NBA Distractions

Posted by Phil Partington Apr 15, 2008

Though fans should be focused on the excitement surrounding the upcoming NBA Playoffs right about now - after all - the Western Conference features a face that's gone down to the very last day, and the East has a prominent title contender at the top. Yet, there've been some off-court distractions to pull fans' attentions away from the good stuff.

First, the situation with Seattle and the Supersonics is awful and should never be allowed to happen. Heck, it should never have gotten to that point. For those who don't know, former Sonics owner Howard Schulz sold the team over a year ago to a group out of Oklahoma. The sale went with the stipulation that the new owners intended to try to keep the team in Seattle and would make all good-faith efforts to do so. Recently, e-mails have emerged that show very clearly that that was never the case. So, Mr. Schulz is suing the Oklahoman owners as a last-ditch effort to keep the team where it is.

It's a mess. Take it from a Seattlite. Sonics fans have really stepped up, though. This isn't like when the Hornets left Charlotte and there were less than a thousand fans at many of the games. Fans in Seattle have been showing their support all season, despite a horrid year.

Second, Carmelo Anthony recently got arrested for suspicions of DUI. Oops! I'm sure Denver appreciates that with the playoffs less than a week away.