User:Stevenarntson/group spaces/Archive/English Composition/group 5

Group Members

 * Tristanrasmussen 12:03, 27 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Paulpark 18:43, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Harrisonroulstone

Resources
Andrieson, David (October 13, 2007), "Sonics ushered Seattle into the big time 40 years ago Saturday", The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003570783_websonitimeline13.html

Pluto, Terry, Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association (Simon & Schuster, 1990), ISBN 978-1-4165-4061-8, p.200

http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=241

reflective assessment

 * 1) good: Our team was quite independent and was able to get all the tasks needed to be done finished in time. When we worked together we definitely got it all done quickly and efficiently. We were able to convey ideas when we were together and understand what each member was explaining.


 * bad: There was a lack of communication between the team which led to problems throughout the project. It made it harder to talk about new ideas and to get things to other members when they were needed. Also we had a problem with procrastinating. If we had worked on this earlier we believe that we could've done an overall better job on the project.


 * 1) future strategies: Our future strategies for whatever other projects we do in the future would be to have better communication, so ideas and critiques can get across quicker, allowing more work to get done faster. Also getting work done more quickly would be another strategy, so there would be more time to fine tune the projects and have other people give their opinions so we could constantly improve upon the projects we would be working on.

Research
Original preliminary research Seattle sonics history:

•	Founded 1967 by an LLC corporation in Seattle •	The Seattle colors and Green, gold & white •	3 different home arenas since 1967. From 1967-1978, the Sonics played in Seattle Center Coliseum, also known as KeyArena. From 1978-1985, the Sonics played their home games in The Kingdome. In 1985, the team started playing inSeattle Center Coliseum/KeyArena again. In 1994, the team moved to the Tacoma Dome while KeyArena was being remodeled. Since 1995, the Sonics have played their home games in KeyArena in Seattle •	The Seattle Sonics have won a total of six division titles in their history. They won their division in 1979, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2005. The Sonics won their conference in 1978, 1979, and 1996. In 1979, the Seattle Sonics won their only NBA Championship in 1979. With Head Coach Lenny Wilkens •	The Seattle Sonics have had several famous coaches in their history including Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, George Karl, and Paul Westphal. •	Gary Payton has played the most career games as a Seattle Sonic, playing in 999 games with the team. Payton is also the team's all-time points leader with 18,207, assists leader with 7,384, and steals leader with 2,107. The belated Seattle Sonics team is led by captain and shooting guard Ray Allen. Other young stars for the current Sonics team include Nick Collison, Rashard Lewis, and Luke Ridinoir. •	October 21, 1967 Seattle defeats the San Diego Rockets 117-110 in overtime to win their first game in franchise history. The win pushes the Supersonics record to 1 and 2. •	February 26, 1972 The Seattle Supersonics defeat the Cincinnati Royals by a score of 122-106 to clinch the first winning season in franchise history. •	March 23, 1974 The Supersonics defeat the Golden State Warriors 139-137 as Fred Brown scores 58 points in the game to set the franchise record for most points in a game •	April 8, 1975 The Seattle Supersonics defeat the Detroit Pistons 90-77 to win their first ever playoff game •	May 17, 1978 The Seattle Supersonics win their first Western Conference Championship by defeating the Denver Nuggets 123-108 in the Western conference finals. They win the series 4 games to 2. The Supersonics however will lose the NBA finals to the Washington Bullets •	June 1, 1979 The Seattle Supersonics win their first and only World Championship when they defeat the Washington Bullets 97-93. They avenge the previous seasons finals loss by defeating the Washington Bullets 4 games to 1. •	May 14, 1987 The Supersonics defeat the Houston Rockets 128-125 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1979. •	May 22, 1993 The Supersonics defeat the Houston Rockets 103-100 in game seven of the Western Conference Semi-Finals to advance to the Western Conference Finals. •	June 2, 1996 The Seattle Supersonics defeat the Utah Jazz 90-86 in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to their 3rd Western Conference Championship in franchise history •	2008 Seattle super sonics were relocated to Oklahoma against the wishes of thousands of seattle basketball fans. Their last game was played in the key arena stadium.

