three cathedrals

I was listening to sports radio last night (Dick Fain, KJRAM950) and he was doing a segment about the cynicism surrounding the ‘Sonics issue.’ It got me thinking and I send him this note as an email when I got home…

I grew up in New Haven Connecticut, a city and state that have not a single pro team since we let the Whalers get away and win their title in someone else's hometown. One of the things I love about living here in Seattle for the last 9 years is the atmosphere generated by the 4 pro teams we have.

See, I buy into the analogy that sports are like religion (no intent to offend anyone!), in that they are about faith, hope, redemption, and glory - and also about pain, suffering, and sacrifice! Faith and hope are only real when you hold onto them through pain and suffering; redemption only follows failure; glory is only...well, glorious after sacrifice! These are the reasons we all love sports! Why we love the stories and the history and the movies, and the heroes!

In our case, as fans and citizens of the Seattle area, our sacrifice must be to suck it up and pay for the new stadiums. Because its really not about business models or contracts, taxes, politics or referendums - its about having a team here, in our town, so that we can hold out hope for that one season like the 2001 Mariners that made every person you saw, everywhere in the city, your co-fan and friend. So we can dream each year that this might be the season we have an All-star quarterback and an MVP running back who unite and electrify us like the Hawks did last season! And so we can witness the rare combinations of talent, drive, experience, and class that produce champions like the 2004 Storm!

Stadiums are the cathedrals of our time...I think the saying goes. So yes, let's build one more, for just one more chance to experience all that we hope it will reward us with! Build a stadium, keep the team!