Let’s Talk Rivalries

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Since, with just under two months to go, many of us are getting very crankily tired of talking about whales, ROFR, Carmichael Dave, $30 million deposits, last minute investors, Burkle, Mastrov, BOG, Stern, and pretty much anything else related to this whole situation, I thought it would be fun to talk about rivalries.

SIDE NOTE: Speaking of the $30 million deposit, is it possible that the rumor saying it wasn’t paid was started because Hansen’s check bounced the first time? Hey, we’ve all been there. Right?

Back on point, the following is from an earlier thread…

MartinH says:

Paul Rogers:
I knew after that year that I could never root for the Portland Trailblazers if they were playing against the devil himself. I would still not root for them against the devil. Just the OKC Thunder.

Ooh, now there’s a question for the Seattle-based brethren…
… who do you hate more now? Portland, the Lakers or OKC?
You know, have to think about what our #1 rivalry is going to be… :-

So let’s try to answer Martin’s question.

In the old days our chief rival was definitely Portland. Right? The close proximity. The inferiority complex of Portland (we all know it’s true). The way Payton and Drexler would go at it. Etc.

I think we also pretty much hated the Lakers. That may have been simply about how successful they have always been.

Another heated rivalry was with the Utah Jazz. Man I hated those guys. Stockton. Malone. Hornacek. That’s right. Jeff Stinking Hornacek. Ugh. We really had some great playoff battles with them though.

We also had a terrific rivalry with the Houston Rockets, which probably diminished greatly once Hakeem Olajuwon retired. We matched up with them so well. It’s a crime that we had the two first round chokes against the Nuggets and Lakers. We should’ve won the two titles that Houston took home.

So how would our rivalries unfold now if we get our team back?

For certain, Oklahoma City would be instantly on our list of teams we really really want to beat. Our rivalry with Portland would instantly be rekindled and, of course, we’ll always hate the Lakers. These three would exist even while we still suck.

But what about Utah? Would that rivalry take time to redevelop? I’m guessing it would.

So which rivalry would be the most intense? For my money, it would certainly be with OKC. Our thing with Portland is actually somewhat good natured, but are there two cities that hate each other more than Seattle and Oklahoma City? I don’t think so.

What about the rest of you, though? Who ya’ got for our chief rivals? Thunder? Blazers? Lakers? Someone else?

Discuss.

128 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Rivalries”

  1. Gene Hunt:
    I saw this posted on twitter and no its not a Bruski or CMD tweet. Its about ESPN’s Lottery Mock Draft machine and if you look close when its loading up the teams it says Seattle Supersonics. Its only there for a split second but its kind of cool

    http://es.pn/14579yf

    Finally saw it. So fast it’s almost subliminal.

  2. I feel like we’ve all heard KJ cry whale enough times the last couple months that I honestly don’t know if he will finally, FINALLY announce said whale(s).

  3. flexnfx:
    Does KJ work on anything else in Sacramento? I imagine the non-sports fan down there is asking the same question.

    He was reelected last year, I believe, so most people there can’t be too unhappy with the job he’s doing.

  4. Eric E: I wonder this too.He must have a strong opposition group.

    I’m pretty sure Mac Worthy works more on other issues than KJ does……

  5. Welll is sounds like we may FINALLY here about these whales. The funny thing is that if Burkle is involved that hurts them.

    As has been speculated nationally and by the sources close to the Kehroitis group the Maloofs will not sell to a group involving Ron Burkle. The Maloofs have probably made the CLEAR to the BoG. The BoG can deny a sale but they will not tell the Maloofs whom to sell too. So if the NBA really wants the Maloofs out of the club then they have one option that is 100%. That is Hansen/Ballmer because they will not gamble on the Maloofs staying in power and saying ‘no’ to Burkle. Theorectically the Maloofs could make cash calls to Kehriotis and make him pay for stuff as they already have.

    I dont see the ‘whales’ getting the NBA to deny Hansen/Ballmer. The only way to get the Maloofs out of power is the Hansen/Ballmer.

    That is just one reason of what seems hundreds to go with the Seattle group. You know the one with the PSA, the much further arena deal, etc.

  6. SonicsUberAlles: Finally saw it. So fast it’s almost subliminal.

    sure seems like a subliminal message from ESPN. showed it to a few coworkers and it definitely gave us all a little satisfaction

  7. Jared S.:

    The bigger issue with mayor KJ is that no one legitimate is there to run against him- I remember people saying that his main competitor was “Banana Joe”, or “Raccoon Dan”- some goofy amalgam of animal-first name. And this was THE MOST CREDIBLE opponent.

  8. Paul Rogers:
    Let them have their night. We’ve been expecting it since the sale was announced. Don’t be surprised, however, if our guys put out some kind of announcement in the next few days to counteract it. I have no knowledge that they will, but Hansen is becoming pretty good at this PR game. Notice how the Maloofs IMMEDIATELY quashed those rumors of the non-paid $30 million? I’m guessing the Seattle group asked him to do so.

    I agree

  9. Andy: The bigger issue with mayor KJ is that no one legitimate is there to run against him- I remember people saying that his main competitor was “Banana Joe”, or “Raccoon Dan”- some goofy amalgam of animal-first name. And this was THE MOST CREDIBLE opponent.

