This is when they used to play a few games a year in Spokane. That's why there is such a small crowd. It reminds me of the will ferrel movie in the introductions and during the game.
think about it. they didnt want to give gus williams a raise, they traded DJ, and people forget that the microwave started his career in seattle and they traded him to detroit. who was making their personnel decisions?
1981, Wow, that was another lifetime ago for me. Notice all those empty seats. I remember when the Super Sonics won the NBA Championship in 1979 all the primetime games were on tape delay, only Sat & Sun games were broadcasted live. My 17 yr old son can't imagine that. Now all NBA games are telecast live, arenas are full due to seating licensing, commercialism and greedy owners and the NBA Championship is now called the NBA Finals.
Gus "The Wizard" Williams was the main reason why Seattle won an NBA title.....noticed they never won another? DJ-JJ-Lonnie Shelton- DT Freddie Brown--Sikma--------awesome!~
Yeah they did win which sucks for being a Sonics fan. Funny though how Paul Allen own both the Seahawks and Blazers and he is from Seattle I guess he couldn't save the Sonics :(
As a young 8 years old refugees arriving in Seattle in the summer of 1978, I was introduce to b-ball and the sonics. I love Jack S, James D, Fred B, Dennis J...but most is Gus Williams.
Westphal must have been injured. Terrible trade giving away Dennis Johnson for Westphal. The Sonics owner must have only wanted to pay white players since Gus Williams also had to sit out.
Mr. Westphal had already been traded when I shot this in late 1981. He only played one season for the Sonics - 80-81. The summer of '81 he was traded to the Knicks, lasting for 2 season before heading back to the Suns for the '83-"84 season.
So this is Gus "the Wizard" Williams, eh? I've only ever seen photos of him but this footage is AWESOME. I own a pair of his personal game worn sneakers that have the #1 printed in the back of his white/green hi top Nike shoes from 1980. The best part is that both shoes are autographed.
Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Okieville and there he will be cornholed. His yet-to-be named team will make the L.A. Clippers look like playoff contenders
People forget how Lenny really screwed up this championship team. Trading DJ. Letting Gus sit out. Hanzlik sucked, Walker sucked more but not a fraction as bad as when Wally was the GM. Clay Bennett will be cornholed in hell if the move to Oakie ville happens.
That's not a bad thing, necessarily. Sonics fans were spared from seeing the same team that won in 79 being eliminated by the Lakers for the next 3-5 yrs. Sonics were more vulnerable than the other top tier teams to LA's fast break once Magic joined the scene, and that's even with a fairly decent approach to taking away Kareem's sweet spots.
Oh Ok cool. You mean KNX the newsradio station in LA right? cool.
Thanks for update mbhfromla . No offense to D-Ray fans but i guess Mr. Oden got tired of broadcasting a losing season every year since team started in 1998.
OMG!! This is classic Sonics right here. I have been of the Sonics since '78. Big Perm (Jack Sikma)was one of my favorites on the Sonics. D.J. was my hero. The Wiz, everybody love the Wizard. Man thanks for bringing back great memories. We gotta keep the Sonics in Seattle.
This is when they used to play a few games a year in Spokane. That's why there is such a small crowd. It reminds me of the will ferrel movie in the introductions and during the game.
grigsolve 3 months ago
those are some big ass glasses
NamIsIll 7 months ago
I switched to the Lakers, but Paul Allen owns the Blazers so I sort of like them as well.
SecularTechnology 1 year ago
10,000th view on this video, featuring Paul Olden, the man, the myth and the legend himself!!
kingdomoftheworm 1 year ago
@kingdomoftheworm
10,000 views - that's crazy! Man I miss those days and my sonics.
bellamyvideo 1 year ago
@bellamyvideo I'm so sorry for you guys. The Sonics leaving is definitely a black eye on the NBA.
kingdomoftheworm 1 year ago
think about it. they didnt want to give gus williams a raise, they traded DJ, and people forget that the microwave started his career in seattle and they traded him to detroit. who was making their personnel decisions?
elwin38 1 year ago
Where is assistant coach Les Habegger???
capcentre 1 year ago
Gus williams DJ one of the best Guard tandems ever. Calvin Murphy is in the post too. Rudy T some HOF in this film very cool
tellthetruthg 1 year ago
wow.....there were white people playing in the game to?
golfmaniac007 1 year ago
Yikes! Paul Olden (the anchorman) looks like Wayne Williams (the Atlanta Child Killer)
ChristineCAlb 1 year ago
@ChristineCAlb I was thinking the same thing.
tacomadavid68 1 year ago
my surname is Guseynov!
RSTM23 2 years ago
All about the money
Koolv32 2 years ago
1981, Wow, that was another lifetime ago for me. Notice all those empty seats. I remember when the Super Sonics won the NBA Championship in 1979 all the primetime games were on tape delay, only Sat & Sun games were broadcasted live. My 17 yr old son can't imagine that. Now all NBA games are telecast live, arenas are full due to seating licensing, commercialism and greedy owners and the NBA Championship is now called the NBA Finals.
adg10grand 2 years ago
I liked the Sonics, but not when they were playing the Blazers.
