This is a tribute to the now-on-hiatus I-5 Rivalry between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics.  It's written from the perspective of this Portland fan and lifelong resident of the Portland metropolitan area, but it is indeed a tribute.  While I have long had an intense rivalry of the Sonics, it's a lot different than the sheer hatred we both feel for that Satanic squad down in La-La Land.  Lets raise a glass to the past 38 years.

The Numbers

The Sonics started operations in 1967, and have been in Seattle for 41 consecutive years.  They have called two building their permanent home--the team started playing in the Seattle Center Coliseum, moved to the Kingdome, and then moved back to the Coliseum, which would later be renovated and rechristened as Key Arena.  (They spent one year playing home games in the TacomaDome while the Key was being renovated).  The Blazers started up three years later, and have played in two building--the Memorial Coliseum, and the Rose Garden next door.

Head-to-head, the teams have played each other 192 times in counting games, with Seattle leading the series 98-94.  The teams have met in the playoffs four times (1977, 1979, 1983, 1991), with each team winning two series; the teams are 8-8 against each other in playoff games.  Both teams have three Finals appearances and one NBA title each.  Portland has won four Pacific Division championships; Seattle five.  Seattle has also one the Northwest Division once.

The People

The two teams, and the larger communities, have numerous personalities in common--ranging from players, to coaches, to executives, to owners, to broadcasters.  Two Seattle businessmen, Herman Sarkowsky and Paul Allen, would both own the Trail Blazers at various times in the team's history (both would later own the Seattle Seahawks as well).  Bob Whitsitt was a controversial figure in the history of both teams.  Wally Walker played for the Blazers and would later become the Sonics GM, and be even more controversial than Whitsitt in that role--a post he held until Clay Bennett bought the team.  On the other side of the team, Bucky Buckwalter--a longstanding fixture in Portland management throughout the 1980s and early 1990s--briefly coached the Sonics in the 1970s. 

Three men have been head coach for both the Blazers and the Sonics.  First among them was Lenny Wilkens, who was a player-coach for the Sonics until he was traded to the Blazers in 1974.  He served as the Blazers' player-coach for one year; then retired as a player but continued to coach the team until he was fired in 1976 and replaced with Jack Ramsay.  He would later return to the Sonics and lead them to their only title.  Second on the list, of course, is Nate McMillan, whose acrimonious departure from Seattle may have, in retrospect, been one of the nails in the coffin.  Finally, PJ Carlesimo had an undistinguished career as Trail Blazers' coach in the 90s, and has been equally undistinguished in his one year so far with the Sonics.  When a coach is best known for being assaulted by a player in practice, that is not a good sign.

Numerous players have laced up sneakers for both squads, for good and bad.  Among the famous (and infamous) names include Kenny Anderson, Greg Anthony, Vincent Askew, Dennis Awtrey, Rich Brunson, Barry Clemens, John Crotty, Antonio Daniels, Richie Frahm, Eddie Gill, Herm Gilliam, Antonio Harvey, Steve Hawes, Clemon Johnson, J.J. Johnson, Steve Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Jerome Kersey, Alton Lister, Willie Norwood, Ruben Patterson, Detlef Schrempf, Elmore Spencer, Vladimar Stepania(!), Wally Walker, Lenny Wilkens, Dontonio Wingfield, and Danny Young.

A couple broadcasters for both teams merit mention.  Antonio Harvey played for both teams prior to becoming the color analyst for the Blazers; and Steve Jones had a long and distinguished doing color commentary on TV for both the Blazers and the NBA, prior to his current role with the Sonics.

In addition, many people from one city/state have affected the other team.  Current Blazer players include Brandon Roy and Martell Webster.  One of the greatest Sonic players ever was OSU grad Gary Payton; the current point guard is UO grad Luke Ridnour.  And the first team "mascot" the Blazers ever had was the late, great "Beerman" Bill Scott, who hailed from Seattle, and worked numerous games for both the Mariners and the Seahawks (though he apparently never did games for the Sonics).

And although they have only been in the league one year each; and only one has played games--Greg Oden and Kevin Durant will be forever linked due to the 2007 NBA Draft.

So let's all raise our beers to our former rivals in Seattle--and our middle fingers to David Stern.  Let us drink to Gus Williams, Spencer Haywood, Jack Sikma, Downtown Freddie Brown, Tom Chambers, Dale Ellis, Xavier McDaniel, Gary Payton, Derrick McKey, and the current players like Ridnour, Durant, Collison, Wilcox, and company--who surely deserve better.

And let's invite the Seattle fans who chose to come into the Rose Garden.

Lets keep the traffic moving on I-5.