    I’m sorry, that would be bounty hunter Leonard Padilla, coming in at 15% of the vote.

  12. Kryten: Cool!Saw it as well! Also, the results for me was Kings #1 taking Marcus Smart. Maybe it’s an omlet.

    That’s fine; we need all the good omlettes we can get right now.

  14. Gene Hunt:
    I saw this posted on twitter and no its not a Bruski or CMD tweet. Its about ESPN’s Lottery Mock Draft machine and if you look close when its loading up the teams it says Seattle Supersonics. Its only there for a split second but its kind of cool

    http://es.pn/14579yf

    Weird, I just did it and say Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings.

    Also, it had the Kings taking Otto Porter both times I did it. Once #3 and once #7.

  15. So this year in the draft, is there not a standout, obvious #1 pick? On the ESPN draft lottery page Gene posted, there’s been a kinds of guys listed at #1.

    Forgive me for my obvious lack of knowledge on this subject!

  16. jenn_gp:
    So this year in the draft, is there not a standout, obvious #1 pick?On the ESPN draft lottery page Gene posted, there’s been a kinds of guys listed at #1.

    Forgive me for my obvious lack of knowledge on this subject!

    It was Nerlens Noel but since he tore his ACL no one knows.

  18. Taylor Made: It was Nerlens Noel but since he tore his ACL no one knows.

    Oh, gotcha, thanks. Heard about that when it happened. The draft may be quite the crapshoot this year then.

  19. Taylor Made: Weird, I just did it and say Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings.

    Also, it had the Kings taking Otto Porter both times I did it.Once #3 and once #7.

    Sometimes it has just Sonics or just Kings when its loading other times it will load both teams its definitely interesting.

  20. Paul Rogers:
    This is actually a pretty well done article. I wonder if this is accurate. This is a conversation way out of my league.

    It’s an op-ed piece disguised as news. Pure speculation of a worst-case scenario. He can’t possibly know the terms of the PSA, and the ones who DO know are under a gag order and aren’t talking.
    Still, I can’t see Hansen doing that to the minority owners. Just doesn’t seem like his style. Now although that’s an opinion in his favor, it’s still only an OPINION.

  21. Of course it’s an op-ed piece. It was written at a pro Kings website. I didn’t take it for news.

    jetcitywoman2: It’s an op-ed piece disguised as news.Pure speculation of a worst-case scenario.He can’t possibly know the terms of the PSA, and the ones who DO know are under a gag order and aren’t talking.
    Still, I can’t see Hansen doing that to the minority owners.Just doesn’t seem like his style.Now although that’s an opinion in his favor, it’s still only an OPINION.

  22. miltonbradley320:
    Regarding the Thunder I think you guys will find they’ll fall into one of two categories for the majority of fans.

    Either A – Sonics fans will go the Cleveland Browns rout and you’ll hate their guts with a fiery passion for an indefinite amount of time and no amount of time will lessen that.

    Or B – Which seems more likely given that it’s the route most dispossessed cities eventually end up going, you’ll hate them at first but within a few years it’ll fade. As your start having your own new successes and OKC loses the last vestiges of the old Sonics (players, staff, owner, etc…) they’ll no longer be of any interest to you. Not to say Sonics fans will start liking the Thunder, but they just won’t be worth your time or thoughts. And a rivalry won’t really develop. This seems the more likely course with Seattle and the new Sonics particularly given that once you’re re-established and have rebuilt the team you’d have the Sonics back, their history, their stats, etc… Now you might ask, well then why are the Browns fans still so anti-Baltimore, and the answer is quite simple… they suck. The new Browns have not had an iota of success in the 15 years since they returned while they’ve had to watch their former team go on to win one super bowl with a bunch of their former players and now a second one.

    I think that kind of thing requires the passing of a generation. Kids who weren’t around or not old enough to understand what happened here would have no real reason to harbor any ill will toward that organization. People who were around and witnessed Stern’s antagonism and Bennett’s efforts to kill any and all interest in the team while it was here shouldn’t forget it.

  24. jenn_gp: Huh, I’ve tried it several times and have yet to see Seattle listed.Maybe I keep missing it.Either way, very interesting.

    I saw it after I ran it a few times.

  25. Andy: The bigger issue with mayor KJ is that no one legitimate is there to run against him- I remember people saying that his main competitor was “Banana Joe”, or “Raccoon Dan”- some goofy amalgam of animal-first name. And this was THE MOST CREDIBLE opponent.

    Any credible opponent could make some real hay if this effort to retains the Kings. He seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time schmoozing with millionaires, NBA owners and on this issue. What other issues are being ignored righ now in his city?

  26. Forgot a word

    flexnfx: Any credible opponent could make some real hay if this effort to retains the Kings fails. He seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time schmoozing with millionaires, NBA owners and on this issue. What other issues are being ignored righ now in his city?

  28. “Gary Chazen ‏@gchazensacbiz
    Cash Commitment to Kehriotis Increases to $750 Million - http://capradio.org http://www.capradio.org/articles/2013/02/28/cash-commitment-to-kehriotis-increases-to-$750-million#.US_zvU27VwE.twitter … #NBAkings”

    Oh Heavens…

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