Daily Roundup Apr 18 06
Posted on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 at 8:57 am by Xteve
As expected most of the stories this morning are about the team picking up Bob Hill’s option for next year. Percy Allen gives us Part 3 of a five part magnum opus dissecting this year’s Sonic season.
He had it. That unmistakable quality they could put on a billboard or on the cover of a magazine. He had that rare ability to hobnob with deep-pocket sponsors one minute and mingle with coupon-cutting season-ticket holders the next.
He had presence.
“He looks like the guy,” the front-office exec said. “We didn’t have that before, but now you look on our sideline and there’s no question who’s in charge.”
Frank Hughes chips in with his take.
“I feel like everything we went through has paid off,” Hill said. “We persevered, and it lets us know that we are taking the ship in the right direction.”
Though nothing firm has been decided, it is likely assistants Jack Sikma, Ralph Lewis and Walt Rock will return. Detlef Schrempf will make a decision on his future in the next week
Also, Hill has said he would like to add another assistant as a development coach, somebody who can work with players during the summer and monitor their offseason workout programs. Hill said he and Sund will meet in the next week to make that decision.
Excellent idea for a team this young. But then …
Though the move was expected to come at the end of the season, Sonics general manager Rick Sund said he and CEO Wally Walker made the decision a few days early to remove doubt as players and coaches start the process of exit interviews and head off for their summer vacations.
Hill has one year remaining on the contract, though his salary has not been disclosed. It is thought to be around $2 million.
Sund said the decision had nothing to do with the fact the Sonics also are going to pay Bob Weiss $2 million next season, or that it gives the team flexibility with Hill or a prospective new coach if things don’t go well next season.
That doesn’t sound like the team intends to give Hill an extension past next year, does it?
This article is a couple days old but John McGrath takes some well-deserved shots at David Stern.
Now for some solutions. The NBA commissioner can issue all the hot-air threats he wants, but it’s the fans who control the Sonics’ destiny in Seattle. If I’m Schultz, I’m beginning a five-step campaign to change the public’s perception of KeyArena.
• Hire an electrician to dim a few bulbs so the “KeyArena” marquee appears as “K yAre a.” Nothing on the entertainment circuit shouts “lost cause” as much as two or three letters missing from a neon marquee.
• Circulate a rumor about how a thumb was found in a concession-stand hot dog.
• Speaking of urban myths, go for rats. Long lines and steep prices are stereotypical complaints, but rats are special. They resonate.
• Employ ushers who aren’t so vigilant. A KeyArena usher admonished me last season for chewing on a cigar in the upstairs press box, even though the last person known to actually light a cigar in an NBA arena was Red Auerbach, when he was coaching the mid-1960s Boston Celtics.
• Stop cleaning those restrooms!
LOL nice.
April 18th, 2006 at 10:12 am
“Employ ushers who aren’t so vigilant.”
Seriously, I’d buy more cheap seats if the ushers weren’t so bent on preventing me from sneaking into the expensive seats.
April 18th, 2006 at 10:26 am
“That doesn’t sound like the team intends to give Hill an extension past next year, does it?”
I don’t Hill feels this creates a potential lame duck status at all. Miller’s quote of Hill’s opening in his book indicates such.
I think Hill has done a good job of setting a system, a rotation and an expectation and make the players accountable. He calls them out when they’re not, too, which is not the characteristic of a lame duck.
In reading Miller’s piece, I think hungry tiger is a better descriptor than lame duck. I’m 100% more concerned about Rashard Lewis’ contract comments in recent weeks than I am Hill’s one-year contract.
April 18th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
GreenNGold said … “Seriously, I’d buy more cheap seats if the ushers weren’t so bent on preventing me from sneaking into the expensive seats”
That is likely more the fault of evil season ticket holders like myself who find their seats occupied when they arrive at the game a little late (even once or twice BEFORE tipoff while I was getting a beer.)
While I won’t claim to have complained (I just get annoyed and politely ask them to move…only had one person complain and I said, too bad…slide over two seats, I like my spot) I know other STH get pretty irate and hound the ushers to monitor. They also complain regularly to management that their ushers are to lax.
They used to stop monitoring in the second half and let you slide down. I even had some low attendance games have reps come to the upper bowl and invite people to move lower.
April 18th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
As one cheap-skate once said, “If you’re going to get kicked out of a seat, get kicked out of a good one.”
Of course, I have NEVER EVER bought up and sat low.
Tonight’s game, on the road against a team that needs the game, is a great barameter for where this club is at. Sacto. is actually a tough match for the Sonics (wow, what a difference a year makes) so it will be interesting to see how the team responds tonight.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
From espn today: Sonics willing to contribute $18 million toward the $220 million renovation. Walker requests decision from council within a month’s time.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2412965
April 18th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
I am joking about seat jumping. I completely understand STH’s want their seats. They deserve them, they paid for them. I always joke I’m going to, but I never do. I have to admit one time I had some friends sitting lower bowl, so I went down to say hi and sort of took up residence in the seat next to them once I realized it was empty. I cheered loud. I promise.
April 18th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
“Employ ushers who aren’t so vigilant.”
Seriously, I’d buy more cheap seats if the ushers weren’t so bent on preventing me from sneaking into the expensive seats.
I am a Poor college student -slash- Huge Sonics fan… so what I do is buy the $10 seats and stake out a couple decent seats behind what will be the Sonics hoop in the second half (usually sections 106-108) and then around the 4 minute mark during the second quarter the usher leaves to take a break (I think), it never fails!
I have sat in the front row more then a couple times this season… apologies to the season ticket holders, but I figure if they didn’t show up they shouldn’t mind.
I don’t have a problem with the ones that get mad when they show up late for a game (which has only happened to me once and the guy was cool about it). They should get mad… they shell out thousands of dollars for their seats… I only paid $900 for my motorcycle but if I saw some stranger riding it without my permission I’d get pissed too!
April 18th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
it’s not just $18 million; it’s $18 mil + any cost overruns and we all know there will be plenty of those. That’s 8% of the projected cost + cost overruns. Not bad these days.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
don’t get me wrong…if I am not there by 15 minutes after tip, I’m not making it…some STH’s come in for Q2, but if the seats are empty the whole first half…take them in the second…the ushers don’t care and neither do the other fans…
Also…check the ticket exchange a the sonics site day of game…many STH’s sell their seats and may take a bargain on the day of the game if they haven’t sold by then….I usually drop my asking price two days before the game and offer them up here for free on day of game if I can’t make it…
April 19th, 2006 at 1:32 am
psheehy - I see there is a way for me not to have to “move down” especially this season, but if a STH isn’t in their seats by the 4 minute mark in the second quarter, then they aren’t coming…
well I’ll say that its about a 40-1 chance because of all the times that i’ve been staking out seats and moving up (which is about 40 games in the last 3 years) only once have i been kicked out of the seats by a ticket holder (and twice by this one usher that knows me too well… the yellow and green mohawk and hulk gloves give me away…)
how many games do you show up for only to watch the second half?
Oh and most importantly I’ve learned you get the best seats if you go before halftime… I’m not the only person in the Key movin down…
April 19th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Griff-
I agree…very few STH come too late. I haven’t been more than 5 minutes late in the 1st quarter ever. There are some who are more…”social” about their attendance and less “fan”atic, and come in the second quarter, but not that many.
I actually don’t have any problem with people moving down in the second quarter, but I think the ushers tend to be more strict until the second half.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:40 am
free articles
Good post!