2008: Capping Off the Worst Year in Seattle Sports History!

To finish off a rather depressing year in Seattle sports, SeaTown Sports decided to celebrate with the rest of the Seattle Sports' blogosphere. We asked several local bloggers for their opinions on the variety of different things that happened this past year. Enjoy

On the Sonics' Departure:

From Alex of Seattle Sportsnet:

What lessons can the average Sonics fan take away from the departure of their team?
One lesson: Think before you vote.  Our city, county, and state leaders are the ones who let this basketball team walk away and proved once again why we have some of the worst elected officials in the nation.

Don't vote for someone just because they're a Democrat or Republican; vote for who you think will actually do good things while in office.  Our local government cost us 41 years of history in letting the Sonics leave, and no matter how corrupt the opposing parties involved may be (David Stern and Clay Bennett), a stronger group of leaders could have kept our team in our city for our fans.

Do you think that Seattle will have an NBA team in the near future?
Yes, because ultimately, the bottom line is what drives the business of any professional sports league.  David Stern may have spoken ill of our city in the past, but he cannot financially afford to let the NBA abandon a market as large as Seattle.

The interesting thing to witness will be how the fans take to the return of the NBA, after having been so wrongfully treated by Stern and his cronies before.

In Charlotte, for example, a once rabid Hornets fan base has never warmed up to the Bobcats and the team is on the verge of relocating if their situation cannot improve.  Just another unfortunate circumstance of the poor economic model that is the NBA.

From Seth Kolloen of Sports Northwest:

What lessons can the average Sonics fan take away from the departure of their team?

I think everyone will take away something different. What I took away was an overdue appreciation for just how much a tool of the NBA owners David Stern is. When the first sports commissioner took over baseball in the wake of the Black Sox scandal, it was a given that he was looking out for the long-term interest of the sports and of its fans.

Stern had absolutely no interest in either of those things -- he saw his job as protecting Clay Bennett's "asset" (as Stern called it). Even Bud Selig exhibits more independence than David Stern, and Bud Selig exhibits about as much independence as a puppy. Stern's more like a blind puppy with mommy issues.

Do you think that Seattle will have an NBA team in the near future?

No. I would've said "maybe" three months ago, but with the state slashing funding for basic services the way they are--I hear they're going to let grades 9-12 teach themselves--there's going to be no political will for building the type of luxury athletics palace the region will need to attract an NBA team.

Getting private financing for such a project is even more unlikely. On the other hand, the recession might weaken another franchise to the point that they decide to look elsewhere...but it's probably going to take Steve Ballmer throwing some of his billions at the project to get it done.

On the Huskies' disappointing football season:

From Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times:

What was the biggest cause for the Huskies' disappointing season?

The Huskies were simply not constructed as well as they needed to be in the fourth year of Tyrone Willingham's program to be competitive in the Pac-10. Willingham made too many mistakes in putting together the roster, leaving glaring holes in experience at defensive line, receiver and running back.

Combine that with some untimely injuries (Jake Locker) and the fact that the players never seemed to completely buy into what Willingham was selling, and the team could never recover once it started to go bad.

What is one single key or improvement that can guarantee some success in the upcoming season?
Simply put, a more experienced team and a new coaching staff should pump a lot of life into this program, as should the return to health of Locker.

None of that will immediately guarantee contention, or even a winning season, but there's no way this team should go 0-12 again. Steve Sarkisian seems to have the energy and new ideas this program needs right now.


photo sources: [seattletimes] [seattletimes]