Volunteers needed for the Courthouse Rally
Posted on Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pm by SpeedCat
If you can help with any of the following things, please send an email to saveoursonics [AT] gmail [dot] com or sonicsfansunited [AT] yahoo [dot] com and we’ll get you more details.
Sign making:
At 2pm on Saturday on the UW campus (in Benson on the southwest part of campus), SOS is going to have a sign making gathering, we will be there making as many signs as we can until 7pm. Feel free to show up any time. Parking is free after 2pm on campus that weekend.
Crowd leaders:
On the 16th we need 15-25 people to show up by 3pm so that we can have better control of the crowd. You will help us get cheers going, set up the courthouse courtyard, help us control the crowd during the event, and you will get a “I’m Saving The Sonics” wristband.
Flyer Making
If you have access to cheap/free printing please help us out. we need as many printed as possible.
Color Flyer:
http://saveoursonics.org/Portals/16/rally_0616_rgb.pdf
Black and White:
http://saveoursonics.org/Portals/16/rally_0616.pdf
Mariners Game Advertising:
We want to pass out flyers at the M’s games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, before and/or after the game. Also we want to post flyers all over the area, on poles, at the Pyramid Ale House, Sluggers, etc., so that people walking to the game can’t help but notice.
Downtown advertising:
We need to hit up all the local businesses that people who work downtown go to (mostly the busy lunch spots) and get them to put up flyers in their shops. If they already have a flyer up, put up another one. We want the area between hwy 99 and I-5, North of Seneca and South of Denny to be covered with flyers. This needs to be done ASAP!
Keeping the crowd entertained:
If you know street entertainers that want to take advantage of the crowd, tell them to show up and set up shop. We are especially looking for people that play instruments, like the tuba guy that’s at always at the Sonics games or the guys that play buckets for drums or even just normal people with drums. Make sure that they are willing play their music with the chants and to quiet down when GP and X are speaking. There will be no amplified sound allowed outside the court house, so they will all have to be acoustic.
If you can help please respond ASAP! If you can help with any of the following things, please send an email to saveoursonics [AT] gmail [dot] com or sonicsfansunited [AT] yahoo [dot] com and we’ll get you more details.
-Griff & Jeremy
June 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Sign me up to help with crowd control, I will be there by 3pm.
Will there be direction to where to go once we get there?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I can print out a bunch of black and white flyers at my work like 2 or 3 thousand and start putting them up in belltown/queen anne area.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
sorry guys I think the links are fixed now
June 12th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Just another note on parking or transportation. Most Park and Rides have direct trips to the Westlake Station which is .3 miles from the court house.
So save a lot of hassle, the money it costs for parking and take mass transit!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
That link to the wristbands is too long… Replace it with this one…
http://tinyurl.com/3rerol
June 12th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Oh the federal courthouse is near Westlake? I thought it was closer to pioneer square, south downtown?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
hehehe, thanks for re-formatting guys. I pitched in a bit too.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
According to throwing the address into the bus line trip planner that’s what it spit out.
King County Metro Transit Trip Planner
Itineraries from
FEDERAL WAY TRANSIT CENTER to 700 STEWART ST
(Service on Thursday, 6/12/08)
Send Feedback About These Results
Plan Return Trip
Revise Original Entries
Itinerary #1
Walk NE from FEDERAL WAY TRANSIT CENTER to
Depart Federal Way TC AcRd & FWTC Bay 7 At 01:43 PM On Route MT 194 Downtown Seattle
Arrive Westlake Sta AcRd & Tunnel Station-BAY A At 02:44 PM
Walk 0.2 mile N to 700 STEWART ST
June 12th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
“Oh the federal courthouse is near Westlake? I thought it was closer to pioneer square, south downtown? ”
No, that’s the County courthouse. The Federal courthouse is at 700 Stewart Street.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I hope there are some changing stations there, because I will hopefully buy some of the merchandise that Jeff was talking about from Seattle Teams.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
SeaSonics Says:
June 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm e
“I can print out a bunch of black and white flyers at my work like 2 or 3 thousand and start putting them up in belltown/queen anne area. ”
SeaSonics - please send me an email to sonicsfansunited@yahoo.com. We could use some of them flyers!
