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I don’t mean to get your hopes up. It probably won’t happen. However, a few current and former players are pushing for it, including former Sonics Detlef Schrempf, Gary Payton and Ray Allen. They are organizing a charity basketball game at Key Arena to promote the return of the SuperSonics to Seattle.

For more information, click this link.

The NBA says the stadium issue will need to be addressed before it would be considered, though they acknowledge that Seattle is a stronger market than many of its current locations, including Sacramento.

My take: it’s the longest of long shots, but it could happen. Seattle would have to come up with an investor with lots of $$$, and have the NBA relocation fee (a cool $30 million) waived. Key Arena then needs to attended to, so as to fit David Stern’s requirements.

It is times like this I wish I was Bill Gates. I mean seriously. The man has more money than he knows what to do with, and gives countless amounts to charity all over the world. Why not, just for fun, go out and compete against Paul Allen’s Blazers and bring a team back to Seattle?

Bill would be hailed as a hero (more than he already is) and his Seattle Legacy would be unquestionably cemented. He’d be known as the man who brought basketball back to Seattle. I don’t know. Maybe he’s not into sports. Besides, it’s not his responsibility to bail out a franchise. All I’m saying is, it would be awesome if he did.

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I just got hold of this press release from the folks over at Sonicsgate:

Sonics legend Slick Watts scheduled to attend

SEATTLE, Wash. – December 8, 2009

“Sonicsgate – Requiem For A Team,” the feature documentary film profiling the true story of the Seattle SuperSonics’ tragic exodus from Seattle, today announced that every person who attends the film’s upcoming theatrical run at Seattle International Film Festival Cinema (321 Mercer Street) will receive a free DVD copy of the film.

After two sold out preview screenings in October, SIFF Cinema picked up “Sonicsgate” for a weeklong theatrical engagement from Friday, Dec. 11 to Thursday, Dec. 17. Legendary Sonics guard Slick Watts is scheduled to attend the screening on Saturday, Dec. 12. Tickets and showtimes at siff.net.

The film’s producers will distribute free DVD copies to all attendees after the screening, which is the only way the general public can obtain the film in this format. More than 60,000 people have already watched the full movie online at sonicsgate.org, and producers plan to make the DVD available for sale sometime in 2010. For now, director Jason Reid says they are giving away these exclusive promotional copies to spread the film’s message throughout the local community.

With a mission to educate the public about the plight of all sports fans in the modern era, the film dissects the modern business of professional sports, nationwide public subsidy of arenas, corporate malfeasance, political impotence and the true helplessness of die-hard fans toiling against these powerful forces.
ESPN’s Bill Simmons, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller “The Book Of Basketball” recently wrote: “The Sonics were stolen from Seattle – literally, STOLEN, and if you don’t believe me, watch this movie.” (Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, espn.com). More reviews at sonicsgate. org/reviews.

NBA Commissioner David Stern’s credibility has been under fire as disgraced referee Tim Donaghy’s book “Personal Foul” hit shelves this week. Donaghy served time in Federal prison for gambling on games he officiated while under control of the mafia. His book alleges that the NBA instructs its officials to make certain calls for specific star players and extend playoff series to maximize television revenue. “Sonicsgate” is an equally devastating scandal that has been largely swept under the rug, until now.
Please direct media inquiries to the film’s producers:

Adam Brown
“Sonicsgate” Media Director / Producer
P: (206) 919-3778
E: info@sonicsgate.org

Jason Reid
“Sonicsgate” Director / Producer
P: (206) 419-4649
E: info@sonicsgate.org

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