Daily Thunder.com What does the Thunder mean to Oklahoma City? Read this

Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com penned a fantastic piece today, connecting this Thunder team to the tragedy of April 19, 1995. No Oklahoman has forgotten where they were that day, what they saw or what they felt. There’s no way to accurately sum up the transformation this city has experienced in the 15 years since the bombing, but Howard-Cooper does a pretty stinking good job. (Plus, Kevin Durant’s quote in it darn near choked me up.)

This Thunder season has become higher-power stuff. God and basketball — that’s what it has come to. They went from a promising team with a chance to challenge for a playoff berth to a genuine factor in the Western Conference, on a 52-win pace as small forward Durant turns into a superstar at age 21, Scott Brooks becomes the leading contender for Coach of the Year and Sam Presti a top candidate for Executive of the Year.

They may charge all the way to home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.That’s nothing. Try: They may charge all the way to home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs when the first round of the playoffs opens the week of the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, with President Clinton scheduled to be in town for ceremonies. The Thunder, by making up the 1 1/2-game deficit to finish in the top four in the conference, could even host a game April 19, the date a guy with a grudge against the government for Waco and Ruby Ridge parked a Ryder truck with 4,800 pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil in front of the nine-story structure, put in ear plugs to protect himself from what would come next, set a timer and jogged to a getaway car parked in a nearby alley.

If there is a Thunder love fest that night, said Kari Watkins, the executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, “you’ve got to wonder if it’s someone bigger than us telling us, ‘You’ve done it. You’ve come full circle. Now keep going.’ “

Even if you’re a Thunder fan from afar, give it a read. Maybe it’ll help you understand the connection this city has for this team and its players. Maybe this will give a small glimpse into where this deep-rooted passion comes from. Oklahoma City has come a long way in just 15 years, so much so, that I can’t wait for the next 15.

Todd

I started reading Howard-Cooper's article, made it to the end of Kevin Durant's quote, and had to stop for a few minutes. I have a lot of memories from that day, most of them not very pleasant. One thing I do remember thinking, that day or soon thereafter, was that this is what we're going to be known for. Right up there with the Dust Bowl and tornadoes. From here on out, when people think of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, they're going to think of that blasted to hell building. It wasn't the kind of thought that would lift your spirits.

I've always been very proud to tell people that I'm from Oklahoma. I've never bought into that whole inferiority complex thing. Never. We're better than that, and always have been, even when we didn't know it. The city collectively proved that in the days and weeks after that bombing. And we deserve better than to be remembered only for bad things.

Kevin Durant is not from here, and he's all of 21 years old. But he gets that. Read that quote of his, and you understand what I mean. He gets it, and he sincerely wants to help. Anyone who still thinks KD secretly wants to leave Oklahoma for the bright lights of a bigger city needs to read and re-read that article, and his statement. He's found the place where he wants to make his legacy, and it's right here in OKC. And he knows what that could mean not just to him and his team, but to the image of this city and state.

Maybe that's a little overblown and maybe not, but that's why I had to stop for a little bit after reading Durant's quote. It reminded me of the concern I had after that unspeakably awful day, and how far the city has come in the years since. The image that I was so concerned would be ours from that time forward does not fit, anymore than does the image of a dust bowl or an inferior people. We're more than that. We always have been.

Maybe God really does move in mysterious ways, but whatever the case, we deserve to be known for something other than bombings, dust bowls, and tornadoes. Maybe the Thunder can help to make that happen. I understand about basketball being just a game, same as football or any other sport. But maybe sometimes, a lot of good can come out of just a game, including things that aren't even related to that game.

14 comments

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ThuDer

I spent a better part of 2 years of my life putting the faces and eyes of countless people directly affected by this senseless tragedy. The number of people in this community irrevocably changed by that tragedy must be in the thousands not just those who perished. Those initial moments of the people walking into Presbyterian Hospital with live with me forever. The scope and breadth were overwhelming. Great article that captures the true spirit of the people of this great state. May God bless the Thunder and the survivors of this great American tragedy.

GAP

Just beautiful!!

Royce

@Todd

That might have been better than the article itself. Well done.

cwilson

First, thanks for posting this Royce, really enjoyed it.

Second, I think it is pathetic that this post and article are first inundated with posts of playoffs and "insecurity", complete with a "Traber is an idiot" reference. You guys need to think before you post...ridiculous.

f5alcon

Hopefully during the playoffs we get some positive stuff coming out, i have this feeling they are going to make a big deal of this.

PNT

@Jared M

Mac must be this guy's cousin or something.

MastrMatt

But I do agree that Traber is a waste of radio waves. His high-pitched whine is very similar to nails on a chalk board. He thinks that because he was allowed to be on a big league baseball team for a few innings that he is the be-all end-all of sports knowledge. I really don't like him.

Omar :Great article. I’ve always thought that a lot of Oklahomans’ inferiority complex a lot to do with the bombing. I still think Traber’s an ass though.

I don't think the OKC inferiority complex is bombing related, more about only being know for Sooner football and/or the bombing and having most national media outlets portray our state as a wasteland filled with TeePees and an occasional football stadium.

Omar

Great article. I've always thought that a lot of Oklahomans' inferiority complex a lot to do with the bombing. I still think Traber's an ass though.

This was simply one of the best articles I've read in a very long time. I was very happy to read the quotes from KD and Russ. It seems like they get what our city is all about. Very nice.

Jared M

@Anonymous
Yeah he posted it on the monday bullets.. Not really fitting for this article.

Mac

Hey so I know this is not the time to be talking about the offseason
and the new additions to our team. We should be talking about the important stuff like the PLAYOFFS!!! I just came across on draftexpress an athletic big guy that would that is an overseas free agent right now.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Timofey-Mozgov-5161/
I just had to post something before I forget all about it. This guy is 7′1″ and what I have found weight over 150. I know we got one big man names mullins. But this guy is the opposite from him. He is not a very good offensive player but is tough guy who can get some rebounds. I dunno just thought I would post this and see what people think.

Aenema

That was a really nice article. Thanks for posting.

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