Achive

There are times in life when the truth hurts, but with a little time and perspective things sometimes start to make sense. 

Case in point, earlier this week when the NBA voted unanimously to deny a group of Seattle investors the right to move the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, I was disappointed to say the least. 

How could the NBA, just five years removed from allowing a group from Oklahoma the right to move the Sonics, suddenly have a soul?

It seemed ridiculous to punish the fans of Seattle for the second time in five years, especially given all of the time, money and effort Chris Hansen and his fellow investors had made in recent years to put together what appeared to be a rock-solid proposal. 

Then over the course of this week after a good deal of reading and contemplation, I came to a simple conclusion: two wrongs don't make a right. 

Beyond the money, politics, and last-minute deals, the simple truth is that David Stern did not wish to make the same mistake twice. 

While I fully understand that David Stern is many things to many people, he's not stupid.  Over the course of this battle I'd imagine that Stern realized that he had to fight for Sacramento just as he did for New Orleans back in 2010. 

"But how can you choose Sacramento over Seattle?"

To answer a question with a question, why alienate yet another team's fanbase and, by extension, put the rest of the league on notice, if you can work out a deal that spares you the hassle and embarrassment?

While it would have been easy to take Hansen's money in the short-term, Stern and the voting owners considered the long-term in protecting their loyal markets while avoiding the potential of opening Pandora's box.

By rejecting the deal between Hansen and the Maloof brothers, Gavin and Joe, Stern essentially stops any carpetbagger from rolling into town and waving his checkbook while either hijacking the town for a new arena or moving the team to the destination of their choice. 

Meanwhile if there is one small positive to glean from this vote it's that hopefully other cities don't have to live in fear of ending up like Seattle, but, of course, this victory for the fans comes five years too late for the Sonics.

"That's just great, so now what?"

I'm not sure the battle is over and can see three potential scenarios moving forward:

1. Hansen accepts the vote and waits patiently to see if the Sacramento deal falls apart.

2. Hansen sets his sights elsewhere.

3. Hansen digs in and fights.

With the onus now on the Sacramento group to actually deliver tangible results, I'd imagine Stern will make sure to remind mayor Kevin Johnson that Hansen is still waiting in the wings.  Besides, option No. 1, while plausible, seems a bit too passive, especially with 50 percent of the money promised by the Sacramento group now in escrow as of Friday (via The News Tribune).

As for option No. 2, the idea of poaching the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks or Charlotte Bobcats is not only unappealing in more ways that I have the time or energy to describe here, but highly unlikely given the the fact that the Sacramento deal is not yet final. 

So basically that leaves us with option No. 3, which, based on Hansen's response (Sonicsarena.com) to Monday's vote, makes the most sense.  

What's funny is that up until now, everyone has maintained a fair level of civility in this process, yet after this week you get the feeling now that the real fight is about to begin. 

Oddly enough, though, I don't know who or what to root for anymore. 

Prior to this week, the Seattle bid made the most sense in my mind from a financial standpoint, but for selfish reasons as well.  Once upon a time I loved basketball and over the past few months I've been intrigued by the potential of resurrecting the Sonics.  At the same time I've also felt a bit conflicted in both debating and defending the ethics of the situation. 

This week for me though was the tipping point, though, not so much with the vote, but the response to it.  

Between the cries of hypocrisy (Tacoma News Tribune), to the suggestion of poaching the Bucks (seattlepi.com) and even questioning whether Seattle has been "too nice" in the process (Seattle Times), left me to question whether everyone had lost their minds.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still disappointed, but I also feel we look petty in having lost this round while perhaps losing sight that we still have a ways to go before this matter is resolved. 

Even worse is all the venom seen on message boards between both Sacramento fans or even among ourselves, not to mention the endless blame of David Stern for all of our troubles.

Fact is, it's not like anything is going to change suddenly the day after he retires next winter.  

Stern is and forever will be a hated man in Seattle, no matter how this deal turns out.  Deep down I'm almost certain he knows that and that nothing short of turning back the hands of time will change that. 

With that in mind, he did everything he could to make sure it didn't happen again, this time in Sacramento. 

"Ok, but did he do so in an honest and fair manner?"

