"SWINDLED?" COME ON!
The News Tribune
Updated at 1:00 AM
May 13, 2007 TACOMA — So you thought the Seattle SuperSonics’ 31-51 regular season was a debacle? Well, their worst season in 21 years might be nothing compared with what has transpired since. CONTINTUED>>>
MY TAKE>>>
ARCHIVE<<<

MEETING OF THE DONS
I ran into Citizens for More Important Things, Point Man, Chris Van Dyk at the FOI Summit. Chris was on the panel, "Sports Secrecy: Stadium Deals In The Luxury Suites?" It was the first meeting of the Most Feared Man of Stadiums, Parks & Arenas and the Point Man of the FANS REVOLUTION and I had some pretty interesting words for him.

KEEP IT REAL, BELLEVUE!
Now that the Sonics' Renton arena deal is dead, Bellevue is just as dead in my book. For as BIG of a Seattle Sonics fan that I am, I would rather they move to Oklahoma City now, than to EVER have to watch them play in Bellevue! And if a cry for a Bellevue arena starts up again, I will be LEADING THE BRIGADE to turn it into laughter! Why do I say that? Because of my recent, 90-day ordeal* with "Mini and Mick from Bellevue," that's why! Wait 'til you get "a load" of this. CONTINUED>>>

COMMANDO'S ANGELS
Poli$port$Biz: "Politics and business putting the squeeze on sports fans from both sides." Well, Seahawk and Mariner fans are in danger of getting the spectacular views from Seahawks Stadium and Safeco Field "squeezed out." But Joan Enticknap and The Feary Group are fighting for the RIGHTS & DEMANDS of Seattle Sports Fans! Go get 'em!! I'm standing by to help in any way, Ladies.

FORTY-TWO @ SIXTY
Long live the memory and legacy of Jackie Robinson! But the 2007 MLB season opened amid reports that it's the one with the lowest percentage of Black players in history. And since that history is 60 years this season, all I can ask is, "If we honestly rewind and analytically fast forward those 60, what is Number 42's true legacy to the game of baseball?"

43 DAY MISSION
The war in Iraq is officially a week into Year Five and during the past seven days, we've seen and heard all the retrospectives of the first four years. At this point my question is, why wasn't the war ended on Day 43? As goofy as this picture looks now, the mission was accomplished then, but ABSOLUTELY NO ONE held the president to that "statement of fact."

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN
So is it time to be ridiculously engrossed with the most exciting sports tournament of the year? Is it time for 64 to thrillingly become 32, 16, eight and finally four? Is it time to start reluctantly crossing teams off your bracket with the realization of the impossibility of predicting The Finals? Yes, yes, yes, but no, no and no. CONTINUED>>>

24 BEYOND THE RAFTERS
Tonight as Spencer Haywood's number 24 jersey is hoisted to the rafters of Seattle's KeyArena, memories of the other 24, the late Dennis Johnson will ascend beyond. The shock of D.J's passing is still with me. I met D.J. in 1985 while he was in town with the Boston Celtics. He wore number 3 in the game, but in the lobby of the Seattle Westin Hotel, he was number 24, at home, holding court with his friends and fans. God rest your soul, D.J.

24 TO THE RAFTERS
To any and all NBA players who entered the league early from college, or right out of high school: now is your chance to give it up for Spencer Haywood. The Seattle Sonics FINALLY are. As the old saying goes, "better 26 years late, than never!" EVERY player after Spencer has been on the "good ship lollipop," but Haywood came in on the hardship.

CC VOICEMAILS>>>

I WORK FOR THEM
Gene Upshaw should be ashamed of himself for saying, "I don't work for them." If it wasn't for his position, he could very well be one of the former players he's referring to, like Conrad Dobler. Conversely, if it wasn't for Gene Upshaw's position as the head of the NFLPA, there wouldn't be former players like Conrad Dobler. We, the fans, work for them. Let's get to work!

OLD PROS
Did you catch Conrad Dobler on the most recent episode of HBO's REAL Sports? Bryant Gumble's NFL Network play-by-play this season confirmed for us all, that younger brother Greg is undoubtedly the only NFL play-by-play guy in the family. But when it comes to keepin' REAL, that's what Bryant Gumble's show does better than anyone. And seeing one of the NFL's greats Conrad Dobler featured, "NFL after-life" doesn't get any more real.

COUNTDOWN II
Each New Year brings another year of the BLACK CRUSH. In fact, that's how my show got started last year. And if I had to guess, every year there is a Super Bowl, this website will encourage fans to blackout commercials in protest of the NFL Blackout Policy to create a shift in power in the BIG MONEY arena of sports. Counting down 30 days to 41. All aboard!

