Re: The Sonics organization

["Greg Odegaard" <grodeg@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Living out here my entire life, and having a pretty good friend work for the
Sonics in promotion/tickets etc. for 15 years until 1999, this organization
went into the toilet when Ackerlly bought the team and hasn't recovered in
many ways.

I also went to HS and 2 years of college with Detlef Schrempf as I have
mentioned many times before and he couldn't get off that team any quicker in
the end.  When he retired after being with the Blazers the Sonics courted
him to return for another year and have since to take some off court role,
one of which was the newly created job just given to Jack Sikma this last
summer, after Jack cannon balled UW Rick, not that Rick needed any major
help. Detlef lives in the Seattle area still with his family and he states
he really doesn't have much interest in doing anything with the team, though
he does still with the UW being seen at games, and really being the only
reason he stays in the area, that and his wife of course.

The point in all this is that the Sonics had the 2 great years in the late
70's (not unlike the Blazers with Walton) under Wilkins, running the team
that Russ had built, who also still lives in Seattle (Mercer Island down the
street from Sikma and Slick UW Rick until he sells his house). It has all
been down hill in most terms since then. The appearance in the finals
against Jordan really was a fluke in most PNW's opinions, with the major
memory being Mutumbo and his 8th seed Nuggets coming down from 0-2 wining
game 5 in Seattle.  The organization in many peoples minds rivals the
blunders of maybe even the Slippers. The years with Westphal at the helm
were truly sad.  Peyton a good NW guy as well isn't looking back that much
is for sure, and is reviled now in Seattle and his Oregon playing for hated
Purple team.

Lastly, most Seattle media people are only preening to get a job in LA, NY
or Boise, so it comes across as pretty juvenile at time, and they know it.

Baker isn't looking back and neither would Pippen have been if he had his
chance there.

Have a nice holiday weekend folks and Go Celtics!!
Greg


----- Original Message -----
From: "DJB" <dajubo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 12:13 PM
Subject: The Sonics organization


> When Vin was traded it seemed that the Sonics and the Seattle media
couldn't say enough bad things about him. Now knowing about Vin's problems,
it really makes me wonder about that organization---instead of bad mouthing
him, why didn't they try to help him, the way the C's did?
>
> -David