Some day a judge and jury may get to decide that, but does it really matter for now?

Unfortunately, odds are only one of us will win, unless Hansen somehow manages to get an expansion team out of this mess either by suing or as a going away gift from Stern.

Regardless, everybody needs to hang tight, hopefully remain civil in the process and understand that Seattle and Sacramento are not at war with each other.  (I know I'm kidding myself here, but feel free to amuse me for just a minute or two.)  Having been on both sides of this debate now over the course of the past five years, I can safely say that we are merely pawns being played against each other in a game well beyond our control. 

Understanding that now has helped me accept that whatever the league decides, whether I like it or not.  For as much as I'd love to see the Sonics return to Seattle, I can appreciate the league's desire to maintain some form of continuity while hopefully keeping the fans' best interests in mind. 

It's a damn shame that it took them five years to figure that out and involved crushing our hopes and dreams, not once, but two times in the process. 

The Sacramento Kings will not be moving to Seattle (via ESPN), at least not anytime soon. On April 29, the Relocation Committee voted unanimously against the move. Something is amiss.

Honestly, this is a head-scratcher. The NBA, like any other league, is about making money. Period.

Why would the NBA keep a team in Sacramento? Is it really a better business decision to leave a team in a town where the ownership wants to sell, the city has not built a new arena and the fans have not filled the seats?

Hey, at least Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson is happy:

I've never been prouder of this city. I thank the ownership group, city leaders, but most of all the BEST FANS IN THE NBA!!!

— Kevin Johnson (@KJ_MayorJohnson) April 29, 2013

Before people start talking about the loyal fans, let’s look at the average attendance over the last five years:

2013: 13,749 (30th)

2012: 14,508 (27th)

2011: 13,890 (29th)

2010: 13,254 (29th)

2009: 12,571 (30th)

By the way, the arena seats over 17,000 people.

Supportive fan base? Not exactly. Once the Maloofs announced that the team was being sold and moved to Seattle, there was suddenly a flurry of activity.

A mystery counteroffer “that was said to be competitive” (via The Seattle Times) was put together. All of a sudden, the momentum shifted. If I didn’t know better, I would say that something was going on behind the scenes.

What is frustrating for Seattle fans is that something seemed awry with this whole process. Something smelled. Something was out of place.

Could it be...David Stern? Was he applying a bit of pressure in a quiet, but forceful way?

In a recent article, The Seattle Times noted:

NBA Commissioner David Stern had said his preference was to not relocate a team, and his support of Sacramento’s offer was likely a critical part of the team staying put.

Interesting. Did Mr. Stern feel that way when the Sonics were being taken away by Clay Bennett? Where was Mr. Stern when the city of Seattle was taking Mr. Bennett to court? Not on the side of the city or its fans, that is for sure.

This just feels personal. There is not necessarily any hard and public evidence to support that theory, but we are talking about people with egos. Agendas. The ability to hold grudges.

Somehow, some way, Mr. David Stern does not like Seattle. This is now the second time where the Seattle fans have been treated badly by the NBA.

David Stern is, shall we say, a confident man. He does not give the appearance of someone who is going to be bullied into doing anything. Therefore, he may be willing to sacrifice cash in order to win his particular fights.

Besides, he is leaving. Does he care whether Seattle ever gets a team again?

Of course, there is also the reality that Mr. Clay Bennett is the chairman of the Relocation Committee. Can you say, “conflict of interest?” This is a man who was caught lying to the city of Seattle (via The Seattle Times). If anything, Mr. Bennett should have probably recused himself from this particular issue.

This was not a business decision. The NBA would make more money by moving the team to Seattle, allowing Chris Hansen to build a new arena and taking advantage of the larger metropolitan area.

One thing is for sure. The NBA has set a precedent. If they are consistent, they can never let a team move ever again. The Relocation Committee should be permanently disbanded, and all owners should be told that each team is part of the civic framework in their respective cities.

No one may move.

The city of Sacramento and their fans should be congratulated. The Kings are staying...for now. Something tells me that there may be some issues ahead between the Maloofs, the city of Sacramento and the NBA.

