The Scapegoat - PJ Fired by Thunder
Posted on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am by Big Chris
In NBA news today, the OKC Thunder fired head coach PJ Carlesimo after getting off to a league worst 1-12 start. Assistant coach Scott Brooks has been promoted to interum head coach.
Following the 105-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets last night, coach Carlesimo was fired before the team boarded the plane to fly to New Orleans for todays game, the second part of a back to back with the Hornets.
“This was a very difficult decision to make,” team executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said in a prepared statement announcing the move. “It is one that I felt was necessary at this time. I am very appreciative of the hard work and effort that P.J. gave to this team and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The team said it also relieved Paul Westhead of his duties as assistant coach.
This is only partially PJ Carlesimo’s fault if you ask me. They can’t fire Clay. They can’t get the fans to stop booing. They don’t have much that anybody in the NBA wants to trade for that isn’t named Kevin. PJ was the only change they really could change, with the slim hope that it will inspire someone - be it the fans or the players.
When your owner spends the better part of two years undermining the franchise and killing the product, what did you expect?
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Mission Accomplished PJ- Love Clay P.S.(Don’t forget about that non disclose pact you signed)
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Maybe PJ will share his true feelings about this whole move now that he got canned. Was it depressing for anyone else listening to Kevin Calabro broadcast the Hornets vs Thunder game last night on ESPN for anyone else?
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Eerie time warp feeling for a moment listening to KC
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
Sam, you don’t have to work for this clown. You can get a better gig. Why be a puppet for Clay-Clay, even if he did give you your “big break”. This should have happened LONGGG AGO. Surely you know this. I never could figure out your rotations PJ.
How’s it feel to get booed in your first month!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
PJ can now come back to his home here in Seattle and be with his family. He is the luckiest guy in the world to finally be free from Clay. I hope Brooks will have the same success as PJ coaching that college team. I guess 1-81 is probably asking too much.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
So OKC wanted to be big league, now its got it. They now realized they can be great sometimes, and sometimes they can just suck…all on national tv. The bloom is off the rose:
http://newsok.com/thunder-fires-p.j.-carlesimo/article/3324427
I am surprised that Sam actually admitted they considered firing PJ last summer. But wouldn’t that make their Master Plan too obvious? Having PJ stay on as coach never made sense, he was the token pawn, and executed the team properly, as Clay requested. But I agree with PJ not having a lot to work with, which is the MP.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
I did not watch the game last night..
Calabro was calling the game on ESPN right? must have felt really strange for him to be in OKC..
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:17 am
Yawning indifference.
In other news, the Knicks are now the latest to join the tank parade. Seems that now brings the total to half of the league. FANtastic!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
When your owner spends the better part of two years undermining the franchise and killing the product, what did you expect?
- To be fair…it was quite obvious before and after PJ was fired that he is an absolutely sh!tty head coach. Even if this wasn’t part of the master plan it was going to happen. That is why I dont think you will see PJ come out with some information about Bennett. Bennett was actually smart enough to just hire a cr@p coach and let him kill things naturally, then hire a guy and tell him to lose games.
In other news, the Knicks are now the latest to join the tank parade. Seems that now brings the total to half of the league. FANtastic!
- Sure seems that Harrington is a better fit on the team then Randolph and Mobley isnt that bad of a player. Like the Detroit trade this seems like a trade that won’t have much current negative effect and will be a big benefit in the next year.
The bigger question is why the Clippers want to have a team with Randolph/Kaman and Camby…doesnt fit whatsoever…
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Bad timing?!?! Perfect for The Bennett!!
http://tinyurl.com/6hlk9z
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Bennett was actually smart enough to just hire a cr@p coach and let him kill things naturally, then hire a guy and tell him to lose games.
Do you honestly believe the season long evauation was PJ’s brainchild? He knew what he was signing up for. Nobody was ever going to hire him again anyway.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
BTW: A Harrington AND Mobley fan? Yowza!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if P.J. heads back to Seattle. After all, he probably wants to get as far away from basketball as possible.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
HaHahahahahahahahahah hahahahahaha!!!!!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
This 1-12 start was a perfect excuse for Clay to get rid of his Seattle tank job coach. As somebody already said, for them to fire PJ after one crappy season in Seattle and then get their new coach for OKC would’ve been too obvious. Lucky Clay wins again.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
A big “told you so” from all of you who hated the hiring of PJ in the first place. Of course, the Thunder still don’t have much to work with, but I have a hard time caring.
The Blazers are looking better and better to me.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
We all know why PJ was brought in. He served his purpose to help poison the market. His usefulness is done, so BAM. Funny this happens after their one and only appearance on national TV. Clay Clay destroyed that organization, and now that the economy is in the crapper and Clay and friends are running low on dough, they might have second thoughts about all of this. At any rate, the bastard is getting desperate so early into the season. We are still only in November. It is going to be a long, long season for them. Now the Blunder travels to New Orleans for a game tonight. If we thought last night was bad, tonight could be worse. If it isn’t, that’ll show you how the team felt about PJ. lol
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I just made a post on the blog over at the Joklahoman, and it edited my use of the word “crappy” and replaced it with “poop”. Hahahahaha.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
i havent watch any nba games since the last sonics against thw warriors and i turn on espn and what do i see..can it be true…the okc is 1-12…hahahahahha and they fired p.j..hahahahaha wow and they booing them after 13 games in okc..hahahahaha well you wanted to be a nba city, YOU GOT IT
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Doesn’t Wrestbrook look eerily similar to Watson? Wrestbrook is a high riser with quickness, but he doesn’t have Watson’s court vision or passing ability. Brook Lopez is a legit shot-blocking center who could have sealed the leak in the blunder’s dam which breaks every game from not having any kind of defense….what a stinkin mess of poo.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Ridnour and Delonte West are both starting else where and doing well. PJ and Presti can’t tell a PG from a SG in this league. Westbrook is starting ahead of Watson. ??? Marvelous! By the time Earl got into the game the team had 10 TO’s and it was over. Kevin Durant is still out of position and that team still has no guards or centers.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
PJ sucks as a coach - but he also had an ownership that was only interested in cutting salary. Trading Ray & letting RL go made some sense if you are really trying to build for the future - we will find out how serious Clay is on that this summer & next summer when the team has a ton of salary cap room to work with.
If this team continues to suck and implode it will be ugly in OKC.
Can’t say I’m sad about that. Clay & Stern suck & if they get/have a mess they deserve it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I think the whole team simply needs to be blown up … Wilcox, Watson, D. Wikins, Petro, Swift - all of them need to go and find new homes - The vibe on the team likley is terrible - these guys have learned how to lose together.
