In October 1967, the NBA landed in the Pacific Northwest as the Seattle Supersonics joined the league as one of two new expansion teams. The team name was provided by a local contest. It represented the area's aerospace industry, referring to the Boeing Supersonic Transport manufactured in Seattle. The team was revamped in the 90’s, and along with jersey changes, the “Super” was dropped from “Sonics”. It appears more changes are underfoot with a pending move to that hotbed of professional basketball, Oklahoma City.

Why Oklahoma City? Approximately two years ago, the team was sold to an Oklahoma businessman named Clay Bennett. The now former team owners (led by Starbucks’ founder Howard Schulz) found themselves owning a lackluster team who had last won the NBA Championship in 1979. Plus, the team plays in Keyarena, last updated in 1995. While I find “the Key” perfectly acceptable, the past and current owners feel that it cannot compete with the brand new Safeco Field (home of the Mariners) and Qwest Field (home of the Seahawks). They say it costs them money in reduced attendance. Fans say put a winning team on the court, and we’ll show up.

It comes down to somewhat simple economics: the new owners want a new arena, Washingtonians do not want to pay for another one. We already have two on our tab. Yes, we are fair weather fans, but it’s a lot easier to gain support if you don’t trade our one star (Ray Allen) to the Boston Celtics to save money. Oh, and for those who do not follow professional basketball, the Celtics won the NBA Championship this week.

In court testimony this week, the Sonics President called Seattle fans “apathetic”. I would say the proper term should be “subdued”. After all, an estimated crowd of 500,000 celebrated the 1979 NBA Championship with a victory parade through the streets of downtown Seattle. When there’s something to be excited about, we show it. Much like the fate of the Boeing Supersonic Transport, those days appear to be over, but we will see how it plays out in the legal court, and not on the basketball court.