Nate's Night

AT

  The folks in Seattle hold court for ex-Mr. Sonic and current Portland coach Nate McMillan tonight at the Key Arena in Seattle. A tribute and video montage of Nate's career will be shown. Then the Sonics will school the Blazers, at least thats the way I see it.

I will the "golden touch" of Downtown Freddie Brown to be with the Sonics tonight against freeway rivals Portland. Portland always gets up for Seattle, as they have always had a bit of an inferiority complex toward its bigger northern neighbor. Both teams have brought an NBA title to they're respective Northwest locales. Portland took one with Walton and ABA cast off and new found enforcer of the NBA, Maurice Lucas. That was 1976-77. In the same time frame, a few years down the road the Sonics with Gus Williams, Sikma, Johnson and Johnson, Walker, etc. took the Championship in the year of "the Dream Police" 1979. It all seems to be a dream now. Northwest dominance in pro hoop did happen in the 70's. The decade of solid team play. Teams like the 74-5 Warriors with Rick Barry, and the Bullets with Phil Chenier and Wes Unseld and the Sonic/Blazer teams were on top most of the mid to late 70's. I loved those old Sonic, Blazer, and gasp! even the Warriors, but I was a kid. I lived in all those regions as a kid and a fondness developed for each team. A Sonic fan for life. Downtown will be in the building and the Seattle shots will be falling like the rain outside. GO SONICS!!!

As a true rookie in 1974-75, "The Enforcer" of the Spirits of St. Louis of the ABA. Lucas had to deal with one of the 1st "Superfly" head cases to inspire the current "me" generation of NBA stars, a guy named Marvin Barnes. And Barnes backed down to Lucas. Bob Costas also cut his 1st chops in sports announcing as he was the play by play guy for the Spirits. Lucas went on to NBA greatness and a championship in Portland. I salute all ABA players who went to the NBA and proved everybody wrong. Salute Maurice...but no Portland runs tonight!