sonicstrophy.jpg
The 1979 NBA championship trophy is among the hundreds of Seattle Supersonics artifacts owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder but "on loan" to Seattle's Museum of History and Industry. Critics are blasting the new team for co-opting the Sonics history as its own. (AP Photo/File)

Sonics fans vow to reclaim history from Oklahoma City

BY Josh Kerns  on June 6, 2012 @ 4:45 pm (Updated: 6:27 pm - 6/6/12 )

It's an especially painful week for heartbroken Sonic fans as our former team storms through the NBA playoffs.

As if taking the team wasn't bad enough, Oklahoma City has taken our history as well, using the parts that are convenient and stuffing the rest in a closet. From merchandise to the media guide, the Thunder has usurped the best of what was the Seattle SuperSonics.

"They have hats that say 1967 in Oklahoma blue, the media guide has Gary Payton, Sean Kemp, all our former teams," complains longtime Sonics fan Jason Reid, director of the award-winning documentary "Sonics Gate" detailing the sale of the team.

When tycoon Clay Bennett bought the team and took it to Oklahoma, he got all the Sonics stuff - including the 1979 championship trophy and the rights to share the team's history with Seattle. In a deal with former mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle got to keep the Sonics name and the colors for a future franchise.

"It would be one thing if they adopted it as a new franchise in Oklahoma City where, 'This is our first trip to the playoffs,' but it's kind of thrown in our face," says Reid.

"So the only thing we can do is say 'hey this is wrong, we deserve the history here in Seattle. I can only hope that Chris Hansen can negotiate with the NBA and Clay Bennett to make that happen."

Even NBA insiders like former All-Star Charles Barkley agree. The outspoken analyst went off during a recent telecast when a statistic referred to the Thunder's playoff record dating back several decades.

"Wait a minute. That doesn't count! You can't take another city's stats," Barkley exclaimed.

They can, and they did. Bennett has the 1979 championship trophy, the banners and retired jerseys that used to hang from the rafters in Key Arena.

For now, it's all "on loan" to the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, where it's stored away as the museum moves to its new location.

The trophy will eventually be displayed again for museum visitors when it reopens in December 2012, according to spokeswoman Jackie Durban.

There was no response Wednesday from Thunder media staff about the Sonics' shared history or future plans for the artifacts stored in Seattle.

But, Reid vows to keep the issue alive until Seattle gets another team, and reclaims its past.

"You know we hear from Oklahoma City Thunder fans all the time and they get mad at us for not going away and not being quiet. But part of the reason we're not going away and not being quiet is to make sure we get our history back."

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (43)


