Fresh Prints

Thank you to all the folks that came out to the show last week. Great to see familiar faces and commiserate with other diehard Seattle sports fans.

You can now order prints on Throwbacks NW online store here. I'll be offering additional sizes and images next week as well so check back then.

Special note to Mr. Simmons: prints of your "man-crush" are available at custom large-output sizes, suitable for posting on say, a door or ceiling. Please inquire at: sonicsblog AT gmail dot com. Thank you.

SUPERSONICSOUL: The Art Show

Alt title: 206 and Heartsick

Chunkstyle here. Since a lot of what we do on this blog is relive the glory days, how appropriate that I've been asked to do an art show next month at Throwbacks NW—a dope retro jersey store on Capitol Hill.

I’m calling the show “SUPERSONICSOUL: Home Teams and Heartache.” It will naturally have a local sports flavor to it, featuring luscious giclée prints of the illustrations I did for this fine blog, and possibly some other new works. The opening is Thursday, November 11, with a reception from 5-10 pm.

You should come through--I’ll be selling prints, a DJ will be spinning, refreshments will be served (I think), you can buy some old-school Starter jackets or retro snapback hats. Don’t have to RSVP or nothing, just show up if you can, or come another day, the art will be up for a month. Thanks!

Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher!

In 2006, cartoonist extraordinaire Rafael Calonzo, Jr. and writer/comedian Paul Merrill created "Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher", a two-part comic series based on former Seattle Supersonics forward Danny Fortson.

(Originally published in 2006 on Supersonicsoul.com)

"Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher"
Issue #1

(Click on pictures for larger images.)

"Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher"
Issue #2

Jack Sikma & The Trade of Eternity

Moving Along

drawin': Raf / writin': Pete

Amount of money spent by Clay Bennett to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City:

City of Seattle, June 2008: $45 million
Additional money, 2013: $30 million
Relocation fee: $30 million
Losses, 2007-08 season (est.): $20 million
Losses, 2006-07 season (est.): $20 million
Moving fees (est.): $15 million
Legal fees (est.): $2 million

Add it all up and you come to a total of $162 million.

Why is this important? Because the cost of renovating KeyArena is now pegged at around $300 million, but, back when the team was sold, Howard Schultz was looking to spend about $225 million to renovate the building. After purchasing the team, Bennett indicated – repeatedly – that he had no interest in contributing any of his own money to the project (which eventually morphed into a completely new arena in Renton, at a price tag of $500 million).

And yet, Bennett has now committed more than half of that total just for relocating his new toy to Oklahoma City. If Bennett had just offered two-thirds of that figure - $100 million – while in Olympia fourteen months ago, yesterday would never have happened, and the state would have easily passed the bill to either build a new facility or renovate KeyArena. Further, by indicating that he was interested in helping the team, the miserable attendance figures of the past two years would have been considerably better.

Instead, Bennett kept his money in his pocket, because all along he had no interest in doing anything to keep this team here and a major interest, obviously, in getting a team for Oklahoma City.

$162 million goes a long, long way in this world. Apparently, though, just not in Seattle.

---

Dear Marsha

cartoon: Raf / words: Paul

Dear Marsha,

I know you're probably pretty busy today, with your big Seattle vs. Sonics decision coming up this afternoon, but I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you thanks for all your hard work. Going into it, you probably thought it was going to be an open and shut case. You and me both, sister!

I mean, a lease is a lease, right? This should have been like an uncontested, open-court dunk from the Reign-Man. Instead, the city looked more like a drunken Squatch, fumbling, stumbling and bumbling its way into a humiliating self-check on the rim. "Poisoned well?" Ouch.

But I'm hoping you can see past the feeble attempt by the home team (we Seattle sports fans should be used to that) and see the bigger picture: Clay and his boys entered into a lease they had no intention of honoring. If you decide for Team Bennett, it's basically telling them that if you've got enough money, then the rules don't apply, further emboldening other fat-cat corporate scumbags to do the same thing.

Now, I know I'm a little biased here. I can recite every SuperSonics roster since 1978. I have an Xavier McDaniel action figure. I not only remember Vincent Askew, but I can do an uncanny imitation of his layups. I'm a fanboy's fanboy.

But this decision isn't just for die-hard Sonics fans — it's for every sports fan in the country. If this can happen in Seattle, one of the biggest media markets with some of the most loyal fans in the country, it can happen anywhere. Siding with the Bennett Boys is saying it's OK for David Stern and the NBA to blackmail fans and non-fans alike into paying millions of dollars for needless new arenas. It's telling them it's OK to squeeze out the working class fans to make room for high-priced suites for corporate goons who couldn't care less about basketball. It's telling the fans "You don't matter".

At 4pm today, when you post your decision, you are either going to side with common, hard-working citizens or spineless, corporate pirates. I hope you make the right decision.

Sincerely,

Paul Merrill

p.s. Did I tell you how lovely you look today? Also, your hair smells terrific.
---

Afternoon Delight

Somebody please set up a hoop in the Courthouse driveway so we can make the above scene happen.

There are five players in the starting lineup for a basketball team. So, here are five good reasons to attend today's rally (visit SonicCentral.com as always for updated information, but the gist of it is 4 pm, 700 Stewart Street, Downtown, Federal Courthouse Building).

