Bill Laurie should not only be working to bring an NBA franchsie to St. Louis n he should be diligently working to bring the St. Louis team back to St. Louis.
It has been more than three decades since the St. Louis Hawks jetted south to Atlanta. Still the Hawks, to this day, have fared much worse Down South than they did on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Now, before the SportsEye rips into the Hawks and their league-worst 11-59 record, let’s steal a rundown from a disgruntled former ticket holder who left this post on the Hawks’ website:
“I lived in Atlanta from 1993 through 2000 and spend about a month or two each year there nowadays. The Hawks are one of the most pitiful franchises ever. Supportive city? You kidding me? This city doesn’t even get close to filling up Turner Field, where the Braves play. Yes, the same Braves that have fielded a pennant winner for most of the last 15 years! Bottom line, Atlanta is just not a sports town. I use to have season tickets to the Hawks. I was one of about 125. It all started when Dominique Wilkins got traded for Danny Manning. The Hawks continually make extremely idiotic moves and draft choices, can’t sign a good free agent for their life, and is basically L.A. Clippers East. You mean to tell me 42-year-old Kevin Willis could earn a roster spot on a playoff team? Tyronne Lue could be a solid backup for a playoff team. But he’s a starter for the Hawks. Talent-wise, I would rank this team probably last in the league. Yes, below even the Charlotte Bobcats. Fan support, last. Management and personnel decisions, bottom 3.”
So why should St. Louis want this team? Well, for one, no one else does. Another reason for trying to nab the pathetic Hawks is the fact that NBA Commissioner David Stern would probably approve the move. He personally squashed the Vancouver move to St. Louis, opting instead for Memphis. Memphis? Get real.
Laurie should call Atlanta, give the owner a price and wrap the deal up before the Fourth of July. Heck, he could probably call collect and the Hawks would be more than happy to take the call.