Seattle Super Sonics Founding and Bounding

December 20th 1966, is a day that lives in infamy with any and all great sports fans of the Seattle Supersonics. On this day, Seattle, Washington got their 1st NBA franchise. The founding as well as the first years of life for the Supersonics was treacherous. As with most newly franchised teams they were building from the ground up, but there have been many great successes bountifully given from the sacrifice of hard work and effort from those 1st years. With many ups and down the Seattle Supersonics were very successful after the n3wbie gitters, winning 6 divisional titles, 3 conference championships, and 1 NBA championship in 1979.

On this day, December 20th 1966, L.A. businessman Sam Schulman teamed up with long time friend and business partner Eugene V. Klein, and an accompanying LLC to approached the NBA league officials. On Dec. 20th they were given the city of Seattle franchise, named the Seattle Supersonics for the emerging aerospace technology in the area. As well as they recently contracted Supersonic Transport that actually never made it into production, but still left its mark on the surrounding area. The name stuck and since 1966 the Seattle Supersonics never changed their colors or original name. The original 1975 logo that is well known by all Seattle fans is off the picturesque Seattle landmarks and encompassed within a basketball’s stripes. A very inspired logo at the time it remained unchanged from 1975- 1995 when it was replaced by a new age remodel maintaining the previous colors but loosing the subtle beauty of the original they simply used a cartoon like model of the Seattle Space Needle behind a large SONICS logo. This logo stayed from 1995-2001 when it was replaced by a generic logo containing the teams name and large S a top a basketball. This was the last logo of the Seattle Supersonics lasting from 2001-2008. Mr. Schulman and his original LLC partners owned and ran the Seattle Supersonics from 1966-1983. the franchise was bought for $1.75 million a sizeable amount in its time, but in 1983 was sold by Schulman and his partnered LLC to a tight-lipped more media friendly Barry Akerley for $21 million. Mr. Schulman left behind him Seattle’s first major league sports team and a World Championship in 1979. Barry Akerley and many family members were evolved in the ownership and running of the Sonics. The Akerley’s made their money on billboard Ad space and knew very well how to market the team. The success was almost overnight. The ownership group(Akerley’s) started the Seattle Storm, the first professional major league women’s sports team in Washington State history. The Akerley’s ownership lasted for 17 years from 1983-2001 when they were bought out for $200 million, a substantial increase from before said sales because of Tv ad campaign money and multi-billion dollar sponsorship deals the NBA had paved along the way to becoming one of the most highly paid sports organization in the US, by Howard Schultz a local Seattle-ite. Howard Schultz started the once local company Starbucks which has now been globalized, and forms one of the largest corporations in the world today. Known as an emotional fan Schultz is commonly seen at games showing his emotional side. While Howard Schultz was the majority buyer his group consisted of over 17 other members none of which are as synonymous with the Sonics as he has been. In July of 2006 Schultz and company sold the Sonics for $350 million to Oklahoma based business man Clay Bennett and company. After asking unsuccessfully for a $300 million to put toward a $530 million stadium announced to be plotted for construction in Renton. When met with failure Clay Bennett and his accompanying LLC moved the once Seattle Supersonics to Oklahoma City where they will assume a new identity under a new name, logo’s, and conference. The end of a great legacy of Seattle basketball the team as before said made great progress over the years and accomplished many great feats.

