As a former NBA owner myself ... (Ephemera Project)

As a Former NBA Owner myself ... (Ephemera Project)

I used to own a piece of the Boston Celtics. Yep. I owned a couple shares of the 13 percent or so of the team that was publicly held until a few years ago when the new Celtics ownersbought us all out. I used to get financial statements and dividend checks and the whole thing. It was cool. I would go to the Celtics and Sonics and realize that I was rooting for a team I owned a sliver of. It was cool. When Reggie Lewis played his last game in Seattle I listened to the second half of the Copper Bowl while watching the game in the Kingdome. Now that the new ownership group bought back all of the shares I will admit to following things a lot less. It used to be a lot cooler.

But, the NBA used to be better. The 80s and into the early 90s was the glory days for the league. I got to see the Showtime Lakers and the 86 Celtics and the Jordan Bulls. I miss it. People cared. Now, when I turn on an NBA game I see fans talking on cell phones and barely watching, leaving no energy at all in the arena. The other night I tried an experiment where I flipped back and forth between an NBA and a college game, the energy levels were simply so different. I cannot bring myself to pay full price for an NBA game, even though they are clearly amazing athletes, it is simply not worth the money to shell out for decent seats to an NBA game.

The Sonics may be leaving. Other blog entries have dealt with how I simply don't believe that the new owners of the Sonics have credibility. Well, they could end up getting an arena in Renton (on land that is not currently for sale) that 15 years from now will need to be replaced by a downtown facility, but I still think that they are half-hearted in their claims that they want to keep the team here.

Back when the Sonics played in the Dome we would go to Sneakers first. I got to see my high school team play a pregame my senior year. I remember catching a game in Spokane at Jack and Dan's during the 96 playoffs and ending up being interviewed for the Spokeman-Review about being a Sonics fan in a Jazz bar. I remember dribbling a ball from the Dome to Seattle Center with the players to kick off the 85 season when they moved back to the Center. I took the kids to meet Desmond Mason in 02 at Albertson's and to an Open Practice during the pre-season the year Ewing was a Sonic.

I miss caring about the Sonics.

I have never seen an NBA game outside of Sonics games. It just has never happened. And, frankly, I haven't been to many Sonics game in recent years either when back in 85-86 I went to eight of them. This spring I intend to attend my first ever minor league basketball game. I have not seen a CBA, NBDL, or other minor league game, but with a team in Everett I will catch a game this Spring.


Sonics Games

02.16.05 GS Warriors - (L) 110-117
04.27.02 SA Spurs - (L) 75-102 NBA Playoffs
02.19.00 BOS Celtics - (W) 94-91 - (see picture here)
12.29.92 BOS Celtics - (W) 111-87 - KD 200
12.18.92 POR Trailblazers (W) 126-109
11.22.91 CHI Bulls - (L) 99-108 KD 300 - Michael Jordan
12.05.92 MN Timberolves - (W) 124-87
02.22.92 POR Trailblazers - (W) 113-104 KD 300
12.22.90 SAC Kings - (W) 121-93
12.27.89 PHI 76ers - (W) 110-106
05.05.88 DEN Nuggets - NBA Playoffs ???
01.02.88 PHI 76ers - (W) 116-114 - Kenny G did the Anthem
12.17.85 PHX Suns - (L) 99-104
04.10.86 DAL Mavericks - (L) 109-115
03.30.86 PHX Suns - (W) 103-89
03.29.86 LA Lakers - (W) 88-87
02.13.86 BOS Celtics - (L) 98-107
02.12.85 WA Bullets - (W) 109-94 - MTHS @KD
12.27.85 GS Warriors - W) 114-102
11.05.85 NY Knicks - (W) 84-80 - Ewing rookie
11.02.85 CHI Bulls - (W) 118-100 - Jordan DNP
11.27.84 KC Kings - (W) 104-96 - KD
11.29.83 SD Clippers - (W) 119-114 - KD
04.20.80 MIL Bucks - (W) 98-94 NBA Playoffs
04.15.80 MIL Bucks - (L) 95-108KD NBA Playoffs
04.06.80 POR Trailblazers - (W) 103-86 NBA Playoffs - KD

**** 75-76 era - Saw the Celtics and Suns for father son games through MTE
2002 Logo Unveiling at Seattle Center
2002 Desmond Mason Signing at Albertson's
2001 Open Practice @Key
1985 Dribble On event
Seattle PI quotes
Spokeman-Review 5/96 story