Oklahoma's NBA team makes the playoffs!

[fotd]

Ford Center is home...it's an hour drive. Work it out. Tulsa would not be a home court advantage.

Go Thunder....they're good and good for Oklahoma.

Quit whining.

[Laramie]

ESPN NBA 2010 Attendance:

We are averaging 17,995 with one home game remaining.

2009-2010 NBA Attendance - National Basketball Association - ESPN

With the economy beginning to take its toll on the Oklahoma City area economy, I think it's great that a market the size of Oklahoma City's continues to support the NBA.

Average attendance of OKC's NBA experiences:

Hopefully we will eclipse the 18,000 mark or inch near it when we play Memphis in our finale:

2010  17,995    Oklahoma City Thunder  (attendance in process)
2009  18,693    Oklahoma City Thunder
2008  No NBA franchise
2007  17,833    New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets
2006  18,168    New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets

Who would have thought that the NBA could be successful in Oklahoma City when we barely averaged 17,000 when  OSU and OU played in the All College Christmas Classic and our experience in the CBA saw a best year of  5,000 at the Myriad during the Calvary's existence.

Oklahoma has come a long way in a short period of time.  Thunder fans are to be commended!

[dbacks fan]

Congrats to the Thunder! To be down two games and come back to win on your home court and to be a second season team and to defeat the Lakers! (I know that they are the former Seatle Sonics, might have been a good name if they could have used it since they are based in OKC the home to Sonic Drive In's) I think that everyone in the state should forget the Tulsa/OKC fued, and get behind the Thunder because the state is getting national attention. Tulsa and OKC for the last 40 years have been wanting a pro sports team in the state, wether it was NBA, NHL, MLB, or NFL. Oklahoma has wanted to be on the map with a pro team that is in the national spotlight. You have one now, so you should support it, wether you are from Guymon, Disney, Altus, Shideler, Slapout, Lawton, Vanita or Erick. You have what you have wanted, forget all the other crap, and enjoy the fact that Oklahoma has a true pro team! 

[Hoss]

Congrats to the Thunder! To be down two games and come back to win on your home court and to be a second season team and to defeat the Lakers! (I know that they are the former Seatle Sonics, might have been a good name if they could have used it since they are based in OKC the home to Sonic Drive In's) I think that everyone in the state should forget the Tulsa/OKC fued, and get behind the Thunder because the state is getting national attention. Tulsa and OKC for the last 40 years have been wanting a pro sports team in the state, wether it was NBA, NHL, MLB, or NFL. Oklahoma has wanted to be on the map with a pro team that is in the national spotlight. You have one now, so you should support it, wether you are from Guymon, Disney, Altus, Shideler, Slapout, Lawton, Vanita or Erick. You have what you have wanted, forget all the other crap, and enjoy the fact that Oklahoma has a true pro team! 

My answer?

Nope.

I'm guessin' I'm not the only one.  Live here and see how that all went down and you'll know what I mean.  It's the tax breaks at the state level at the expense probably of other worthy businesses.

Won't have anyone dictating to me how I should feel about that smile-hole down I-44...I was there enough to know how I feel about it.

[dbacks fan]

My answer?

Nope.

I'm guessin' I'm not the only one.  Live here and see how that all went down and you'll know what I mean.  It's the tax breaks at the state level at the expense probably of other worthy businesses.

Won't have anyone dictating to me how I should feel about that smile-hole down I-44...I was there enough to know how I feel about it.

Yes, I know how the tax breaks go. Whirlpool wants to build a new plant, Tulsa gives tax breaks to get it, construction goes to an out of state firm, and everyone rejoiced with the new jobs created after construction. Maybe that's part of the reason that I left Oklahoma, there is a want for things, but then people turn their nose's up after they get it. I was born in Tulsa in 1963, I moved out in 1998. I lived in ground zero over the battle of the development of the old MA-HU Mansion, because developers wanted to extend the road from where Whataburgeris at 26th and Memorial west into the residential neighborhood which was the street I lived on. I remember the battle between Eastland and Woodland Hills, and I know for a fact the reason that BA developed was because Ford decided to build the glass plant where they did. Gilcrease Hills was supposed to be the savior of downtown for residential living, but it was too late during the white flight/urban sprawl of the mid 70's. The Williams Center Forum was supposed to re-energize the downttown area with the mall and the hotel next to the green and the PAC in the late 70's. Main Mall with it's fountains and walkable space was to be another savior. From 1973 through the late 90's main mall became a gohst town after 6:00 in the evening. The only excitement in the Archer and Greenwood Distict in the early 80's was Francis Ford Coppola filming "Rumble Fish" and north of 244 in that area was drugs, prostitution, and death. Anybody remember the "club owner" found tied to a chair in his club at Haskell & Main when the building was on fire? And if you think that I am some interloper, I think that Chub killed the Mullendore's,
Roger Wheeler was killed by the Irish Hill Mob out of Boston at Southern Hills CC, and at the old Tulsa Oilers Baseball team in the old stadium, there was a trailer off to the right field line, that looked like a single wide, that had old tires on the roof, and in early 1992 I was on a flight from Tulsa to Phoenix, and ran into Hugh Finerty from the Fairgrounds, and when asked about hockey coming back to Tulsa, he said "Ray and I are working on something."

