<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"It's sad to see a franchise that has had so much tradition and success just disappear as if it was some expansion team," said Nate McMillan, in the hallway outside of the Americans' locker room after their 97-76 dismantling of Angola. McMillan is Team USA's assistant coach. He's also the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and one of the most recognizable names in Sonics history. His retired No. 10 still hangs from the rafters at KeyArena. "To have that happen to a team like that with the tradition that Seattle has... it's still strange to know that I won't go to Seattle to play this season," he said. "It's not right. I think the city deserves a team." But let's be honest. Chris Paul could be long-retired before another team relocates to Seattle. There are no guarantees that Memphis or New Orleans or some other struggling team will come to town, even if KeyArena is remodeled. "Look, I know it's a business," McMillan said. "And I started thinking the move was going to happen when the team first was sold to an owner who wasn't from there. I was hoping that it wouldn't, but I felt like it would." It is clear where McMillan's heart is. His family lives in Seattle. He made his reputation in Seattle. He is part of Sonics history, and he doesn't want that history traveling to the Southwest. McMillan said he has no intention of allowing owner Clay Bennett and his boys to rehang his uniform in OKC. "I never played in Oklahoma City," he said. "I spent my whole career in Seattle, you know. I just don't see that happening. And that's fine with me." McMillan is inviting all Seattle fans to switch allegiances to his Blazers. In many respects they are Seattle's team. Paul Allen, the owner, is from Seattle. Brandon Roy and Martell Webster are both products of Seattle's hoop system. "I don't think we want to come in there and try to just step over the Sonics and what they've done. But I'm saying to Seattle, 'Come on down,' " said McMillan, who will be starting his fourth season in Portland. "The whole plan when I went down there was to rebuild the Trail Blazers, and now we're starting to see the future of that organization. "I just think the style of basketball that we're going to bring to the floor, it will grab some fans from the Northwest. We've got good guys. We've got a good group of players, and a lot of our guys are familiar to people in Seattle. My approach will be, as it's always been, 'Play the game the right way and play hard.' And we'd love to share it and grab the fans of Seattle." Thinking Sonics in Beijing. The loss can hit you in the strangest places.</div> Sonics' exit hits home in Beijing - Steve Kelley, The Seattle Times Well, obviously Sonics players' jerseys shouldn't be hanging in OKC. That'd be dumb. I don't know about rooting for the Blazers. Obviously, it seems to be a good time to root for the Blazers, but it doesn't seem right for someone after years of rooting for the Sonics.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 13 2008, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, obviously Sonics players' jerseys shouldn't be hanging in OKC. That'd be dumb. I don't know about rooting for the Blazers. Obviously, it seems to be a good time to root for the Blazers, but it doesn't seem right for someone after years of rooting for the Sonics.</div> Dont Pistol Pete's jersey hang New Orleans? And he was never a Hornet. How can you go from hating a team, to them being your team? I feel sorry for all the Sonics fans for being put thrugh this bullshit.
I want to hate on OKC but they're probably not gonna be any good any time soon. So probably won't even remember they exist.
Good for Nate McMillan. I'm glad he basically told Clay Bennett he wanted nothing to do with the Thunder.