I think Presti has KD, JG & RW to build around - maybe add the rookie White - but other than that everyone should go soon
The team needs an extreme makeover and it would not surprise me to see it all happen by this summer.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Disappoints me from the standpoint of watching OKC’s continued losing (which was assured under PJ), but at the least it should continue for a short while longer while the team adjusts to a new coach? And any idea who that might be?
PJ’s been a good mouthpiece for the theft of the team, wonder what he starts saying now…
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Just last night Clay was talking about how great things are going for the team and the city….wow has this guy mastered the art of deluding himself and attempting to do so to others.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
So, did the OKC crowd cheer for the Hornets louder than the Thunder last night?
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Didn’t tune in till the 4th quarter. By then the building was pretty silent.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I’m starting to believe in Ak’s argument for Oden being a more valuable asset than Durant…..below is an analysis by Neil Paine on Durant.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=320
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
EJ Says:
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
“I just made a post on the blog over at the Joklahoman, and it edited my use of the word “crappy” and replaced it with “poop”. Hahahahaha.”
LOL EJ, you just made my day! Effing hilarious!
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
JJ-send Watson packing?!?!? Who will they use for Fan Sneaker Night?!?
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I have read a few times on this blog now that at least one person here thinks Ridnour is “doing well” with Milwaukee this year. Ridnour has been absolutely pathetic.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3717
36.2% from the field.
29,4% on threes
5.5 assists/gm
2.8 turnovers/gm
assist/turnover ratio: under 2 to 1
We all know he can’t guard anyone.
These numbers are absolutely terrible. Is there a worse starting point guard in the NBA? Probably, but I would hope not.
Watson has been even worse so far this season, but they said last night that Watson broke his wrist this summer and is still recovering, so that may be an excuse for Earl’s terrible play so far.
OKC does not have a center. They do not have a point guard. They do not have a shooting guard. They do not have a small forward. They have two mediocre power forwards (Collison and Willcox).
Durant might be ok on a good team, but as the “star” of a bad team, he’s just about worthless.
Throw in a terrible coach, and it all adds up to one win.
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Generals get another crack at the Globetrotters tonight.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Did boywunder hire PJ?
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
http://benditlikebennett.blogspot.com/2008/11/rip.html
Seriously y’all gotta check out PJ’s headstone up here ^^^
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/3718961
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Watching the rest of the country finally turn on OKC is making my day. They are now the biggest joke in sports. Hilarious.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
NEWSFLASH: Frank Chopp WILL NOT allow new funding for a Key Upgrade.
OLYMPIA — Friends and foes of House Speaker Frank Chopp will tell you he’s a kindhearted do-gooder who cares more about poor people than pro sports.
Chopp said House Democrats have a long wish list but have expressed little interest in the Sonics’ bid for a new taxpayer-subsidized arena.
“Let’s get real here,” Chopp said. “As far as I know, the players don’t have a lack of health insurance, they’ve all got health care, and the last time I looked at the Sonics’ court, it didn’t have any potholes on it.”
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
whats up fellas… i still check in this site pretty much everyday… didnt think i would after the team moved, but after two + years of reading post here… still find it very informing and interesting… and remember… before i get flamed on… i wanted you guys to keep the Sonics… (i’ll probably get it anyway… but thats ok…)
went to the Thunder/Hornets game last night and was surprised… the fans actually cheered more for the Thunder than the Hornets… there was a nice ovation for the Hornets… but throughout the game the crowd was no-doubt pro-Thunder…
after goint to some games… i now understand some of the post you guys made years ago about things like… Watson, Petro, Collison, etc… How bad P.J. is… How frustrating this team is… but also how this team teases you with its talent…
and I remember someone posting about Brooks… but i dont recall if they thought he’d be a good coach or not… any thoughts on how he’ll do…
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Nobody here really knows much about Brooks. He was only around for one disasterous season under PJ. Supposedly people in places he’s been prior think somewhat highly of him. Other than that, all I know about him is seeing him stand on the sideline for a season.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
What a chickenchit organization. Brooks wasn’t told of his promotion until after the flight left for NO. What, PJ didn’t show up, or doesn’t use the team plane, and then they ask questions about his whereabouts?? Sam is acting like a real prick.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3718961
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Haven’t posted in a long time. Still in denial about Sonics leaving.
I’m on the side of those who have not really attached to the Thunder. Even though I watched a ton of Sonics games last year, I think I did not allow myself to get attached to Durant. Given how horrible the rest of the team is, Bennett has made it easy to move on. If I thought he was smarter, I would think this was his master plan. However, I know he is a doofus, so this is just a side effect to his stupidity.
Anyway, I’m very happy the Thunder are crappy and that the fans are starting to boo. Couldn’t happen to a nicer owner. Also, my opinion on Presti is that he is good at managing the salary cap and did a good job in essentially trading Rashard for three first round picks, but so far he is a pretty horrible drafter. Westbrook and Green may eventually come around, but they are not the slam dunks you want to have in relation to how high they were drafted.
Actually, the only positive side I see to our horrible economy is that Clay Clay and his partners may be hurting with how much they paid for the Sonics and how much they may end up costing relative to how bad they are and how quickly OKC may turn on such a putrid product.
Eat it, Clay Clay Doofus Loser Bennett!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Personally, I think hiring PJ was the biggest mistake they made. At the time, it seemed to me to be a total dumb ass move.
They still lack veteran leadership but I think this kills my dream of the franchise never winning another game.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Personally, I think hiring PJ was the biggest mistake they made. At the time, it seemed to me to be a total dumb ass move.
The Bennett knew the endgame goal-Brilliant!! But was it???
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
1-13.
Hahaha.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Thunder lose 11th straight tonight..
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Karma will rain down on OKC like the losses forever.. Prediction: Half full stadium and no Kevin Durant in two years… No team in 6… Curse the Thunder!!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 am
I don’t think OKC can call themselves a Big League city yet. By doing that, you’re saying the Thunder are big league team.
Through 14 games they’ve only won 1, and that was a squeaker at home against 2-9 Minnesota.
I wonder if they could beat either of the 2 college hoops teams in okc…
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 am
I wonder if they could beat either of the 2 college hoops teams in okc…
I mean in Oklahoma
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:14 am
“Let’s get real here,” Chopp said. “As far as I know, the players don’t have a lack of health insurance, they’ve all got health care, and the last time I looked at the Sonics’ court, it didn’t have any potholes on it.”
Whoever said that losing the Sonics was like being mugged was right on and Chopp is the guy who comes around afterwards while you’re lying on the ground and kicks you in the head.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Looks like Scott Brooks got right to work correcting PJ’s mistakes. He slid Durant to SF, Green to PF, and Collison to C. It’s about damn time; Durant wasted an entire season at SG.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
BTW: A Harrington AND Mobley fan? Yowza!
