We had a really great time this Friday at the Sonics alumni Christmas Party. A bunch of former employees got together with my ArenaSolution team, members of Sonicsgate, Shawn Kemp and any others. We don’t all get in the same room often and we kept the agenda light, just having a drink and catching up on all the good things that are happening.
The only actual item on the agenda was a toast that I made. As usual I wound up tossing the script, cutting most of it out. People didn’t want to listen to me. They wanted to be there with their friends and catching up.
I did take a minute to mention Wally Walker in the toast and I want to do the same thing here. I’ll say it once and shut up about it, but it is important to me. I get that people don’t like his GM moves but for gods sake move on. I shudder to think of how many REALLY stupid things I have said and done in public and how much I require the people around me to forgive and show understanding. My good friends support me by letting those mistakes pass and instead focusing on the good things I accomplish.
My biggest supporter at Save Our Sonics was Wally Walker.
Wally did everything he could to block the sale and to bring in the original Ballmer offer to get the team back and block the move.
Wally had the guts to sit in front of the cameras and tell Sonicsgate his side of the story.
Wally has been a huge mentor for me for years. We don’t talk that often and he is always cautious against telling me what to do but he always listens and gives key advice when I need it.(sometimes I don’t know that I need it)
Wally has given huge help to Chris Hansen without EVER asking for any recognition. He’s not dumb(just the opposite) and he knows what his name attachment could do. He’s not doing it to be part of the franchise or to get paid or to get credit. He is just a guy, right up there with Sonicsgate who consistently does whatever he can to support basketball in Seattle and the NBA. Without Wally Walker there is ZERO chance that Chris Hansen would be here bringing hope to Sonics fans.
I have a lot of “new friends” who want to be part of this ride up and that is great. The one decision I have made about it is as the new gang shapes up I am going to be true to my old friend too. People in suits have to accept Jason Reid and the Seattle Nightlife Association or they don’t accept me. Sonicscentral teammates are just as welcome at our events as the high power political guys because they supported me long before I had any juice.
Wally is in that group. I’m tired of a really good guy being held so damn accountable for a few mistakes hes made and never getting credit for the good person he is or the good work he does.
I continue to get nothing but enthusiastic and positive vibes around the pursuit of the team and arena.
Virginia Beach does not concern me.
Merry Christmas to all of you. 2013 is going to be much bigger for all of us than 2012 was.
I agree Brian. His mistakes as a GM shouldn’t dog him the rest of his life. Enough is enough. He went to the wall for us behind the scenes and in court. He should be honored.
Frankly, I’m tired of the whole keeping track of villains thing any way. Do they exist in this story? Absolutely, but I refuse to imprison myself with bitterness toward them.
Now there are cases where I still must take action. I simply can’t financially support the Mariners until they end their senseless opposition to the arena or until ground is broken in SoDo.
But for those who screwed us over in the past and have no involvement now? Time to move past it.
take the poll
http://seattletimes.com/html/huskyfootball/2019957216_huskyfootball22.html
Brian, not sure what inspired you to have to write this (again), but that doesn’t matter. The absolute truth of how Howard sold us all out came from the 1st hand account by Wally Walker in Sonicsgate.
People need to watch that, take a giant step back, and understand that Wally Walker is on the side of the Sonics fan. It’s just obvious.
Wish I could have attended but I’m just not able to do things like that right now.
agree totally virginia beach wont happen. they have a january 6th deadline or something.
http://www.csnwashington.com/sportsnetWashington/search/v/68725396/will-there-be-a-nba-team-in-virginia-beach.htm?q=virginia+nba
VB has always been a huge long-shot, but I’d expect their name to be in the mix until something definitive comes out about the Kings - no matter how clear it becomes it isn’t happening.
If you are the Maloofs, you wouldn’t want it to come out that negotiations have stopped - you keep a sliver of hope alive and play that city against whoever the other contenders are, even if the chances are slim to none.
vote in the poll! we need to at least beat wishing the m’s winning the world series.
Good post Brian. I remember Wally being involved in the efforts to keep the team in Seattle. I can forgive the impact his poor personnel decisions had. He was working in good faith.
The Kings: Cousin suspended by the team (apparently for a short period of time) after a heated argument with Keith Smart. That team is a mess.
Go Seahawks!
I agree with Brian when it comes to the weird Wally Walker hate…the funny thing is that other than the Vin Baker move and the dumb drafts at the end i thought he was fine.
