So it looks like the SuperSonics are going to exist again. This is, of course, good and bad news. It's good news because Seattle cranks out a surprising amount of basketball talent, the jerseys were some of the best in the NBA, and the lyrics to "It Was a Good Day" become slightly less dated (granted, there is still a reference to a pager but I have a beeper myself and they are the coolest). A fan base that got screwed out of what made them happy a few years ago get their pride and joy back. The NBA also loses one of the worst owner groups once the Maloofs finalize the sale.
But there is another side to the coin. Sacramento fans lose. They aren't a terribly large fanbase, but they're vocal and emotional and have resulted in amazing content to read over the past few years. Sactown Royalty will likely become something similar to Bird Watchers Anonymous. When the Thrashers moved on to Winnipeg so that the Jets could once more exist, one of the saddest and most poignant articles from an SBN site I never had stopped at before came about. I've had it bookmarked ever since.
The Edmonton Oilers have been looking into jumping out of Alberta and heading to the Emerald City as well. Relocation both fascinates and depresses me. Those of you that know me offsite know I'm a fan of collecting and wearing shirts of teams that no longer exist. My Hartford Whalers and Montreal Expos shirts are starting to fade. My Chicago Sting one remains strong for the time being.
There was a time the Sox almost moved to Seattle before Bill Veeck put an end to that. The threat of relocation came back in the late 80s, with the new location becoming Tampa. Some good old fashioned political maneuvering saved the team and I was spared the fate of having to grow up a Cubs fan.
I'm too young by just a few years to know what it's like having to worry about losing your favorite team. Thanks to expansion, a relatively new stadium, and a strong market I'll likely never have to. But I read a lot. Just because I'm shallow doesn't mean that I'm heartless and just because I'm heartless doesn't mean that I'm mean. And while it's kind of like the idea that a surgeon can have an idea but not really know what kind of pain they're causing the patient they're helping unless they go through it themselves, I do sympathize.
So what I'm saying is, please never leave White Sox.