- A Randolph AND Crawford fan..? Yowza!!!
went to the Thunder/Hornets game last night and was surprised… the fans actually cheered more for the Thunder than the Hornets… there was a nice ovation for the Hornets… but throughout the game the crowd was no-doubt pro-Thunder…
- The saddest part about this paragraph is that there is almost a sense of suprise…almost as if the expectation was that the Hornets should get cheered more than the Thunder.
and I remember someone posting about Brooks… but i dont recall if they thought he’d be a good coach or not… any thoughts on how he’ll do…
- That was Beantown…the guy who we all think was inpersonating a real NBA player…
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
From Benditlikebennet.com (one of my new favorite sites)
But I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably thinking “How in God’s name does a team get booed by fans who have only watched them play seven games? In their inaugural season? After having billed themselves as the greatest, most supportive fans ever? After hyping themselves more than the team itself? After virtually taking credit for the Hornets’ success? After endlessly bemoaning Seattle’s ‘lack of fan support’ and actually claiming to deserve the team more than the city it belonged to for 41 years? Doesn’t that strike them as completely deplorable? Is this a joke? Am I here right now?”
- Best paragraph I’ve read in a long time…
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
And the video at the bottom justfies every bad thing I have ever thought abuot Berry Tramel…grade A tool
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Tramel is a tool alright. And a Grade A Idiot. He’s been an easy target throughout this mess.
Darnell Mayberry has been far more respectful; while disagreeing with him at times, I return his respect in kind.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Is it just me, or do a good proportion of the sports newscasters from OKC talk REALLY SLOWLY. After watching that clip of Tramel, it seems he is trying to emulate Mickey Rooney with his long pauses and intonations, but extremely poorly. Tramel, you’re no Rooney, please do us all a huge favor & give it up now.
But it begs the question… why do so many of their sports newscasters talk so slowly? The entire delivery of their sports media comes off with far too much empty space; quite the opposite of captivating. What I have seen almost seems like they’re covering a high-school sports event. Anyone else have a similar reaction?
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
- A Randolph AND Crawford fan..? Yowza!!!
I don’t care for either one of them but at least I can recognize that they are way better players than the (never) has-beens the Knicks got in return. They’re headed straight for the lottery now, which was the point behind my tanking comment.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Of course being in the east, it’s never a cinch that a team won’t make the playoffs. But they are guaranteed 1st round fodder at best.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:32 am
The curse is on Okies enjoy!!!
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Boston a real city Okies had a Red Sox curse for 86 yrs before they broke it. I hate to break it to you but the plunder will be long gone from Okieville before then.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
PJ was set up to fail…..and he did. I was all for giving him a chance…..but it was pretty clear early on his gameplan was garbage. Dribble handoff while everyone else stands around is never a good offensive scheme.
I can’t believe the Knicks found someone to take Randolph. Thats like finding someone to take Vin Baker back in the day. The Knicks help out their future in a big way with this trade.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Yes, congrats to the Knicks for their grand plan to compete in three years. This is what the NBA has become. Yet people wonder why attendance is dropping as well as nailing the Blunder to the wall for employing the same strategy.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Oklahoma blew out Texas Tech 65 to 21 on the same day the the Blunder got beat again by the Hornets, just fired a coach.
This is the environment the Blunder are selling tickets, advertisements.
Let’s pretend, as Bennett is, that the Blunder becomes competitive, what is that in the NBA? 50 wins, 55, for a couple seasons?
Still, not on par with OU football, even in what could be called “future good times”.
It is at best, an uphill battle.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
“Westbrook and Green may eventually come around, but they are not the slam dunks you want to have in relation to how high they were drafted.”
I see your point….but who were the slam dunks? IMO there weren’t any where those guys were drafted.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Randolph is a skilled player, with personal downside, from predraft to today, that has not changed.
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Sonics nation lets just sit back and enjoy this this is fun!! next up for the Okies the Phoenix Suns hide the women and children
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Can someone please give me the website to an Okieville fan blog? thanks
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
“I see your point….but who were the slam dunks? IMO there weren’t any where those guys were drafted.”
Ray Allen for the fifth pick was a slam-dunk for Boston on their way to atleast one championship. And presti reached for Wrestbrook as Brook Lopez is the center the former Sonics have been needing for what seems like an eternity….presti could have atleast picked Kevin Love and traded him plus whatever to McHale for the other gem of the draft, Mayo.
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Brook Lopez’s averages during his four games as a starter:
59.091% FG, .75 steals, 2 blocks, 8.8 rebounds and 14.8 pts.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Of course being in the east, it’s never a cinch that a team won’t make the playoffs. But they are guaranteed 1st round fodder at best.
- And what were they before the trade???
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I cannot stand Matt Hasselbeck.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
“I cannot stand Matt Hasselbeck.”
No kidding. Gets intercepted twice two games in a row.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
No kidding. Gets intercepted twice two games in a row.–MarkS
It’s no excuse, but, on the second interception, the WR gave up on the route. He completely stopped running.
———————————————————–
As long as the Thunder hire someone just as bad as Carlisimo, I’m okay with the move of the fire. I want to see just how bad of a basketball market OKC can be. There’s a lot of potential for it to be really horrible…
———————————————————
MLS Expansion draft is this week for Sounders FC.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Q. What do you call 53 people sitting around a TV watching the Super Bowl?
A. The Seattle Seahawk team.
Q. How do you keep a Seattle Seahawk out of your yard?
A. Put up goal posts.
Q. Where do you go in Seattle in case of a tornado?
A. Quest Field- they never have a touchdown there.
Q. What do you call a Seattle Seahawk With a Super Bowl ring?
A. A thief.
Q. Why doesn’t Tacoma have a professional football team?
A. Because then Seattle would want one.
Q. What’s the difference between the Seattle Seahawks. & a dollar bill?
A. You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill.
Q. What do the Seattle Seahawks and possums have in common?
A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road!
Q. How many Seattle Seahawks does it take to win a Super Bowl?
A. Nobody knows and we may never find out.
Q. What do the Seattle Seahawks and Billy Graham have in common?
A. They both can make 70,000 people stand up and yell ” Jesus Christ!”
HAVE A NICE DAY
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Brook Lopez’s averages during his four games as a starter:
59.091% FG, .75 steals, 2 blocks, 8.8 rebounds and 14.8 pts.–Phenom
Lopez is good. He was a good college player, and he’ll be a good pro too now.
I’m watching more college ball this year though… Boycotting the league, but, supportint it’s return to the state of course.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Good ones speed - haha
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I think that it’s way way too early to state that Green and Westbrook have been poor picks. Either one or both may become very good players in time.
Having said that, Green and Westbrook may continue to suck because they’re in a confidence destroying situation. Maaaybe Mayo and/or Rose would be playing well but Brook Lopez and most or all of the rest of this years first round picks would almost certainly be horrible right now if they were on the Blunder.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Frank Chopp is a gibbering, racist asshole and the perfect example of Seattle’s OTT liberal hypocrisy.