  • Add A Comment

  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Franchise free agency
    June 6, 2012 5:52 pm
    I to was driving around honking my horn after a NBA championship in 1979. But that was when it was a sport,now it is a business. When the coffee baron bought the team, he had a five year plan, and people like myself were thinking it was a return to the promised land, but it was a investment that would double his(Shultz) money,and then sell, what I know is that a sale is a sale to the highest bidder,who happened to be a Mid-western gent, who was exposed to Seattle politics,who insisted on a lease for use of it's building(The Key), He tried, but decided that The bluest skies may be in Seattle, but the greener pastures were in OKC, and David Stern now sits in the Cheasapeake Cow Palace smiling and waiving, as he claims the NBA cares,or is fan-tastic, when we all know that Cyndi Lauper was right,"Money changes everything!"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rubegoldberg wrote...
    I can not even watch these games...
    June 6, 2012 5:58 pm
    Shultz is the biggest putz Seattle has ever seen...throw in Stern and my oh my
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BikeNazi wrote...
    Give it up, losers.
    June 6, 2012 6:15 pm
    Seriously. The team was sold to Oklahoma City and it's gone. Stop beating a dead horse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gen_Satan wrote...
    Stick the bike where the sun don't shine NAZI,
    June 6, 2012 6:27 pm
    Go the ef back to OKC. If you are from Seattle, or WA for that fact, you ought to be smacked like a lil B&^%$. I'm sick and tired of you wishy washy effers. LEARN HOW TO APPREACIATE HISTORY, JACKA%%
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    BikeNazi A H O L E, who is beating a dead horse more than you?
    June 6, 2012 7:13 pm
    Loser.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul T. wrote...
    That's not all....
    June 6, 2012 8:08 pm
    he's beating!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • the don wrote...
    No..
    June 7, 2012 10:18 am
    thats really the only reply I have for you buddy. And do you really feel like the term Nazi in your name is appropriate??? you are the loser
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    Further proof
    June 6, 2012 6:59 pm
    That Seattle has the biggest bunch of whining babies as sports fans. You clowns did not support them while they were here.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Further proof that couchpotatoslacker is an idiot, a troll, and a loser whose user name is the only thing he's gotten right in his pathetic life.
    June 6, 2012 7:12 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Teahawk wrote...
    Couchpotato... you just don't get it.
    June 6, 2012 8:32 pm
    Let's see, management cut salary, traded every decent player away, and hired a horrible coach and we jumped out to 3-27. Supporting the ownership group at that point would be like supporting the female owner in the movie Major League (who was tanking deliberately in an attempt to move the team to Florida - eerily similar and probably where they got the idea). Unfortunately for the city of Seattle and the Supersonics, there was no Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, or the guy from the All State commercials to spur a miracle playoff run. You're the kind of guy who thinks that it's OK to tank deliberately to create fan apathy to move a franchise. No team is safe, this is the NBA standard move - threaten the fans to force publicly funded arenas for teams in a league that makes tons of money, rinse and repeat. I'm fine if they don't come back. David Stern is so sleazy. I wish we could punch him in the face.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • the don wrote...
    Get your facts straight
    June 7, 2012 10:19 am
    Couch Potato slacker! another genius name!!! you and the bike Nazi should hang out
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Bike nazi
    June 6, 2012 8:12 pm
    We grew up here with special people like Lenny Wilkens,Bob Rule,Spencer Haywood,Slick Watts,Jack Sikma, and in the end saw Kevin Durant drafted by OUR team, that is now back in the NBA Finals. Pride,loyalty,and a team that brings together total strangers,breaks down socio-economic barriers,brings jobs and revenue to places like Jaliscos,Dicks,Pags Pizza, and several other merchants in the Lower Queen Anne area were dependent on Sonic home games,now the bartender who would prosper on game night,or the waitress who could make decent tips or the Key Arena employee who could make a living are now non-factors,even if you hate me and other sport fans, you are in denial if you dont agree with the fact that a local business depended on dollars from fans that like Christmas shoppers provided for that hard working student or person who took on a second job to better their life's, and I will never forget the Tuba man playing his heart out after a Sonic game near the fountain!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    yeah, Tuba Man...
    June 7, 2012 6:50 am
    R.I.P.

    isn't his killer STILL out and about committing crimes?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gen_Satan wrote...
    I Forgot
    June 7, 2012 10:54 am
    I remember Tuba Man not only after Sonics games, but also after Mariner games. He was an awesome player, and a guy with a good heart. There's another memory I hav e forgotten. I miss my Sonics. Bring em home Chris
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    is somebody going to claim that...
    June 6, 2012 8:26 pm
    the jazz history from the big easy days don't belong to utah...really.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • irony wrote...
    seattle doesn't deserve...
    June 6, 2012 8:28 pm
    another team, they wouldn't buy an arena. don't you wish now they did, then we'd be celebrating another trip to the finals.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    They left you so get over it.
    June 6, 2012 8:33 pm
    If we get a new team then you can start over. The Sonics and their stuff are gone. Are you the type of people who try to make every woman you date into your first girlfriend? Time goes on and sometimes you get the short end. Deal with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • the don wrote...
    Was that even English?
    June 7, 2012 10:24 am
    I have no idea what you are talking about? That reference to girlfriends may be the dumbest thing I have ever read...honestly! I feel less intelligent now...thanks.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diverphil wrote...
    BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!!
    June 6, 2012 9:16 pm
    BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!! BOYCOTT STARBUCKS!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • couchpotatoslacker wrote...
    Not sure which is worse
    June 6, 2012 9:33 pm
    The Seattle area, or the idiots that are from here.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Thermo wrote...
    congrats OKC
    June 6, 2012 10:59 pm
    as a lifelong Sonics fan, congrats OKC fans and team. And to the haters, don't hate the players, hate the game..... And remember the real killer of Seattle NBA was Howard Schultz. All you need to know is http://deadspin.com/5907371/howard-schultz-gave-out-350-starbucks-gift-cards-an-insiders-notes-on-the-shabby-death-of-the-seattle-supersonics
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }