Sonics, OK.

Seeing as the Sonics may have played thier final game at Key Arena, I thought I'd chime-in on the topic of relocation.

In case you are out of the loop or don’t care enough to pay attention I’ll get you up to speed.

It looks like Sonics owner Clay Bennett lied to NBA Commissioner David Stern regarding his intention to move the team to Oklahoma City. The lie came to light in email correspondence between Bennett's ownership group and Stern. The emails were obtained by The City of Seattle as part of a lawsuit to force the Sonics to play-out their lease (through 2010) at Key Arena.

Local folks still holding hope of keeping the Sonics in town see this as a possible break. Stern has been one of one Bennett’s biggest backers as he (Bennett) and the City of Seattle battle lease and re-location issues out in court. Local fans hope this breech of trust will sway Stern and possibly get him to back away from supporting Bennett.

I really don’t see that happening.

There is simply too much money to be made in Oklahoma City.

The NBA has been itching to get a team back into that market since they saw the reception the New Orleans Hornets received when they played there post-Hurricane Katrina. The games were sell-outs. The Key Arena hasn’t sold-out since the Clinton Administration. There aren’t too many entertainment options in Oklahoma City and the Sonics would be the prime sporting option.

NBA basketball isn’t just a game, it’s also big business.

I’ve got to hand it to Bennett, he played the “poor old country bumpkin” role to perfection. He managed to out-wit the City of Seattle and Sonic fans. His plan to save money and re-build the roster with cheaper/younger talent is pure genius. Not only is he saving money up-front, he’s also fielding a team so bad that no one in Seattle cares anymore. If he had his way, the team would get so bad that we’d offer to buy-out the lease to get rid of the losers.

I can’t blame Bennett for lying. He’s a savvy businessman and he knows how to play the game. I am not saying its ethical, but there is a reason the man is a millionaire.

At this point, the relationship with local government is beyond repair. Both sides are so entrenched that compromise is no longer an option. I think the City of Seattle is more embarrassed with being out-maneuvered by this ‘Yokel’ from Oklahoma, which has led to the steadfast refusal to listen to anything that comes to the table.

Trust is important when doing business and Bennett’s intentions have been suspect from the start. I don’t see how the City of Seattle could enter, in good faith, any negotiations with Bennett after he lied to the City and Stern: who was his most important ally.

Bennett has seemingly had one foot out of the door since he bought the team. How can the city enter into any agreements with a man who has clearly lied to everyone from the start?

I am a Sonics fan. I remember the Wheedle, Xavier McDaniel and the great run in the 90’s. I loved Nate McMillan’s last year as head coach. I really do not want to see the Sonics go.

But at this point I am just tired of hearing about this soap opera. I am a sports fan. I don’t care about back room deals, arena funding or the business side of basketball.

I just want a local team to root for.

Maybe life in post-Sonics Seattle won’t be too bad…I hope to never find out.

Honey Latte's, an interesting idea...

Tried the Honey Latte at Starbuck’s the other day. Not so great. Way too sweet and unnaturally floral in flavor. Luckily I got it for free, but didn’t even finish the sample…I guess that’s a commentary on how good it was. Just wanted to give my two cents.

Lil things go a long way...

The spring birthday season is in full swing. And as I reach my late 20’s nearing the dreaded Big 3-0, I am starting to get the big question: “So when are you gonna settle down?” which is usually followed by “When are you gonna have some kids?”

I’ve been lucky enough to avoid these questions in the past, mostly because of my adamant stance against having kids of my own and being very vocal about it. There was also the fact that I lived in my parent’s basement until I was 26, which doesn’t scream “ladies man.”

So kids aren’t in the cards for me, I am fine with that. I love flat-screen TVs, drinking and having spending money way too much.

But that is not to say that I don’t like them. I feel about kids the way I feel about Portland, they have their good points, but I can only stand either for a few days at a time.

Which brings me to my point, sitting here at Starbuck’s I witnessed an interesting phenomena. The lil buggers just seem to bring a smile to everyone’s face.

As I sit here, drinking my coffee, reading the Seattle Weekly doing my best to look hip. A 3-year-old hops-up from his table and is totally in awe of the guy washing the windows. Everyone took notice as the kid just stood at the door bright-eyed with his jaw nearing on the floor.

