Yes, the Sonics are still playing

Before we get to the Sonics, let's start off with some humor, courtesy of the Seattle Times' consistenly suicide-inducing "Sideline Chatter."

Andy Liney, the man inside the "Donny Dog" mascot costume for the Doncaster Rovers soccer team, was denied access to the playing field for the team's game at Huddersfield Town, England, because police intelligence labeled him a security risk.

The cops obviously thought he might be a fleaing felon.

Question: Is there anyone--anywhere--who would grant even an appreciative half-smile to that line? Can we give that space to something more amusing, like transcripts from the trial of this bat-shit crazy megalomaniac who's defending himself against first-degree murder charges?

We digress. The good news from the Sonics' loss to Memphis last night was that they held a team under 100 points (Memphis had 99). The bad news? The Sonics managed only 74. Afterward, Damien Wilkens talked about the game as if it were girl who dumped you and stole your credit cards.

"All I can say — and I think I pretty much speak for the entire team on this one — is this is one of those games that you put behind you as soon as possible and move on."

Would Nick Collison have made a difference? Probably not, but the third-year forward is out for a month with a muscle tear in his foot. The Sonics are starting new acquisition Chris Wilcox at forward, and signed former lottery pick and total bust Marcus Fizer for depth. Fizer was in the D-League, averaging 20 per.