As pointed out in the comments, I guess this website is sort of irrelevant now.
ESPN The Magazine has ranked the Oklahoma City Thunder No. 25 among the four top major-league sports in its annual Ultimate Standings that measure how much MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises give back to their fans. The Thunder jumps from No. 57 a year ago. The overall ranking is based on how each team fares in eight categories, including fan relations, ownership, players, coaching, affordability, stadium experience, title track (championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans) and “bang for the buck” (wins during the past three years per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules). The Thunder’s ranking for fan satisfaction is fifth best in the NBA and places it ahead of 97 other professional sports teams.”
Adrian Wojnarowski on KD’s extension: “Hey, what’s Kevin Durant trying to do there? Be humble, understated and gracious? He even paying attention to his sport? Good for KD and OKC.”
Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Carmen Butler is the new manager of the Thundergirls. Just thought you should know.
The Ford Center’s renovations will be completed by summer 2011.
There is a safe room inside OKC’s new practice facility: “Primarily used as a storage and laundry room, a 1,052-square foot room in the new $14.5 million practice facility will double as a shelter. Labeled the players’ home away from home during a six-month season, the new practice facility has a plan for inclement weather. Project manager John Russell said 30 to 40 people could fit in the room “if you really packed them in.”
The Thunder might save as much as $14 million on the renovations and practice facility: “The tax was projected to raise money for Ford Center renovations ($101 million) and a new practice facility in north Oklahoma City ($20 million). All projects won’t be completed until the summer of 2011 but the city might save as much as $14 million. Ford Center renovations are projected to cost $91.5 million, the practice facility $14.5 million.”
A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN Boston: “If ex-Blazer GM Kevin Pritchard stiffs the Nets, look for NJ to target a rising star like #Thunder assistant GM Troy Weaver.”
Matt Moore wrote a really interesting piece about how athletes try to control their own message now: “It doesn’t matter where James goes. It’s how he announces it. The man is having an hour on the most powerful sports television entity in the world, selling his own advertising, and donating it to charity, only furthering his image. There will be backlash, because that’s what happens when you market yourself. It’s self-aggrandizement, but you should also recognize that it’s proof of the power of controlling your own message, of honing and delivering it on your own terms.” Fairly ironic considering that KD announced his on Twitter. But the way Durant did it was just so much more tasteful.
How about a little taste of chapter three from JG Marking’s novel for this lovely Wednesday? Nothing else is going on, right?