Cheers
Speedcat
June 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I didn’t realize the courthouse was so close to Westlake. I thought it was in pioneer square near the bum/crack park.
Another transportation to that area is the awesome monorail from the dynamic Seattle Center.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
For out of town people, it would be great to post a mapquest map showing the location, and also showing places where out of towners can park and take a ride to the courthouse. Also, perhaps a carpool thread can be started. Maybe if all the out of towners can meet at Northgate, for example, and the people from south of Seattle could have a place to meet as well.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
If several people meet at a big lot (do they rent out Quest or the Seattle Center or) at around 2 to 3pm. People can hook up with others and carpool close to the rally and split parking costs. Again-get our high schoolers to spread the word to their friends and friends of friends. They work “odd hr jobs” and are available.They also move in “packs.”
June 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
The easiest will most likely to park at a Park and Ride lot, that has service to downtown, many busses have straight shots from the P and R lots to the tunnel. The tunnel drops you off at westlake station..and its a short walk.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’ve done jury duty in that building–it’s a pretty easy walk to/from Westlake.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
“I didn’t realize the courthouse was so close to Westlake. I thought it was in pioneer square near the bum/crack park.”
No, that’s the County courthouse. I know, because I gotta walk through that park every morning on my way to work. Joy!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
green and yellow highlighters make a HUGE difference on the black and white flyers!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Paul Schniederman(Sp?) Attorney will be on KJR with Ian tomorrow to discuss the lease for the first 40 to 45 min of the show Ian just said…
June 12th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Now I feel bad for hammering Ian for not even mentioning the Rally, and tomorrow basically half the show will be talking it up .
June 12th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Xteve,
Where do you live? I am on 5th and Yesler and catch the bus on third right by said park and courthouse.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Those that are in the downtown corridor, its free to use the buses!
June 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Gas just called it the “WWE Finals” are on KJR tonight so we have a short show today
June 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
“Xteve,
Where do you live? I am on 5th and Yesler and catch the bus on third right by said park and courthouse. ”
I actually live in Ballard, but my bus usually drops me off right at 3rd & Jefferson, in front of said park & courthouse.
At least you’re within walking distance of Tat’s … and Salumi …
http://www.tatsdeli.com
http://www.salumicuredmeats.com/
June 12th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Another transportation to that area is the awesome monorail from the dynamic Seattle Center.
I can see the headline now:
100s of Citizens Trapped in Seattle City Monorail Forced to Miss Rally
June 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I’d love to volunteer for crowd control. I worked with Disney for 2 years in a similar capacity. Sending an Email now. Anything to help the cause.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
here’s a good article about the shady dealings in the NBA;
http://tinyurl.com/58ahrh
June 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
If you don’t know Seattle well, I’d just park off of Aurora/Hwy 99 North of about 70th North. There are plenty of places to park for free and the #358 will take you into Seattle in about 10-15 minutes. Just get off at 3rd and Virginia and walk three blocks East to 6th Ave and you can’t miss it.
If you are coming up from South of Seattle then I’d suggest parking off of Rainier Ave and taking the #7. Just remember there is a bit of a crime problem around the International District at night, but it shouldn’t be too big of a deal.
I live a couple of blocks from Green Lake so I’m just going to hop on the 358 myself. Keep in mind the busses are a lot busier then they used to be due to the price of gas.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
For those of you going to the sign paintng on Saturday, I will be there selling the wristbands. Also, if you want to buy a shirt on the EBay store and pick it up that day, let me know. Just pay for it on EBay, but dont pay shipping. Than email me and tell me you are coming to paint signs, or just want to pick it up. email is tim@saveoursonics.org. Thanks all! see you there!