What was interesting was that the same expression washed across everyone’s face, a slight smile.

I am not sure what it is that produces this response, but we all seem to be wired the same. It was fascinating to see even nod-politely-but-don’t-speak-to-me-Seattleites take a break from their own lives to enjoy this little guy.

Then to accentuate the point, a lady at the table next to me shows-up with a newborn. The 3-year-old, who had been ignoring pleas from his dad to leave the window washer alone, caught sight of the newborn.

And the same half-smile everyone flashed at him earlier, appeared on his face.

I don’t think this ‘smile response’ is some social nicety that is learned as we all grow-up. It looks to be hard-wired from the jump. Read: the 3-year-old reacted the same way the 53-year-old did.

Nodding and telling everyone that their baby is cute even though it looks like a beet red version of the Michelin Man is the learned social nicety.

I recently heard about a program being instituted at an elementary school in North Seattle involving newborns. A new mom visits a class once a month and brings-in her newborn. The class then asks questions and tracks the growth/progress of the baby, kind of becoming pseudo siblings/parents.

I thought the whole thing sounded kinda hokey. But proponents of the program say that kids who participate become more socialized and empathetic than those who don’t. And judging from the reaction of the 3 year-old today, I am inclined to agree.

Not to romanticize the idea of kids. I have been puked- and pee’d-on. But this is simply my opus that although I am opposed to the idea of kids of my own…I don’t hate them.

So there’s really no point to this post other than to point-out an interesting phenomena that brought a smile to my face.

Not a bad way to start a Saturday.

Choices, Choices...

I haven’t decided who I am voting for in November.

I have decided who I am NOT voting for: John McCain (though I do like the guy) and Christine Gregoire (mostly because her last name is so hard to spell).

This Obama character is damned engaging. I heard an interesting observation on NPR about Obama the other day. Something to the effect of “He’s the first politician in a long time to actually talk to the American public like they are adults.”

That struck a chord with me.

I remember seeing a speech by a then unknown Jr. Senator Obama at the 2004 Democratic National convention. Obama was introducing former President Bill Clinton, my personal political hero…and Obama overshadowed Mr. Charisma himself. My eyebrow raised and I took note of this kid from Illinois.

It’s been a very long four years since that convention and the world has become an awfully scary place. I think we are all going to feel the effects of “BUSHwacked” foreign policy for many years to come. The one thing I’ll commend Bush for, is that he openly acknowledges his actions in the Middle East, which is much more than I can say for every President before him. At least Americans are now aware of why the rest of the world hates us so very much.

But back to Obama, it’s easy to get distracted from looking to the future when dealing with our present. But this Obama kid says that he’s the future. I’m not sure what it is about these kids from Chicago, Kanye West calls himself the future as well, wonder if the two hang at the same coffee shop or something.

But I think the two represent parallels to each other.

Granted, one is a politician and one is a hip-hop artist. But both men represent people who made their own way in careers that are very regimented and not prone to change. They saw the archetype for success in their industries and not only ignored it, they changed it.

West refused to conform to the standard-issue rapper persona that the industry demanded for success. He did his own thing, created his own sound and ended-up winning a Grammy.

Obama is very much the same. First off, he’s black. I am not sure how many of you watch C-Span, but most politicians aren’t black. Yet Obama managed to make his own way in politics.

Not only is he black, but he’s young. And in the glad-handing, you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours, institution of American politics that is strike number two. Obama isn’t the golden boy he’s been made-out to be as he’s seen his share of defeat. But he’s managed to learn from mis-steps and has progressively moved toward the goals he’s set for himself.

Even if I don’t vote for the guy, I do respect his tenacity and intelligence. Obama is bringing the same confidence and intelligence that made West a hip-hop star to politics. He’s making politics interesting and intellectual again. As a political junkie, I love him for that. I could never write this much about John Kerry and I voted for that fool.

If Obama is as smart as I think he is, he probably doesn’t want to win this election.

The state of our great nation is not so hot right now. And if Bush is a lame duck, whoever wins in November is going to be a scape-goat for the quagmire that will be the legacy of the Bush Administration.