Do you like jobs Speaker Chopp? I can think of a bunch of people who do …
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
As amusing as it is keeping tabs on the artists formerly known as the Sonics I think it would be at the very least interesting to take a look at a different team every week, or, take a look at the team that the Blunder will face next as the 29 other teams could be the next Seattle Sonics, and will be the next home for Kevin Durant.
Just an idea.
City of Seattle pitches its proposal to the state task force one week from tomorrow.
Committee report is due on or before December 10th.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Xteve- “No attack ever fed a hungry child”–Der Schliekmiester(Debate vs Bob Dole) 1996
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
“You’re gonna be a greasy Italian monster, you’re gonna eat lightning and crap thunder.” (Mick to Rocky) Rocky 2
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
or in this case, eat Sonics and crap Thunder.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
“City of Seattle pitches its proposal to the state task force one week from tomorrow.”
Great. Can’t wait to be turned down by the Chopp dictatorship once again.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Myk said: “The bigger question is why the Clippers want to have a team with Randolph/Kaman and Camby…doesnt fit whatsoever…”
Oh, that’s easy. The Clips have lost the mantle of League’s Suckiest Team, and they want it back from OKC.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Go Thunder said: “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if P.J. heads back to Seattle. After all, he probably wants to get as far away from basketball as possible.”
I would’ve argued that the team he was coaching up until a day or two ago was as far away from basketball as possible already!
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
EJ
It will be finality one way or another for Key Arena.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
About the Chopper, he is the one that thought up the parkway replacement for the viaduct, an enclosed viaduct with grass on top.
It was more expensive than the cut and cover tunnel that voters rejected, and it was a viaduct that voters also rejected. Two things that the voters rejected that was the most expensive, yet, it gets a write up in crosscut.com and the Seattle Times, why? Not because an above ground tunnel had people marching in the streets, nope, but because it came from Frank Chopp.
For the price of Frank Chopp’s parkway we could pay for a cut and cover tunnel, the state’s portion of Key Arena, and the entire 570 million dolled Seattle Master plan, with change to spare.
He’s a tool.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Gotta tell you guys. The Frank Chopp quote by NJ is from a P-I article dated Dec 29, 2006. That was when Bennett was proposing his half billion dollar palace.
Still the legislature is faced with a lot of budget cuts due to revenue shortfalls. As such we have our work cut out for us per the latest Key proposal.
http://tinyurl.com/6orbup
November 24th, 2008 at 12:04 am
We can all enjoy the Okies disaster all winter long but the fact remains we don’t have an NBA team here ….so Brian Robinson and company you have to do everything in your power so this time Olympia says yes. We are all in your corner. Good luck
November 24th, 2008 at 12:58 am
I’ll give up the NBA for life in Seattle if it means complete failure for the OKC Thunder and the NBA… I’m not really sure I even care about hte NBA anymore. My life has been fine with out it so far.
I’m not sure what would make me happier, an NBA team again… or, seeing the Thunder implode on themselves and in 3-5 years be sold, and then moved to a real city. I think the latter.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:00 am
We can all enjoy the Okies disaster all winter long but the fact remains we don’t have an NBA team here ….so Brian Robinson and company you have to do everything in your power so this time Olympia says yes. We are all in your corner. Good luck
- Either does OKC…
November 24th, 2008 at 9:00 am
“He’s a tool.”
A pretty powerful and influential tool…
The Key remodel should be pitched as a economic stimulant for the state and city of Seattle by way of the creation of construction jobs, like the way UW is trying to repackage their football stadium funding pitch. Plus a hightened construction worker population could help the dwindling Queen Anne businesses get through the next few years…
I read that Obama wants to create 2.5 million new jobs by 2011 via construction projects and green technology development… wouldn’t it be great PR for the Key to be rennovated into the greenest pro sports venue the country has ever seen? Crap, the powers that be could plant some grass on top of it in between massive solar panals to get Chopp on board.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Plant hemp on the roof and you’ll have Chopp’s Freemont constituancy on board.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am
BR has expressed concern about the City’s ability to pitch this thing the right way before the Leg. Ballmer & crew didn’t have their pitch together very well last time around either. Both groups have the resources, just not the right plan in action. At least the City is in the same political party as Chopp; Ballmer is a pretty steadfast Republican as I understand it.
There is more awareness around this issue in general, now that it should be easily seen by average folks that the State shares some of the blame for the team leaving. Political hay can be made at the state level.
The only chance I see of getting this past the Chopper is to have the City forcefully sell this as a way to save the dying Seattle Center, and to make the Key whole again, eventually to improve City coffers as a result. Whereas Chopp is anti-sports, he is clearly not against all capital projects (see the “green” viaduct option noted above). This thing just has to be sold correctly, and at the correct time, by people not perceived as enemies of Chopp.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Did the people vote for Chopp as Governor?
Is Gregoire too weak to get him in line?
If the Governor supports getting a team back, which was my impression pre-election, then as the head of the party in WA State she should be able to tell Chopp to STFU and mind his own business.
If she can’t do that … she’s a useless rubber stamp for the Chopper. So we have some assclown in a tiny district setting policy for the entire state. Niiice.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:03 am
The State will no doubt have its hand out for a share of the Obama infrastructure funds that are going to be in the second stimulus package. As a solid Democratic state Washington should get enough to do the AWV, I-520 and Husky Stadium among other things. Hopefully, Chopp and the legislature are not too short sighted and put money for the Seattle Center remodel in the queue, also. This is the only way alot of this stuff will get accomplished.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Last year when the state took a few million to plug a general fund hole the hotel people were very unhappy, so the law was change to say exactly what those funds are to be used for. Not spending the money does not make it show up in the general fund, they would have to give the hotels the finger and change the law back.
The state gets a 300 million dollar construction project for 75 million dollars.
The Seattle Center Master plan is going to cost 570 million, not having Key Arena be able to generate as much revenue as possible for all events is pretty important to the longevity of the entire site.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Gregoire doesn’t matter in this. Chopp has the true power in this state.
And for the guy who said that Chopp’s quotes were from 2 years ago. Yeah, they were. But he’s said similar things as recently as a couple weeks ago that echoed the exact same sentiment. I think his words were something along the lines of “I haven’t change my mind on the issue.”
You know the South Park episode from a couple months ago where George Lucas and Steven Speilberg were raping Indiana Jones? They had him bent over on a table. This whole situation is no different. Chopp has had us all bent over the table the past 2 years, and he seems to have no intentions on lettting us get away.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
The most annoying thing in all of this is that Chopp isn’t stonewalling the city and sports fans because he is trying to save money. He’s more than willing to spend tons of money. Just look at his ridiculous Viaduct replacement plan. He is the worst type of politician and state representative. He’s only interested in things he cares about.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/11/23/Week12/4.html
- Peter King is a great writer Football and all other sports!
