French Intelligence Unit Visits Leurs Amis Les Sonics

Based in Tahiti to patrol the South Pacific, with occasional humanitarian and diplomatic missions, the Priarial is a 307-foot, 2600-ton French survillance frigate with a crew of 90. When she last visited Seattle, in 1997, the SuperSonics were already a year past their last, near-championship season. Now c'est différent! The team includes a couple of tall, athletic French guys, forward Mickaël Gelabale and center Johan Petro, who turned up at ceremonies to welcome the Prairial and invited Captain Frédéric le Boucq de Rupilly and his crew to show the tricolor at Monday's game against the Nets. You might not recognize the Prairal's 30-man commando unit in the crowd, but French sailors in uniform will be wearing adorable/silly berets with red pompoms.