June 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Once I get off work, I am heading up and down Market St in Ballard and posting flyers. I haven’t seen any around this area so far.
June 12th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Seattle’s Trial Brief:
http://downloads.newsok.com/documents/j12seattlebrief.pdf
June 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Sonics’ Trial Brief:
http://downloads.newsok.com/documents/j12sonicsbrief.pdf
June 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Do people really think we can get a couple of thousand people? Wow, that would be great even if it ended for naught. I just don’t want us to get embarrassed to be honest. As long as a 1,000 people show up I’ll think it was a success.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Do people really think we can get a couple of thousand people? Wow, that would be great even if it ended for naught. I just don’t want us to get embarrassed to be honest. As long as a 1,000 people show up I’ll think it was a success.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Do people really think we can get a couple of thousand people? Wow, that would be great even if it ended for naught. I just don’t want us to get embarrassed to be honest. As long as a 1,000 people show up I’ll think it was a success.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Sorry for the spam. I had explorer issues. I usually always use safari but I was in a hurry. Sorry for spamming the board
June 12th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Do people really think we can get a couple of thousand people
seriously, if we cant get 2,000 for this, then maybe they are right when talking about apathy.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I wouldn’t think a small turnout would prove apathy. I just think that most people think its a done deal and that going to a rally isn’t going to change anybodys mind. Like someone said before, they aren’t going to ask us what to do about the trial no matter how many people are there.
That being said, I’ll be there
Now if the city wins and Schultz wins (or Clay bails), we get a new arena (or rebuild), the team w/Durant starts winning, and still nobody shows or watches on TV, THEN I will agree with apathy.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
watching game 4 of the finals and noticed a guy sitting courtside wearing a Shawn Kemp jersey…Sweet!
June 12th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Yeah my friends just called me and told me about the guy sitting courtside wearing a Sonics jersey
June 12th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
KJR is emailing promos for the rally now as well….
Hello,
Monday, June 16th marks the beginning of historic legal proceedings as the City of Seattle defends its lease to the Seattle SuperSonics in federal court hearings.
950 KJR and Save Our Sonics (SOS) are calling out to all Sonics fans to join us outside the courthouse (700 Stewart St., Seattle) throughout the day beginning at 4pm. Sonics legends Gary ‘The Glove’ Payton and Xavier ‘X- Man’ McDaniel are confirmed to attend and speak around 4:30 pm.
Afterwards, join 950 KJR for a Post Save Our Sonics Rally at FX McRory’s where Groz and Gas will be broadcasting live from 3 - 7pm. FX McRory’s is offering an awesome special from back in the day, Jack Daniels for 95cents as they were in 1979 when the Sonics won the Championship!
Thanks for listening and see you on Monday,
KJRam Promotions Team
June 12th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I just think that most people think its a done deal and that going to a rally isn’t going to change anybodys mind.
Isn’t that apathy? Resigned to defeat?
June 12th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
95 cent jack and cokes?
Big props to KJR, they are really hammering on this. A groz with gas remote for the rally? Thats as best we could hope for.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Has anyone else seen the guy sitting courtside at the Laker game wearing the old school Shawn Kemp jersey?
June 12th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Yeah pretty cool! 4 games into the series and all I’ve seen is Lakers and Celtics jerseys…and 1 vintage Shawn Kemp Sonics jersey! Nice!
June 12th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
awesome… talking about ref game fixing instead of the first half.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
yeah I went nuts when I saw that guy wearing a Sonics jersey.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I still haven’t seen him, my friends told me about him, where is he?
June 12th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
very 1st seat to the left of the scorers table
June 12th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Oh ok thought so. Thanks.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
WHAT A COME BACK!!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
oooohh the second oldest player in the league dunked on Kobe!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Yeah PJ Brown Slamin’ it down. Two point game
June 12th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
“momentum is a strange girl, you never know when she’ll jump ship” - Phil Jackson
I love Phil, don’t know why Sterno hates him so
June 12th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Guys, thanks to EVERYONE for your AWESOME support. You Sonics Fans are incredible!!
Griff is THE MAN. Mr Organization. I’m motivated as hell, but so scatterbrained. I think we make a good team.
Tonight I will have several thousand flyers. We need people to distribute them! Please send me an email if you can help. sonicsfansunited@yahoo.com.
HUGE PROPS TO KJR. They are stepping up SO HARD for our team and for our fans. Please give them all the support you can!
GET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ATTEND THE RALLY. This is the single most important thing you can do to help.
ROCK ON SONICS FANS!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
To anybody that doesn’t have the enviable aility to hear Stern flip his lid on radio, here it is type.
http://tinyurl.com/64aogo
I imagine it does lose a lot in translation though. Still a lot like Xmas coming early but.
To err is human, to collossaly bone it requires a Commissioner.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
At the end of the interview during halftime tonight, Stern says “Thanks guys thanks for being interesting.” Hes so wierd.
But anyway Im getting a good feeling we are gonna have a great turn out at the rally. At first I didnt know if it was just us on SC.com but after listening to the people calling in on KJR today and talking to my neigbors tonight I am feeling really good about it! I found out tonight one of my neigbors cant go but he said 5 of his friends are going and another neighbor I never talk to I just found out hes been a season ticket holder for 14 yrs and he feels bad that he hasnt made any effort so he is for sure going too. Were gonna have at least 1000!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
HOW ‘BOUT THEM CELTS!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Congrats to Ray Allen…he looked dead in the last two series…all those Kobe/MJ comparisons can just stop PLEASE…
June 12th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I got about 40 flyers up here in Ballard before I ran out. I just printed up 100 more. Going to go back out in a little bit. SOS!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Ive always liked Paul Pierce for some reason…what a tough player…but I’d love to have Pierce on my team.
Its so hard…I want Phil Jackson to succeed but cant be disappointed if Kobe fails…
June 12th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
wow that was a great finish. Hate those quakers.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Yea, Speed, great game. Amazing comeback. Ray was clutch as was Pierce, of course. Too bad Stern had to tell the refs to lay low for this game.
But, I don’t think that there’s any way that Stern can let the Celtics win game 5. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that the Lakers win that one. Hopefully, it’s obvious.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Kobe is choking in the Finals. How many people still think he is a Jordan clone?
Ray’s clutch level > Kobe’s
June 12th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Somebody posted about the Sonics rally on a sports forum, and theres an ongoing argument. Some guy named Just_Osmo (some cocky Boston fan) is saying that the we’re just wasting our time and that our team is guarenteed to be gone. This guys really starting to piss me off
“Give it up Seatle. The Sonics are going to OKC no matter what you do. Weither its before 2010 or after 2010. Its going to happen.”
“Yah there are cases, that have no chance of doing anything lol. Whatever you can keep your hopes up, good for you. But you come back in 2010 and I’ll say I todl you so.”
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=26430411
June 12th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Yeah, Kobe still has a ways to go to near MJ comparisons IMO. He’s got the talent, but he is nowhere near the teammate or leader.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
just got done distributing in pioneer sq, safeco area to restaurants and bars and everyone was really receptive. except one that i want to point out so every sonics fan knows. although i already thought it was a pos bar and would never go there, cowgirls inc said they didnt want anything that would draw people away from their area during business hours. at 430 on a monday? wtf.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Haha.kobe had 17 pts and 10 assists and he’s choking? You kobe haters…
June 12th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
6-19 from the floor. He took more shots than he scored points. Yeah, I’d say he choked.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Dont forget his 4 steals. Phil choked. where was Lamar?