“10. I think these are my non-football thoughts of the week:
a. If I read one more story about where LeBron James might play two years from now, I’m going to puke.
b. Really: In what other sport are the next two seasons rendered totally meaningless for a cornerstone-of-the-league franchise like the New York Knickerbockers?
c. It’s everywhere — on talk radio, on SportsCenter, in columns, endlessly in every New York paper and Web site. I keep reading how smart and prescient the Knicks were for decimating their current team (playing with seven players Friday and Saturday night) and clearing out enough cap space for this great player, LeBron James.
But the NBA already rivals the PSL-charging NFL for ticket-price insanity; if I wanted to sit two levels up from the floor at the foul line in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night for Knicks-Cavs, I’m paying $244.50 per seat. The Knicks have 75 home games remaining before, presumably, LeBron James or some similar star begins to suit up for them in 2010-11 because of all this cap room they’ve cleared. And they’re asking that fan in the second level up from the floor to pay $36,000 for a pair of seats for those 75 games to see the JV team, a team simply playing out the string ’til Superman arrives.
What if LeBron James rips up his knee before then? What if Dwyane Wade, another prospective free-agent who turns 29 in the 2010-11 season, continues to have knee trouble? Here’s my question for the NBA: Do you mean to tell me it’s good for your game that a team is going to play the next 164 games with an eye not on the present, but on the future? And what about the Cavaliers? Why would their fans show any loyalty to James as he drops all these hints about playing out the string in Cleveland? It’s an ugly, stupid, fan-abusing situation. Fans should rebel, not kneel and bow to Knick management and say, “Oh, we are not worthy!”
November 24th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
“I cannot stand Matt Hasselbeck.”
-Thank you! Everyone gets mad at me when I say that.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
“You know the South Park episode from a couple months ago where George Lucas and Steven Speilberg were raping Indiana Jones?”
Haven’t watched South Park in a while. If they were showing that I’m sure I’d change the channel.
“And for the guy who said that Chopp’s quotes were from 2 years ago. Yeah, they were. But he’s said similar things as recently as a couple weeks ago that echoed the exact same sentiment. I think his words were something along the lines of “I haven’t change my mind on the issue.””
As the guy who said that EJ please have the courtesy to use my name.
This is what Chopp said two weeks ago: “In a casual discussion last week, Chopp, D-Seattle, made it clear his priorities have not changed when it comes to using tax money for stadiums. He noted that King County is struggling to maintain basic services such as police that should be addressed before new sports facilities.”
http://tinyurl.com/6k3nng
I’d venture to guess in tough economic times that’s most people’s sentiment including my own.
The perception of many is “The Key 13 years old, why isn’t that good enough?”
I’m not a fan of Frank Chopp but he’s not alone to blame in losing the Sonics. With the exception of last year’s rally at the legislature lobbying on this issue has been pretty week. Especially when compared to the effort put out by the Mariners and Seahawks to get their facilities.
The Ballmer proposal is the best that has come down the pike. Still with today’s economy it faces a substantial hurdle if it is going to pass this year.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Say that Chopp is not the only one to blame all you want, fine. But the simple truth of the matter is if he were in power back in the mid 90’s, Safeco and Qwest would not have been built. And we would not have the M’s or Hawks.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
The 4Culture money is as a result of Senate Bill 6638, same pie as Stadiums and Exhibition construction, just a different slice.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
“I cannot stand Matt Hasselbeck.”
-Thank you! Everyone gets mad at me when I say that.
- I love how quickly sports fans these days are willing to turn on the guys who have led their teams to success…give me a break…
November 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Say that Chopp is not the only one to blame all you want, fine. But the simple truth of the matter is if he were in power back in the mid 90’s, Safeco and Qwest would not have been built. And we would not have the M’s or Hawks.
- Don’t agree…make no doubt that Chopp is in charge. But he also has that little thing called public opinion on his side. Both the Seahawks and the Mariners leveraged other circumstances to get people excited in the cause.
The Sonics/City/Sonics Supporters have done exactly zero percent (actually much more negative percent) to create any sort of public opinion in support of this project. They have let other people control the message. Its been way too easy for Chopp to be a d!ck about all this. A good way to see if this is true will be if the UW Stadium funding gets approved…
November 24th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Exactly Myk. I actually called this earlier in the season. What have you done for me lately? Not quite. More like what are you doing this moment. Matt struggles the rest of the season and any next year at all and he will be the new #37 for the fans. Just like Holmgren is now. Pathetic how entitled a few seasons of winning makes a certain segment of fans.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
That fact that Chopp is the most powerful politician in the state is the problem, and that stems from the fact that we have a governor with no ability to provide any leadership.
Xteve X at 10:59am (PDT) hit it right on the nose.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Obviously that last post was in reference to the Hasselbeck post by Myk.
As for the one about Chopp. I slightly disagree. Yes, he now has public opinion on his side, which allows him to rule in such an authoritative manner. But public opinion wasn’t as all on the sports fans side back in the day. Time passes and we seem to forget how dire and close both those situations came to failing. Of course it wouldn’t be as easy for Chopp as it is now. But he still would have acted in the same manner. And if a person such as he existed back in those days, I seriously feel that things wouldn’t have resulted as they did. At least not in both cases.
You got to think about it from all angles. Yes, the fans haven’t rallied they way you’d want them to. Nobody is forcing these politicians to take up the cause. But at the same time, having someone in power such as Chopp, does at the same time do a good deal toward killing that fan support and passion. I mean, even the biggest die hards feel that we have no shot in hell because there has always been such staunch resistance in Olympia. As as for the casual fans, they hear Chopp, who I’m sorry but he is totally biased against sports, and they believe him. Or they at least believe that it is a non-starter issue, something not worth even looking into. I have friends who I would classify as casual sports fans. And when I tried to get them to go to the Sonics rally at the courthouse last year, they said, “Why bother. It’s obvious the state politicians are never going to do anything. They are too much against it.” And they are right. So yeah. Blame the fans and voters. But Chopp is just as much, if not more, to blame imo. He is a smug, irresponsible, biased, vindicative, elitist who only puts his personal opinions before the good of the state. Not passing the initiative is one thing. But the man REFUSES to even consider or spend one minute looking at it! That is what angered me to such extent last year. That’s not just a my issues only politician. That’s a smug jack a$$.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I’m going to tell you right now that I think Greg Nickels may be the problem more than Chopp is. At least with Chopp you know where you stand. He has stated his position and now it is up to the advocates to provide him with reason to change it. Nickels on the other hand seems to be being a little bit less than honest and the more I find out about his dealings the more I think the fault may lie with him.
