Sonics headed to OKC, money headed to Seattle

[Damaramu]

Also, karma's a bench.

Why would karma punish the people of OKC? They didn't do anything wrong.

 

[JayFarrar]

Well, maybe Oklahoma City can build a multi-purpose stadium for the newly moved to town Sonics and when Rooney sells off his team, maybe then the Steelers could play there as well.

And I don't understand the marketing, but it seems like it is about exposure and nothing generates exposure like a professional team.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

And I don't understand the marketing, but it seems like it is about exposure and nothing generates exposure like a professional team.

What are you selling though?

Putting your sneakers on the feet of a pro athlete will help sales. But having him wear those sneakers in your fair city won't likely cause people to up and move to OKC. It might not even cause people to visit.

 

[Lester Bangs]

Also, karma's a bench.

Why would karma punish the people of OKC? They didn't do anything wrong.

 

[RossLT]

Hey, you don't get to be as historically awful as this organization by drafting well. It's really strange how badly they've drafted and it doesn't matter who the GM is ... Bob Whitsitt, Wally Walker, Rick Sund, Sam Presti.

Between spending No. 2 overall picks on Gary Payton in 1990 and Kevin Durant in 2007 the team has drafted one player who has averaged double figures in a Seattle uniform for an entire season. That was Desmond Mason, who was quickly traded. To be fair, the team was great for about eight of those years so they were picking late in the first round, but there are just too many Mohamed Senes, Johan Petros and now Serge Ibakas to go around.

I grew up a Sonics fan, and on draft night I was trying to remember their last decent pick before Durant, and Payton was all I could come up with. You'd think just by accident they would have had somebody good in 18 years of drafts.

Robert Swift?

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

There might not be a professional sports team that is as popular as the Pittsburgh Steelers. There might not be a city that's struggling more to recruit and retain residents as the city of Pittsburgh, which is second only to New Orleans in terms of population loss in the past three years. According to the marketing surveys, shouldn't that be impossible?

 

[Lester Bangs]

There might not be a professional sports team that is as popular as the Pittsburgh Steelers. There might not be a city that's struggling more to recruit and retain residents as the city of Pittsburgh, which is second only to New Orleans in terms of population loss in the past three years. According to the marketing surveys, shouldn't that be impossible?

The Steelers are kind of like religion in that town, no?

 

[Oz]

There might not be a professional sports team that is as popular as the Pittsburgh Steelers. There might not be a city that's struggling more to recruit and retain residents as the city of Pittsburgh, which is second only to New Orleans in terms of population loss in the past three years. According to the marketing surveys, shouldn't that be impossible?

The Steelers are kind of like religion in that town, no?

That would be correct.

 

[slappy4428]

The only team Seattle could take and not feel guilty about it would be the Bucks. Payback for Milwaukee stealing the Pilots/Brewers.

I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of in Lester Bangs' mindset. I loved the Bucks just like the Brewers and Packers at one time, but the NBA luster is off for me. It doesn't help that the Bucks have grabbed with two hands and lockjawed their mouths around a massive dong of suck since the early 90s.

I'd hate to see Milwaukee lose the Bucks, because they have a great history there and the region used to live and die with them, but those days are gone. I'd immolate myself if the Brewers or Packers moved, but I'd only be mildly saddened by a Bucks move.

fork the NBA.

Agreed. I'd rather see the Bucks leave and have Milwaukee be available for a possible NHL team relocation down the line ... pipe dream, I know.

Despite the popularity of college hockey there, I don't see that succeeding.
What works in college doesn't always work in the pros

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

There might not be a professional sports team that is as popular as the Pittsburgh Steelers. There might not be a city that's struggling more to recruit and retain residents as the city of Pittsburgh, which is second only to New Orleans in terms of population loss in the past three years. According to the marketing surveys, shouldn't that be impossible?

The Steelers are kind of like religion in that town, no?

But not enough of a religion that people will relocate to the city because of it. Not so much of a religion that a company CEO makes a suggestion to his board of directors to open an office in the city. In the past 36 months the city of Pittsburgh has been home to a Super Bowl champion, hosted a Stanley Cup final and the U.S. Open. Know what it's done in terms of population increase or businesses moving to the area? Nothing.

 

[Lester Bangs]

I guess I was confused as to what point you were arguing as this thread has bobbed to and fro quite a bit. I thought you were saying the Steelers should not be successful in the town when in fact your argument was that a team cannot make a town more than what it is, a point with which most of us agree.

But please, whatever you do, do not disparage the good folks of OKC. They deserve nothing but financial success, tremendous food, hot women and great basketball.

 

[JC]

Also, karma's a bench.

Why would karma punish the people of OKC? They didn't do anything wrong.

I agree, it's not their fault at all.

Karma is meant for Stern, Bennett and Schultz.