For Seattle fans, there is some hope. As tweeted by Dave Softy Mahler of Sports Radio KJR:

Caller on KJR: "I'm crushed." Ditto friend. Time to get back to work. MOUgood for 5 years. Chris isnt going anywhere

— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) April 29, 2013

David Stern is still very much in control...allegedly.

Follow @tpheifer

Will the Seattle Supersonics be returning to the Emerald City? That is the $341 million question. Actually, the question keeps getting upped in price.

The tough part of this issue is David Stern. Fans in Seattle are obviously still a little bitter about how Stern allowed the team to get moved to Oklahoma City. Now, there is a general vibe that perhaps he is running interference. If the team stays in Sacramento, there will likely be an assumption that Stern poisoned the owners against the Pacific Northwest.

At this point, the Maloofs have publicly called (via ESPN) for the team to get sold to the Chris Hansen-Steve Ballmer group. The reality is that Stern may not care a great deal what the Maloofs think.

What is slightly baffling is why the NBA would want to keep the Kings in Sacramento. In terms of making money, Seattle is arguably a much more vibrant marketplace in terms of fan population and complimentary sports teams.

Something feels fishy to fans, particularly since Stern has been accused of being arrogant (via Bleacher Report) in the past. Now, does this mean that he would block the team moving to Seattle just because he can? One never knows what truly goes on behind the scenes.

Complicating this issue is the conflicting information. As noted by The Seattle Times, Stern is saying one thing, while the Maloofs are saying another. Whenever the phrase “Stern also disputed” is involved, you know that the rhetoric is flying fast and furious.

NBA Insider Sam Amick tweeted this:

With Stern saying net result to Maloofs is same, would love to know their motivation in fighting so hard for Seattle. Something missing.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 19, 2013

Tony Bizjak of The Sacramento Bee tweeted this:

Maloofs in letter to NBA: "We see no reason to continue any dialogue with the Sacramento group."

— Tony Bizjak (@TonyBizjak) April 19, 2013

Finally, Dave “Softy” Mahler tweeted this:

Stern just made it obvious. Giving Sac time to win this. U don't see that now you're blind. As a bat.

— Dave Softy Mahler (@Softykjr) April 19, 2013

Something doesn’t add up. There are games afoot, and they may not benefit Seattle.

Follow @tpheifer

It's not uncommon for fleeting players in the NBA to strike it rich quick, and then slide just as quickly into bankruptcy, which is just the path that former Seattle SuperSonics center Robert Swift took, and has recently come to light (via KOMO News).

Swift was drafted by the SuperSonics as a lottery pick back in 2004. He had no college experience, coming straight from high school as a big, goofy-looking center who had plenty of room to grow, just not a lot to offer a team right out of the gate.

Still, Seattle drafted him in hopes that his height would at least translate to some sort of production on the court, and it did, for a minute or two.

His second year in the league was one that showed the promise the Sonics were looking for, as he averaged six points and six rebounds in 20 minutes a game. Only that was that, nothing else came of his career.

Swift tore his right ACL in the following preseason after earning the starting center spot, and eventually limped his way out of the league.

He made it just four years in the NBA before his services in the league were no longer wanted, and he disappeared into relative obscurity, until recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL5HfZgjMK8

After facing foreclosure last year, Swift refused to leave his house and was living there until recently when he up and left, facing legal action.

When Swift finally left, the new owners found the house filled with garbage, empty beer bottles and holes in the wall thanks to everything from fists to bullets.

While Swift hasn't been a part of the league for over three years now, it's still sad to see a former player end up like this.

Did you hear that?

Sounded to me like the grinding of gears on the Seattle SuperSonics' return to the NBA Thursday night, as Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced a plan for 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle to bid for the Kings. 

Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver reported that Johnson, during his State of the City address:

Pledged to keep the Kings in Sacramento in the wake of a purchase and sale agreement between the Maloof family and an investment group led by Valiant Capital’s Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer that has filed paperwork to relocate the franchise to Seattle.

“With all due respect to Seattle,” Johnson said. “Let me be perfectly, crystal clear: it is not going to be this team. Not our team. No way.”

In many ways we expected this day to come and kudos to Johnson for continuing his fight. 

But now what?

