Seattle Supersonics: 1977 World Champs?!

Someone might want to tell the seller of this ebay item to check the ol' NBA history books (not to mention logos) on this one. I wonder if this is the same person who "officially licensed" Rafael's Supersonicsoul artwork on there a couple years ago.

Haywood Saga, By the Numbers

If nothing else, the Spencer Haywood saga has certainly put his name back into the rotation of current events. Shown below is a Google trend chart tracking references to Haywood from January 2012 until this week:

 Short of having kidnapping a Kardashian, I don't think there's much more a man could do to get his name out there.

Haywood, the Hall, and a Great Big Mess

I suppose I should put in a few words about the Spencer Haywood/Hall of Fame fiasco that occurred over the weekend. What the heck, I’ve already written a few thousand about the situation, what’s 800 more?

As you are likely aware by now, Haywood’s former agent, Al Ross, told a reporter that Haywood told him that he (Haywood) had been told by someone from the NBA that he (Haywood) would be in the 2013 Hall of Fame class.

Got that?

(As a brief aside, the notion that Spencer Haywood would use Al Ross as an intermediary to the press is somewhat humorous if you know the back story of those two gentlemen. In Haywood’s first book, Ross is a hero, someone who helps liberate the young basketball star from the shackles of the NCAA and the NBA and the ABA. In Haywood’s second book, Ross is a con artist who lied about his name and background, and squandered Spencer’s income. As I said, the idea that Spencer Haywood would utilize Al Ross for anything beyond curse words is somewhat humorous.)

In any event, heading into last week, Haywood seemed most occupied in getting word out that he deserved to be in the Hall. Setting aside the fact the vote had already been taken (details, details), the former Sonic tweeted seemingly every notable NBA player of the past three decades about how he deserved to be in, as well as conducting an intense interview with a Las Vegas newspaper.

And that’s where we stood heading into Friday, at which point the Ross story broke. To make matters more confusing, Haywood was planning on being in Atlanta this weekend … but not because he expected to go into the Hall, sources say, but because he had some pre-planned business there. The fact the Hall nominees would be gathering in Atlanta for the Final Four was just a coincidence.

So, you’ve got Spencer Haywood’s new BFF, Al Ross, telling the media Haywood was going in, you’ve got Haywood in Atlanta, you’ve got Haywood telling some sources that he wasn’t going in, you’ve got other sources saying that Haywood thought he was going in, but he had been sucker-punched and he wasn’t really going in, and you’ve got other sources saying … at least point, I think we just give up.

What’s the real story? Here are the facts in evidence:

1.      Undeniable: Spencer Haywood is extraordinarily pissed off at not being recognized by the Hall of Fame.

2.      Undeniable: The Hall was considering Haywood for the Hall.

3.      Undeniable: The Hall did not induct him.

Somewhere between #2 and #3, Haywood got it into his head that he was going in. Bear in mind, this is not the first time this has happened. Haywood told the Seattle Times last year, and a few other outlets as well, that he was going into the Hall. Suffice it to say, it didn’t happen.

All of which leads me to this conclusion: Haywood is either 1) telling the truth and the Hall misled him about the induction (less likely) or 2) trying to pressure the Hall into inducting him (more likely).

I’m not saying Haywood is lying here – it could very well be that someone associated with the Hall (which, I should point out, is about as transparent about their processes as the Richard Nixon-era Republican Party) told Haywood that he was being considered and there was a chance he might get in. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to ascertain that Haywood is desperate for recognition and would cling to any branch of possibility, no matter how flimsy it might be. 

Further, for all those calling this a "tragedy" and so forth, calm down and look at this from the perspective of the Hall of Fame. Let's say you are deemed responsible for notifying the inductees. I would imagine that such person has a list of who is getting in and who is not. I would imagine that such person would then phone each person and let them know - without confusion - that yes, you are an inductee, and that you should be in Atlanta this weekend. 

In what universe does this person call Spencer Haywood? Are we to believe the Hall is so screwed up that they don't know who is getting in and who is not? That they are so badly mismanaged that the person responsible for notifying the inductees called Spencer Haywood by mistake, and then when he realized his mistake, added to the confusion by not immediately clarifying the situation with Haywood? The same Haywood who, in a previous instance, told everyone he was going in, when he wasn't? You're expecting me to believe that the Hall didn't specifically tell the notification fellow that, whatever you do, DON'T CALL SPENCER HAYWOOD BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO THROW ANY MORE GAS ON THAT FIRE.

