My first try at a Dynasty as a GM, so please bear with me.
I am sure you remember Barry Snethen (Snee-then), NBA Great. Had one of the most wonderful NBA careers ever with the New Orleans Jazz.
Then they moved to Utah, anyway, you know that story.
Then after his playing career he took a turn as a coach with New Orleans. When they moved to Utah, Barry made a moved too, to coach the
upstart Oklahoma City Thunder when they came in the league in 1970. He won 3 Championships in 1975, 1976 and 1978.
At the end of the 1980 season he was given the chance to become the part owner and Barry jumped at it.
Barry Snethen.....is my Uncle. Bruce Snethen is MY Father. Barry and Bruce are twin brothers. Barry had all the athleticism while my dad, Bruce
was.....let's say in the marching band. He liked the arts. My father also like to fish and hunt as he got that from Grandpa Oliver Snethen.
Anyway, Hello....my name is Walter Snethen. Most people including my Dad call me Walt. I was any ordinary kid growing up, but I, like my
Uncle Barry, loved sports. My father and mother always made sure I got to practice on time, came to my games, etc. I had a great time in
middle school and junior high but I got all my height in those grades. I stand 5-9. By high school everyone of my classmates passed me in
height. My sporting ability was OK but not great, so let's say, I was usually the last guy off the bench.
I didn't let that stop me in my love for sports. Academically, straight A student. BUT, I was smarter than most. I graduated high school at age 15.
Graduated college at 19. I was now ready for the world.
From time to time I did go and spend time with my Uncle Barry. He took the time to show me the ropes as he did not have any kids. Just too
busy to start a family. I loved spending time with him so we could talk sports.
There was this one time that I told him of a trade he should make and why. He kind of sluffed me off, then the next day he called me and asked
me how I came up with that. Told him his current player was not giving his all and needed to be moved. Told him which player I thought was
available and he would make a perfect fit. Two days later, the trade was made.
So when I was done with school I went to Oklahoma City (OKC) to talk to him about a job. He asked me for what kind of job and I told him.......
General Manager. I thought he was going to choke!!!! When he regained his composure, I told him, NO. With the Oklahoma City Storm in the
D-League.
It took several days of convincing and several days of begging. I told him running the D-League was not much to it. You just had to do your home work
when it came time to draft your players in the D-League. Do your homework and it should be easy. Then just run your staff and the day-to-day events
would fall in line. He finally asked me to come to his office the next day for a job interview. 8am sharp I was dressed in my suit hoping to help my
uncle some way with the organization. After the interview, he told me to come back the next day. I took notes of the questions he asked in the interview
as I was thinking I might need them down the line when it came time to hire coaches.
The next day I went to his office expecting to be turned away by my own uncle. He told me, "They are going to laugh me right out of the NBA and the rest
of the owners are going to buy me out, but here you go Walter Snethen, here are the keys to the Oklahoma City Storm"!!!