June 12th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
David Stern’s Chickennnnssss!!!!…….are comin’ home………to roooossst!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Interesting article about Stern’s prickish vengefulness. Seems like he’s letting his ego get the best of him more and more frequently. The more, the better if you ask me. I hope his ego ends up leading to a hard fall from power.
http://tinyurl.com/6hkeed
June 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3439554
“We had some idea about what was happening because we made available, and they went out and sought, interviews with many officials, past and present, who informed us of those interviews,” Stern said. “So we know that something had been said by Mr. Donaghy, and the FBI was investigating a variety of claims. That’s what happens — someone comes in, they made a variety of allegations as they seek to demonstrate their cooperativeness with respect to reducing a sentence, and then you identify people. But guilt by association is not something that we engage in.”
Two nights earlier, Stern was asked by ESPN.com whether he was aware of any ongoing investigations of other referees. His response: “I’m going to repeat the question because I want everyone to hear it: Are we aware of any open investigations by the government? Only possibly of Mr. Donaghy, nothing else.”
June 12th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3cORUgQciY
June 12th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Ray played all 48 minutes tonight! What a great performance.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Ray was awesome at both ends of the court. Go Celtics!
I’m excited about the Rally on Monday - I will be there & if my schedule owrks to come early by 3:00 I can help with whatever you want. I’ll try for that but can’t be 100% sure my schedule will get me there by that time - but I will for sure be ther by 4:30!
Let’s keep calling KJR ourselves and just try to mention the rally as much as possible - encourge people to believe it can make a difference because the NBA owners will be paying attention.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Was going to a M’s game this week. Instead, bringing my kids to the rally from Moses Lake. They’ll remember this event forever.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Man. Talk about being blessed sports fan.
Win World series in November, Get to super bowl in Feb, and now 1 game away from NBA championship.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Was going to a M’s game this week. Instead, bringing my kids to the rally from Moses Lake. They’ll remember this event forever.
That is insane, you and the caller who is coming from spokane, are to get huge props!!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
There was a guy courtside, right next to the scorers table on the Lakers side wearing a Sonics jersey from the early nineties(the road green jersey).
Also, it’d be nice to see Ray get finals MVP.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Haha.kobe had 17 pts and 10 assists and he’s choking? You kobe haters…
He’s also shooting under 40% in 3 of 4 Finals games. That’s not even average…
In the first two games, his shot selection has been questionable. Shooting over double teams. Passing up open teammates. Tonight, he just flat out couldn’t even get in the paint at will like he did in the regular season. It’s not hating, it’s the truth.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
For those who know me, I am a professional magician.
I will be performing walk around magic on Monday - hopefully it doesn’t rain.
See y’all there.
wit’me
June 12th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Reading Kelly’s article again can be good inspiration for all of us on the Monday Rally:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2004465742_kelley09.html
Here are some thoughts on why I think this rally CAM make an impact in the destiny of our team - I posted it earlier in the week but just thoughht I’d offer it up one more time before Monday:
I think if 200-300 fans show up Stern and league owners will laugh. But if 1000’s come - they will have to at least pay attention at some level. If it gives them even a moment of “re-evaluating” this could be an invaluable assist in the SOS effort if it is combined with a win by the city in this court case. Why?
Because of the memory. The main value of a huge/successful rally is primarily in the memory of Stern, Clay B. & NBA League owners this June if Clay loses the lease case. If that happens Clay, Stern & the NBA owners will be staring into these realities:
1. The Sonics HAVE to play in Seattle for 2 more years
2. The team will likely lose 50-60-70+ Million in that time if they try to operate the team as a “Lame Duck” team
3. The league will be embarrassed, frustrated and nagged by negative PR on this for 2 more years
4. Stern & the league will not be able to showcase one of their brightest young stars in Kevin Durrant because they will want to deflect coverage of the Sonics to avoid this issue as much as possible.
5. The league is still facing the ridiculous reality they are leaving a fantastic, strategic, established & 12th largest market for the 45th largest market
6. Clay would have to apply for a new league approval for a move which could get tough and raise more PR & legal headaches for the NBA.