This is where I begin to have my doubts about Obama. He is a great speaker and a man with great ideas. But I wonder how much fluff can actually become reality.

America is ripe for a change and this may just be the time for a paradigm shift. I realize that I am now knocking Obama for the very thing I have been praising him for…being different.

Should I vote for the status quo (Bill, I mean, Hilary Clinton) because they can actually do something at a snails pace? Or do I roll the dice and hope that Obama can deliver on half of what he’s promised?

I must say that I was extremely impressed by Obama’s recent speech on race. His willingness to finally discuss the ‘elephant in the room’ of race exhibited a fearlessness and boldness that has been lacking from American politics for a long-time. His speech was not only eloquent but fair.

He, of all candidates represents hope for change.

I guess the question I need to answer is, Am I ready for that change?

Perhaps that’s a question we should all be asking ourselves.

Sleeping-in. And no, this isn't about The Postal Service.

Sleeping-in, it’s a luxury that I had written-off years ago.

As a youngster I couldn’t comprehend how my dad could be up at 5 in the morning everyday. Even on the weekends.

Yet as I entered my mid-20’s there I was, the spitting image of my Dad. Up by 6:30 AM, chores done and ready to hit a coffee shop by 8.

I’ve had a few bouts with unemployment in my short career and even when I didn’t have to be up by any time in particular, I was up early and IMing with my employed friends as they were heading out the door.

Which brings me to my current conundrum. I am now sleeping-in.

Of course, now that I have somewhere to be and face consequences for being late, I, the self-proclaimed King of the Early-risers can’t get out of bed.

I am not sure what it is. Maybe it has something to do with the combination of my weight, body temperature, the density of the foam in my mattress and the down in my blanket but they seem to hit the premium “comfort zone” around 5:45 AM. And it stays in “the zone” for a good hour.

It is pure bliss.

How/Why my otherwise crappy mattress and far too hot blanket seem to harmonize so well at the same time everyday I’ll ever know.

But it is pretty damn weak.

As a part-time insomniac, I relish good sleep. I go to bed every night, but rarely wake-up rested or refreshed, which is why this whole comfort zone thing is really messing with me.

I couldn’t sleep-in to save my life when I wasn’t working, when it didn’t matter. I could snooze all day if I got tired.

But now that I am employed, I need to sleep to be able to do my job or at the very least to avoid looking like that girl from the Addam’s Family.

But “the zone” is bitter sweet. Granted it reminds me that I soon have to leave for a job I moderately enjoy, but it reminds me that I don’t have to leave…just yet.

Some days I’ll trade shaving for an extra 15 minutes in “the zone.” Done deal.

Toss on a sweater instead of getting wrinkles out of a dress shirt? Sure, for an extra 5 minutes in “the zone.”

Skip making lunch today for an extra 10 mins of snoozing? Heck yeah.

All of this bargaining for one enjoyable hour of rest. It’s great.

Just a small reminder that for as much as life may seems to be a rat race I’ll never win, I do have some control.

I guess it’s a glass half-full situation.

Truth be told, you really don’t have to go into work. Shoot, it worked for Peter in ‘Office Space.’ But I don’t see myself dating Jennifer Anniston anytime soon. So I’ll just take some solace in the fact that I do still have some control, no matter how infinitesimal, over my existence.

I am OK with that…If you can’t enjoy the little things in life, the big ones are real let downs.

Some thoughts on Valentine's Day...

(This is a slightly edited repost from an article I originally wrote 02/12/02 for The Western Front)

Perpetually SWM, 5'10", 190 lbs.

Used to be athletic.

A little Chris Farley mixed with Bobby Hill.

Seeking a woman who won't laugh in my face in the first 30 seconds of conversation.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd pimp myself out so I will not spend another Valentine's Day watching Star Wars with the roomies.

Nothing like a completely contrived holiday to spread depression over our fine land.

Believe me, I've had some memorable Valentine's Days...

One year I got ditched at dinner. Another was spent consoling (drinking with) a recently single roommate.

But one stands out in my mind.

A couple of friends and I had gotten together for a "love's losers" dinner.

We were about the only people, or so it seemed, who were single and without dates for Valentine's Day. We ended up at a fine pizzeria and ordered a couple pies.

