Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | November 4, 2006
Inclement weather couldn't keep Seattle SuperSonics fans away Saturday as the team celebrated the
Weekend of Legends presented by KeyBank with the finale of the
Sonics & Storm Legends Tour. Despite rain pouring down around the tent constructed over the newly-refurbished courts at the Van Asselt Community Center in South Seattle, hundreds of fans greeted nine of the 16 members of the Sonics 40th Anniversary Team and the Sonics current roster when they arrived shortly after 3 p.m.
As throughout the 11-stop Legends Tour, several generations of Sonics fans were represented. When long-time original Voice of the Sonics Bob Blackburn asked how many fans remembered the inaugural 1967-68 season, a surprising number of hands went up. At the same time, the biggest cheers - and loudest screams from teenage fans, prompting emcee Kevin Calabro to joke, "It sounds like the Beatles just came into town" - went to the two current members of the 40th Anniversary Team, 
Ray Allen and 
Rashard Lewis.
All nine members of the 40th Anniversary Team in attendance spoke to the crowd:
Lenny Wilkens: "Thanks for coming out. The sun's not shining, but we do appreciate you coming out and keep supporting the Sonics, because we want them to be where? Seattle, right."
Spencer Haywood: "Thank you all for coming out and thank you for supporting these Sonics here because this is the future of the game. The future is to stay here in Seattle. I hope that everything works out and you guys have a great year."
Gus Williams: "It was just a couple years ago that you guys retired my number. I really appreciate that. Are you guys tired of me yet? (No!) Listen, '79 was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, then my number being retired and now this. I want to thank the people of Seattle, the community and the Sonics organization."
Slick Watts: "We need a little bit of sunshine. This is my community. I work down here. I see all these kids. You have a lot of heart to come out here today and stand for the SuperSonics. Let's keep the Seattle SuperSonics here at home. Love ya!"
Xavier McDaniel: "Even with all this rain, I'm glad to see all of you out here. Thank you."
Dale Ellis: "I'd like to thank you for coming out and supporting us in this weather. Thank you for all the love and support you've shown me over the years, good and bad times. I appreciate you all and love you all. Good luck to you guys."
Sam Perkins: "I don't know what's left to be said, but this is a great honor and all the guys before me, past and present. This is a real treat. The support that you've given us throughout the years has been great. The community's been great. With all that said, thank you all for coming out today, especially in this weather. I wish all these guys good luck. Thanks for supporting us."
Rashard Lewis: "First, I want to thank everybody for coming out and supporting us. I'm honored to be on this team with this great group of guys. Obviously I'm still playing in the league, me and Ray Allen, but I'm honored to be selected on this team. At the same time, we've played two games. Obviously, we lost two close games, but we feel good about how we're playing. We've got a great group of guys here and we feel like this is going to be a special season. We've got 80 games left, so we want you to continue to support us and be on our back all year."
Ray Allen: "It truly is an honor. I look to the left side of the room here [the legends], and I told Rashard earlier that one day we'll move from the right side of the room [players] to the left side of the room. It happens just so easily. I'm so honored to be in great company. All the gentlemen on this side of the room I've watched play in my younger ages, just like you kids watch us play. It brings me great joy to be part of this Sonics organization with so much tradition, and we hope on this right side of the room to be able to carry that tradition on through the years. We appreciate the support that you guys have shown us, we appreciate the support that you will continue to show these next couple of years - definitely want to keep this team in Seattle. You guys have been great to all of us, and we really and truly appreciate it on behalf of the organization."
After the Sonics current roster was introduced, the Jensen family, representing the Sonics Sixth Man, was joined by Doppler and Squatch for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting on the new court. The weather scuttled the usual first-basket ceremonies, leaving the legends and current players to sign autographs before posing for a picture together.
The Van Asselt Community Center Court is the 21st refurbished by the Sonics & Storm Foundation's NeighborHoops program.
"Please keep your eye on this particular court," said a representative of the Van Asselt Community Center. "It will produce the next great Seattle legend, Sonics or Storm player."
On behalf of the entire Sonics & Storm organization, thanks to those of you who attended the Legends Tour stops. The Weekend of Legends presented by KeyBank isn't done yet, however, with the Sonics 40th Anniversary Team being honored at halftime Sunday as the Sonics host the Los Angeles Lakers (6:00 p.m., 
, FSN, KTTH 770).
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