Pearl Jam should save the Seattle Supersonics and buy them

otis mcfluster

I'm completely aware that it is not that simple--as a Sonics fan I am blinded by passion.

At least a “Save The Sonics” show or something.

What is happening to the city of Seattle and the franchise is a complete travesty.

May I direct you towards the incomparable Bill Simmons: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080228&sportCat=nba

iwasthere

Kansas City Sonics.

I like the sound.

MasterFramer

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

JD Sal

MasterFramer wrote:

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

PJ definitely doesn't have cash like that, or the time and energy to own a sports team. But where did that stat come from? Are you talking about pro NBA teams?

norm

why doesn't bill gates buy the team....or at least fund a new arena.....$400 million is a drop in the bucket for him....:)

LONGRD

MasterFramer wrote:

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

that's outlandish! the last time any sports nearly went bankrupt was the NHL about two seasons ago.

NewJPage

MasterFramer wrote:

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

i dont know...after ed's solo tour, he may have enough...

wazzukick

WTF? If you want to move a team move the Hornets who have no history. What an ass...Kansas City Sonics

iwasthere wrote:

Kansas City Sonics.

I like the sound.

homeratbat

MasterFramer wrote:

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

thats the type of logic that cheap teams use to tell their fans they can't afford free agents!! i'm a phillies fan i've grown up with that bs for years!!

tkepearljamn

saint louis sonics?

just an idear...

iwasthere

don't need another st. louise anything.

aNiMaL

I like this e-mail:

Doug Enfield wrote:

City: Tacoma, Wash.
Name: Doug Enfield

When I was 4 I was toddling around in a Jack Sikma T-shirt as they brought home the one and only Seattle pro sports championship. I could name all the players on that team! I remember watching the '87 conference finals with my dad and we knew the Supes were huge longshots against that Lakers team, but we felt like the NBA elite just to be in the conference finals with them. Then GP and Kemp rolled into town and the NBA was as fun as it gets. I spent hours as a teenager lowering the rim in the driveway throwing alley-oops to my buddies. Before the '93-'94 season, Jordan retired. The Sonics finish the season with a NBA-best 63 wins. Of course, that led to Seattle fans having to look at Mutombo clutching the basketball and crying during the opening of "NBA on NBC" for the next eight years. This town absolutely bled green when we beat the Utah Jazz in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in '96 and it was my first big party as a freshly minted 21-year-old. These moments are not just a history of a great franchise. This is my life. They are part of who I am. How can I not be that person? How do I reconcile that part of me that hears the great Bob Blackburn in my dreams?

Forty-one years ago, the NBA came to Seattle and asked us to invest ourselves in a basketball team. We did. Now that same NBA is saying the 41-year investment meant nothing.

It meant something to me.

emeraldkity

Ive tripped over Jack Sikmas gargantuan feet @ Dukes
I saw the Supersonics when Wilkens was the coach.
I do not care about the current team- I do like the Storm however.
much classier than the Sonics.
Oklahoma can have them.

However- if Griffey is healthy, I would love to have him back

dolly rocker

thats a shame, I thought seattle was a big b-ball town..really a shame if it goes down

Indifference

NewJPage wrote:

i dont know...after ed's solo tour, he may have enough...

small places - reasonable if not cheap these day tickets - nope don't think so.

otis mcfluster

cutback wrote:

why doesn't bill gates buy the team....or at least fund a new arena.....$400 million is a drop in the bucket for him....:)

Now we are talking.

MasterFramer wrote:

While it not only is not that simple, they just dont have that kind of cash. Plus over 70% of pro teams barely break even.

Here is an article over at Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/06/business-basketball-nba-biz-07nba-cz_kb_mo_cs_1206nbaintro.html

Only 10 teams posted net losses last year. Although because of the complex way pro-sport franchises are financed, posting a net loss according to those numbers are not the same as actually loosing money.

otis mcfluster

Bill Simmons to the rescue: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080229&sportCat=nba

Apparently there are tons of local buyers interested in purchasing the Sonics--I'll be damned if PJ shouldn't jump on the bandwagon for part ownership.

