fan well. And the game always has treated the fan and the player well, and it always will. It did at the birth of it all, and it will the day of the death of it all.
But, despite the game always being there for the fan and player, “The Game” forgot that.
Hence, don’t blame the fan.
Don’t even blame the player, but blame “The Game.”
Bird Law in this country isn't governed by reason.
by Tyler Jorgensen on Oct 29, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
The Fault of the Fans?
I haven’t heard anyone say that. I know there was talk of us not getting support for a new arena because the fan base was not there, like it was in the past. Well of course the fan base is going to dwindle if the product isn’t good. Seattle basketball in the 90’s was good. Seattle basketball in the new millenia wasn’t, so no new arena.
That really is just the start to this situation. Clay Bennet saw this loss of interest as an opportunity to make money off of the Seattle Supersonics and thus plotted his devious plan to move this team after he promised he wouldn’t.
I understand that Professional Sports is a business to the owners but when the product gets bad you don’t move the distribution to another city, you fix the product.
The Sonics FO started drafting white guys with little to mediocre talent and never really went after the big name guys because Stern was losing money and didn’t want to pay top dollar for top prospects. If they really started making a run at getting talented guys to play here then we might be singing a different tune.
In the End, the NBA let it all go down.
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
If the business model sucks and the product sucks, you can't really blame the customer, can you?
And given his product and how much he paid, I doubt Bennett (or the NBA) is making money. It’s just an opportunity for the NBA to fleece a new city for a free stadium.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Giants to be honored with commemorative NY license plate; some would rather see a 9/11 plate
- The hidden play of Super Bowl XLVI: Justin Tuck’s third-quarter sack
- Report: Chad Ochocinco will become Chad Johnson once again
- Video: Bill Belichick implores his defense to make the Giants throw to Mario Manningham
- Training Day: Learning the 40 with an Olympian
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