There are a couple of critical meetings in the next 48 hours. You are likely to know more when they are done.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I can see that Brian. I definitely do not trust Nickels. Never have. I fear that this might just be the city trying to get that $30 mill from Clay more than it is them trying to fix the Key and get a team.
All in all. No matter who we are blaming right now. The fact for me still remains. I see almost no reason to get any sort of hopes up. And if/when this thing fails, it will probably most likely mark the beginning of a least a good 5 or so years until we see another big effort. Kinda sad really. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
“The governor is interested in the mayor’s proposal, especially any proposal that is going to use existing revenue to make KeyArena viable and a centerpiece of the Seattle Center as well as bringing a team back to the city,” spokesman Pearse Edwards said.
Building legislative support for the plan would be the obvious challenge, he said.
“We’re asking for 1 percent to be used for facilities on the grounds of Seattle Center. That would allow us the flexibility to use it for KeyArena, but if the basketball arrangement does not work out, then it would be available for us to do other capital improvements on Seattle Center, as well,” he [Ceis] said.
Edwards said issues such as allowing other cities in King County to keep a portion of the money that is currently going toward the convention center would need to be ironed out as the details of the legislation come together.
The city would like to get another team to play at KeyArena because without the revenue from an anchor tenant for the facility, its economic viability is questionable.
Hunter, the House Finance chairman, said it would take a lot of “heavy lifting” by the city, the ownership group and supportive lawmakers to get any such plan through the Legislature.
He [Hunter] hinted that some approaches to working the issue would be more fruitful than others. “If they come here and ask Legislature to subsidize professional basketball, that is likely to be a very, very difficult lift,” Hunter said. “If it’s about fixing a financial problem that the city has with money that is already collected in the city and it doesn’t break the arrangement about how the convention center gets funded, that’s another thing.”
Hunter said he thinks state services should not be paid for with money collected regionally as is the case with the convention center tax. But he admits that his opinion was overruled earlier this year when lawmakers moved money from the convention center account to the state’s general fund.
“They raided the account,” he said. “But I don’t think that’s the right way to make tax policy.”
Same article that had the Chopp quote. Chopp hasn’t seen the commmittee report, it hasn’t been written yet.
After the account was raided the law was changed to not allow such raiding (SB 6638). In order to raid the fund and deny 4Culture, The Convention Center, as well as the Seattle Center, they will have to change the law back and explain to the hotel owners in King County why their businesses carry the largest tax burden in the state.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I do think the city is trying to keep the 1% forever, and if they don’t have to spend it on Key Arena then I think they could care less either way, they problem is that Steve ballmer didn’t move to Oklahoma City. If they get the approval for the funds then the city is on the hook. I don’t think they want to screw Ballmer by taking the state money and then making it so the city somehow doesn’t commit.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
“BR has expressed concern about the City’s ability to pitch this thing the right way before the Leg. Ballmer & crew didn’t have their pitch together very well last time around either. Both groups have the resources, just not the right plan in action. At least the City is in the same political party as Chopp; Ballmer is a pretty steadfast Republican as I understand it.”
If the Key deal isn’t pushed heavily and competently pushed as an economic stimulant for the city and state, I think that its dead in the water. Given that the anti-sports/anti-NBA movement in the area is either drastically uniformed or just plain pissed at the league, I don’t see how any politico in power could okay the spending of any public money on an NBA venue for a non-existent team when we’re trying to figure out how to make critical ends meet in the face of a $5.1 billion dollar deficit. The timing is just horrible, and none of the power players involved, including Balmer, Nickels, or Gregoire, have done a decent job at advocating for a new or refurbed Key.
However, I bet the UW football stadium will get an adequate amount of public money simply because their lobbyists are pushing it hard as a economic stimulant for the city and state.
Anyway, UW plays tonight, and the Hornets fly into Portland on Friday… anybody else heading south to root on the Seattle talent-led Blazers with me!?
November 24th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Exactly Myk. I actually called this earlier in the season. What have you done for me lately? Not quite. More like what are you doing this moment. Matt struggles the rest of the season and any next year at all and he will be the new #37 for the fans. Just like Holmgren is now. Pathetic how entitled a few seasons of winning makes a certain segment of fans.
- I have a friend from Philly who b!tches constantly about “having” to watch the Eagles and “having” to deal with watching Donvan McNabb. She told me today that watching the team this year has almost become unbearable. Its like…ok you have a 5 time Pro Bowl QB and have won 10 or more games 6 times in the decade and I’m supposed to feel sorry for you??
I’m all for people not showing up and supprting your team or booing your team…if there is a reasonable timeframe of continued ineptness…but to turn on some of your best players after a season is just acting like a spoiled brat.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
However, I bet the UW football stadium will get an adequate amount of public money simply because their lobbyists are pushing it hard as a economic stimulant for the city and state.
- Some day…any day…one day…this City has to create some sort of 20 year plan (dare I say like the OKC MAPs project) to stimulate economic activity and create some sort of focus for our economy. If it doesn’t happen soon we’re gonna turn into the Cleveland of the West…
November 24th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Cleveland - worst city I’ve ever visited… other than Syracuse, NY that is.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I fear that this might just be the city trying to get that $30 mill from Clay more than it is them trying to fix the Key and get a team.
Yep, $30M and a permanent cut of the Convention Center tax that they’d be able to spend on whatever they want at the Seattle Center. There’s very good reason not to trust Nickels on this one.
I don’t think they want to screw Ballmer by taking the state money and then making it so the city somehow doesn’t commit.
Hasn’t Ballmer always said he was more about Seattle Center than he was a team? If the Center gets the $105M plus, he’d probably be happy as a clam not having to chip in $150M, as well as buying a team/buying out their existing lease/paying for relocation, in a league heading for season long or more lockout.
I trust Ballmer’s intentions almost on the same level that I trust Nickels. It’s quite easy to suspect they are conspiring together to get money for the Center without much interest for landing a team.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
“- I love how quickly sports fans these days are willing to turn on the guys who have led their teams to success…give me a break…”
-Haha Myk. First of all if you dont agree, oh well. Your opinion is not the only opinion. Second of all I have NEVER been a Hasselbeck fan. Not when they were good. Not now.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Ballmer said that the Seattle Center needs and active Key Arena, and Key Arena needs an anchor tenant, and that is where he is willing to contribute 150 million dollars and an NBA team, not that he wants to own a team, but the arena needs the tenant.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Thanks Brian. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done and that you’re the voice for all of us Sonics fans.
I think it would be very naive to put any faith into anything Nickels or the Seattle city councils says. How many times did Nickels day he wouldn’t accept a buyout? As for the city council, they unanimously passed a resolution saying they wouldn’t accept a buyout.
