In case you hadn't realized it...."The Association" (NBA) has started its season. Our Atlanta Hawks won for the first time this season. In Oklahoma City... no less.
Interesting to say the least, considering they were without their best player, Josh Smith.
Well....there it is. The "Association" is finally done for this season.
King James has a ring....the Heat have the title... And Oklahoma City can say what all the other teams are saying at this time, "Wait till next year". The morning headlines went like this in South Beach ( in Spanish & English):
You.....the NBA.....the "Association"....came back to us. Like a once scorned lover....we the fans....were in a "wait & see" mode. Can we really forgive you? Let bygones be? Have you really repented? Can we ever love you again? You......took us for granted. You....didn't really appreciate us.....
We moved on......but......you came back.
You did a ......serenade......Using Christmas...no less.....Christmas Day? Really.....NBA?
Really? You.....need us......more than we need you.
With that said....You kind of came through yesterday....made us see.....why we missed you... From our friends.....at the Huffington Post:
The Seattle Supersonics are moving. Well, sort of. Seattle gets to keep the name and the colors. Yesterday's settlement calls for owner, Clay Bennett and the Sonics , to pay the city of Seattle $75 million to break the lease at Key Arena and move the team to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 NBA season.
Over the years, professional teams have moved on a whim. With no regards to fans and the community. It's all about the money.
Some cities get lucky.....and get a replacement team. Cleveland, Charlotte, New Orleans.......Even Atlanta got another hockey team.....though years after the Flames left.
So the Sonics are moving........I hope Oklahoma City goes 0-82 next year. We can.....hope.
The relocation list..........From CNNSI.com:
Major professional franchises on the move since 1970
MLB
Team
Year
Moved To
Seattle Pilots
1970
Milwaukee, Wis. (Brewers)
Washington Senators
1972
Arlington, Texas (Rangers)
Minnesota Twins (Bloomington)
1982
Minneapolis
NFL
Team
Year
Moved To
Dallas Cowboys
1971
Irving, Texas
New England Patriots (Boston)
1971
Foxboro, Mass.
Buffalo Bills
1973
Orchard Park, N.Y.
N.Y. Giants (New Haven, Conn.)
1976
E. Rutherford, N.J.
Los Angeles Rams
1980
Anaheim, Calif.
Minnesota Vikings (Bloomington)
1982
Minneapolis
Oakland Raiders
1982
Los Angeles
N.Y. Jets
1983
E. Rutherford, N.J.
Baltimore Colts
1984
Indianapolis
St. Louis Cardinals
1988
Phoenix *
Los Angeles Raiders
1995
Oakland
Los Angeles Rams
1995
St. Louis
Cleveland Browns
1996
Baltimore (Ravens)
Houston Oilers
1997
Tennessee (Titans) **
Washington Redskins
1997
Raljon, Md.
Note: Giants played at the Polo Grounds (1925-55), Yankee Stadium (1956-73 (two games in '73)), The Yale Bowl (1973-74) and Shea Stadium (1975) before moving into Giants Stadium Oct. 10, 1976). * -- Became Phoenix Cardinals; changed name to Arizona Cardinals in 1994 ** -- Moved to Memphis in 1997 (Tennessee Oilers), then to Nashville in 1998
NBA
Team
Year
Moved To
N.Y. Nets (W. Hempstead, N.Y.)
1971
Uniondale, N.Y.
San Diego Rockets
1971
Houston
San Francisco Warriors
1971
Oakland (Golden State)
Cincinnati Royals
1972
Kansas City/Omaha (Kings) *
Baltimore Bullets
1973
Landover, Md. (Washington) **
Dallas Chaparrals
1973
San Antonio (Spurs)
Cleveland Cavaliers
1974
Richfield, Ohio
N.Y. Nets (Uniondale, N.Y.)
1977
Piscataway, N.J. #
Buffalo Braves
1978
San Diego (Clippers)
New Orleans Jazz
1979
Salt lake City, Utah
N.J. Nets (Piscataway, N.J.)
1981
E. Rutherford, N.J.
San Diego Clippers
1984
Los Angeles
Kansas City Kings
1985
Sacramento
Cleveland Cavaliers (Richfield, Ohio)
1994
Cleveland
L.A. Lakers (Inglewood, Calif.)
1999
Los Angeles
Vancouver Grizzlies
2001
Memphis
Charlotte Hornets
2002
New Orleans
* -- Became Kansas City Kings in 1975 ** -- Became Capital Bullets, then changed to Washington Bullets in 1974; changed nickname to Wizards in 1997 # -- Became New Jersey Nets upon move to Piscataway
NHL
Team
Year
Moved To
Kansas City Scouts
1976
Colorado (Rockies)
California Golden Seals
1976
Cleveland (Barons)
Atlanta Flames
1980
Calgary
Cleveland Barons
1980
Minnesota North Stars *
Hartford Whalers (Springfield, Mass.)
1980
Hartford, Conn.
Colorado Rockies
1982
New Jersey (Devils)
Minnesota North Stars
1993
Dallas (Stars)
San Jose Sharks
1993
San Jose **
Tampa Bay Lightning
1993
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Quebec Nordiques
1995
Colorado (Avalanche)
Ottawa Senators
1996
Kanata, Ont.
Winnipeg Jets
1996
Phoenix (Coyotes)
Hartford Whalers
1997
Greensboro, N.C. (Hurricanes)
Wash. Capitals (Landover, Md.)
1997
Washington, D.C.
Florida Panthers (Miami)
1998
Sunrise, Fla.
Car. Hurricanes (Greensboro, N.C.)
1999
Raleigh, N.C.
L.A. Kings (Inglewood, Calif.)
1999
Los Angeles
Note: NHL expanded in 1979 to include WHA's Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets. * -- Merged ** -- Expansion team in 1991-92, played games in San Francisco 1991-93
