Protest Wednesday at Blazers/Thunder game?

[JALMOND]

There have been rumors swirling around within the city of Portland that concern Wednesday's NBA game between the Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle Sonics). It seems that there is a busload of members from the Save Our Sonics club that is coming down for the game from Seattle. It seems that they have purchased tickets and plan on attending. They also plan on starting a cheer at the beginning of the game, at halftime, and at the end of the game. The "cheer" is either "Save the Sonics", "Super Sonics" or another form of cheer that would be aimed directly at Burnett (the person who moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City) that is not appropriate to post in this forum. They will try to get all in attendance (all Blazer fans), to join them in this endeavor. They will not be in a group, but rather scattered throughout the Rose Garden.

My take on this, and I have talked it over with some of my friends who are Blazer fans...I understand Seattle's pain. I think they did get screwed by Burnett, Stern and the NBA for losing the Sonics. I don't think it was fair. But this is not Portland's or the Blazers' fight. This has nothing to do with us. I understand that they want to make a statement, and if they were to go public in Seattle, I would support them. But if they plan on disrupting my game involving my team, who is trying to make the playoffs (and avenge a loss to a team that totally dismantled us last week in Oklahoma City), I don't see why I would want to support them. The Blazers have never been the Sonics and I don't see how this would be beneficial to the home team while the crowd is yelling Sonic cheers. Seattle can come to Portland and cheer the Blazers as the Blazers, instead of trying to cheer for a defunct team. Every year I am forced to watch the Seahawks and Mariners (and this year was the equivalent to having a tooth pulled with no novacaine). The Seattle fans can do what I do, sit back and enjoy this young Blazer team, instead of thinking up ways of disrupting the action.

[Hammerhead]

I lived in Minnesota when the North Stars moved to Dallas and I bet there are Wild fans that still chant "Norm Green sucks!" I get tired of hearing about the Mariners and Seahawks on the local Portland stations. We have DirecTV so we don't have to watch the Hawks and Raiders every weekend.

[kardplayer]

... But this is not Portland's or the Blazers' fight. This has nothing to do with us. ...

Moving franchises that are supported by the local community should be everyone's fight...

Seattle lost the Sonics
Baltimore lost the Colts
Cleveland lost the Browns
Montreal lost the Expos (they were supported before the "owner" decided to sabotage the team)
I'm sure there are a ton of Canadian cities that lost hockey teams to US cities

Its like the old parable says... if people keep turning their back when their neighbors are in trouble, who will be there for them when they are in trouble?

[grizband]

Moving franchises that are supported by the local community should be everyone's fight...

Seattle lost the Sonics
Baltimore lost the Colts
Cleveland lost the Browns
Montreal lost the Expos (they were supported before the "owner" decided to sabotage the team)
I'm sure there are a ton of Canadian cities that lost hockey teams to US cities

Its like the old parable says... if people keep turning their back when their neighbors are in trouble, who will be there for them when they are in trouble?
Surprisingly, there are only two:
In 1995 the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche
In 1997 the Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes

Also interesting to note is that in 1980, the Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames, meaning Atlanta had an NHL team before Calgary! xeekx

[Marcus Garvey]

Surprisingly, there are only two:
In 1995 the Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche
In 1997 the Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes

Also interesting to note is that in 1980, the Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames, meaning Atlanta had an NHL team before Calgary! xeekx

That sentence summarizes the NHL in a nutshell.

League Official #1: Hey, where you think we should put a team in Calgary?
League Official #2: Nah... I'm thinking the deep south instead. What about Montgomery? Oh wait, I know! Atlanta!

[blazrdog#1]

some of my best chilhood memories are from going to WHA games to watch the Bulls ! Don't laugh...we have a plaque at the BJCC honoring Gordie Howe scoring his 1,000 goal here in Birmingham ! We WOULD support an NHL team in a big way down here !!!!!!!xthumbsupxxthumbsupx

[JALMOND]

As it is, nothing really happened. There were quite a few people who showed up in various Sonic apparel, but the crowd was very pro-Blazers. I never heard any Sonic cheers (I guess about 10 people behind the Thunder bench tried to get something going) as the game was rather entertaining in itself. A friend of mine said that the Blazer fans cheered the win as usual, and the Sonic fans pretty much drank too much. Blazers won the game 102-93. I say next time, Sonic fans, don't even come to the game if you can't cheer for the Blazers. You are wasting a ticket that could go to an actual Blazer fan.

[JALMOND]

Moving franchises that are supported by the local community should be everyone's fight...

Seattle lost the Sonics
Baltimore lost the Colts
Cleveland lost the Browns
Montreal lost the Expos (they were supported before the "owner" decided to sabotage the team)
I'm sure there are a ton of Canadian cities that lost hockey teams to US cities

Its like the old parable says... if people keep turning their back when their neighbors are in trouble, who will be there for them when they are in trouble?

From what I've heard of Stern, he is pretty vindictive and has a very long memory. Consequently, I am not one to upset the apple cart, lest I find the Blazers in Albuquerque the next morning.

[Marcus Garvey]

From what I've heard of Stern, he is pretty vindictive and has a very long memory. Consequently, I am not one to upset the apple cart, lest I find the Blazers in Albuquerque the next morning.

F--k Stern. He's a smug little pr!ck who piggy-backed the NBA on Michael Jordan, allowing it to increase in popularity. Since Jordan's retirement, it's been in a slow decline.

Anyway, I'm boycotting the NBA until the Kings return to Upstate New York!!!! The Rochester Royals shall rise again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


xsmiley_wix

[Cobblestone]

Moving franchises that are supported by the local community should be everyone's fight...

Seattle lost the Sonics
Baltimore lost the Colts
Cleveland lost the Browns
Montreal lost the Expos (they were supported before the "owner" decided to sabotage the team)
I'm sure there are a ton of Canadian cities that lost hockey teams to US cities

Its like the old parable says... if people keep turning their back when their neighbors are in trouble, who will be there for them when they are in trouble?


Well said. I never heard too many grumblings though from LA after they lost 2 NFL teams. I'm glad I didn't because it would have been the ultimate in hypocrisy.