Also he has proposed a nonviolent in-game protest. I'm willing to join if this gets organized, who's with me?:

"Point No. 4: Many Sonics fans asked me for advice on saving the team, like I would have some sort of magic solution that hasn't been considered yet. And honestly, I don't. As long as David Stern is OK with this whole thing, and it seems like he is, then it's probably going to happen. A number of you suggested a complete boycott -- for instance, the Sonics are playing host toMinnesota on NBATV on March 14, which would work well because it's a nationally televised game -- but boycotts never work because there's always enough fans who don't give a crap and end up crossing the "picket line" (defeating the purpose of a boycott).

I did have one idea that won't necessarily save the Sonics, but will definitely achieve the goal of raising national awareness for what's happening here. It's a radical idea, an act of aggressive pacifism, if you will. I don't think it's ever been done before, but I think it could work. And no, this idea wasn't inspired by the "Donna Martin Graduates!" episode on "90210." OK, maybe a little.

Anyway, as soon as the third quarter ends for one of Seattle's upcoming home games, the Sonics fans should simply leave their seats and walk onto the court. Don't be violent, don't antagonize anyone ... just walk onto the court en masse, and as soon as the court is filled with people, start chanting, "SAVE OUR SONICS!" for 10 minutes straight. Assuming you had 3,000-4,000 people stroll onto the court, there's no possible way they could arrest everyone, and if they called the game, who cares? You were probably losing the game, anyway. The crucial thing to remember is that it should be done as nonaggressively as possible; the rest of the nation won't be sympathetic to your cause if you act like jerks. And you shouldn't chant anything like "BENNETT SUCKS!" or "STERN SUCKS!" You want everything to be as simple and benevolent as possible.

If you could pull this stunt off in a dignified way, it could be incredibly effective and raise the right amount of national awareness for this issue. (In fact, it would be the dominant story of that week and make the sports radio/talk show rotation.) I'm not going to pick the game for you, but I will say that you should pick a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday game so the story (and the highlights) can get national attention for the rest of the work week. Remember, carry yourselves with dignity and don't act like jerks. Heck, I might even show up to join you."

kurtdiedforyoursins

iwasthere wrote:

Kansas City Sonics.

I like the sound.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

kurtdiedforyoursins

otis mcfluster wrote:

Now we are talking.


Here is an article over at Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/06/business-basketball-nba-biz-07nba-cz_kb_mo_cs_1206nbaintro.html

Only 10 teams posted net losses last year. Although because of the complex way pro-sport franchises are financed, posting a net loss according to those numbers are not the same as actually loosing money.

that may well be the case, and in addition to the massive ego stroke of being one of the Owners, the franchises of the big 3 major sports continue to see huge appreciation in value. name one NBA, NFL or MLB sold at a loss in the last 20 years. or, ever.

Jeff Ament... paging a Mr. Jeff Ament...

wazzukick

otis mcfluster wrote:

Bill Simmons to the rescue: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080229&sportCat=nba



I did have one idea that won't necessarily save the Sonics, but will definitely achieve the goal of raising national awareness for what's happening here. It's a radical idea, an act of aggressive pacifism, if you will. I don't think it's ever been done before, but I think it could work. And no, this idea wasn't inspired by the "Donna Martin Graduates!" episode on "90210." OK, maybe a little.

That is the funniest shit. I will admit to watching 90210 and that had to be the funniest episode ever and to link it to the Sonics is great. I also think your idea is a good one. I think it may work...if anything raise awareness. You just don't take a team that has been in town for 41 years. If they do move I hope they do what the Brown did and keep the name for a future team.

long road walker

this is a great idea, PEARL JAM should defintley do something, I mean Eddie & JEff love the team. They can take on a new battle, against a money hungry corporate owner, IM ALLL FOR IT, speak out against it, play a "save the sonics" show or seomthing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bill simmons is great

Telomere

Save The Supersonics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

otis mcfluster

Has anyone in Seattle heard any ruminations of an on the court peaceful protest at a Sonics home game?

Someone really should get this thing going.