Emily Dickinson wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers.” As an
undying Sonics fan, I’d like to amend that to “Hope is the thing with a
good lawyer.”
Due to legal circumstances, I have regained my hope that the Sonics
will not be leaving our city. Being a Catholic, a Native American, and
a fragile and finite human, my hopes are tidal.
Back in 1997, when the Sonics signed Vin Baker, a gifted low post
scorer, I had torrential hope. Was this the man who was going to lead
us to another championship?
A few weeks before that season started, as I paid for my pizza, the
Domino’s man told me he was delivering a large pepperoni pizza to Vin
Baker.
“I’m so excited for the season,” the pizza man said. “I wish I had a
basketball or something for him to sign.”
Just as excited, I gave the man one of my basketballs and a $20
tip.
Of course, ten thousand pizzas and beers later, Baker turned into an
alcoholic, obese failure who drank and ate his way out of the league.
But even now, as I mourn for Baker, I also hope he’s sober and slender.
I want to tell him, “Hope is the thing with a talented therapist.”
