Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


Zombie Sonics invade the NBA finals

June 21, 2012 @ 3:11 pm (Updated: 10:39 am - 6/22/12 )

"Failabrations" were planned in Seattle, as the Miami Heat beat the team formerly known as the Sonics. Final score 121 to 106 in a game 5 loss last night for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

cedargrove













cedargrove















cedargrove












These fans, dressed as zombies in Sonics clothing, were sitting directly behind the Thunder bench during game 4. (Top photos courtesy Facebook, bottom photo Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, front photo courtesy Marley Brooker)

Without their makeup, you might recognize the Zombies as Jason Reid and Colin Baxter - the director and executive producer of the documentary "SonicsGate." The "requiem for a team" aired nationally this year and examined the team's departure from Seattle.

The pair have been going to Thunder playoff games for the past few years wearing their green and gold, but they told each other that if the team made it to the finals they would step it up.

Reid and Baxter held signs and shouted their support for the Heat while sitting just a few feet from the Oklahoma City bench.

"We felt like we needed to make a stand against what happened in Seattle, prove that we have the best basketball fans in the world and help the Heat win a championship," Reid told ESPN.

They paid almost $4,000 each for the prime seats. The whole trip has cost them around 10 grand, and they're "not going to let this go until the NBA returns to Seattle."

The zombie costumes weren't born out of their idea alone. Reid told 710 ESPN's Kevin Calabro Show that they were inspired by ESPN's Bill Simmons. "Until this year he only referred to [the Thunder] as the Zombie Sonics."

They wanted to make a statement - and they did. Reid said that the cameras tried to avoid them, but it was difficult, given their front row seats, their zombie make- up, and who was sitting directly behind them.

Reid and Baxter were right in front of Kevin Durant's mom and brother during game 4 of the NBA Finals..

"Kevin's mom, the whole game, yells at Kevin, and gives him little instructions and little pieces of advice and actually, we were right in front, for him to talk to his mom, he had to talk to the Zombie Sonics," Reid said.

By the end of the game, Durant's mom had to move to talk to her son.

"This isn't out of spite or bitterness. We would have been here supporting our team if they still played in Seattle. However, things got a little weird. We don't really know the appropriate way to act. They don't have a fan playbook. There isn't a rule for what to do when your team gets stolen. And we do feel like it was stolen," said Baxter.

 

 