1. Good weather? Check.

2. Xavier McDaniel, Gary Payton, Zaid Abdul Aziz, Will Conroy, Spencer Hawes (and possibly others) in attendance? Check.

3. Clay Bennett at the courthouse? Check.

4. Being able to talk to other people who can commiserate about the Sene/Petro/Swift draft picks? Check.

5. Demonstrating to the NBA that Seattle cares about the NBA? Check.

Basically, it boils down to this: Even if you don't care if the Sonics leave, even if you think the NBA is bilking individual cities to further its broken economic model, even if you believe David Stern and Clay Bennett are rat-fink liars, how often do you get a chance to stand in the sunshine and cheer for the X-Man and The Glove? Skip lunch, call in sick, take an "afternoon meeting", whatever, just be there!

words: P. Nussbaum / image: R. Calonzo
~

Rally Flyer

The crusading Brian Robinson of Save Our Sonics and SonicsCentral.com asked me if I could do a quick flyer for the rally next Monday. Of course I said yes. GARY FREAKIN' PAYTON AND THE FREAKIN' X-MAN are going to be there, for Pete's* sake!

Get the .pdf flyer here. I could be persuaded to make a color version if people asked real nice. Or if I get bored.

UPDATE: People asked real nice, so click here for the color version.
UPDATE: It was brought to my attention that it may be helpful to label which bald black dude is which since a) not everyone knows what GP and X-man look like, or b) they do know what they look like, but may not consider my caricature skills quite Puyallup Fair-quality. So there are now arrows indicating which guy I was intending to draw.

Behind the Scenes Bonus Footage: I came thisclose to making X-man say "Steve, do come now." My buddy talked sense into me though.

*And Paul's, for that matter.

supersonicsoultoon: Ranger Howie

So maybe Schultz looks more like a Mountie than a forest ranger. I must have been influenced by Pete's Canadian brainwaves. Especially since he came up with the idea for this one! Add "Art Director" to your job title, Pedro.

~chunk

PS: For the background on this cartoon, read this article in the Seattle Times.

Supersonicsoultoon: Behind the Scenes at the NBA Owners Meeting

(click picture to enlarge)

Sorry, no color this time.

-chunk

supersonicsoultoon: Bye, George

I realize that this cartoon may be difficult for some of you to understand without some background. The Cliffs Notes:

• Washington State is named after the United States' first president, George Washington.
• The state government is represented here by a caricature of George.
• There's a joke being made here that may require some knowledge of the Sonics' arena situation. It may not even be a funny joke.
  
• George Washington never really played basketball, but did you know that his teeth were made out of whale bone?
  

Yes, this should have come out a week ago. Maybe I'm a bit too much like George myself.

--chunk

supersonicsoultoon: Kissing Booth

What's more wholesome and old-timey than a county fair kissing booth?

I really, really wanted to add Stern as the carny, but ran out of time.

----

Supersonicsoultoon: Vertical Stripes are Thinning

I'm sure Clay is just giving his buddy Dave a hearty pat on the back.

Visualize

Since I've had non-stop visions of that kid from Texas dancing in my head since the ping pong balls dropped, I wanted to scribble a little sketch to help me "pre-viz" what the likely #2 pick in the 2007 NBA draft will look like in his new uniform.

But if the Sonics end up with that other kid, I'll draw a picture of him, too.

Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher #2, Page 2

Cover / Page 1 / Page 2

Yes, we're still working on this dumb thing. And the comics too.

Who needs the excitement of the NBA Playoffs? Pffft, not me! No, who needs postseason basketball excellence when you can be drawing an obscure comic strip (a WEB COMIC, no less) about an obscure, 3rd-rate power forward without a team, all for no pay and little, if any recognition!

Remind me why we started doing this again? Oh, that's right.

The Love.

Here's Part Two of the FINAL ISSUE of
"DANNY FORTSON: CYBORG SMASHER."
Please, lord, let me be done with this before 07-08 training camp...
Rated PG-13 for language, man boobs

supersonicsoultoon: Opening Night

(click to enlarge)

I'm really more optimistic than this, but I couldn't resist the idea.

Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher, Part 2

Click thumbnail to view complete image.

At last! The thrilling conclusion to Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher Issue #1.

WARNING: Viewer discretion advised for filthy sailor talk and partial nudity (!)

Previous installments: Part 1 / Cover

Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher, Part 1

Click thumbnail to view complete image.

Let us forget the collective hardwood heartbreak of the past four days (State o' Washington teams 1-3, the one win a rousing though ultimately meaningless Sonic win over the Spurs) and see what merry adventures our dear Mr. Fortson has in store for us.

Warning: viewer discretion advised for some salty language. (And, in case you missed it, here's the front cover.)

Note: When viewing the complete image, Internet Explorer users might have to click the "Expand to full size" button to read the comic.

UPDATE---> To read the entire comic GO HERE!

Danny Fortson: Cyborg Smasher!

Click image to view at full size.

The seemingly illogical ejections. The bonecrushing elbows. The months of chillin' in street clothes at the end of the bench. Finally, the truth behind these and other mysteries can be told in this feature exclusive to Supersonicsoul.

Ladies and gentlemen, in the grand tradition of such timeless classics as "Shaq Fu," Dennis Rodman's "Double Team" and "Michael Jordan's Chaos in the Windy City," we proudly present:

DANNY FORTSON: CYBORG SMASHER.

[At least the cover of it, anyway.]

March 6 Cartoon: "He Who Asks Last"

Click image to view full size

One last arena post... from me anyway. I'll leave any further political commentary to my SSS colleagues, Saints Peter and Paul.