I'm sorry, but I'm not buying that, and this is from someone who is as enamored with the Basketball Hall of Fame as he is with collecting Portland Trail Blazer memorabilia.

Regardless, as it stands now, Spencer Haywood is not a Hall of Famer. In my opinion, there are two parties with egg on their faces this morning: Haywood, for obvious reasons, and the Hall. The fact the Hall continues to put this man through this charade is embarrassing. I’ve said it before: Either elect the guy or don’t, but quit prolonging the agony.

Seattle Supersonics great Xavier McDaniel: Ultimate Sonics Fan

Artwork by Rafael Calonzo, Jr. 

Seattle Supersonics legend Xavier McDaniel is just as bitter about Oklahoma as we are.

McDaniel, whose alma mater Wichita State is playing in the Final Four this weekend, had some interesting comments in this great interview with Jerry Brewer:

Lenny Wilkens and the Sonics drafted him No. 4 overall in 1985, and the X-Man averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game in five-plus seasons as Seattle's highly skilled enforcer. 

"Trust me when I tell you that there are only three cities in my mind: my hometown — Columbia, S.C. — Wichita and Seattle," McDaniel said. "Man, I love Seattle. I played in other cities during my NBA career, but I'm all Seattle SuperSonics. 

"I don't care. I would never, ever, ever go to Oklahoma City (where the Sonics relocated five years ago). I don't care how many times they invite me. I'll hold my word to that until the day I die." 

Like nearly everyone who loves the Sonics, McDaniel has been watching the fight between Seattle and Sacramento over the Kings franchise. He wants a franchise back in Seattle desperately, but he hates the idea that Sacramento might have to be robbed for that to happen. McDaniel still hopes for expansion, even though NBA commissioner David Stern says expansion isn't an option right now.

Read the whole interview here.

BREAKING: Seattle Supersonics Spencer Haywood to join Gary Payton in Hall of Fame

Artwork by Rafael Calonzo, Jr. 

According to several sources, former Seattle Supersonics star Spencer Haywood is finally getting into the Hall of Fame. Earlier today, it was reported fellow Sonics alumni Gary Payton will also be making the trip to Springfield, the first time two Seattle players have been enshrined in the same year.

They will be joining three other former Sonics in the Hall: Lenny Wilkens (as both player and coach), Dennis Johnson and, I guess, Patrick Ewing technically.

In 2008, both Haywood and Payton were elected to the Supersonicsoul Hall of Fame. Way to catch up, Naismith!

UPDATE: According to Fox Sports writer Chris Tomasson, it turns out Spencer Haywood did NOT make it into the Hall of Fame after all, yet another bizarre and befuddling twist in the story. 

1994 Was Terrible

On January 11, 1992, Nirvana's Nevermind hit number one on the Billboard Album charts, officially putting Seattle on the map. Just over a week later, on January 23rd, George Karl became head coach of the Seattle Supersonics. Both events marked the beginning of an unprecedented and completely unexpected period of success for the band, the team and the entire city.

And then, in 1994, it was all over.

On April 5th, 1994, Kurt Cobain killed himself in his Seattle home. A month later, on May 7th, the Sonics lost to the Denver Nuggets in the the biggest upset in NBA Playoffs history.

Obviously, someone losing their life is a much bigger tragedy than a team losing a game, and in the Big Picture, neither really affected me directly. But, being a stupid 22-year-old at the time, I was utterly devastated by the double whammy. I dropped out of school (take that, Green River Community College!) and got a job working at a video store.  I couldn't listen to Nirvana for more than a decade and barely watched the Sonics the next season, fearing they would choke again in the playoffs (they did).

And while the Sonics managed a few more good years and the Seattle music scene survived, nothing in this town seemed as good or as important after 1994.

ESPN Poll: Sacramento vs. Seattle

Sportsnation posted another poll about the Sacramento Kings drama, because apparently Tim Tebow wasn't available. Not exactly scientific, but I thought it was interesting that in California, 55% thought the Kings should move to Seattle, while 45% wanted them to stay in Sacramento. Of course, most of those votes probably came from Lakers fans.