7. Clay’s co-owners could become divisive and want to sell out.
8. Howard S.’s legal case will become a darker cloud. The darkest cloud in many ways for Stern/Clay & the NBA. This is not because it is a slam dunk or automatic winner - but because it is credible enough to put immense and intense fear into Stern & Co.. Why? Because Howard “Might” win. It is unpredictable and not even Stern can control it. If Clay if found guilty of fraud the costs would be catastrophic for Clay, Stern & the League. If a federal court rules there has been fraud in a 350 million dollar sale of an NBA franchise it is the largest sports scandal in history.
A. Stern would have to resign in disgrace… his legacy is “Fraud” like Barry Bonds is “Steroids”
B. Clay has lost 100+ million and now loses his team in disgrace and is a convicted fraud
C. The league has the biggest PR black eye ever and loses control of the ownership of one of their franchises to a unique court trust - which could influence the sale price in a negative way which would impact every owners team value.
As they face this lawsuit, Stern and the league will have to ask at that point…. Do we really want to risk this just to get a team to OKC not now, but in 2+ years depending on appeals etc..? Especially if the alternative is to get Steve Ballmer in our owners club, stay in the Seattle market, clean this mess up and avoid these risks?
It is the FEAR of these possibilities, along with the fear of a prolonged court cases that is ultimately simply unpredictable, that gives Sonics fans hope. If the city wins their lease case next week there is then some serious reason for Stern, Clay & NBA owners - if faced with these realities - to seriously consider calling Ballmer & selling.
BACK TO THE PUBLIC RALLY ON JUNE 16…. The value is all about the memory….
Why is this some important? I think primarily a HUGE rally with 1000’s of fans is most important because of the memory it will create for Stern, Clay and NBA owners when they are assessing their alternatives in late June. It would be part of the weight that is pushing them to cave in and sell to Ballmer. It would give them greater reason to pause and assess their opponent with more respect. It would be an example of what many athletes talk about when they say they need to go out onto the court or playing field and “Impose our will” on the other team. A huge rally is part of doing this to Stern & clay and in a sense part of breaking their spirit and perhaps causing more division within the ranks of NBA owners and among Clay’s ownership group.
A HUGE rally will contribute to this effort of wearing Stern and Clay down and hopefully causing many NBA owners to call Stern and say something like this…. “David, clean this thing up and clean it up now. We cannot let this drag out for 2+ years and we cannot even come close to risking having one of our own owners being guilty of fraud. The Sonic fans and the city have not rolled over like you thought they would, it is a better market that OKC, and they just put on the largest public rally for an NBA team in history that was not part of a championship celebration.”
If Stern & Clay lose this court case in June a huge rally needs to be embedded in their minds as part of realizing their opponent is strong, passionate, committted and they will not go away. We want this memory in their minds as they make their decisions about how to proceed in light of losing the lease case, which they likely thought would never even reach trial because they assumed Nickels and Seattle would accept a buyout of the final 2 years.
This rally could indeed be huge in the SOS cause if the rally itself is HUGE.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Monday - June 16 - the biggest public rally for an NBA team in history outside of a championship celelbration!
Let’s make it happen people!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
It was a great Storm game last night. Sheryl Swoopes is starting to look like her old 3-time MVP self & it’s great to have Swin Cash & Yolanda Griffith on the team to give us 5 All-Stars along with Sue Bird and L.J. The Storm are now 7-3 for the season and in 3rd place in the West behind L.A. & Minnesota, and they’re PERFECT at home at 6-0. They are living up to their theme for 2008 - “The Perfect Storm”.
Anyway, I went early to distribute flyers and had just under 100 with 48 color. I got a lot of them in people’s hands. I never ran into anyone from SonicsCentral there or at least anyone who came to pass out flyers. I talked to 4 or 5 people who read the blog pretty regularly and post rarely. There was a lot of positive reaction overall. Probably 4 people said the Sonics are gone already and I told them why that’s not true. About 8 or 9 people said “I don’t care about the Sonics” and several people said they’d like to make it, but can’t.
