Seattle still fighting move; it should

Seattle is playing hardball over the SuperSonics' exodus, filing lawsuits by the dozens and fiery darts by the score. NBA commish David Stern calls it a scorched-earth policy, Clay Bennett looks like he's just sparred with Randy Couture and Seattle seems unwilling to face reality on this ultimate fight for possession of the SuperSonics.

So here's what I have to say to the people of the Great Northwest: I don't blame you.

I would kick and scream, too. Fight and scratch. Sermonize and sue. Bar myself across every doorway, throw up roadblocks across freeways, shut down every port along Puget Sound, in an effort to keep the green and gold alive.

Here's why: It's a lot easier to keep a team than to get one back. Retention is a better bet than returntion, which is not a word, but you know what I mean.

Yes, it seems absurd the NBA would have franchises in Salt Lake City, Sacramento and Oklahoma City, but not Seattle.

It also seems silly that the NFL would have franchises in Jacksonville, Buffalo and Green Bay, but not Los Angeles. Yet here we are, 14 years and counting since LA had a football team anywhere besides a Hollywood sound stage. You can't play double dare with major-league sports.

True, some cities don't stay dark long. St. Louis went seven years without the NFL after losing the Cardinals to Arizona. Houston went seven years without the NFL after losing the Oilers to Tennessee.

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