Kevin Durant Signs 5-Year Extension in OKC

[Chief]

Thanks for the team. We're enjoying them. :wink2:

**** you.

 

[Chief]

Sorry to hear that, Chief. That does stink.

And I'm not saying Seattle deserved it or anything, but still... Even if Bennett wanted to move the team, I don't think he could have if Seattle hadn't repeatedly refused to build them a new arena, could he? I remember reading that their arena was by far the lowest revenue generator in the league. But maybe I don't know the full story.

Anyway, I probably shouldn't admit this, but I was a Mavs fan going back to the Aguirre-Blackman days. But I've really soured on them the last few years because I can't stand Cuban. I guess I can identify with how longtime Cowboys felt, and still feel, about Jerry when he fired Landry. About the only reason I go for them at all anymore is that I'd like to see Dirk win something. But I don't think he ever will with the way Cuban runs that team.

I've almost become more of a Thunder fan now. I even went up to one of their playoff games against the Lakers a few months ago... Now that was fun. I would sound like a bandwagoner, except that I was watching every game I could and listening to them on the radio two seasons ago when they were a lottery team.

Clearly, the Seattle and Washington state leaders didn't have their act together. Like I said, lots of blame to go around. There is a web documentary out called Sonicsgate. It is very well done and won an award a month or two ago. The guy who produced it did an amazing job.

It's just sad because the fanbase there is outstanding. Great attendance always. Everyone else came out of it with something, except the fans. It's always the fans that get screwed when a team moves. After experiencing this, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. And I wasn't a die-hard fan. Those fans in Seattle are crushed and deserved better.

It's pretty obvious that Stern promised to help Bennett get a team in OKC after that city stepped up and adopted the Hornets for a couple of years after Katrina. An expansion team for them would have been nice.

Bennett doesn't deserve the most blame. Howard Schultz did a crap job as owner of the team, then sold it to a guy who everyone pretty much knew wanted to move it. The legislature could have stopped it, but didn't. The Seattle mayor could have held Bennett to the arena lease, but didn't (another deal with Stern for future considerations). But Bennett openly lied (emails later proved it) about his intentions and came across as a smarmy snake. When you watch him in that documentary, he doesn't come across very well. I feel so sorry for those fans ... many of whom are devastated.

Anyone who thinks this is funny or no big deal should put themselves in the position of those fans. Seattle will likely get another team at some point, but it won't be an expansion team. It will be the Hornets, or the Grizzlies, or some team like that. Like the longtime Sonic season-ticket holder and great writer Sherman Alexie said in the documentary, that won't be much of a consolation because how can Seattle fans celebrate the arrival of a new team when it comes at the expense of another city and its fans. They know how the fans of that team feel, losing its team.

Anyway, enough of the rant. I guess I needed to get it off my chest. I want to like that team because they were the Sonics at one time, and because I love Durant and some of the other players.

 

[dropshot001]

He's pretty awesome. Can't believe he got snubbed for MVP. He played lights out from Game 1 to Game 82.

that's for sure. if he played in a flashier city he would have been a lock imo

 

[Cover 2]

Sorry to hear that, Chief. That does stink.

And I'm not saying Seattle deserved it or anything, but still... Even if Bennett wanted to move the team, I don't think he could have if Seattle hadn't repeatedly refused to build them a new arena, could he? I remember reading that their arena was by far the lowest revenue generator in the league. But maybe I don't know the full story.

Anyway, I probably shouldn't admit this, but I was a Mavs fan going back to the Aguirre-Blackman days. But I've really soured on them the last few years because I can't stand Cuban. I guess I can identify with how longtime Cowboys felt, and still feel, about Jerry when he fired Landry. About the only reason I go for them at all anymore is that I'd like to see Dirk win something. But I don't think he ever will with the way Cuban runs that team.

I've almost become more of a Thunder fan now. I even went up to one of their playoff games against the Lakers a few months ago... Now that was fun. I would sound like a bandwagoner, except that I was watching every game I could and listening to them on the radio two seasons ago when they were a lottery team.

I'm the exact same way. I was a huge Mavs fan. Any time they were on TV I never missed a game. Then they let Nash walk and made massive changes to the roster every single year. I stopped caring about basketball.

Then this year I became a Thunder fan. I live in Oklahoma, so that makes it easy to make them my team. They've also got some good young talent and it is fun to watch them grow.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Some of my homies and I are making the short drive down to OKC to see the Thunder vs. Celtics next season.

Talk about a barn burner!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm the exact same way. I was a huge Mavs fan. Any time they were on TV I never missed a game. Then they let Nash walk and made massive changes to the roster every single year. I stopped caring about basketball.

Then this year I became a Thunder fan. I live in Oklahoma, so that makes it easy to make them my team. They've also got some good young talent and it is fun to watch them grow.

That's cool, man. They have done it the right way with young guys of good character who can all grow together.

And I'm a fan of Oklahoma. Growing up in Texas, all you hear is people making fun of it. But my buddies and I have had some really good times there, both playing golf and hanging out in Bricktown.

Some of my homies and I are making the short drive down to OKC to see the Thunder vs. Celtics next season.

Talk about a barn burner!

That game last year where OKC beat them in overtime was one of the most exciting and best games I've seen in years.

 

[Chief]

They have done it the right way with young guys of good character who can all grow together.

Sam Presti has done a great job. He learned from some of the best in San Antonio.

I certainly have issues with Clay Bennett, but I love those players, the gm and the coach. It's the closest thing to the Sonics that I have. With Durant locked up for the next several years, they'll be a force for a long time. Now, they need to lock up Westbrook. What a beautiful draft pick he was.

 

[Joe Realist]

I must have missed Kevin Durant's 1 hour special on ESPN2

 

[YosemiteSam]

I must have missed Kevin Durant's 1 hour special on ESPN2

It was on ESPN6.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Darn right on Westbrook, Chief. He's probably my favorite player on the team... I just like those extremely athletic guards that can explode to the rim and beat anyone off the dribble. If he just can improve his jumper a little, he's going to be a real star.

 

[casmith07]

It was on ESPN6.

I thought it was on ESPN8 - The Ocho :laugh1: