So Where will GP have his Jersey Retired?

magicfan4life05 · Post #1 » by **magicfan4life05** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:06 am

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/ ... homa-city/

Payton Doesn't Want Jersey Retired in OKC

Count Gary Payton among the supporters for keeping the Sonics in Seattle -- even if it's for slightly selfish reasons. From Percy Allen of the Seattle Times (via TrueHoop):

"I sure don't want to get my jersey retired in Oklahoma City," he said. "I don't think that would work for me. That ain't where I played. Oklahoma City fans didn't get to really, really see me. They saw me on TV, but that was it.

"My fans are here in Seattle. It would be nice for me to come back and raise my jersey in Seattle here and let everybody appreciate it and my family can appreciate it."

Payton may still get to see his No. 20 raised to the KeyArena rafters -- the legal battle between the Sonics and the city of Seattle won't be resolved until some point this summer, meaning (for better or worse) the city will get at least one more season with the team.

But assuming the Sonics do eventually move, should Payton's No. 20 stay retired in Oklahoma City? Or should Clay Bennett be forced to forfeit his claims to Seattle's basketball history, much like Art Modell did when his old Cleveland Browns became the new Baltimore Ravens?

I hope it's the latter. Even if David Stern is serious about not putting another team in Seattle, it's preposterous to think the citizens of OKC have any emotional attachment to the likes of Payton or other legends like Gus Williams, Jack Sikma or Shawn Kemp.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/sports.ao ... cs-425.jpg

So I'm thinking Miami (obviously a stretch) since he at least won a ring there? If riley retired MJ and he didnt play there, at least give GP one place to have his jersey retired.

Also, does the city of Seattle get to keep the sonics history and stuff? so maybe if they get another team they can retire the jeresys of their greats? but even if that's true they have to get a new building by 2009 for them to get a team in 5 years according to stern, thats a long time to wait for payton and his crew.

The glove gets no respect, he deserves better!

legacyinthemakin89c · Post #2 » by **legacyinthemakin89c** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:14 am

To be honest, I don't think it ever will. OKC should be treated like an expansion team with absolutly no history. The only difference is that this expansion team already came with players. The fans of OKC don't deserve the history of the Sonics, that belongs to Seattle. I wouldn't be surprised to see them retire his jersey in Seattle somehow, by building a statue or something, but OKC should receive nothing in terms of history.

Cevap · Post #3 » by **Cevap** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:17 am

legacyinthemakin89c wrote:To be honest, I don't think it ever will. OKC should be treated like an expansion team with absolutly no history. The only difference is that this expansion team already came with players. The fans of OKC don't deserve the history of the Sonics, that belongs to Seattle. I wouldn't be surprised to see them retire his jersey in Seattle somehow, by building a statue or something, but OKC should receive nothing in terms of history.

I don't think OKC will get the Sonics name, colors, or history. I mean the Sonics have a lot of history already and it's fitting that a new team should inherit it ala Browns in 99

Number34 · Post #4 » by **Number34** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:20 am

I don't think he should have it retired in Miami. He played a minimal part of the title team, pat retired MJ's jersey out of respect. I really hope your not comparing MJ to the glove. If GP doesn't want his jersey retired in OKC, then he can bloody well not have his jersey retired at all.

Post #5 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:34 am

they can always retire it during a seattle storm game.

Post #6 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:38 am

At the 2014 Supersonics home opener at the new Gates Center.

Milkdud · Post #7 » by **Milkdud** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:43 am

I think somewhere down the line Seattle will get "new" Sonics and GP will get his number retired then.

Post #8 » by **Spykes** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:18 am

Miami?

They retired Jordan's jersey and he didn't even play for them. At least Payton was on their team for a few seasons and was there when they won the championship.

Soundbite · Post #9 » by **Soundbite** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:23 am

what makes you think that Seattle fans will want another team after getting royally raped and left for dead?

http://www.last.fm/user/DPF55 · Post #10 » by **Buck You** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:48 am

Milwaukee. Half a season here and he brought us to the playoffs!!!! :wink:

cdubbz · Post #11 » by **cdubbz** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:54 am

Golden State will retire his jersey! hes an oakland boy

RayRe · Post #12 » by **RayRe** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 7:25 am

cdubbz wrote:Golden State will retire his jersey! hes an oakland boy

He also tried to bite speedy claxton's ear off

I agree the sonics history should stay in seattle and they will eventually be reborn.

Puertorique · Post #13 » by **Puertorique** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 8:37 am

New Jersey is going to lose the Nets however the state is trying to put a stop to the team using the name and colors of the NJ Nets. Since both Seattle and NJ want to keep their teams and are losing them it would make a great opportunity for the NBA and these cities. OKC gets a team, Brooklyn gets a team, Seattle and NJ get expansion teams down the line and Stern gets another team in the NY market a team in OKC which is what he wants and 2 more teams to balance out the Confrence's.

greenbeans · Post #14 » by **greenbeans** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:00 pm

Puertorique wrote:New Jersey is going to lose the Nets however the state is trying to put a stop to the team using the name and colors of the NJ Nets. Since both Seattle and NJ want to keep their teams and are losing them it would make a great opportunity for the NBA and these cities. OKC gets a team, Brooklyn gets a team, Seattle and NJ get expansion teams down the line and Stern gets another team in the NY market a team in OKC which is what he wants and 2 more teams to balance out the Confrence's.

the Nets werent in NJ originally though. thats kinda lame.

Serpo · Post #15 » by **Serpo** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:18 pm

The Nets have been in NY before they went to NJ btw.

And moving a couple of miles is completely different then moving across the country.

ropjhk · Post #16 » by **ropjhk** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:36 pm

All things Sonics should stay in Seattle. How about all other basketball teams in the Seattle area retire Payton's number as a symbolic gesture?

In the end I don't think Payton's jersey number will get retired anywhere.

RTM · Post #17 » by **RTM** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 3:55 pm

In Seattle.

That is, whenever they get a new arena for the re-birth of the Sonics.

Baller 24 · Post #18 » by **Baller 24** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:06 pm

His number is going to be in OKC, just like the past when a franchise moves it takes all its belongings with it. Lakers..Minny to LA, Kings...KC Royals to Sacramento...Rockets...San Diego to Houston..etc.

Post #19 » by **Spykes** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 4:43 pm

Baller 24 wrote:His number is going to be in OKC, just like the past when a franchise moves it takes all its belongings with it. Lakers..Minny to LA, Kings...KC Royals to Sacramento...Rockets...San Diego to Houston..etc.

They aren't taking any of the Sonics with them to OKC, just the players and management. The team name, colors and records all stay with Seattle. That was part of the agreement.

Puertorique · Post #20 » by **Puertorique** » Thu Jul 3, 2008 5:03 pm

Ok obviously two people missed the point on the post I made. And yes I did know that the Nets originally played in New York. That's like saying did you know they were in the ABA? Shocking yes I know.

The point was that with both New Jersey and Seattle both wanting to keep the NBA in their city/state it would be a good thing for the NBA to add a franchise to both locations in the same year to balance out the Confrences and to have teams in the two area's which they already were in and that want them to stay.

Does that help any?