Tonight the Sonics begin their annual Texas Two-Step roadtrip, featuring the Houston Rockets and what one dearly departed ESPN board poster once called the "Allas Mavericks." That was funny a couple of years ago but given where the Sonics stack up defensively vs. the rest of the league perhaps now isn't the best time to poke fun at Big D. :D
I'm looking to see if another Sonic will step up on this roadtrip to provide some interior scoring punch. Rashard's getting fronted by nearly every team when he sets up on the left block and so far Seattle hasn't been able to exploit that yet. And who's writing the schedule at the NBA office these days? 10 of the next 14 games are on the road, in a word ... WOW.
Rashard Lewis is jacked to see the hometown crowd and I don't blame him one bit. It's not looking good for Shard's All-Star chances given the depth of good forwards in the West. It's a shame, but that's the game.
More fallout from the arena stories yesterday. Particularly troublesome to me is this quote:
Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, issued a strongly worded rebuke to the Sonics on Thursday, saying the team was in no position to issue ultimatums.
Schmidt, who said he was involved in both the Safeco Field and Qwest Field financing packages, said those teams did a much better job of making their cases.
"They took nothing for granted and made sure they contacted each and every senator and representative," Schmidt said in a written statement. "But I haven't heard a peep from the Sonics. Where's the business plan? Where's the organized proposal? You can't just meet with one or two legislators and the governor and say you've done your work."
I ask the Sonics, is that true? Because if so that just underscores what I mentioned in yesterday's thread -- the team desperately needs a better frontman to sell this to the public. For a major sports organization this team should be better at PR.
For Sale -- one luxury suite, slightly used. Comes with free hors d'ouerves.
Last but definitely not least Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish) is a disgrace to himself, his family, his constituents, the Legislature, and America if the following quote is truly attributed to the Sonics arena requests:
“We don’t negotiate with terrorists,†quipped Rep. Hans Dunshee, a Snohomish Democrat who has a lot of say over who gets money.
Equating team management with terrorists is not only completely freakin' tasteless, it's pathetic. This is your leadership, Western Washington. I'm disgusted with the level of discourse in America today.