The Seattle Times Bob Condotta added that specifics on the actual offer are hard to come by at the moment:

Johnson did not offer details of Mastrov's offer other than to say "my understanding is that it will be a very strong and competitive bid."

The Seattle group paid $341 million to purchase 65 percent of the team and also put down a $30 million nonrefundable payment.

Thursday, no specifics were announced about the funding or the cost of an arena, though it is expected the city of Sacramento would contribute more than $200 million, which will still need approval from the Sacramento City Council.

By knowing what Hansen and Ballmer bid, doesn't this technically give Mastrov and Burkle a bit of an advantage?

Will the Mastrov and Burkle group be subjected to similar terms and conditions as Hansen and Ballmer?

If the Sacramento bid is higher, will Hansen and Ballmer be offered a chance to counter?

Will the Maloofs continue to accept non-refundable payments from bidders without actually selling the team?

Could Hansen and Ballmer, and by extension the city of Seattle, end up with egg on their face thanks to the NBA?

Will David Stern and the NBA allow all of this to happen while laughing all the way?

For today the answers to most, if not all, of these questions are hard to find.  What's funny is that Stern doesn't think the final decision will be based on money, yet seems keen on watching the drama unfold as the owners decide in a few weeks.  SI's Golliver explains:

“I don’t see any scenario in which both cities are happy here,” Stern said, ruling out the possibility of expansion to accommodate both cities’ desire to have a franchise.

The NBA’s Board of Governors will meet in New York City on April 18 and 19 to vote on the sale agreement between the Maloofs and the Seattle-group as well as the application for relocation. Johnson said he will be in attendance at the meetings to make his pitch.

“I’ve been assured by the commissioner of the NBA that we will be given full consideration,” Johnson said.

Stern said in Houston that it was “plausible” that a Kings over could win out over Seattle’s agreement but cautioned against this turning into a bidding war, saying that the owners would have a “very open mind” as they weighed the two offers.

“I don’t believe it’s going to come down to economics,” Stern said of the Board of Governors’ consideration of two possible offers. “I think the owners are going to have a tough issue to decide. … We don’t have the predicate for that tough decision yet. It’s going to wait upon Mayor Johnson making good on his statement that there will be an offer. And it’s going to be upon the Sacramento area, a number of the regional municipalities and the various people who have been saying they’ll give the mayor the support he needs.”

Does having a "very open mind" really mean having a "very open wallet?"

The whole ugly spectacle is basically an invitation for all of the owners to choose how they want to maximize and leverage their investment. 

Regardless of which city they choose, it opens the door for owners to hold their respective teams hostage as a means of getting whatever deal they wish.  Otherwise they can phone up the loser from the Sacramento/Seattle tussle and talk to them. 

It's wickedly fiendish, but brilliant from a business standpoint.  

"You don't want to help build a new arena?  Well, the folks in ..."  

What should be upsetting to us is that two cities, both filled with loyal fans, are going to be stuck on the sidelines having to watch this soap opera/game show play out while knowing the loser's future will be the punchline in the aforementioned quote.

How do you feel knowing that your heart will be used and leverage?

The "open mind" of Clay Bennett and the rest of his fellow owners possesses the power to rip your heart right out of your chest in a matter of weeks.

What happens if the unthinkable happens again?

How many more times can Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer, or someone like them, write the Maloofs a non-refundable check?

When Chris Hansen came out of the woodwork a little over a year ago I was skeptical to say the least, but to his credit he has slowly but surely made significant strides on all fronts in making the Sonics' return a reality.

Will he stay true to the course if this deal falls through?

Given that we've come so far during the past year I can't help but have a few doubts, perhaps a little guilt, and wonder, is it all worth it?

I also can't help but wonder, how many more times can one city have David Stern and his "open-minded" owners twist the knife in our backs?

Perhaps time heals all wounds, but when those wounds keep getting cut open they can either make you feel worse than before or become scars that change you forever. 

How you deal with them is up to you, but if this deal dies, so with it does my hope for Seattle ever getting the Sonics back. 

Longtime Supersonic Gary Payton retired in 2007, meaning he is eligible for election into the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

Should he get in?  Probably.  Here are a number of reasons why.

Let's look at his hardware.

