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Nuggets coach shows off pitching arm as part of Sonics Celebration in Seattle

George Karl, former Sonics a hit with Seattle fans

By Aaron J. Lopez, Nuggets.com, 8-3-11

Just like old times, Gary Payton was the assist man for George Karl.

In an attempt to loosen up his arm before throwing out the first pitch at Safeco Field last week, Karl tossed a baseball back and forth with Payton in the stadium press room. “I was throwing him curve balls and fork balls,” Karl said Wednesday. “I don’t know how much that helped.”

The pregame warmup proved to be productive. Karl, about two years removed from rotator cuff surgery, threw a respectable ceremonial opening pitch before the Seattle Mariners game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 29.

Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens also tossed out the first pitch as part of Sonics Celebration Night.

“Mine was a change-up,” Karl joked. “It was a lot better than Lenny’s. I think his rolled to the plate.”

Karl and Wilkens were joined by other former SuperSonics’ greats such as Payton, former Nuggets forward Spencer Haywood, Shawn Kemp, Nate McMillan, Detlef Schrempf and Jack Sikma.

Karl guided the Sonics to at least 55 wins in each of his six full seasons as coach from 1992-98, and Seattle reached the 1996 NBA Finals. Kemp, McMillan, Payton and Schrempf formed the nucleus of those dominant teams.

“It was good to see them,” Karl said. “A lot of fun things went on.”

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Karl, along with his son Coby and oldest daughter Kelci, enjoyed breakfast with Schrempf. Karl also treasured a 20-minute visit with longtime Sonics trainer Frank Furtado before the baseball game.

The memories really came rushing back when longtime Sonics broadcaster Kevin Calabro took the microphone for the pregame ceremonies.

“Kevin was the voice our team,” Karl said. “He was a young guy. His voice is very distinctive and very good. I watch game tapes with the volume off. I used to watch them with the volume up.”

Seattle fans, many of them dressed in Sonics jerseys, shirts and hats, made their appreciative voices heard during the festivities. The Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder in 2008.

“There was a good crowd of Sonics fans,” Karl said. “Everyone was unified in the hope that basketball will someday come back to Seattle.”

As for the baseball game itself, the Mariners gave up eight runs in the second inning and managed just three hits in an 8-0 loss.

“It wasn’t a very good game for the Mariners,” Karl said.

But it was still a great night for Karl, Seattle sports fans and the Sonics.

Aaron J. Lopez is the primary writer for Nuggets.com, providing behind-the-scenes content, including feature stories and video for the site. Before joining the Nuggets in 2009, he spent 15 years covering Colorado sports for the Rocky Mountain News and the Associated Press, making him one of the longest-tenured sports writers in Denver. Aaron's full bio...