New York Times on the Sonics' Move
Jessica Kowal of the New York Times, who is a relatively new local stringer for the formerly gray lady, pretty much nails Seattle's reaction to the Sonics' move in a single paragraph:
Empowered by a wave of venture capital, a hiring boom and pride in its homegrown billionaires, this city has decided it no longer needs a mediocre professional basketball team to feel good about itself.
You can read the rest of the front-page story here, you may need to register. It includes some quotes from Paul Merrill of SupersonicSoul, where they are bravely soldiering on even as we at Seattlest have given up on the Sonics completely.
Dr. David Olson, a UW professor, expands the point:
"Citizens in Seattle look around and see Microsoft and Boeing doing fabulously, the Port of Seattle is booming and trade with China is going to define this city’s existence for the next 50 years," Professor Olson said. "Seattle has said, We can be a big-league city, we can be an international city, without kowtowing to professional sports franchises."
And Chris Van Dyk, leader of "Citizens for More Important Things" (who actually aren't for anything, but are only against sports stadia) calls sports owners "no better than the neighborhood crack dealer."
Anyone want to lay a bet on the Sonics staying?
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