Payton has been selected to the NBA All-Star Game roster nine teams. Every player who has appeared that many times and is Hall of Fame-eligible is in the Hall of Fame. 

He has been selected to the All-NBA First Team twice and the All-NBA Second Team five times.  Only Paul Westphal and Max Zaslofsky have more All-NBA First Team selections and aren't in the Hall of Fame.  (Payton also has won a Defensive Player of the Year Award and been selected to a number of All-Defensive Teams, but those don't correlate to Hall of Fame consideration).

Though Payton never won an MVP and only finished in the top three once, he is 39th all-time in MVP Award shares.  Everybody with that many who has been retired long enough is in the Hall of Fame.

Now for his stats:

• He is 22nd all-time in win shares.  Everyone in the top 35 who is Hall of Fame-eligible has been enshrined.    
• He is one of eight players in the history of the NBA with 8,000 or more assists—four of those are in the Hall of Fame and two more are active.  He is fourth all-time in steals—seven of the top ten in steals (including the three ahead of him) have been inducted.  

• He is 28th all-time in points scored.  Every eligible player in the top 35 has been enshrined.  Payton is also one of only two players to be in the top 30 in points and the top 10 in assists—the other is Oscar Robertson, widely considered one of the 10 or 15 greatest players in the game (and yes, a Hall of Famer).

Looking at similarity scores, the five players who are closest in similarity score and have been retired five-plus seasons are Clyde Drexler, Reggie Miller, George Gervin, Jerry West, and John Stockton.  All five are Hall of Famers. 

Payton also won a championship with the Miami Heat late in his career, so that's another box checked off.  He also is arguably the greatest player in the history of the Supersonics.

Bottom line: Looking at the metrics, anybody who's done as much as Gary Payton in any one category is in.  Since Gary Payton did as much as Gary Payton in all categories, he's in.

Years from now, when Seattle sports fans look back at January 2013, I like to believe they will see it as a critical point when all three major sports franchises finally turned a corner following years of darkness and disappointment. 

A time when the Seahawks first showed their ability to make a serious run at a Super Bowl with Russell Wilson at quarterback, a time when the Mariners avoided making the mistake of trading their future ace Taijuan Walker and a time when the Sonics' new ownership finally made strides in securing a team from Sacramento.  

Of course, this is all wishful thinking today, but we can hope, right?

Looking back, the month of January was nothing short of a wild rollercoaster ride for Seattle sports fans when you consider all of the things that did and didn't happen. 

Between the Seahawks, Mariners and Sonics, it's been an exciting but bumpy ride. 

When my wife told me that a deal was in place for the Kings to move to Seattle, I couldn't tell if she was joking or simply trying to console me following the Seahawks' loss in Atlanta the week prior and Justin Upton's rejection of his deal with the Mariners just days before that.  

Turns out, the deal with the Maloofs was indeed true, yet we still have a long way to go before anything becomes finalized.   

At the same time, I'm genuinely torn. 

My heart goes out to the fans in Sacramento—fans who, a little less than a year ago, I urged to continue their fight to keep their team when rumors surfaced about a potential move. Deep down, I believe they should continue to fight, and I wish them the best. If only the city of Seattle had leadership half as decent and well-intended as Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson back in 2007-08.

Is it wrong that, at the same time, I kind of want a t-shirt?

While I'm afraid to jinx things, you have to imagine the folks at Media Fly Creative, especially after being featured on seattlepi.com a few days ago, certainly have customers. Besides serving as a fitting complement to my well worn "Robbed" shirt purchased a few years ago, I'd be supporting the cause to bring the Sonics back without putting money in David Stern's pocket.

Meanwhile, if we're going to talk about merchandising, Nick Eaton at seattlepi.com added more fuel to the fire by asking us what look the team should adopt if it returns.   

At this point, I'm tempted to stop, but one other point keeps nagging me. 

Do we really want this team?

Beyond the ethics and awkwardness, will fans really be excited to see the Kings in the Sonics' pajamas once they actually get down to playing basketball? 

Initially, I'm sure fans will simply be thrilled to see professional basketball again. But unlike the team that left town in 2008, which had Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant and top pick Russell Westbrook, the potential incoming roster from Sacramento looks like a train wreck. 

