Don't Drop the Ball: Make This the Year You Actually Support the Seattle Storm
Look, I know.
I know that Howard Schultz is the toolbag that took his stupid Frappucino money and broke your heart when he sold your Sonics to some shitty town in the Midwest. And I know that the last few years that you did have with the Sonics weren't great, as they slowly descended into a shadow of their former glory. And I know that you feel like you'll never recover from the loss, because now, the City of Seattle is completely and entirely without a professional basketball team, even one that's pretty mediocre.
Oh wait, no, that's not right.
Seattle, let me tell you a secret: the Key Arena is still home to some full-court action. You do still have a professional basketball team. And they're awesome. Last year, unlike many, many other professional teams in Seattle, they had an unbelievable year. In fact, they had the most home wins in their league. Their professional league. Their professional league in which women play. Because, Seattle, you may not have the Sonics--but you do still have the Storm.
Now, I know you don't want to hear about the sad state of professional women's sports. Or about how absolutely absurd it is that, aside from in the case of the Storm, every dollar spent by fans on professional sports in Seattle is being spent to watch men. Or about how pathetic is it that year after year, fans spend millions on merch and tickets and food and beer to celebrate losing teams, while some of the most spectacular athletes with "Seattle" on their jerseys go largely unwatched.
But the fact is, the Sonics are gone. And the Storm is still here. And it's OK to be grieving--it's natural--but, if you're truly a basketball fan, if you truly love the sound of squeaking rubber and the smell of indoor bleachers and the game itself, make this be the year when you get behind one of the City's most excellent teams.
The Storm's pre-season opener wasn't stellar--injuries had key players on the bench--but it's probably because the team felt unsupported. After all, the local media hardly covered the event.
Now, the season is beginning, this weekend, in earnest. On Saturday, June 4, the team will take on the Phoenix Mercury at Key Arena at noon in their opening game. Tickets--which are still available--run as cheap as $15. The game is indoors, so it doesn't matter what the weather is doing. It's by the Center, so the bus is a pretty easy option. Hell, you could even take the Monorail.
See? There are a lot of reasons to go see the Storm at this weekend's opener, and to continue to support them throughout the year. And I know that they'll never be able to patch that hole in your heart that the Sonics left behind, but ignoring the Storm won't bring the Sonics back. Or make you feel any more vindicated. Smugly boycotting Schultz's products, however...that might make you feel a little better.
Seattle Storm Season Opener // June 4 // Noon // $15+ // Key Arena
