It actually happened, the nightmare that's been sitting in the back of my head unsurprisingly came true. In case you haven't heard, you can mark today Wednesday July 2nd 2008 as the day basketball left Seattle.
I'm one who grew up watching the Sonics, starting back in the late 80's with Dale Ellis, Eddie Johnson, and the rest of the gang. They were a big part of me growing up and a big part of who I am today. I was the kid who couldn't wait to get home to watch the Sonics take on the Spurs. I was the kid who begged my parents for a dunkable basketball hoop so I could mimic a GP and Kemp pic n' roll for a dunk (I ususally played the Kemp part). As I got older and grown, I was the fan who went to a lot of games. I was the goto guy in my barkadas when asked about any Sonics news. I'm a passionate Sonics fan. With how it's all been played out, it's become a pretty emotional day for me, enough to curb my appetite. I guess being emotional is the base definition of being a fan. It's the emotions, the highs and lows, the drama, the action, the energy, the feeling that you get when Ray Allen hit's the half court shot for the win against the Phoenix Suns.
No more Kevin Calabro calls of "two in the cake, one in the puddin"
No more game winning shots
No more complaining about the refs
No more I5 rivalry with the Blazers
No more trade rumors and draft talk
No more looking forward to October
They're gone, and we the fans are left hoopless.