While I'm sure there are a number of fans who will be thrilled to see former University of Washington star Isaiah Thomas return to Seattle, the fact is that the rest of this roster looks dreadful. 

Yes, there is some talent, but even the most promising players on the roster—Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins—both come with serious baggage. Granted, beggars can't be choosers, but if the Sonics are reborn, they may want to gut this roster.

Once again we must fight the temptation of getting too far ahead of ourselves. Nothing has been finalized, and I expect the good folks in Sacramento to put up one final fight.  

But with the Seahawks done until summer and the Mariners' season still a short way from getting started, it's hard to put the idea of having the Sonics back to rest .   

January may have been a wild ride, but February, at the moment, looks to be a real snooze.  With all three teams, we will have to wait and see, but I remain hopeful. 

Hopeful that we have only begun to bear witness to the greatness of Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Hopeful that the young Mariners take the guidance of their elders and begin to awaken following a decade of false starts. And hopeful that professional basketball returns to Seattle.     

If even one of the three can happen, I will take it as a small win.  Anything else after that, I like to think, will make Seattle a great place to enjoy pro sports for the better part of the next decade.  

Fingers crossed. 

The possible return of the Seattle Supersonics—which is the only logical name for a new team—is great news for the Pacific Northwest. It's even better for NBA fans, because now we can see the return of some of the league's best rivalries.

The Supersonics were never the NBA's most successful team, but that didn't stop them from making plenty of enemies.

With plenty of years for fans to stew in their own contempt, here are some exciting rivalries sure to emerge with a return of the NBA to Seattle.

Los Angeles Lakers

No one in the Pacific Northwest has ever liked the Lakers. Not the Trail Blazers, and certainly not the Supersonics.

Seattle and LA used to have a great rivalry. No matter what regular attendance was like, when the Lakers were in town you could be sure that the Key Arena would be packed.

The Lakers have attempted to push the rivalry onto the Thunder, but it's fallen short of the what was once there with Seattle.

Even more interesting is the dynamic introduced by the Sacramento Kings.

LA and Sacramento have never been huge fans of one another. Now that the Kings are moving to Seattle it would make the rivalry all the more heated heated.

Someone get Gary Payton on the phone, it's time for some trash talking.

Portland Trail Blazers

The 1-5 rivalry used to be one of the Pacific Northwest's best, with Portland and Seattle throwing civility out the window when these two teams would meet.

When the original Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City, Portland continued the rivalry. But no doubt the return of a team to Seattle would reignite the long standing tradition.

Go to any college or MLS game and you can see how these two states love to root against one another in the battle for Pacific Northwest supremacy.

With both cities adopting hipster trends, one can only imagine how weird fans will get to try and top one another.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Perhaps the most interesting emerging rivalry of them all would be between Seattle and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While the Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City, fans from Seattle have never welcomed the team with open arms.

Whenever the Thunder comes to play in Portland, there's sure to be fans in Sonics gear rooting against OKC.

There's plenty of hate for the city that stole away the Supersonics from Seattle.

If a team were to return, no doubt they would play in the Northwest division. Meaning these two teams would play each other often.

With loathing hearts, there's no doubt Supersonic fans would love the opportunity to show the Thunder what kind of fans they're missing out on.

The Seattle SuperSonics may make their triumphant return to the Emerald City as early as the 2013-14 season.

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, a deal appears to finally be done after reports of an impending sale broke in early January. Wojnarowski tweets:

With sale finalized, NBA's Relocation Committee will approve Kings move to Seattle for next season, sources tell Y! "Formality," source says

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 21, 2013

Is Seattle excited about this news? I can’t speak for the whole city, but I have to imagine that plenty of fans are thrilled at the prospect of getting the team back.

After all, the team left under, shall we say, frustrating circumstances.

Still, is there a little bit of guilt associated with this transaction? After all, the dedicated fans of Sacramento are about to lose their only professional sports franchise.

That kind of loss cannot feel good. Seattle fans can feel some of Sacramento’s pain.

I think Sherman Alexie said it very well in his recent tweet:

Dear Seattle, don't celebrate the NBA for giving us the Kings in the same way they took the Sonics.