I hope that Seattlites can like the Blazers the same way we Portlanders like the Mariners and Seahawks
CaptainSexyJacob 2 years ago
I used to hate the TrailBlazers being a Sonics fan but now the Sonics are goine Portland is my team. Funny how things work out.
Aku51 2 years ago 2
We do.
strangeones 2 years ago
Gus "The Wizard" Williams was the main reason why Seattle won an NBA title.....noticed they never won another? DJ-JJ-Lonnie Shelton- DT Freddie Brown--Sikma--------awesome!~
deepsix7 2 years ago
Ha ha! Blazers won!
PACNOWEST=RIPCITY MONOPOLY!
TageSavage 2 years ago
Yeah they did win which sucks for being a Sonics fan. Funny though how Paul Allen own both the Seahawks and Blazers and he is from Seattle I guess he couldn't save the Sonics :(
Aku51 2 years ago
With all due respect, I'm gunna miss the I-5 rivalry.
TageSavage 2 years ago
As a young 8 years old refugees arriving in Seattle in the summer of 1978, I was introduce to b-ball and the sonics. I love Jack S, James D, Fred B, Dennis J...but most is Gus Williams.
Sad now that we are "Sonicless in Seattle."
tswjxeem 3 years ago 2
Westphal must have been injured. Terrible trade giving away Dennis Johnson for Westphal. The Sonics owner must have only wanted to pay white players since Gus Williams also had to sit out.
NewFromDisney 3 years ago
Mr. Westphal had already been traded when I shot this in late 1981. He only played one season for the Sonics - 80-81. The summer of '81 he was traded to the Knicks, lasting for 2 season before heading back to the Suns for the '83-"84 season.
bellamyvideo 3 years ago
So this is Gus "the Wizard" Williams, eh? I've only ever seen photos of him but this footage is AWESOME. I own a pair of his personal game worn sneakers that have the #1 printed in the back of his white/green hi top Nike shoes from 1980. The best part is that both shoes are autographed.
SneakerJay 3 years ago
Gus must of been the best pick up player at the Y ever in 1980!!
ckobo84 3 years ago
Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Okieville and there he will be cornholed. His yet-to-be named team will make the L.A. Clippers look like playoff contenders
jpx08 3 years ago
People forget how Lenny really screwed up this championship team. Trading DJ. Letting Gus sit out. Hanzlik sucked, Walker sucked more but not a fraction as bad as when Wally was the GM. Clay Bennett will be cornholed in hell if the move to Oakie ville happens.
DrDupe 3 years ago
That's not a bad thing, necessarily. Sonics fans were spared from seeing the same team that won in 79 being eliminated by the Lakers for the next 3-5 yrs. Sonics were more vulnerable than the other top tier teams to LA's fast break once Magic joined the scene, and that's even with a fairly decent approach to taking away Kareem's sweet spots.
nonplayerzealot4 3 years ago
Who is #20 on the Sonics?
leoray1234 3 years ago
James "Jammin James" Bailey
bellamyvideo 3 years ago
I had no idea that Lenny Wilkens was secretly Christopher Walken!
mikebass14 3 years ago
Don't pass it to Scissorhands!
kingdomoftheworm 3 years ago
Ahhhh, a Wally Walker sighting. You can already see him plotting the destruction of the Sonics.
IntenseLowerChafing 4 years ago
Paul now does sports at KNX in LA
mbhfromla 4 years ago
Oh Ok cool. You mean KNX the newsradio station in LA right? cool.
Thanks for update mbhfromla . No offense to D-Ray fans but i guess Mr. Oden got tired of broadcasting a losing season every year since team started in 1998.
USAGiant 3 years ago
wow a kid named Paul Oden. He later was a tv/radio broadcaster for the New York Yankees and Jets in late 1980's/90's.
Not sure what Mr. Oden is doing now these days. Most recently i heard he was an announcer with MLB's Tampa Bay Devil Rays but not sure.
USAGiant 4 years ago
I thought he looked familiar! I wasn't sure if he was on WPIX back in the day, but now I know he was.
kingdomoftheworm 3 years ago
OMG!! This is classic Sonics right here. I have been of the Sonics since '78. Big Perm (Jack Sikma)was one of my favorites on the Sonics. D.J. was my hero. The Wiz, everybody love the Wizard. Man thanks for bringing back great memories. We gotta keep the Sonics in Seattle.
JellyBean2144 4 years ago
Robfromsea2008 also features a 1982 newscast of KXLY with the same graphics on his server, too.
dgendvil 4 years ago
awesome vid...I used to love the wizard...and the HIGH dribble.
SoulTomato 4 years ago