Then there was the good news: several people knew nothing about it and many were interested. Several people knew about it and were planning to be there - I’d say 10 - maybe a dozen. 4 people wanted to post them at their workplace. One was an attorney and took a color flyer (everyone wanted a color one) for his work, then came and found me 10 minutes later and asked me for 2 more to post. That was cool. 6 or 8 people were really happy to see that Gary Payton was going to be there. About 5 people worked close to the Federal Courthouse and said they could come.
I also taped a few flyers to the big posts (3 on each) in front of the West entrance to Key Arena (on the street) and went across the street to the MainStage Tavern and asked permission to put up flyers inside their front window. The bartender/night manager , Cat, was very accomodating and allowed me to tape one on the inside of each glass door and one in the front window. I asked her what it would mean to her if the Sonics left the area and she said that it would hurt their business a lot, and that she would have a very difficult Christmas for her kids without the Sonics here.
I handed out several more inside the Key, but the Team shop said they cannot allow any flyers there under orders from Mgt., but one guy, Tae, wanted one for himself and said he’ll be there, as did a couple of the security guards. I gave out all the color ones and ended up with about 30 B/W ones leftover. I plastered 5 all over the inside windows of my Subaru Outback right on the street outside the Key.
For the future, we could have optimized the experience with 3-4 more people and hit almost everyone from all 4 entrances, and it would have even been better to be in pairs at each entrance, but I’m pretty happy with who I got them to, the mostly very positive reception, and just spreading the word in general. Although I only gave out 70 flyers, I offered them to about 4X that many people, 250-300, & many just couldn’t go. A couple people were real excited and thankful about what I was doing, especially one guy who also knew who ZenDoc was and thanked me a lot for working so hard to save the Sonics. That felt good.
I recommend if you haven’t done it yet to get out and hand out flyers and talk to them. Whatever you do, don’t just shove a flyer in their face w/o saying anything to them. I talk to them first - just a sentence or 2 usually & ask them if they would like a flyer and don’t even hold my hand out with it unless they say yes. That way they don’t feel put upon. They are asking for the flyer and they’re more likely to be serious and to attend the rally IMO. And on a great note: yesterday the weatherman said Monday the high would be 59 degrees, tonight they’ve upped it to 69 degrees - practically perfect weather for a big rally. We probably don’t want it any hotter.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Visted the fun forest at the center and walked up to the Key to look around and my 7yr old got an autograph from Rashard. The excitement from my son that day reminds me how important the Sonics and the Seattle Center are to everyone throughout the state.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
In the Sonics trial brief: “If forced to stay, the PBC may be forced to drastically alter its business methods,” the team said. “There is little doubt that this would involve the court in a challenge to the team’s business methods.”
In the City’s trial brief (See Factual Background “B”): “PBC admits that if this Court orders specific performance, PBC will comply and continue to run the Sonics the same way it would have otherwise.”
Can the city use this contradiction somehow? Either in the trial or to fight the altering of their business methods?
June 12th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Man, I wish I could help with any of this, but what am I to do, being here in far away Germany?
Keep up the good work, guys, and make this happen.
Save our Sonics!
June 12th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Zonics, why the chicken video? I don’t get it.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Spent about 2 hours putting up about 150 flyers around Ballard. If it gets just a couple people extra to the rally, it was worth it. SOS!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:27 am
any estimations on how many people are already committed for monday?
June 13th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Nice work EJ! I havnt posted one, too busy mailing tshirts like crazy! The EBay store is nuts! I have sent shirts to 5 different states and wristbands to Spain and China. Sonics love is worldwide! If we can find out who the guy in the Kemp jersey was, I’ll send him a wristband too!
June 13th, 2008 at 12:58 am
“Its so hard…I want Phil Jackson to succeed but cant be disappointed if Kobe fails… ”
Myk, it’s not so hard. The CELTICS WON. It’s quite easy, really. Kobe lost. We are happy. Get with the program already.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Damn it. I put up about 20 or so flyers in lower Queen Anne yesterday, and checking back today found ALL of them were taken down. Would the city do that?