Seattle Supersonics legend Gary Payton going to Hall of Fame

Illustration by Rafael Calonzo, Jr. 

It's official (sort of): Former Seattle Supersonics guard and lego figure Gary Payton is going to the Hall of Fame. Congrats to the Glove on this incredible honor, second only, I'm sure, to making it into the Supersonicsoul Hall of Fame back in 2008.

Haywood, the Hall, and Waiting

42 years ago this month, Spencer Haywood's name was at the top of every sports section in America.

The Man Who Beat the NBA, or words to that effect, were plastered across the nation when Haywood's now-famous, then-infamous lawsuit found its way the U.S. Supreme Court and, eventually, a sympathetic set of ears. In ruling that the league's 4-years-out-of-high-school rule to be illegal, the USSC made a champion out of Haywood, and - let's all say it together - paved the way for people such as Moses Malone, Kobe Bryant, etc, etc, etc.

And now, 42 years later, Spencer Haywood is hoping to, once again, be featured prominently in the sports sections of America. Today, tomorrow, this weekend ... some time before Monday night, Haywood will find out if this is the year the Basketball Hall of Fame lets him in the door.

I've written too many words about his case, and come down on both sides of the fence. On the one hand, an in-depth look at his statistics and accomplishments on the court leads me to believe that Spencer Haywood is not a Hall of Famer.

On the other, his off-court accomplishment (and there is truly only one accomplishment that merits mentioning) changes the equation. If you believe that Haywood's lawsuit was history-altering event, and that were it not for his lawsuit the NBA would not be as it is today, then I believe you have to induct him.

While his on-court contributions fall short, his off-court one - when combined, I suppose, with those on-court accomplishments - might just be enough.

For Haywood's sake, I hope so. It is clear that the man desperately wants recognition.

Read this please, its very important for young and old it's our history. Pray for me please. Mr. Early Entry.. m.reviewjournal.com/sports/basketb…

— Spencer Haywood (@SpencerHaywood) April 3, 2013

To his credit, he has reached a good place in his life where this recognition would merely be the icing, and not the cake itself, and for that reason, I hope he gets it.

Seattle Sonics vs. Sacramento Kings: The Cyborg Years

As our billionaire overlords decide whether Seattle or Sacramento deserves to give them more money, Supersonicsoul cartoonist extraordinaire Rafael "Chunkstyle" Calonzo pointed out on Twitter that our cities have a long history of pummeling each other.

Hansen Group Releases New Seattle Supersonics Rally Video "Bring Back the Sonics"

To celebrate going over 44,000 on their Seattle Supersonics season tickets wait list, the Chris Hanson Sonics 2.0 group released a new rally video featuring Macklemore and lots of pictures of Gary Payton hugging Shawn Kemp like the Reign Man was his long lost daddy.

Pretty good effort guys, but it's no "Not In Our House". I mean, it's not really a Sonics rap video without Gerald Paddio on the mic, right?

BREAKING: Lenny Wilkens to rejoin Seattle Supersonics as Player/Coach

Sonics legend and two-time Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Lenny Wilkens will be rejoining the Seattle Supersonics in the dual player/coach role he had in the early 1970s.

"I'm ready to lead, both on the court and off," Wilkens said at a press conference this morning.

Wilkens, the first man to be voted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach,  had served in both capacities with the Sonics from 1969-1972, leading the league in assists in the 1970-71 season. He was traded in 1972, but later returned (this time solely as head coach) and led Seattle to their only championship in 1979.

The Sonics franchise was moved to an unknown midwest location in 2008,  but the team is believed to be returning to Seattle next year, either as a relocated team or an expansion franchise. Nothing official has been announced, however, which makes any personelle moves seem a bit premature.

The man trying to bring the team back to Seattle, Chris Hansen, was asked about this peculiar move.

"Wait," Hansen replied, after spitting water out of his mouth. "What are you talking about?"

Wilkens, who turns 76 this year, appears ready to go.  When asked about the prospect of the team returning to Seattle, however, the old coach seemed more amused than nostalgic.

"You're telling me the Sonics left town? Ha! Nice try." Wilkens laughed. "I know an April Fool's joke when I hear one. Next thing you'll be telling me President Nixon resigned!"