Keep those slimeballs honest!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
“-Haha Myk. First of all if you dont agree, oh well. Your opinion is not the only opinion. Second of all I have NEVER been a Hasselbeck fan. Not when they were good. Not now.”
That’s fine. Yet you are taking solace in the fans Myk is referring to. I wouldn’t use those types as people I’d want to use as evidence to a theory of mine.
So basically you’re saying that because you were wrong back when Hass was a Pro Bowl qb, you now get some sort of brownie points because he’s struggling with injuries later in his career. Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense. (rolls eyes emoticon iserted here)
November 24th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
If they wanted the $30M they would be trying harder. What they may really want is distance from this issue and someone to blame it on(Chopp and legislature).
I have been one of the mayors biggest advocates in this whole process. I know the situation has been hard and he has had few options. That said it is getting close to that point where all the rumors add up to some truth and I cannot ignore what is in front of my face. They have a very short window to prove that they are serious. I don’t think they’ll do it.
Keeping people honest is tough in politics. What I’m learning is that it is a constant shift between who you think may be “less dirty than the rest”. In an odd way some of our advocates have been the dirty ones and our opponents the least dirty of the bunch. I have to say that Nick Licata and Chris VanDyk have never been anything but honest and helpful with me. We’ve been on opposite sides of the issue but the two guys have earned my respect. Not so much with most of the other guys…
Hows that for crazy.
I’ll also say that I just really like Ross Hunter. the guy has no need to lie and doesn’t pretend to want to. I thought he was an arrogant prick when I first met him and now I think he’s an arrogant but entertaining and totally likable guy I could work with. I have as big of an ego as he does and likely a lot less to substantiate it.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
So basically you’re saying that because you were wrong back when Hass was a Pro Bowl qb, you now get some sort of brownie points because he’s struggling with injuries later in his career. Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense. (rolls eyes emoticon iserted here)
She just said she didn’t like him. Where did she say he wasn’t a good player?
November 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
They have a very short window to prove that they are serious. I don’t think they’ll do it.
So I guess we are screwed. I really thought the Major was behind getting another team. What is he really trying to do here? I guess this is a slap in the face to Ballmer. Seems to me Brian you see no hope.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
She just said she didn’t like him. Where did she say he wasn’t a good player?
- Wow…so instead you are going to argue that they were saying they didn’t like him as a person. If that’s the case then they are an even bigger idiot…Hasselbeck is one of the most levelheaded “celebrities” we’ve had in this town,
November 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hasselbeck has gone to pieces since the Superbowl. I’m really not buying this argument that someone (anyone) should support him now when he throws key interceptions at key points of nearly every game.
Granted, the offensive line has sucked this year, I will give you that.
November 24th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I mean if Ray Allen were running your team, and he consistently began to brick three balls at key points in nearly every game, to the point where you lost those games, how could you support him remaining on as a leader? This is the point, not really whether he’s lost support as a person or whether he’s due respect for his past efforts (of course he is).
My original comments were in the heat after losing ANOTHER game, and of course it’s not Hasselbeck the person that I “cannot stand” - but his consistent failures under pressure, adding one more huge brick to the newly minted palace of The Crappiest Sports Town, Ever. It’s almost too much. I’m illogically hanging on, with a cringe, to the possibility that Huskies Men’s BB will be something worth watching this year.
We can only hope.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
You guys should stick to basketball.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
About a year ago I said that I thought Ross Hunter should be House Majority Leader in Frank Chopp’s place.
I still think that, and would support that.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Hasselbeck carried the team to a division title and racked up very good stats last year. He did it with a VERY average supporting cast. That’s a rare accomplishment.
This year, he’s injured and has a…below average supporting cast. Can anyone here think of any QB in the league who’d have a good season as the Seahawks starter this year?
Hasselbeck is the least of this team’s many problems.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
You’re an idiot if you don’t like someone?
:roll:
November 24th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Spurs at Memphis, nobody there, nobody.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Memphis had an attendance of 12,053, while Charlotte had an attendance of 10,848….wonder how many people bothered to show up to the games.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hasselbeck has gone to pieces since the Superbowl. I’m really not buying this argument that someone (anyone) should support him now when he throws key interceptions at key points of nearly every game.
- Ya…carrying the team to the a division title with zero running game and making the Pro Bowl last year…talk about going to pieces. The guy has two bad games when he is coming off an injured back and knee and that somehow wipes away anything he has ever done well? Especially since this weekend it is pretty clear that Robinson didn’t run the correct route.
You’re an idiot if you don’t like someone
- Yes…you are an idiot if you take two games in a lost season and somehow translate that to “he does such and such all the time”.
Yes…you are an idiot if all it takes is two games to turn on one of the better players on your team. A player who has led your team to four playoff apperances and a Super Bowl. If you can turn on someone so quickly there really isn’t any point in following sports because almost by definition you are going to see a player regress from his peak at some point.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Brian Robinson you have to get this done for us we have lost our team and the only thing worse is that we never get another one. This city doesn’t deserve that. Please Mr. Robinson use your creativity and smarts to get it done. Please get the bill passed don’t say anything about basketball just say that keyarena needs to be upgraded for the longterm economic future of seattle center. You need to do some research find an accountant and figure out how much money the city would be losing if keyarena isn’t fixed up. The key is to not say the word basketball or NBA when you go to Olympia. And instead of being critical with Frank Chopp kiss his ass, make him feel special you catch more flies with honey!! Please relay this to mayor Nickels and the city council too……Please Mr. Robinson we beg you get nba basketball back here. Seattle does not deserve this. Seattle does not deserve this. Seattle does not deserve this.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:29 am
According to the Boston Globe, Presti has given Brooks the head coaching spot for the season. And the hot rumour is that if Brooks isn’t up to the job, Avery Johnson’s got next - Presti is friends with him from Spurs days, and Avery played JuCo ball in Oklahoma.
Are they ever gonna hire anyone from outside Spurs recent history?
November 25th, 2008 at 2:38 am
I miss KD, nobody else! In some twisted way, i love that my “stolen” team sucks so bad. I can forsee nothing but sub-standard nba there for a long time.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Last year when donyell was with the Sonics he and pj got into it a couple of time because donyell hated how he treated the rookies ie Durant and Green! He said he would scream at Durant and KD didnt know how to handle it while a 13 year vet like Donyell could. Everyone of the players hated pj and started going to the assistants, but then when pj found out about this is FORBID the layers from talking to the assistants without him there. a complete jackass who got what he deserved!
November 25th, 2008 at 8:21 am
nobody liked PJ. He just very much had a “me against you” mentality. Combined with Prestis complete unwillingness to discuss the “why” behind all of his decisions it grew very frustrating for the guys. They joked a lot about PJ. Occasionally he would call plays and they would intentionally run different plays. It was pretty pathetic.
