I can’t remember a time in my life that I’ve sat down and actually watched a lot of the Olympics. I know I’ve seen a few events, but it has never been something I made sure I was tuned in for. I think that might change this year. Actually, I know it. I am going to watch these Olympics. As much as I can.

Perhaps it’s because I have a new HDTV and the Olympics are better when I feel like I’m in the pool or on the court with the competitors. Perhaps it’s because I sat down and watched the opening ceremonies and was blown away by the presentation and entrance of all the countries (a few of which, I had no idea existed). Or perhaps it’s because I got all excited and proud when the American team entered the stadium. I felt like cheering out loud, but didn’t want to be as rude as the family living above me.

I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to watch live - I’ll probably be able to catch a bit as I eat breakfast in the mornings - but I’ll definitely be watching them in the evenings when I can. I hope you are able to do the same.

When I was a kid I would hide away in my family’s basement, sit down next to the washer and dryer and spend the next three hours, nerves on full alert, wishing my favorite basketball team to victory. I’d cheer, I’d yell, I’d tell others to shut up; the Seattle Supersonics were on and nothing else mattered.

Tom Chambers, Xavier McDaniel, Dale Ellis, Ricky Pierce, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Nate McMillan, Sam Perkins, Detlef Schrempf, Hersey “The Hawk” Hawkins…these guys were my heroes, they were my favorite TV stars and every night they were on I would sit down, turn on the TV, and watch them soar.

It’s hard to describe the feelings of a fan. There is pure joy when your team does well, pure anger, or sadness, when they fail. Like the ball itself, it’s a constant up and down. In 1992 the Sonics had the best record in basketball and somehow lost in the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets. Up and then down. My first prayer might have honestly been for Dikembe Mutombo to break an ankle.

I remember jumping up and down in my living room on a summer night in 1996 when the Sonics beat the Utah Jazz to go to the NBA Finals. That night I was up, way up. Two weeks later I was down, way down, they lost to that Michael Jordan guy and the Bulls.

A few years ago Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Co. were the surprise of the league. After a few down years, I was up again…only to go back down when Tim Duncan and the Spurs came to town.

Up and then down. As a fan you get used to it, it comes and goes with the wins and the losses, but never, do you ever, expect to go as far down as I feel today: the Sonics are leaving Seattle. I don’t know when, but they’re leaving and they will no longer be ‘my’ Sonics. The feeling is worse than any playoff loss, way worse. If I were less of a man, I’d be able to hold back the tears.

There are reasons to be sad, and I’m sad because of them; there are reasons to be mad and I’m mad because of them. David Stern, Clay Bennett, Howard Schultz, Washington State Lawmakers, it’s all of their faults. A part of me is angry, a part of me is sad, a part of me doesn’t know what to do.

What do I do? It sounds like a dumb question, but every basketball season from here on out I’ll ask it of myself. There will be no team to cheer on, no green and gold uniforms to wear, no hope for a good season, just emptiness. Maybe I’ll become a Portland fan…no, that will never happen. Maybe I’ll become a Spurs fan. I live in San Antonio now, and I hear they’re pretty good. I even got excited when Tim Duncan hit that three pointer the other night.

But a part of me feels becoming a fan of any team is too risky. What happens when they start to lose? What happens when the stars retire? What happens when the arena is old and the team wants a new one? It’s all too risky. This could happen to any team in any city and perhaps its best to avoid the NBA for good. No matter how many ups a new team might bring, it’s just not worth it. Not if there’s a chance of another down like this.

It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about anything sports related in Seattle. The Mariners are moving upwards toward mediocrity, the Seahawks are moving downwards to meet them, and the Sonics…soon the Sonics won’t even be a Seattle sports team. (Which, on a side note, is one of the most depressing things to think about. I will seriously cry when the Sonics leave town.)

Today, however, my spirits are up, there is something to be excited about in the world of Seattle sports and it has nothing to do with football, basketball, or baseball…I’m talking about the truest and most beautiful sport of them all…Soccer…or futbol for you folks who are adamant on calling it by its original name.

Last November the MLS (Major League Soccer) announced they were bringing an expansion team to Seattle which was exciting enough, but today my excitement rose to a whole new level when the expansion team owners unveiled the name and logo for the team: Seattle Sounders FC (Naming the team was a whole different issue which you can read about here). Knowing there is a team coming and seeing the logo and look of that team are two completely different things. Now I can honestly say I’m excited and anxious for them to play. I literally can’t wait. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to for a while; the Sounders (FC) won’t play a game until around this time next year, but I’m ready to buy a jersey and call them my favorite Seattle sports team…who cares if they’re going to suck at first. I’ve been rooting for sucky Seattle sports teams for some time now…

This also gets me excited about the MLS…now I have a reason to watch it. Anybody who knows anything about soccer knows the MLS is like a crap minor league compared to leagues in Europe and S. America, but I do think soccer in the states is on the up and up. Maybe the MLS will be exciting someday. Although, I have to admit I would still rather have the best American soccer players go overseas and play. It’s bad for the league…but better for the players, and ultimately the country when it comes to competing internationally…but that too is a whole different story. For now, I’m just excited about an MLS team in Seattle…and we don’t even have a coach or a player yet.

I’m going to take a break from my usual rambling and discuss the situation the Seattle Supersonics are in. Actually, I’m going to let actual sportswriters do the rambling in a sec, but I will give a short backstory.

The owner of the Sonics, Clay Bennet, is from Oklahama City and wants to move the Sonics there. His argument is that there is no support for the team in Seattle, which is bogus. What he really means is the city won’t give him a 500 million dollar arena so he wants to move the team to his hometown. This week he sent a formal letter of intent to move the Sonics to Oklahoma as soon as he could. This is depressing.

I think Clay Bennett is a retard and luckily I found out that I’m not the only one. If you’re interested in this kind of stuff, here are two links from ESPN.com that discuss Clay Bennett in all his retardedness.

Page 2: Cash-Us Clay Tries to K-O Seattle Fans

True Hoops: Save Our Sonics: This Game is FAR From Over

Thats it…

The older I get the more I like to pretend I’m younger than I really am. I don’t do young things mind you. You’ll never find me at a club gettin’ low, nor will I be spending all my money on cases of beer and top ramen. I do, however, like to bask in the fact that I can still run fast, I don’t have to watch what I eat and I can take my shirt off without sucking my gut in. I know I’m not terribly old…but, I think I’m at the beginning of the end. I’m sensing it’s just around the corner.

The last few weeks, I’ve noticed a dip in energy every time I go to the gym or get out on the soccer field. Before, I never had to stretch or run or anything. I could just strap my cleats on and go play for 90 minutes in the sun…oh how things have changed. Now I like to sit on the couch and watch tv. The thought of getting up and running or lifting weights bugs me. Is that a sign of getting old?? My high metabolism and never ending stream of energy has begun to short change me.

Maybe it’s because I was pretty sick only a couple weeks ago…but I feel like this is it. This is the beginning of a long way down. In a couple years the gut will show, the younger guys will start passing me on the track and I’ll have to learn how to master the gut in-chest out move that older men still seem to think works.

I think what this really means is that in order to do those things I’ve liked to do for so long, the running, soccer, etc…I’ll have to do them more often…like not just for fun or for a physical training test. In order to be able to run for 90 minutes on a soccer field I’m going to have to run every day. I’m going to actually have to go to a gym if I want to continue to run with the 21 year olds. It’s either that or start buying bigger jeans.

Actually, who knows…maybe not. Maybe I can just start the butt imprint in the couch. Maybe I’ll sit around and read all day. I think I’d look pretty cool with a gut.