SonicsRising Week In Review: Hope Reemerges This Week

For the first time in a long time there is some hope on the horizon for Sonics fans.  We've heard since the summer that once the new TV deal with the NBA was finished we would probably start hearing some rumblings about expansion.  Those rumblings started to surface this week with the TV deal being all but finished (expect it wrapped up by the first week of February).

My guess is that we'll probably start to hear some stronger rumblings of expansion out of Seattle regarding the NBA right about that time too.  No insider information, but a really good feeling.  Roll with me on this.

Greatest of All-Time: The 1975 Seattle Supersonics by Kevin Nesgoda
Over the next few weeks SonicsRising will be running overviews of the 22 Seattle Supersonics teams that made the playoffs. First up was the 1975 Sonics, coached by the legendary Bill Russell.

NBA TV Deal Done Before Stern Leaves? by Paul Rogers
'Forbes Sports Money' speculates the TV deal will be done sooner than we thought.

Luol Deng traded to the Cavs by Mitch Northam
Reaction and evaluation of the Luol Deng trade while also recapping more NBA news.

So Long, St. Louis by Taylor Bartle
Hello Seattle?  
This piece didn't get nearly enough love.  Just as important if not more important part of the process of Seattle getting an expansion team.  Give this another read.

Sonics Bruising: Week Ten Roundup by Paul Rogers
The holidays are behind us. I thank God for that. This was a week where everyone was soft. Ugh. We give you Week Ten of the Sonics Bruising League.

Greatest of All-Time: The 1976 Seattle Supersonics by Joanna Nesgoda
Over the next few weeks SonicsRising will be running overviews of the 22 Seattle Supersonics teams that made the playoffs. This second installment focused on the 1976 Sonics.

On This Day in Sonics History: January 10, 1976 - Slick Man of the Year by Taylor Bartle
Slick Watts was named the 1976 "Man of the Year in Sports" by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Watts was the first Sonic ever named to the All-Defensive team and also won the J. Walter Citizenship Award.

Greatest of All-Time: The 1978 Seattle Supersonics by Mitch Northam
Over the next few weeks Sonics Rising will be running overviews of the 22 Seattle Supersonics teams that made the playoffs. This third installment focused on the 1978 Sonics.

Stay Classy, Hawk Fans by Sonics Guy
As anyone who knows me knows, I'm a big supporter of the Seahawks. And when I say big, I mean big. I mean "wake up at around 4 in the morning" big to be at the Clink early for a taping of Q13 This...

Highlight of the Week: On Saturday night down in Corvallis, Oregon State honored Gary Payton during halftime of their game against California.  I'm shocked this hasn't happened already.  Looking at the pics and everything from the night it looked like everyone had a great time!

Lowlight of the Week: A picture made its rounds of Gary Payton wearing a San Francisco 49ers jersey today.  I'm appalled by the reactions I've seen on both Twitter and Facebook.  Things were as innocent as "I can't look at this pic." to "he's dead to me." and disgustingly all the way to "wear that in Seattle and I'll kill ya."

Some people that I call close friends posted similar messages and after putting them on blast for being a complete idiot, they decided to pull their messages.  This is the type of thing that absolutely kills me about fans nowadays.  Payton grew up cheering for the 49ers; just because he's a legend in Seattle doesn't mean he has to cut ties to the affiliations of his childhood.

Game I Look Forward to Most This Week: On Friday the 17^th the Portland Trail Blazers head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs.  Tip is at 5:30pm PST and is only available via League Pass, not on national TV.

BBQ Tip of the Week: Next Sunday is NFL Championship Sunday with both the AFC and NFC Championship games taking place.  It's time to have friends and family over for the game and the best thing you can serve a big group of people is wings.

Want some sweet and spicy wings that are sure to knock people on their ass?

What you need:
20 pounds of wings (go to Costco)
4 lemongrass stalks
4 limes
1 tbsp. fish sauce
3-4 cans unsweetened coconut milk
1 bottle Sriracha sauce
¼ cup coconut palm sugar (or light brown sugar)
¼ cup honey

Most of the time the wings come in a huge bag, so make sure the wings are defrosted and pop that baby open.

Take the coconut milk, the lemongrass and the juice and rind of two limes, put into a pot and bring to a low boil.  Let cool to room temp and then pour over the wings.  Stick in the fridge overnight to 24 hours to marinate.  Make sure all wings are covered.

When you're ready to start cooking drain the wings off, but leave them pretty wet still.  I put them in a pretty deep bowl and leave some of the marinade in the bottom of the bowl to swish around a bit before the wings go on the grill.

Speaking of the grill, use regular charcoal and heat that baby up to about 375-400.  Depending on your grill you might want to put some foil down so the wings don't fall down into the coals.

While the grill heats up, take the Sriracha and put it into a pan on the stove over medium heat, add the fish sauce, palm sugar, honey and the lime juice from the last two limes.  You can add some zest if you like.  I usually do.

Let the honey and sugar melt into the Sriracha, keep stirring and remove from heat once its done and put into a cool bowl and take out to the grill.

Get your wings on the grill, cook them for about four minutes each side or until they get a little bark on them.  After they get about 6-8 minutes total cook time, start slathering on the sauce.  Let the sauce hang out on the wings for a few minutes.  If you have an extra rack to move the sauced wings to, do so.

Once the sauce darkens, caramelizes and blackens a bit then it's time for the wings to come off.  Serve hot.

There you have the Kevin Nesgoda Thai Style Hot Wing.

Until next week-have a good one Sonics Nation!