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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 (38)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    Want some cheese with that wine? . . . .
    June 21, 2012 8:34 pm
    Get over it SF's. She left you for another man.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Zombie Sonics Got MOJO!
    June 21, 2012 8:51 pm
    GO ZOMBIE SONICS!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Lugnut easy on the Starbucks.
    June 21, 2012 8:57 pm
    Do yo ever blog anything that is ever even in the slightest way intelligent. Please for your own saftey stay in the kiddie pool.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Beetle1977 wrote...
    Newton
    June 21, 2012 10:15 pm
    Come on dude, take the time to SPELL CHECK YOUR POSTS! I've been holding my tongue for several weeks watching you post and post and post with horrible grammar and spelling. You demonstrate that you have the writing ability of a 3rd grader! If you ever want to be respected on a blog, website, or heck...in the real world....you really need to clean up your writing. Nothing shows incompetence greater than bad writing skills.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • grayfam8 wrote...
    Bring back our Sonics, but not the Kings..
    June 21, 2012 11:50 pm
    Living here in the Seattle area since 1996, I saw the Sonics go withought a hard fight. No private money to keep them here. Now people either want their Sonics back or the next easy available team like the Kings. I have no problem with people getting a plan together and trying to bring their team back from OKC. Now trying to grab the Kings, now I may have little something to say. I was born in the midwest just like Linda was. I was born and raised as a Kansas City King fan until they left for the West Coastin the early 80's. Kansas City has done everything that a city has to do to get a new team. If any city needs a team or shall I say deserves to get a team OR their team back is Kansas City. Kansas City's Sprint Center was been opened in 2007 and has been patiently waiting. I believe Seattle has the right to build an arena, but need to realize that there is at least 1 other city if not more already ready and if the Kings go, they need to have the option to back home to KC. Not to Seattle to patch an open wound that still stings. Sorry Seattle, just my view looking in. After the kings left KC in the 80's, I lost my interest in basketball. I am sure my comments will upset people, but this is just as I see it. Hope Seattle finds a team, but not the Kings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GoldFish wrote...
    grayfam8
    June 21, 2012 11:59 pm
    Seattle is the #12 media market, while Kansas city is the #31 media market. Not to mention basketball is a much more popular sport in western washington then MO. No chance they get a team before we do, or deserve one more for that matter. And for everyone complaining about your precious tax dollars being spent for this arena, what are you smoking? All the public contribution will come from taxes dealing with the arena, money that wouldn't be in the governments hands without the arena. The city will profit on this arena deal, it's a no brainier. But seriously what are you smoking and who is your dealer because it must be some good stuff lol.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    idiots
    June 22, 2012 5:59 am
    It fits right in with all the other crap here in Seattle.....crying about losing such an inferior product. The NBA is a joke, and has been a joke for many years. The game itself isn't even enjoyable at the playoff level, let alone an 82-game season of "9 GUYS STANDING AROUND"! The business model is broke - it's a bunch of overpaid thug-wannabees - and building an arena for MORE of simply a joke.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Weiser Postban wrote...
    I'm now so tired of you Sonics "fans"
    June 22, 2012 6:04 am
    I remember when people couldn't GIVE AWAY tickets to games... Being able to buy game day tickets at the arena LOWER BOWL. Scalpers selling tickets for $5 after tipoff just to get rid of them.. You all had your chance to keep the team here forever by GOING TO THE GAMES!!!!! You didn't, the team lost money and was sold. NOW you all complain about not having a team you never supported when you DID have the team... Shut up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Beetle1977 wrote...
    Weiser
    June 22, 2012 7:29 am
    The fans aren't the ones to blame for the Sonics leaving town. No level of fan support would have prevented the team from leaving. It was a combination of miss-management by a horrible owner, a bad building, local government squabbling and an opportunistic businessman from OKC that took advantage of a unique situation. Basketball is still a very popular sport here in Seattle and there are a ton of fans eager to see the NBA return. Just go to a few local schools and ask the kids if they want basketball back. They don't care about local politics and the NBA's business model. They just want a team back here in Seattle to root for. I know my kids do and I can’t wait for the day I get to take them to an NBA game in a new Seattle arena.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cougsfan34 wrote...
    For god sakes!
    June 22, 2012 11:53 am
    Can we just give this up! All this crying and sobbing about the Sonics makes us look like the biggest losers on the planet. Where was all this support when the team had DECLINING attendance for years. Right up till the end that team had been loosing fans. Now we suddenly all want them back. FOR WHAT? So we can parade around like spoiled children and show off how cool we are to get our stupid NBA team back? Then what happens when we spend another decade of loosing seasons or slightly making it? Lets be honest people, once the honeymoon phase is over we are going back to the same old same old. The new stadium will be a joke for concerts too. It isn't an issue of venues in Seattle. Its the higher entertainment tax and venue fees. Concert companies go elsewhere so they don't have to pay a lot up front to the city and charge you more for tickets. Dont even get started on the traffic or parking drama that we have there too. Lets just grow up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HockeyMom wrote...
    Why?
    June 22, 2012 1:05 pm
    Why is it what so many of the comments have to go to the old "just grow up"? It reality is there are some that do and will always want basketball and/or hockey here in Seattle. There will always be those that wouldn't attend a game even if we did have it and even if the location, parking, and traffic was completely convenient. I guess those that want it can just turn the tables and tell the non-supportive sports folks to "just grow up". It's called freedom of speech, folks. Did it really ruin your day when the zombies went to the game? Didn't think so. Just another reason to tell others that their opinion means nothing. Guess I will just agree to disagree. I for one will be attending basketball or hockey games if they can bring it here. Guessing that those complaining about it won't complain about the revenue that comes in and the jobs that are created by bringing a new arena in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    Hey Cougsfan, it is LOSING (a word you should know pretty dang well), not LOOSING.
    June 22, 2012 4:35 pm
    And growing up is something that would be AWESOME for you to do. LOOSER!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }