Seattle Approves Arena Re-Fit; NHL Can Stop Being Coy

What came to be was never in the original plans.

That's par for the course in Seattle's pursuit of an NHL team and its recovery of an NBA club to replace the SuperSonics.

The irony is what was already there became the ultimate solution for a suitable arena that could accommodate pro sports franchises as anchor tenants:

The Key Arena at Seattle Center, built along with the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair.

For some reason, Seattle likes to call itself the Emerald City. The name finally fits.

The route leading to that landmark city council decision looked like the Yellow Brick Road.

• The Sonics last local owner -- Mr Starbucks hizzownself -- sold the team to villains from Oklahoma City because he said the arena was outdated and couldn't get support to renovate it.
• The OKC villains used a demand for new digs as an excuse to whisk Kevin Durant & Co outta town.
• Home-grown hedge fund kajillionaire Chris Hansen stepped in to propose a new arena near the two stadiums -- one for the Mariners, another for the Seahawks and Sounders -- on the south side of the city center.

• Hansen turned to the dark side trying to swipe the Sacramento Kings and got slapped.
• Meanwhile, the NHL tried and tried and tried to light a fire under the city officials' patooties.
• An engineering firm gathering data for Hansen's proposed arena noticed the old arena could be retro-fitted for a hella lot less than building a new one.
• Two funding groups took the study seriously and pursued it.
• So now, after a bout or two of self-interested chicanery, voilà!
• Meet the new digs. Same as the old digs.

Well, then, consider this:

If some bright light woulda actually commissioned an engineering study on the old arena in the first place, maybe the SuperSonics never woulda left.

One of life's mysteries is how dudes who know how to rake it in selling chic coffee or whatever else morph into idiots when they get involved with sports.

At least one dude who grew up thinking that witch shoulda been roundly bitch-slapped for holding out on the info now thinks she mighta had a point.

But, better late than never.

Time for the Emerald City to get some serious puckitude before another headache arises, like Houston stealing their thunder.

No one ever said Thunder didn't strike twice.