I was going to write a preview for this game, but it's the Sonics.  They're 16-54.  They've lost 14 of their last 15 games and that 15th was against Minnesota...in overtime.  They don't need a preview.  They need help, or at least sympathy.

Since I have some of the latter for the situation up north and since song-writing has become popular around here for the last few days (see the EXCELLENT payoff from ClipsNation in the diaries to the right) I decided we'd give them something musical.

This is based on the Gordon Lightfoot epic "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".  It seemed appropriate.

(guitar intro)

The legend is told in the NBA fold
Of the venue they call Key Arena
She's near Puget Sound and she's kind of run down
As attest all the people who've seen her

For 40-odd years the Sonics drew cheers
Which cascaded down from the rafters
But April '08 will bring them their fate
And they will not be heard there thereafter

Things started to slip way back in `06
When Starbucks' sure progress was failing
The owners refused to pay up their dues
And said, "See ya later, we're bailing!"

A kind soul stepped in with a wide, homespun grin
And a deep-driven well of cheap prattle
He said, "Rest assured, I give you my word
We'll be keeping this team in Seattle."

But back in his home where the cattle all roam
He spoke of his grim double dealin'
"I'll just take a stand with outrageous demands
Quite soon, folks, their team we'll be stealin'"

And so he appeared, as Sonics' fans feared
To the Washington State legislature
"Hey fellas," he said, "Help me get ahead
For advancement is just human nature."

But meanwhile he made some decisions quite brave
To toss aside Lewis and Allen
And thus his requests were regarded as jests
"Your play on the court has been smellin'..."

Then old David Stern who has money to burn
Said, "Hey folks, our owners are needy
And you must come through with a million or two
Or the exit from town will be speedy"

The Sonic fans wrote and urged on the vote
But it fell on deaf ears, more's the pity
They said, "This is rude, why should we get screwed?
This whole stupid deal's pretty...unacceptable"

Now the writing on walls is apparent to all
even those who employ Hooked on Phonics
In just a few weeks, on April 16th
Comes the end of the Seattle Sonics

(insert guitar bridge here)

The ghosts will walk halls...the echoes of balls
Tossed by DJ and Sikma and Freddie
All traded away for some fool's gold and hay
No heritage or income steady

Sure OKC's nice to see once or twice
To learn how to rope and to lasso
But rural O.K. and this new NBA
Mix like Britney and Pablo Picasso

So owners get fat and they'll all tip their hats
To the triumph of greed that's been proven
But listen up guys...keep vans close nearby
In another five years you'll be movin'

The legend is told 'midst the green and the gold
Of a venue they call Key Arena
It soon won't be there because Stern doesn't care
that the Sonics are owned by a wiener

(guitar and fade)

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)