Then, Seattle businessman Howard Schultz sold the Sonics to a bunch of businessmen from a city that had a better arena and an energized fan base but no NBA team. A hearty band of fans fought to keep the Sonics — some of them were the same folks who fought successfully to keep the Seahawks in town in 1996; the franchise actually moved to Los Angeles for a few months before caving to legal pressure, selling to Paul Allen and moving back to the Pacific Northwest — but there were just as many dedicated souls who didn't care if the Sonics left. A group called “Citizens for More Important Things” railed against the idea of spending any more tax dollars on sports arenas.

You know the rest, Seattle.

As painful as it has been to watch the Thunder's rise, the Seahawks' ascension has to be a balm. We get Kevin Durant's brilliance and Russell Westbrook's high wire acts. You get Russell Wilson's mastery and Richard Sherman's hair.

Can we call it even?