Front-row rejection

Case in point: Former Seattle SuperSonics power forward Shawn Kemp said the Oklahoma City Thunder called and invited him to watch the team host Denver courtside during the firstround playoff series at the Oklahoma City Arena, according to a May 10 interview on KJR-AM radio. Kemp said he declined, and he won’t be sitting on the front row anywhere until the Sonics are back in action.

Kemp, a six-time NBA All-Star who played in Seattle before the team relocated to these parts, said it feels awkward to see banners of the franchise’s accomplishments in the Emerald City hanging elsewhere. The “Reign Man” said the squad is “now in the middle of Timbuktu.”

“I live out here in Seattle,” Kemp said. “I carry the Sonics in my heart for the rest of my life, but I have a problem rooting for Oklahoma. I just do. I was invited … to sit in the front row; I couldn’t do it.

“I don’t think it would be too smooth for the people around here to look up one day and see me sitting on the front row with the Oklahoma (City) Thunder. The people back here deserve basketball. It was taken and robbed from these people.”

Other interview highlights sure to irritate Rumble’s fur: A friend suggested that Kemp accept OKC’s offer and wear his old Seattle SuperSonics jersey (oh, snap!). Interviewees also encouraged OKC to “stick it” where the sun don’t shine during the segment. Stay classy, Seattle!

In the public service portion of the interview, Kemp pleaded with Los Angeles Laker Andrew Bynum not to expose his man boobs again on the court. Meanwhile, Kemp said players didn’t mind when Dennis Rodman, a three-time NAIA All-American at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, went sexy and shirtless.

“At least (Rodman) had some tattoos on him for something you could look at,” Kemp said. “But Andrew Bynum, man, I just wanted to take a Sharpie and like start drawing circles on his back or something.”