A Ring for the Glove

Not many Seattle sports icons can call themselves champions. Mandatory All-Star participants, yes. Champions, no.

Last night Gary Payton, the greatest Sonic of all-time, won himself a ring with the Miami Heat.

Besides the obvious, he joins Randy Johnson and…(wow), no one else, as a larger than life 206 athlete who achieved sport's ultimate honor.

In February of 2003, Payton's time in Seattle came to an end when he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ray Allen. Payton and owner Howard Schultz never saw eye-to-eye. While Payton was concerned with respect and winning, Schultz was more concerned with bilking tax payers and moving the team to Oklahoma City.

His constant trash talking and attitude rubbed many teammates the wrong way. This was evident by anyone who saw how GP and Dwayne Wade reacted following the final buzzer last night. The two threw their arms in the air, looked for someone to hug, made eye contact, and kept on looking.

Payton didn't start for the Heat, but usually played in the fourth quarter, and hit huge shots in the final seconds of Games 3 and 5.

The future Hall of Famer played thirteen of his sixteen seasons with the Sonics.