With the Oklahoma City Thunder currently playing for an NBA championship, Sonics fans are likely more bitter than ever before. However, with San Francisco hedge fund manager Chris Hansen displaying an interest in building a new basketball arena in Seattle, there also seems to be more energy surrounding the future of Sonics basketball than there has been since Clay Bennet shipped the team off to OKC.
This afternoon Sonics fans congregated in Pioneer Square's Occidental Park to celebrate the possibility of getting new team, and to rally for a new NBA arena in Seattle. The event featured performances from Common Market, The Presidents of the United States of America, and the Blue Scholars. Speeches were also given by Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Nate Robinson, Down Constantine, Chris Hansen and former Sonics play by play announcer Kevin Colabro.
During his show following the rally, KJR talk show host Dave Softy Mahler described the event as a Sonics family reunion. Among the several thousand attendees I spotted Seattle's biggest sports fan "Big Lo", director of Sonicsgate Jason Reid, and several people dressed up in Sasquatch costumes. Seeing all the familiar faces gave me a weird feeling of dejavu, as if I was back in elementary school watching Gary Payton and company take on the competition from the upper level of Key Arena.
After a solid performance from Common Market to start off the rally, The President's played a rousing set that featured their Seattle basketball anthem "Supersonics".
The highlight of the rally occurred during the Blue Scholars' headlining set. During their performance of "North by Northwest", Macklemore and Grynch ran out on the stage and proceeded to spit verses over the Sabzi beat. Despite the fact that the rally drew a more sports oriented audience, the Seattle MC's rocked an enthused crowd. "Maybe we should have ended with that one?" Sabzi joked after the song ended. The Scholars closed out their set with their song "Slick Watts", an ode to Sonics basketball and the man who made the headband famous. It was very cool given that Slick Watts was in attendance.
Hedge fund investor and Seattle basketball savior Chris Hansen capped of the rally with a humble address to the sea of gold and green. Hansen nervously laid out his plan to build a new arena and bring an NBA team to Seattle. Putting his arm around the much smaller Hansen, former Sonics star Gary Payton chuckled into the microphone. "Our guy Chris is a little shy here but it's ok!" Chants of "Thank you Chris!, Thank you Chris" drowned out Hansen's attempts to thank the people who put the rally together. A proud day for Sonics fans to say the least.
This afternoon Sonics fans congregated in Pioneer Square's Occidental Park to celebrate the possibility of getting new team, and to rally for a new NBA arena in Seattle. The event featured performances from Common Market, The Presidents of the United States of America, and the Blue Scholars. Speeches were also given by Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Nate Robinson, Down Constantine, Chris Hansen and former Sonics play by play announcer Kevin Colabro.
After a solid performance from Common Market to start off the rally, The President's played a rousing set that featured their Seattle basketball anthem "Supersonics".
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