Happy Birthday Tommy Gun

Happy birthday to former Seattle Supersonics forward and 1987 NBA All-Star MVP Tom Chambers.

Terence Stansbury is not impressed

Clyde "The Glide" Drexler soars to the hoop during the 1987 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in the arena formally known as the Seattle Center Coliseum, while Terence "The Statue of Liberty is the Best Dunk Ever" Stansbury looks on.  (Picture courtesy of Old School NBA Players.)

Sonics Arena Update

This is either an early design for the new Sonics Arena or the world's largest Jello mold.

The latest release from the Seattle Supersonics Department of Vague Messaging:

Back to work.
— Sonics Arena (@sonicsarena) June 13, 2013

KOOL MOE DEE CONCURS.

Hansen, NBA in "productive" talks for Seattle expansion team?

Why yes, this is the 80th time I've posted this photo. TRY AND STOP ME!

According to self-professed "plant based whole food" dieter Tim Montemayor, Chris Hansen and the NBA have been in talks to bring the Sonics back to Seattle via an expansion team, and things are starting to heat up.

Several #NBA sources in the know tell me there have been productive talks on expansion in #Seattle As the league preps for a new TV ...
— Tim Montemayor (@TheMontyShow) June 12, 2013

Okay, so this guy isn't exactly Bill Simmons, but hey, it's a slow news day! It's either this or Derrick McKey eBay listings.

The Post George Karl Blues

Artwork by Rafael Calonzo, Jr. /  Tie by Cody Karl. 

George Karl had just coached his team to the most wins in franchise history. They were young, exciting and packed in the crowds at home. But after consecutive first round exits in the playoffs, many were calling for Karl to pack his bags and move on, as he'd done so many times before.  After the final, painful playoff loss, Karl almost sounded like he welcomed the ax, if only to end his suffering:

"I'll be O.K., guys," said Karl. "I'm fine. I am fine. I'm the same as I've ever been. What have I done wrong? Why do I have to be ashamed? I didn't make a good decision? Good. Fire me. I've given all I have to give. I care. I like these guys. I like coaching these guys. Go mess with someone who doesn't care. Go mess with some of the frauds out there, man."

This may sound like the Denver Nuggets, who just let Karl go on Thursday, but the quote is from a different time and place. 1995. Seattle.

But almost an identical situation.

The early 90s Sonics were a hot mess. "Trader Bob" Whitsitt, the young, hot-shot GM of the Seattle Supersonics, had hornswoggled some of the best young talent in the league, yet couldn't quite figure out how all the pieces went together as the team floundered under the near comatose style of coaching from old-schooler K.C. Jones. Enter George Karl.

This day in Seattle Supersonics history: We Were The Champions

On June 1st 1979, I got to stay up past my bedtime to watch basketball on TV as the Seattle Supersonics won the city's first and only major men's sports championship. 

Like so much of their history, the Sonics were victims of terrible timing. With Bird and Magic still in college, 1979 was the last year that no one cared about the NBA. CBS thought so little of pro basketball that it didn't even televise the game live. Seattle had to suffer the indignity of having their coronation relegated to tape delay, one of many slaps to face the franchise would endear throughout their abbreviated history that would end abruptly less than 30 years later.  

No matter what happens with the future of the NBA in Seattle, nothing can take away Jack, DJ, The Wizard, Downtown Freddie Brown and getting to stay up late to watch the Habegger Hop.