After stimulating conversation, which included me noting how glass-like the plastic cups were and a discussion of how a woman's attire relates to sexual violence, the pizza finally arrived, thankfully.

Everyone was grateful to have something to put in their mouths and end the horrid conversation, when, for some reason, one of the women at the table chuckles to herself, begging the question, "What's so funny?"

"You know what guys?" Slight pause. "This is the one-year anniversary of me losing my virginity," she said.

A couple mouthfuls of food hit the table as we all looked up in amazement.

The statement was just one of those things that really doesn't need to be said, especially considering how well the evening had gone.

The virginity proclamation accentuated the fact that none of us were getting any that night - a fact that did little to raise already low spirits.

The night was capped off by watching WWF on TBS and greeting all of the couples as they returned from their decidedly-more-enjoyable evenings.

I've spent the last week talking to people about Valentine's Day and what they think about it.

Most of the comments weren't glowing reviews.

"I hate that holiday," and "It's just there to sell cards," are just a couple of the comments I heard repeatedly.

And to my surprise, it wasn't from males. Everyone knows we hate to HAVE to do something nice, like take the woman out to dinner. Doing something nice for your lady is more fun when she's not expecting it. Commercializing it and raising expectations just isn't fair. We all know that we're not Brad Pitt, Sean Connery or Dawson, from "Dawson's Creek."

But creating a day like Valentine's Day just makes it "Another trip out to dinner that I'm going to have to pay for, I hope she orders salad."

It makes spending time with a significant other a chore. But it was the women I talked to who stated an equal, if not greater, disdain for the holiday.

So my next question to the ladies was, "Why make it such a big deal?"

I mean, if women hate the holiday as much as guys do, why place so much emphasis on an equally acknowledged Hallmark holiday?

If a guy forgets Valentine's Day, he's in hot water.

Why not boycott the holiday and save your probably broke boyfriend a few duckets?

The most common answer I got was silence...damn corporate marketing machines.

See you fellas at Haggen in the floral section.

I'll be passing you on my way to the beer aisle.

"Temptation Island 2" is on.

Cubes, mazes, rats, people?

So work.

Apparently, that is what I do now. At least work of the 9-5 nature.

It’s an interesting phenomena to be back in the land of cubes.

I’ve come to realize that I am quite an individualist, who really enjoys the company of others, on my own terms.

Sitting in a cube next to a couple of mothers who decide to share their amazement at how much pooh and puke can come out of one child, is not company I enjoy.

Yet, sadly for me, such is my lot.

It’s kinda funny what the illusion of walls will do to people.

I can hear every conversation that goes on around me, so I assume the same can be said of my conversations for my cube-mates. Yet few seem to grasp the concept that some things should be said outside of the cube, in the friendly confines on anywhere but your cube.

Another example is folks who like to have very personal (and loud) arguments on their cell phones while at their desk.

Mesmerizing stuff, but hardly what I or about anyone else want to hear.

But thanks to miracle of efficient use of space, I get to share an only-slightly-more-than-imagined wall with the Upchuck Twins.

Have I ever been guilty of being inappropriate in my cube at the behest of my cube-mates…I am sure I have. However, I am at least aware of the fact that I don’t have my own office and should be respectful of those around me.

So should cubes be sterile, work-only bastions of efficiency? Not by a long-shot.

I figure the average person spends 8 hours a day at the office, that’s 1/3 of their day! I’d venture to guess that the average person spends more time at work than they do sleeping, so it’s important that you are comfortable there.

Make your cube your own. (As sad as that sounds.)

But as you do so, keep my Dad in mind. He’s the kinda guy who had naked lady calendars on the wall and half-gallons of whiskey on the shelf at home…But nothing of the sort in his office. After all, it WAS an office.

Work is something we have to do. So I advocate making it as comfortable as possible. But in doing so, just pay attention to what your cube is really saying about you and how your actions affect those around you.

Oh, and one more tidbit: Keep the pooh, puke and other talk to a minimum...

I and your cube-mates will thank you.

Update: One more hint...It's never OK to have fish for lunch. Sure it's healthy, but toss it in the microwave and the rest of the office will hate you for the rest of the day.