I don’t think all hope is lost because there is always Ballmer. I could be suprised in todays meeting. I do need to throw warning shots across the bow to the Nickels administration. If they think we’re a bunch of puppets that are going to help them shirk the blame off to everybody else while doing the absolute minimum amount of work then they are wrong. We’ve supported them in every way but at the end of the day the joy of being an executive is that the buck stops with you. They can’t expect that if this thing fails they get a free pass and blame everybody else. It is not the convention centers fault, not the Chamber of Commerce’ fault, not Olympias fault. Right now this is a city issue and Greg Nickels was (albiet with a very low approval rating) the mayor of Seattle.
The fact of the matter is pretty simple. Nickels will be formally announcing his campaign to run for mayor next July, likely within a week of the anniversary of his most notorious executive decisionhe ever made. Gregoire got re-elected, Chopp got re-elected and we never ever made this an issue because it was within this one year window that was set up to “work together”. Nickels is the only guy who’s election falls past that point where the nuclear options all make more sense. We can bring Gary Payton back for that event. We can have some fun with it. It is up to him to show us that it is not necessary. If he gets this funding passed then he takes all the power away from me and others to cast any blame. That is the incentive he has to get something done here.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:49 am
“I mean if Ray Allen were running your team, and he consistently began to brick three balls at key points in nearly every game, to the point where you lost those games, how could you support him remaining on as a leader?”
Except this would never happen. And his seemingly poor performance in last years playoffs (with the exception of his Finals MVP runner-up to Pierce campaign versus Kobe) was due primarily to his lack of shot opportunities. If we would have had a competent big man in 05, Ray Allen could have led us to a title and wouldn’t have needed to hit that 3 from the corner (which he missed) in game 6 against the Spurs.
November 25th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Brian, I am very pleased with the direction you are taking. Just wanted to say I appreciate what you are doing. I honestly don’t think we are ever going to see a team back in Seattle with Frank Chopp in power. Unless of course it is a completely privately funded endeavor(which is even more unlikely). However, I don’t that think that absolves us from from the task at hand. Good luck today.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Where are all the Seahawks and Mariners fans who said “Let the Sonics leave, they suck anyways” now?
November 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Where is the initiative to ban the NBA from WA. state?
November 25th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Vinny Says: Where is the initiative to ban the NBA from WA. state?
Funny you should mention that Vinny. I’ve already brought that up with a couple reps to see what (if anything - which I doubt) can be done about that. No response yet.
I’m to the point where I see that the NBA started burning this bridge from their end and I want to light it from the other.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
BR, any update from today’s meeting? Thanks for all your hard work and for keeping us all in the loop.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Funny you should mention that Vinny. I’ve already brought that up with a couple reps to see what (if anything - which I doubt) can be done about that. No response yet.
- Wow…something that could only happen in Seattle. We’d be the first State to ban free enterprise within our borders (well unless you want to count prost!tution or g@mbling)…
November 25th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Yes!
November 25th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
I dont even acre if the initiative had legs or teeth or whatever, I just want to se the headlines
“WA bans pro hoops because Sonics fans were duped”
November 25th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Honestly, I either want the NBA to come back to Seattle and the NBA starts doing well or if the NBA doesn’t come back to Seattle then screw em and I hope they just completely fall apart. I would prefer the former though, for my generation and younger to enjoy. But if it doesn’t happen I wouldn’t mind if there was a WA NBA ban. New post soon?
November 25th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Generals beating Shaq-less Suns by 12 at end of 3rd
November 25th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Blew it in the late 4th quarter. For most of the game they looked very good. KD even made some jump shots.
1-14
November 25th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
actually it was a gut wrenching loss for the cursed Blunder. lost by 1 pt. suns ran the clock out for 5 whole seconds and OKC couldn’t even foul so save their lives.
This is by far the best loss yet.. the crowd was into it and then they had their hearts ripped out b/c westbrook missed a freethrrow.. it doesnt get any better.. 11 game losing streak and they go to Cleveland next and Lebron can Wally Z and delonte westfest all over their faces!!
November 25th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Myk, come on. I haven’t liked Hasselbeck for a long long time. It’s not just based on 2 games (where did that assumption come from??). IMO the guy is clutchless.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I really like the idea of either the city of seattle or the state of washington legislature passing either a simple resolutionstatement of desire or even a temporary actual ban saying the NBA should be/will be unwelcome or banned from returning to Washington.
Then add these 1 or 2 very simple ways to remove that ban…
1. A public apology fro NBA leadership/owners admitting they ahndled the whole situation terrible
2. A large Cash gift to Seattle/Washington Charities
Maybe another condition could make sense too?
Never happen I know but it would be more than sweet - it would Historic - it would be a shock wave in the sports world if there was a real ban - it would tell the NBA and all leagues you can’t just screw with the communities that invest in you as you partner with them.
And yes - not only was PJ a terrible hire - but you have to put some blame on Presti too - he supported that decision and it was a very important one and a terrible one. He and Clay both blew it.
Lenny W. would have never supported hiring PJ.
November 25th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Chiming in on Hassleback….
Hey - he has been an excellent QB - this years problems are not all on him at all.
The whole team sucks and the receiver situation is a mess. On the interception last weekend at the end K. Robinson ran the wrong damm route. And the fact that Koren R. is even on the field in that situation tells you how limited Hasslebacks support is.
Hassleback was 1-2 plays/calls from winning thw super bowl - he has made planty of clutch plays and played real wel in many big wins on the way to the playoffs many times.
He has not been and is not the Seahawks problem.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
The basketball gods are certainly laying it on thick in OKC this week, aren’t they? Welcome home with your new coach. Here, have a heartbreaking single-point loss.
All they need now is for KD to blow out his knee. Imagine that happening. *shudder*
November 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Myk, come on. I haven’t liked Hasselbeck for a long long time. It’s not just based on 2 games (where did that assumption come from??). IMO the guy is clutchless.
- Is the clutchless an opinion or is it a fact?? He is 57-39 as a starter and this year will be the first year he won less games then lost since his first season as a starter.
My assumption of it being based on the last two games was how you talked about the INTs from each of the 4th quarters. I also made that assumption since he was a Pro Bowl QB last year and had a 91.4 Passer Rating despite having no running game so it seemed unlikely you disliked him as much last year.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Hassleback was 1-2 plays/calls from winning thw super bowl
It would’ve been nice to see him try to make a couple of them during that pathetic excuse for a two-minute drill before halftime.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
The Generals Couged AND DOGGED IT!!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Regarding the NBA in Washington…
Reminds me something Bill Russell once said while with the Supes… (He may have heard it elsewhere, but that’s the first time I heard it)
Bill: “I refuse to come back until they take back something they said!
Questioner: “What did they say?”
Bill: “Don’t come back.”