Poor Seattle: The Business of Sports Rips the Heart Out of An Entire Fan Base

David Stern has a legacy. The "Ewing Conspiracy" kicked it off with a bang. And up until this year, his tireless efforts to rebuild not just a franchise from New Orleans, but the actual city itself, would go down as one of the single greatest accomplishments of any commissioner, in any sport, to date.

Forget about his arrogance when speaking to what he feels are lesser minds. Forget the fact he always seems to find joy in things working out suspiciously well for teams when he wants them to (see: Cleveland Cavs-Lebron James).

He put his pride and ego aside and set off on the largest (and possibly most important) community outreach endeavor of any major sporting league to date. After Hurricane Katrina decimated a city and its people he vowed to have the 2007 All-Star Game in the repaired New Orleans Arena, and he delivered on that promise.

He vowed to have the Hornets return from Oklahoma City to their home fan base, the fans that loved them and cheered for them. And he delivered on that promise.

One promise he delivered on in the past year is one that will forever taint his legacy. He promised Clay Bennett, the sheisty owner of the Seattle Supersonics, a once-proud franchise, that he would approve a move to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City, being Bennett's hometown, got a taste of a pro franchise when they welcomed the Hornets with open arms after the events of Hurricane Katrina. Bennett felt they were slighted when the Hornets left town to move back to New Orleans, and so his quest to bring another franchise to the city began.

Forget the proud legacy of the Seattle Supersonics. Bennett wanted to start a new legacy, the Oklahoma City Supersonics (my how that just rolls off the tongue), and damned are all those fans who dare to disagree.

Bennett had made his decision, there was no way around it. With the backing of the great NBA Commissioner David Stern, the only thing standing between Bennett and ripping the hearts out of millions of Sonics faithful was a judge to rule on Bennett's side and release him from his lease with the city of Seattle.

Now I should state a few things. I am a Knicks fan. I have no ties to Seattle. I actually hate the Seahawks (from the old AFC days), and am indifferent when it comes to the Mariners.

But for some reason I always liked the Sonics. Maybe because as I was growing into my adolescence Shawn Kemp was at his peak. I watched almost every Knicks game, but I actually watched games against the Sonics.

They were fun. They were tough. Payton to Kemp for a thunderous dunk became an everyday Sportscenter highlight. My first jersey was a Sonics jersey (I'm sure you can guess who). When the Sonics made the finals and were matched up against the long-time nemesis of the Knicks, MJ's Bulls, I rooted to the point you would think I was as Seattle as Starbucks and Grunge music.

Fast forward to this past season. Kevin Durant, the savior, comes to a team in turmoil. He doesn't save the franchise, doesn't even win a respectable amount of games.

The fans knew they were dangerously close to losing their beloved team, but never wavered in their support.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?