Also, the funny thing is if you accept that Wally Walker is a good person you probably have to do the same thing for Chuck Armstrong and Howard Lincoln (when it comes to baseball decisions)…I can’t defend the dumb stuff they have done over the Arena…but it is funny how people want to paint these human beings into the cartoon characters that fit the story in their head even if it isn’t true.
Don’t you think Nick looks tired?
http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/2012/12/endorsements-peter-steinbrueck-for.html?m=0
Licata is a pantywaist twit and a coward.
I love you Mike.
Nick and I agree to disagree. I think I’m done making the ask for people to be understanding because he did not return the courtesy in the end. It will take a toll on his support in nightlife. I expect he will be very disappointed to see how I come back into the picture to derail his friend Peter’s plans here.
It won’t be personal. I like Nick as a person a lot. I am however really concerned about a city that has Steinbreuck, Nick and Conlin as the powers in charge. With the mayors job at stake (doesn’t that kind of explain Nicks vote now…)it is going to get pretty aggressive on this go-around and Nick chose his team. He plays for the other guys.
Sorry, but if there’s any chance Steinbrueck (Won’t use his first name, embarrassed we share a name) will make an attempt that has any legitimate shot to repeal the arena should he win, it IS personal to me. If no one is reversing this pending the EIS underway is successful, than maybe it’s not personal. But if Steinbrueck would have any legitimate shot at repealing the arena, even with a clean EIS, it is personal to me.
Why are we assuming the final vote won’t take place till 2014?
Why are we assuming that Steinbrueck would even actually try to KILL the deal. The fact is if he kills the arena the port of seattle gets JACK nothing in improvements. No 40m from the deal itself and no matching funds thus he pretty much says screw you to the port of Seattle and the union workers themselves. And guess who is gonna be the main backer for his political campaign port of Seattle and the port union. Why would he screw his main backers?
Also to note its 7-2 was the vote. not 5-4 as long as that vote remains the same it is veto proof.
Brian,
didn’t you say on when you were last on KJR that the EIS study is getting done at a much quicker rate? If the EIS gets done a whole lot sooner there is no way the final vote will happen before 2014 imo.
You are assuming that the Port is somehow in favor of the arena.
Where did you get that idea?
Mike,
Sorry if i miss wrote what i was trying to say. I’ll rephrase it.
The port wants transportation improvements to help freight mobility. That requires funds to pay for it. The arena would go towards provide some fund and thus allowing the city try to get matching funds from state and feds.
The port is backing Steinbrueck and he promises the port that he would get them the much needed funds if he gets elected as mayor.
Why would exactly would it do the port any good if Steinbrueck attempts kill the arena deal if he promised the port that he would help them get funds to make those improvements the port wants. If he is successful at killing the arena wouldn’t he essentially going against the promises the port.
You see where i am coming from.
*I mean The port is backing Steinbrueck and if he promises the port that he would get them the much needed funds if he were to get elected in return for their political support.
$40 million sounds like a lot, unless you want a billion dollar road.
http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/2012/07/give-port-of-seattle-billion-dollars.html?m=0
The Port, unlike the union, has figured out that they lost, and have mostly moved on. If they could kill it tomorrow then they would.
They wouldn’t be in this position if they had pre-paid-off a mayor… Enter Steinbrueck and his $40,000 consulting fee.
If the Port is supporting Steinbrueck, they’ll probably be supporting council candidates too. this isn’t quite over yet.
If the port is supporting Steinbrueck, they’ll try and get people on the council too. we aren’t quite in the clear yet.
Peter why are you so worried about what going to happen a whole year and a month from now. It may be already too late for any anti arena folks to try to kill it when 2014 comes.
I think the port is going to have a hard time trying to get more anti arena people on the council cause those folks automatically are at a disadvantage due to the sport fans vote.
Merry Christmas fellow Sonics fans! We got a big present this year with approval of the arena. Think of where we were last Christmas and think of where we are now. Much to be thankful for. Thank you Chris Hansen.
Maybe by next Christmas we’ll have another big gift to unwrap…….?
Merry Christmas to everyone who loves the Sonics and a very special thank you to Chris Kringle Hansen . Let’s all have a super year next year!