BRIAN ROBINSON: 228
You have a good start, but there are some things you need to seriously consider as the situation heads into the home stretch. As I mentioned during our first meeting, you need a "strategy adjustment." In case you haven't had the opportunity to peruse my show, here's a compilation of my takes on the Sonics and your organization.

The legislature reconvenes January 8, 2008; 228 days from TODAY. Since it will be an even-numbered year, the session will only be 60 days as opposed to the 105 days this year.

Although sending individual letters/eMails to legislators is productive, I'm convinced that a "collective and united" lobbying effort of Voters, Taxpayers and Fans is the only way to produce the POWER they can truly understand. To that end, we need to mass an attack that will create the type of undeniable momentum that actually has the ability to Save Our Sonics.

PUNKIN' SPERBER
While at the FOI Summit, I had the "honor" of meeting University of Indiana Professor of English and American Studies, author, lecturer, and fellow-Bob Knight-detractor Dr. Murray Sperber. In fact, I tried setting up a meeting with the doctor before he came to Seattle. But Professor Sperber punked me. And so, since I don't take getting punked lightly...

UNFRIENDLY FIRES
ESPN.com
4:48 PM ET
March 24, 2007
WASHINGTON - A Pentagon investigation will recommend that nine officers, including up to four generals, be held accountable for missteps in the aftermath of the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan, senior defense officials said Friday. CONTINUED>>>
MRS. TILLMAN'S STATEMENT>>>
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING>>>
ALSO: War Illustrated

THIRD EXIT CARD
CNN
Updated: 8:05 p.m. PDT
March 19, 2007 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Taha Yassin Ramadan, the former vice president under Saddam Hussein, was hanged just before dawn Tuesday, according to a source close to Iraq's High Tribunal. CONTINUED>>>

ANOTHER YEAR
Remember all of the websites that partied like it was 1999 and were gone by 2000? Well, WeTheFans.com is still here and has become a name-brand voice for the RIGHTS & DEMANDS of Sports Fans across America.

NIKE'S COMING OUT
After John Amaechi and Tim Hardaway came out, Nike's new ad campaign got me wondering. Wondering if there is more than meets the "TV eye." Amaechi says he knows of many other gay NBA players. Hardaway swears he's never even seen one, until now. Comissioner David Stern has made his stance crystal clear. So what percentage of NBA players are actually gay? Let's use the 80/20 rule and say "20%." So in Nike's ad, who's your two? Don't like that 10? How about this 10?

LAST CALL
Things are really heating on the Seattle/OK City Sonics front. A few weeks ago, Sonics owner/chairman Clayton Bennett sent co-chairman, Lenny Wilkens to face lawmakers in Olympia. Since then, Senator Margarita Prentice has been very visable and this week, Mr. Bennett himself will make his $300 million pitch to the legislature. So my question to KJR's Dick Fain was, "Where's SaveOurSonics.org?"

RAD MAD XLI!
John Clayton in South Beach? Not a pretty site! Well not a pretty site from the Professor's viewpoint at the Radisson Hotel. Don't they know how he became known as "John Clayton, DAMMIT?" At a WHACK hotel, that's how! ALSO: CLAYTON NEWS

SHE'S BAAAACK
Say what you will about Michael Jordan, or Tiger Woods, or Brett Favre, Serena Williams is one the "All-time Great Competitors." She proved it (again) Down Under with her amazing, unseeded Austrailan Open title run. And she's just as excited about the Super Bowl.

DOWN TO THIS
In two weeks, NFL fans will be talking about the game. NFL execs will be talking about ratings and everyone else will be talking about "the commercials." Four pre-season games, sixteen regular season games, and three weeks of playoffs to wind up with the two best teams. All so that everyone will watch the Super Bowl and get hypnotized by advertisers. CONTINUED>>>

WEAK FRONT
Seattle Times
Updated at 03:44 PM
January 19, 2007 OLYMPIA — Sonics owner Clay Bennett wants at least $300 million in taxpayer money to help pay for a new arena that could cost as much as $530 million, but the request already has drawn skepticism from some key state lawmakers. CONTINTUED>>>

SECOND EXIT CARD
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 1:46 p.m. PT
January 15, 2007 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein’s half brother and the former chief of Iraq’s Revolutionary Court* were both hanged before dawn Monday, but...
*Awad Hamed al-Bandar was not in the deck.


Previously on Commando Dave's Show>>>