What's Going On With The Thunder?

 

I lived in Oregon for four years.  While I was there being blown away by the most magnificent, beautiful Willamette Valley two hours south of Portland, I read about OKC Thunder basketball bringing new life to the state of Oklahoma.  I’ve never been an NBA fan but of course this peaked my interest being a native of Oklahoma. It was exciting to hear there was a professional basketball team the entire state was crazy about and supported with such bedlam-like passion.  I couldn’t believe OSU and OU fans were coming together to root for the same team, their team. That was just groundbreaking. I wanted to be a part of it. 

I read the “Thunder UP!” posts on Facebook and wished I could be there to thunder up with everyone. I envisioned what thundering up must look and sound like—some kind of loud boom or crash in Chesapeake Arena with thousands of people hugging strangers and cheering. I attended plenty of OSU basketball games in their glory years so I know about choke holding the person sitting next to you in sheer nirvana.  

I’ve been back in Oklahoma for almost two years now. I was so excited to watch the playoffs last year and learn about the team, the humility of the players. They all seem to be wonderful guys.  Therefore, I think, since I viewed the Thunder mania from Oregon and then again after moving back home, I can be objective in asking these questions, “What happened to all of the 'Thunder Up' magic? Where are all of the posts on Facebook?" I mean, this team could do no wrong the first four years. There are still a few sightings of hysteria here and there, but not as many.  The fervor has waned, has it not? Or, maybe it’s just me. But still, even the team seems different.  I don’t mean because they lost the last three games or the Harden trade. I’m referring to the relationship between the fans and the team. There is a disconnect, no?  The fans are quiet or the fans are loud, speaking their nervous and less than supportive minds in the sports comment sections. And where is Kevin Durant’s mom? He kissed her (before or was it after?) every game until I arrived (I’m getting paranoid).

This is a short blog because I would love some answers before tonight’s game, which I watch on my ping pong video game-like NBA score updates via ESPN online—since we’re still in the “we’re fasting from cable” experiment.  I’ll be doing my interpretation of thundering up (I’ve never attended a game so I’m just guessing) in my chair with my computer, which is mostly my husband wondering what’s wrong with me when I wince and scream at the screen making all sorts of wailing noises. He’s not a fan of basketball…more of the outdoor skier type trying to indoctrinate himself into our culture—a future blog topic. 

Thunder Up!