RENTON, Wash. -- Quarterback Russell Wilson
announced Monday that he is joining an ownership group led by investor
Chris Hansen that is working on building an NBA/NHL arena in Seattle's
SODO neighborhood.
The group's aim is to bring the Sonics back to Seattle.
Wilson wrote in The Players' Tribune that he became a fan of the Sonics by playing as the team in the video game NBA Jam.
"I
became a SuperSonics fan by playing NBA Jam and watching them on
SportsCenter and NBA Inside Stuff," he wrote. "I loved their name. I
loved their colors. I loved [Shawn] Kemp and [Gary] Payton, and then in
later years, I loved watching Ray Allen swish corner threes with that
perfect form.
"Even though we lived in Virginia, I got a Sonics
jersey one Christmas and I used to put it on and go play hoops out in
front of the house, pretending I was Gary Payton."
Wilson also released a statement to The Associated Press.
"I'm
blessed and excited to partner with Chris, Wally [Walker], Pete
[Nordstrom] and Erik [Nordstrom] and the greatest fans in all of sports
to bring the SODO arena to our beloved city," Wilson said. "There is no
place like the Emerald City. The positive impact sports has on our kids
and many generations to come and bringing different cultures and people
together is what motivates and inspires me."
Hansen and his investment group announced last month that they would pay for the arena with private funds.
"We
couldn't be more thrilled that Russell is joining our partnership and
continued efforts to bring the NBA and NHL back to Seattle," Hansen said
in a statement to the AP.
"As
you are all aware, we have always kept our focus on doing this for the
right reasons -- our love for our city, our love of basketball and our
belief that pro sports has the ability to positively influence our youth
and bring communities together in a way very few things in this world
can. It is with this shared view that we welcome Russell, a young, smart
and passionate entrepreneur, as our business partner. We know that his
enthusiasm, positivity and 'never give up' attitude will make a huge
difference in our effort."
The Sonics left Seattle for Oklahoma City before the 2008-09 season.
"It's
crazy to me that kids growing up in Seattle now turn on NBA 2K and they
can't even play as the Sonics. It doesn't seem right that they're
gone," Wilson wrote in The Players' Tribune. "They were a part of my
childhood, and I grew up 2,840 miles away.
"The NBA needs that
green and gold back. Seattle needs basketball back. And hockey, too.
(The Seattle Metropolitans won the Stanley Cup in 1917, in case you
didn't know.)"
Pete Carroll was asked Monday about Wilson's involvement.
"He
loves his community, and I think he's interested in being a part of
something that's really special here," Carroll said. "We all are aware
of how dear it is in the hearts of the people around here, and Russell
would love to be a part of something like that. I don't know any of the
details. I don't know who it's with or anything like that, but sounds
like fun."
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