Missing the Sonics
Published 9:50 pm Thursday, October 9, 2008
RENTON — The National Basketball Association started preseason play over the weekend, and at least one former season-ticket holder of the Seattle Sonics is trying to adjust to life without basketball.
“It’s kind of weird,” said Walter Jones, the Seattle Seahawks’ Pro Bowl left tackle. “This time of year, I’m usually looking at the schedule saying, ‘I might try to make it to this game or that game.’ Not having a basketball team here is going to be very weird.”
The 34-year-old Jones had Sonics season tickets for three seasons.
“For those of us who are used to the season starting in a couple weeks, it’s hard,” Jones said. “Every time you drive by the city and see Key Arena, it reminds you that we’ve got no basketball here.”
As for becoming a fan of the Oklahoma Thunder? Let’s just say that the 325-pound Jones won’t be inviting Clay Bennett to dinner anytime soon.
“We’ve always had an NBA team, so it’s going to be weird,” Jones said. “It’s going to be hard to watch the NBA, to watch all those stars, and to know you’re not going to see those guys play in Seattle.”
