Nickels and Dimes but No Sonics

Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council should be a ashamed of themselves. I'm not talking about drinkacoupleofshots and hide in doors ashamed, I'm talking about serious self-loathing should be poking themselves with scalding hot irons ashamed.

The parade of Seattle's political set patting themselves on the back for in essence selling the cities soul for a mere $45 million dollars was the pinnacle of myopic hubris. Imaging Nickels and Co. getting duped by Oklahoma Billionaire Clay Bennett would be kindofsorta assuming if the punch line didn't come at the expense of the cities basketball past, present and future. The City Counsel agreed to deal that assures Key Arena's economic solvency in the short in short run. Never mind the fact that the aging building has now lost it's two major tenants (Sonics and T-Birds) in a number of months. Congratulations Mayor Nickles you've paid off a useless building.

A number of months back Seattle City Councilmen Nick Licata famously stated that the Seattle Supersonics "add no value to the community." One wonders if Licata has changed his tune as he stood on the stage Wednesday having bartered away a Seattle Institution for roughly the value of Bill Gates Lake Washington home. After all there are countless ways Licata and friends could piss away 45 million dollars (but that deserves its own post).

For 41 years the Supersonics were a core thread in the cities fabric. Seattle's first professional sports franchise, the Sonics organization was a symbol of civic pride and a force within the community. Through various charity endeavors like SonicsCare and the summer time staple Jammin' Hoops Camp the organization was an integral part of making Seattle a better place.

In recent weeks Seattle Icon Sherman Alexi has emerged as a prominent voice in Sonicsfandom. Alexi, an acclaimed author and filmmaker and possibly the cities most famous living Native American has spoken passionately about the value the Sonics add to the community. In a recent radio interview Alexi noted the high level of diversity found at Sonics games. A level of diversity that not only spans race but also age, class and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Sonics offered a space for people of various stripes to come together and enjoy a shared passion. I can think of no other Seattle institution that spans so many barriers in such a profound way.

The bottom line of this whole thing is loss. Sonics fans have lost their team. Kids have lost of their Sonic hero's. The city of Seattle has lost part of it's charm, some it's zest and a little of it's soul. Now it's time for Greg Nickels, Nick Licata and their cronies to lose their jobs.

Nice Work Greg Nickels... You've paid off a $45 million dollar pothole in the middle of Seattle Center... See you at the ballot box...