I gave some to the area bars (Ozzies, Spectator, Fyoids) so at least there’s some still out there.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Laporbo
the vid:
those are Sterns chickens coming home to roost..
June 13th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Zonics….. man your creativity blows me away. At least one person gets it.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:56 am
GIVE ME BACK MY SON(ICS)!!!!!!!!!!!!(Mel Gibson)
June 13th, 2008 at 7:41 am
8^)
June 13th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
So Griff and I were downtown late last night flyering the freakin hell outta the place, and we get to 1st and Pike. We’re like, yeah, Pike Place Market, that has gotta be the bomb for catching multiple eyeballs.
We’re like putting up a flyer, and this guy comes up to us, and he’s like, “Fuck Ray Allen!” “Downtown Freddie Brown!” “Fuck the Sonics”. “You guys are l#sbians!”
And Griff is like, “I love l#sbians!”
I’m like, yo, we’re saving the Sonics, man, can you dig that?
The screams “Don’t fucking point at me!! I’m from Alaska!! ” and then lunges at me and starts str@ngling me. Griff pulled him off me and we were like, man, this location is BAG and we bailed.
Then we had a great laugh about how Speedcat risked his LIFE to save the SuperSonics.
No joke, just ask Griff. It was fucking insane.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Dude, you are lucky to be alive. You NEVER point at people from Alaska. Sheesh.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
The screams “Don’t fucking point at me!! I’m from Alaska!! ” and then lunges at me and starts str@ngling me. Griff pulled him off me and we were like, man, this location is BAG and we bailed.
- You saw Apostle out at the Market??
June 13th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Laporbo, you seriously cracked me up with that one. Good show. I can’t believe Speedcat didn’t know that.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Jeremy, I’m glad that you’re OK. I just didn’t know that passing out SOS Flyers could be that dangerous.!. Had this fellow been drinking by any chance? I have my doubts as to whether Griff really loves L&sbians that much. I haven’t seen him at one Storm game this year, so I think that he may have been kidding.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I have a giddy anticipation for Monday. I just want this thing to be set in motion. It is going to be the culmination of all we have struggled for these past couple of years. Whatever the outcome of the rally on Monday, I will hold my head high and be proud to be a SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Fan Again.
Nobody seemed to bring this up so:
Just wanted to give a shout-out to Haralabos Voulgaris for this little piece on true hoop.
Do you ever talk shop with other basketball stat experts?
I don’t really talk shop with other stat experts, to be honest I don’t really know of any. There are a bunch of people who post on the Sonics Central APBR board whose opinion I respect. But I am kind of of the opinion that anyone devoting all this time to the study of basketball and not willing to really profit from it, is fooling themselves in some way.
I agree 100%. There are A LOT of peoples opinions on this board that I REALLY respect! The discourse on this board is second to none. I have considered it an honor and blessing to have read this board the last few years and whatever the result of the trials I want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who have stood up for my beloved sonics, my beloved memories and the significant piece of who I am today.
A great man once told me, “You don’t just fight the fights you think you can win. You fight the fights that need fighting” I can think of no more noble fight than this one we are about to undertake. Let get ready
Put the Women and Children to bed. And lets go get some dinner gentlemen!
-Splifton
June 14th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Add another player to be at the Rally:
Jamal Crawford says he plans on being at the SOS rally.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Here’s the link to the article about Crawford:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2004476663_brewer14.html
June 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Speedcat that’s an amazing story thank u guys for risking your life! Im getting so excited im ready for this weekend to be over.
June 14th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Not only that, but alot of local players are in town for Crawfords event.
SPencer Hawes might be there, he was pretty pissed off about the whole situation
June 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am
“A great man once told me, “You don’t just fight the fights you think you can win. You fight the fights that need fighting” I can think of no more noble fight than this one we are about to undertake.”
Word! Fight the good fight, folks. It is the right thing to do, win or lose.
Cheers
Speedcat
June 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am
lawyer
lawyer