— Sherman Alexie (@Sherman_Alexie) January 10, 2013

For many fans, a sports team is more than a form of entertainment. A beloved team is part of the community framework, and fans have been fiercely loyal to their franchises for as long as there have been sports.

I grew up in the Seattle area, idolizing players such as Jack Sikma, Gus Williams and “Downtown Freddie” Brown. These stars gave way to players like Tom Chambers and Xavier McDaniel. In the 1990s, I had a great time watching Gary Payton throw lobs to Shawn Kemp for eye-popping dunks.

Needless to say, the 1978-79 NBA Championship is still one of the highlights of my life as a sports fan.

As longtime Seattle fans can imagine, the first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets in 1994 was definitively a low point.

When the Sonics went east, I ceased to be a fan of the team. It has been bittersweet to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder succeed since players like Kevin Durant and Nick Collison played for Seattle. 

However, my loyalties will always lie with the green and gold.

Fans of other teams have suggested that I should transfer my loyalties to the blue, orange and yellow.

Nope. Won’t do it. Can’t do it.

As Charles Barkley said, you can't take the stats from another city. Nor will I try to be a part of another franchise's future. If the Kings come to Seattle, the history of that club should stay in Sacramento. Or Kansas City. Cincinnati? Rochester? 

The departure of the Sonics will always be a dark chapter in Seattle sports history. Obviously Clay Bennett is not the first owner to take a team away from a loyal fanbase. Nor will he likely be the last.

Still, I suspect that Bennett will always be on the villain list in Seattle.

There were certainly a lot of elements to the team’s relocation, and they do not need to be rehashed at this point. Again, I cannot speak for all of Seattle, but I think it is safe to suggest that the fans felt “robbed."

The locals know that shirts with that exact word (via The Seattle P-I) are still on sale in Seattle-area stores.

Is all forgiven now that there are strong signs pointing to a SuperSonics return? I wouldn’t say that.

As a fan, I will always feel like Bennett did not act in good faith.

But, that is in the past and it appears that the sale will get approved. Good news does help some of the bad times fade away. I have to assume that Seattle can now start to move on and begin enjoying basketball again if the Kings do end up heading north.

As mentioned, I do feel bad for the fans of Sacramento. When Chris Hansen originally came forward and started working on plans for a new arena, I had a feeling that this type of situation might happen.

There were few franchises at the time that were in a position to move.

The economic situation of the NBA was such that expansion seemed unlikely, and that does not seem to have changed very much. Hansen and his group were unlikely to get a franchise without obtaining one from another city.

Granted, the circumstances will be different if the Kings move to Seattle. There are fans in Seattle who will always see elements of theft in the Clay Bennett situation. This business deal fits the model of a standard relocation, which has happened many times before.

There has been some interesting reaction to the story, including this recent tweet from Arash Markazi of ESPN:

Sacramento was never going to win with broke owners looking for the biggest payday and a commissioner looking to right a wrong in Seattle.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 9, 2013

I expect the fans in Sacramento to be frustrated, and they have every right to be. However, they shouldn’t be upset with Chris Hansen and Steve Ballmer.

If fans are mad at anyone, it should be the city of Sacramento or the Maloof family. In theory, the Maloofs had an opportunity to work out a deal on a new arena in Sactown. That opportunity appears to have passed.

Still, as noted by Yahoo! Sports, Sacramento will fight on. Former NBA star and current mayor Kevin Johnson has been trying to find a local owner that will keep the team in town. At this point, his efforts may be a little too late.

Now that the deal appears finished, there is already speculation on potential leadership.

Y! Sources: To overhaul Kings organization, new Seattle group has discussed targeting Spurs' R.C. Buford, Larry Bird. tinyurl.com/alaqrqr

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) January 21, 2013

Larry Bird? I never thought I would hear his name associated with the Sonics.

Before the new ownership can start hiring executives, they need to get the deal approved. Seattle fans will obviously stay tuned. The Sonics are (or appear to be) one step closer to a Key Arena return.

Exciting...assuming you are a fan of the Seattle SuperSonics. A sad day for the city of Sacramento.

Follow @tpheifer