The Seattle Supersonics founded under Sam Schulman had their inaugural season opener on October 13st, 1967 with head coach Al Bianchi and achieved the 1st ever franchise loss for the Sonics against the San Francisco Warriors. The following week on October 21st was the teams first franchise win against the San Diego Rockets 117-110 in overtime. The 1967 Seattle Supersonics finished with a dismal 23-59 record. The following season was getting better, 1968 was the first 30+ season for the Sonics. Over time the Sonics progressed to their 1st winning season in 1971-72 with an overall record of  47-35. In 1974 star forward Fred Brown scored 58 points to beat the Golden State Warriors 139-137 setting the franchise all time scoring record for 58 points in one game. In April of 1975 the Sonics won their very first playoff game defeating the Detroit Pistons 90-77. 1978 the Seattle Sonics won their first Western Conference Championship by defeating the Denver Nuggets 123-108. They won the series 4-2. After winning the Conference Championship the Sonics went on to lose to the Washington Bullets. But in 1979 the Seattle Sonics went the distance and won the 1st and only franchise World Championship by defeating the very team that had ended their previous season. They beat the Washington Bullets 97-93 in the final game of the series. They won the series 4-1 avenging the previous loss almost exactly a year before. In 1987, after almost a decade since the Sonics had made it to the Conference Semi-finals, they advanced to the Conference Semi-finals only to be defeated. May of 1993 the Sonics defeated the Houston Rockets to advance to the Western Conference Championship finals for the 1st time in 6 years. In 1996 the Sonics won their 3rd Western Conference Championship in franchise history. 2008 the Seattle Supersonics ended their long love affair with downtown Seattle’s waterfront to move to Oklahoma finishing with a meek 20-62 record.

Amongst all the long droughts in Seattle’s history there are just as many high notes to accompany them and even more fulfilled fans who spent decades attending the home games of the Sonics at one of three stadiums, the original Key Arena from 1967-1978, the Kingdome 1978-1985, and briefly in the Tacoma dome while the Key Arena underwent remodeling in 1994. The departure of the Seattle Supersonics left a huge hole for sports fans in the Northwest most notably downtown Seattle. Fans and players alike were sad to see the team go, but after unsuccessful negotiations with the City of Seattle for a $300 million dollar payout for a new stadium the Seattle Sonics now Reside in Oklahoma were they will start a new chapter just a turbulent and triumphant hopefully as the last.

Fiction
It was about 3 years ago and my friend wanted to go and watch the Supersonics play against New Orleans Hornets. That time, I never have been to a sports game in my life and believed that it was unnecessary to go. I heard the rumors that sittings were comfortable and always packed with people, foods are overpriced, and also we couldn’t even drink because we were under the drinking age. So feeling of getting dragged, I went with my friend to see and experience the first sports game at Key arena. Soon as we got close to the arena, I started to hear music bumping and people excited to see the game. Still being little skeptical, I did not wanted to get swallowed up by the vibe of the place so I put on a little front and acted like I wasn’t going to enjoy the game and it was just going to be a waste of time. But soon as I got my ticket scanned off and I was inside, the skeptical me was no more. I was so swallowed up the vibe; my heart felt like it was going to explode with the excitement. Now with the spirit to cheer for the team that I barely cared about, I was ready to scream my lungs off. Rushing to our sit, we end up bumping into lot of people, but I didn’t care, I was ready to watch this game live. Before we got to the sits, we decided to get some food first. The rumor about the food was true; it was so expensive, I had to borrow some money from my friend but it was worth it. After we picked up the food, we set down and we were set and ready to enjoy this game. They introduced the other team first and it was a rookie year for Chris Paul of New Orleans Hornets, so some of the Super Sonics fans decided to heckle the rookie player and we decided to join in on that heckling. After they introduce the other team, the place went dark and the announcer screamed out “Now give it up for your SSUUUUUPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR SONICSSSSSSSSS!!!”. With the screaming of the fans and the flashing lights everywhere, I felt like I was the part of the town’s great supporter and made me feel great inside. After the Seattle players were introduced, things got calm and people set back down after the jump ball. Sonics didn’t play so good, but I didn’t care. That moment I wasn’t jealous of people with plasma TV or even people with 100 inch HD TV because I was watching it right in front of my eyes. I was wishing for a nice dunk or two, but knowing Seattle’s playing style, it wasn’t going to happen. I, my friend, and some other Sonics supporter heckled Chris Paul of New Orleans Hornets every time he had a possession of the ball. Even with all that heckling, he played very well as he became the rookie of the year; but he did seemed little bugged. I think he even heard us saying some stuff that wasn’t nicely said with the emotions I was in. 3rd quarter came along and Sonics caught up to Hornets. Ray putting up work, being the star and main go-to guy, Ray Allen sure did work. Making 3 point shots left and right, breaking Hornets players’ ankle one by one, and making some acrobatic shots that only real good player could pull off. It was great to see Ray stepping up and taking the control of the game. However, I guess young players are definitely more energetic; Chris Paul suddenly on fire and kept making shots like he was just playing around for 1st half of the game. When it came down to the last quarter, we as the fans knew the game was over. The margin was 11 points and it was just too hard to keep up with that margin for our Seattle Super Sonics. Well the game was over and it Super Sonics’ lost. It was okay though, my first game experience was great. With the feeling of achievement and made me fell like I been missing it out for very long time. That day, I promised myself that this wasn’t going to be the first and last game I’m going to attend, but it was just a start of my relationship with the sporting arena.

Harrison Roulstone's poem
Buzzer Beater

An echo rings out.

boom...boom...boom

muffled by creams.

An echo rings out.

Boom...boom...boom...

whispering through.

The end is near.

An Echo rings out!

LOUDER

BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!

with the last grain

Only silence and gasps...

Paul J. Park's poem
Sonics

Yellow and green

Energy filling up the air

No need to fear

The Super Sonics are here

Don't have gadgets like Batman got

but they have trully earned our hearts.

Sonics were the hero

206 was the spot.

Protecting us from

Cavaliers to Knicks to Bulls to Spurs, no championship ring though,

but it was still fun.

Now i gotta see Durant playiung for OKC

THIS Is BULLS@#T!!!

I rather see MJ playing for D.C

I'm driving on 520, sliding through the rain.

Get outta my way,

5:30 ESPN

Brandon Roy got game.

Tristan's poem
They were our team

Once filled to the brim with pride

Ready to go after any goal they saw

But things have changed

Taken from us in such an unfair manner

Cast away by the decision of people who didn't see what they meant

They were our team

The Seattle Sonics were their name

They had their good times, they had their bad

But they stayed true to us, and we stayed true to them

Though now they're gone

They were our team

Will our Seattle get another team?

Probably not

But keep true to the memories we have and we shall forever have a team

renga #1
I went to the game

I arrived before the team

And brought a pepsi

Who are they playing today?

Oh right, it is the Celtics

They have a good team

But I do hate them so much

Lets go Sonics, go

Go! Sonics, go, go!

Go, go, go, go,go Sonics!

I have thunderstixs

I hope no fans anger me

Or they'll feel my wrath

Luke shakes left, right, left

Luke shook Paul Pierce's ankles

No he is injured

The score is seven to five

Then it's seven to seven!

Eyes begin to drift

Ready for the half time show

I see cheerleaders

Time to get some beer

Game should start soon, over here

The Celtics should fear

The awesome factor is high!

The undefeated Sonics!

The Celtics are mad

Riots start, grab thunderstixs

Pure brutality

Some of the Celtic fans had guns

I should hurry up and run

renga #2
Going to the game

Sonics against the Lakers

Got my beer hat on

I can not find the right seat

Looks like I'm already drunk

Climbing up the aisle

Finally found the right seat

Let the game begin

We had the first point in board

I hope the Lakers lose this game

Kobe scores a point

The Lakers are up by 10

This is not so good

Ray Allen better make some shots

Or we do not have a chance

Destroyed by Lakers

So many points, the scoreboard

Suddenly explodes

This is rather depressing

The emo kids are crying

Now I hate the Lakers

I will punch a Lakers fan

Just because I'm mad

Police all around

I can't believe I did that;

Hell- I'm sorry man

Wait a second, no I'm not

The Sonics lost, but I won

I will go to jail

I am too drunk to stay here

Should buy a trinket