FanPost

Comparing the theft of the Sonics to the Winnipeg Jets

As a Canadian from Vancouver, my two great sports loves in life are the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and the NBA's Seattle Supersonics (I hated the Grizzlies). Being an NHL fan, I was alive to witness the relocation of the Winnipeg Jets from the prairies down to Phoenix, Arizona and I can't help but compare it to Bennett's theft of the Sonics.

From 1972 to 1996, the Winnipeg Jets played their hockey in Manitoba's capital, they were never very successful as they were in the same division of Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers in the 80s (the equivalent of Kareem/Magic and the Lakers of the 80s) and as a result, the Jets could never get past the 2nd Round of the playoffs (from 1982 to 1990, the Oilers beat the Jets in all six of their playoff matchups, similar to the Sonics' troubles against the Lakers). Unlike the Jets however, the Sonics won it all with their NBA championship of 1979 while Winnipeg's hockey team never made it past the 2nd Round of the postseason.

Despite this, the Jets had star players such as a great playmaker and defensive center named Dale Hawerchuk (think Gary Payton for a basketball comparison), a big and powerful goal scorer in Keith Tkachuk (think Shawn Kemp). In addition to these players, the Jets had a loyal fanbase that always showed up to the games and supported them through it all. If you are still reading this, I hope this gives you some structure as to understanding my comparison.

Then in the 1990's, the Jets faced a problem, Winnipeg Arena where they played their games was in dire need of repair, it was old, small, and not up the modern NHL standards leading up the dawn of the 21st Century. With the way Winnipeg Arena was structured, it was difficult for the Jets to turn a profit. With a falling Canadian dollar, it became almost impossible to pay hefty USD salaries. It became increasingly evident that the Jets could not survive in Winnipeg without a new arena to play in. Owner Barry Shenkarow sold the Jets to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke in 1995 who made a very unconvincing statement that they wanted to keep the team in Winnipeg (a' la Clay Bennett). By the way, the NHL's commissioner, an impish little New Yorker named Gary Bettman seemed content and even almost encouraged the move, I swear he must be related to David Stern. If you fellow Sonics fans are still reading this, you can see some eerie similarities.

The Jets played one final 1995-1996 season in Winnipeg. Throughout the year, the fan support for the Jets was clear everywhere as the team's supporters protested in the city square, chanting "Save Our Jets!" ("Save Our Sonics!"), but to no avail. The team packed up and moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

For me the comparisons are too much to not notice, a team with a great fanbase and history runs into arena problems, a group of outsider businessmen buy the team, half-heartedly promise to try and keep the team in the city, and relocate with the full support of a little p**** commissioner from NYC. There were numerous attempts from the moment the Jets moved to get a team back in the city as soon as possible. From 2007 to 2011, there were numerous attempts to buy the Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers and the Phoenix Coyotes (who haven't made a profit since moving from Winnipeg, cause hockey just doesn't work in the desert!), but all ended up being blocked by the NHL relocation committee headed by a little a****** from New York. Kinda like how the NBA seems determined to smother any attempt to relocate back to Seattle (Sacramento, 2013).

Finally in 2011, Winnipeg businessman Mark Chipman purchased the moribund Atlanta Thrashers and relocated them back to Manitoba's capital (Bettman, the NHL commissioner did not look at all pleased during the announcement press conference). They were allowed to use the Jets as team name and the new Winnipeg Jets now are playing and thriving.

It took 15 years for NHL hockey to return to Winnipeg. I sincerely hope that it does not take that long for the NBA to return to Seattle, I miss driving down to Seattle and watching the Sonics. I am sure however, that the NBA will come to its senses and make it happen. Anyway, I hoped you readers like the comparison.

PS, like the new Winnipeg Jets, the new NBA team must be named the Seattle Supersonics, it won't feel right any other way.

FanPosts are written by members of the Sonics Rising community and do not necessarily represent the opinions of site management.

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