What would you do if the team you loved moved to a different city? A different state? How about 2,000 miles away, clear across the country? Would you stay true to the team and the players you had known for so long or would you give up on them and hope for another team to come along and bring the joy of winning back to your town?
Today, people in Seattle, Washington faced that choice. One team that they loved, basketball's Supersonics, moved from the Evergreen state (where they had been for 30 years!) and started over as the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Supersonics. The team got a new owner this year and he demanded that the city of Seattle build a new $500 million stadium for his team. When the city didn't have the money, he moved the team to his state almost four hours away by plane.
Many Seattle fans were really angry about the deal. In addition to losing their green and white hoopsters, the fans are losing what I think is the best part of a team: a rivalry. Normally, Sonics fans waited and waited until their squad played the Portland (Oregon) Trailblazers, in the biggest game of the year. I know from growing up here in Central California that my favorite games are those where the San Francisco Giants face off against the Oakland A’s. Everyone around me has so much energy about their favorite team (because for most people it’s one or the other) that going to games and even watching on TV is awesome fun!
I think the most interesting part of the season will be seeing how the new Oklahoma City Supersonics start off and what kind of energy they get from their fans. Oklahoma City doesn’t have as much history with the team, but maybe a change is good for them to shake up new talent. What do you think? Can a team get off to a good start in a new place easily? How would you feel about rooting for your favorite team if they moved?
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