So stoked about the news. I had a feeling something big was gonna happen today. I just finished watching Sonicsgate for the first time... I should've watched it earlier to get more perspective on where the Seattleites were coming from. From what I gathered the fans did what they could to save their team.
The city of Seattle shot themselves in the foot over and over again. By the time the Ballmer group came around it was far too late. Seattle's only chance at keeping the team was through litigation which was very unfavorable to the NBA. Bennet was a snake for sure and the fans got screwed.
I don't blame the sonics fans for any of what happened. However, watching the documentary made me even more disturbed by some of the comments that i've seen directed our efforts. Sonicsgate was all about the heart and soul of the fans and how that should have meant something. Yet now it seems that us showing that very same heart and soul gets us ridiculed. Every move we make is too late or not enough. We are delusional, misguided, and ultimately "sad" to watch. I find it extremely hypocritical to create a huge testament to the loyalty of the Sonics fanbase, only for many of them, and even some who helped make the film, completely disregard that message and state how this is "purely business" now that it favors their situation. Instead of fighting the power that ultimately screwed them out of their team, they now instigate it.
Lucky for us, our city has chosen to not follow the example of Seattle. Everyone has done and is doing their part. From the mayor who has been a godsend, to the investors, to other leaders in the city, to the fans of our team. Some people say our efforts don't matter. Our chants and RV road trips may not be enough to sway the opinions of anybody, but guess what? Our support for this team since 1985 is ultimately what is going to lead us to victory. It was OUR love for this team that did it. Our passion reached its pinnacle during the early maloofian years... in a way the Maloofs actually are going to help us keep our team. Not only by fielding a team that brought us as a fanbase to the top of our fanatical mountain, but by attempting to destroy it so loudly that it awoke the sleeping giant.