You don’t.let your enemies take over the city.. period. Expect peter to.run on a hard anti-arena platform.. likely too late to.do.anything about it.but he thinks that is his ticket through the primary. On principle.we must not let him get a symbolic win.
The anti-guys had their turn. They squandered it. Now its our chance to be in charge.
Kind of reminds me of McGinn and his anti DBT stance.
“You don’t.let your enemies take over the city.. period.”
Absolutely agree.
Steinbrueck’s problem is his opposition to more than the arena and the fact that he was paid to oppose all of them, he is either an obstructionist or just a political whore, either way, that’s the box his opponents will make sure the voters know that is who he is.
The “son of Seattle” bullshit is coming off as contrived and forced. The gushing from Crosscut and the endorsement by David Brewster’s lesser Seattle folks (they can’t get enough empty public plazas) should describe Steinbrueck’s base of support for this election.
Merry Christmas to my Sonics family! 2012 was such a great year, I just know 2013 has bigger and better things to come!
On a Sonics related note, anyone watch the news today? Turns out the kid who shot up Munchbar yesterdayand killed a man is also one of the kids connected to Tuba Man’s murder. Police have a warrant out for his arrest, I hope they get this scumbag and let him rot in prison.
I miss the Tuba Man. Lord knows he would have been right there playing his good ol trusty tuba outside our new arena on those wet, cold, winter nights.
I’d drop some money in his can every chance I got and he would always call me princess. RIP Tuba Man. Here’s to hoping this Christmas the man who murdered you gets put behind bars.
Merry Xmas, Sonic fans!
Please vote Seahawks in this poll
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/nfl-power-rankings-broncos-seahawks-heating-article-1.1226610
cheers!
Look at these morons who have Seahawks at number 6, below San Fran lol
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-12-24/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-expert-ranks-broncos-packers-49ers/
Celtics totally dominated the Nets. Knicks and Lakers now underway.
Merry Christmas everyone
Sleeping off some carbs now…
Merry Christmas!
thank you santa. a heat victory over the zombie sonics. Gonna be so rad when chris and the boys get us a team. ugh them thunder unis were horrid omg.
Merry Christmas everyone. Maybe this time next year we’ll be watching the Sonics play on Christmas day.
http://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/25/3803336/espn-trolls-kevin-durant-lebron-cleveland-seattle
Not relevant. Cleveland still has a team
Here’s one liberal blog that’s not too enthused with Peter Steinbrueck.
http://horsesass.org/?p=48331
Everyone recovering from their Christmas cheer?
Deron Williams kills another coach.
I’m glad there are people who see through Howard’s B.S.:
http://gawker.com/5971463/the-years-most-insipid-political-gesture
I’m glad there are people who see through Howard’s B.S.:
http://tinyurl.com/cmjnrk8
Didn’t Brian say the EIS is on track to finish earlier than expected? if so I would anticipate it coming back with little, if any findings that aren’t easy to mitigate. after the 2013 election, will the new council be sworn in right away or will there be a lame duck in December 2013? if there’s a lame duck, I’ve always thought they would give the final approval during it, as the last act this council and likely Mcginn will do in office.
http://www.CitizensForMoreImportantThings.com
OMG! Can you believe what these guys are up to now?
OMG! That’s shocking!
(That’s pretty funny)
Heh heh. Clever highjacking of CFMIT.
snap! snag! Swish!
Earlier Brian made a comment that we have to stop Steinbruek on principal. It is much more then that. Even if you think it is unlikely he would win the election you still need to make sure he doesn’t even have a chance. How many people thought McGinn had a chance a year before the last election? Seattle voters do INSANE things…you have to make sure they don’t even get the choice to do something INSANE to protect yourself.
agreed. Let’s not miss pulling out all the stops on this guy.
I should add a thank you to BrianR for the additional inside information. It’s been clear for years (thanks mainly to BrianR’s previous postings) that Wally has had his heart in the right place all along. He was a bad company head, taking a franchise that was over .500 most years and turning it into one that was under .500 most years. But he tried to do the right thing, including keeping the Sonics in Seattle and getting them back. BrianR’s latest posting adds to the list of things that Wally’s done or tried to do. Bad team president but evidently a good guy.
I think what BR meant is more that its very likely much too late for anyone to repeal the arena should they win, much less Steinbrueck. Just like the DBT last election. But I don’t want to let Steinbrueck within 100 feet of the mayor’s office and take that chance so I agree to put out all the stops to stop him.