[Conan71]

Fine, I will root for them.  I still won't buy an OKC Thunder T-shirt, mouse pad, ball cap, baggy shorts, or bobblehead.  And I do spend a lot of time in OKC these days, I'm still pissed they took state level tax money and couldn't see clear enough to call them the Oklahoma Thunder.

[enits]

Go Lakers!!! (Former California resident here!)

Hehehehehehe

My husband is rooting for the Thunders as well and doesn't really care much about the Tulsa/OKC rivalry.   

[fotd]

Yes, I know how the tax breaks go. Whirlpool wants to build a new plant, Tulsa gives tax breaks to get it, construction goes to an out of state firm, and everyone rejoiced with the new jobs created after construction. Maybe that's part of the reason that I left Oklahoma, there is a want for things, but then people turn their nose's up after they get it. I was born in Tulsa in 1963, I moved out in 1998. I lived in ground zero over the battle of the development of the old MA-HU Mansion, because developers wanted to extend the road from where Whataburgeris at 26th and Memorial west into the residential neighborhood which was the street I lived on. I remember the battle between Eastland and Woodland Hills, and I know for a fact the reason that BA developed was because Ford decided to build the glass plant where they did. Gilcrease Hills was supposed to be the savior of downtown for residential living, but it was too late during the white flight/urban sprawl of the mid 70's. The Williams Center Forum was supposed to re-energize the downttown area with the mall and the hotel next to the green and the PAC in the late 70's. Main Mall with it's fountains and walkable space was to be another savior. From 1973 through the late 90's main mall became a gohst town after 6:00 in the evening. The only excitement in the Archer and Greenwood Distict in the early 80's was Francis Ford Coppola filming "Rumble Fish" and north of 244 in that area was drugs, prostitution, and death. Anybody remember the "club owner" found tied to a chair in his club at Haskell & Main when the building was on fire? And if you think that I am some interloper, I think that Chub killed the Mullendore's,
Roger Wheeler was killed by the Irish Hill Mob out of Boston at Southern Hills CC, and at the old Tulsa Oilers Baseball team in the old stadium, there was a trailer off to the right field line, that looked like a single wide, that had old tires on the roof, and in early 1992 I was on a flight from Tulsa to Phoenix, and ran into Hugh Finerty from the Fairgrounds, and when asked about hockey coming back to Tulsa, he said "Roy and I are working on something."

MORE! I recall the ambiance of walking into Owen Field with the stench of whiskey and cigars.....before it became a capitalist enterprise.

[Laramie]

Great crowd-- great game!

After losing my voice, I felt as though I was losing my hearing:

Video highlight of Lakers vs. Thunder at the Ford Center (aka Thunderdome).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N7ZwdSCMl8

This was unquestionably the loudest indoor (arena) sporting event I have ever attended.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Go Lakers!!! (Former California resident here!)

Hehehehehehe

My husband is rooting for the Thunders as well and doesn't really care much about the Tulsa/OKC rivalry.   

What rivalry?  Have you actually been to OKC much?

[fotd]

Great crowd-- great game!

After losing my voice, I felt as though I was losing my hearing:

Video highlight of Lakers vs. Thunder at the Ford Center (aka Thunderdome).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N7ZwdSCMl8

This was unquestionably the loudest indoor (arena) sporting event I have ever attended.

When I attended Celtic games in the early 70's the NBA was all about the game. I went to OKC to a game and was horrified by the lame multi media and outlandish noise.

THUNDER UP!

[road runner]

Conan is right.

I am sure I will get over the way the owners treated the rest of Oklahoma. Take our millions in tax dollars, then announce that the team would call themselves Oklahoma City.

Do you care to inform everyone what is this "our millions in tax dollars" that the state is helping OKC Thunder?

The last I recall, the Thunder asked for a tax EXEMPTION on the top portion of player salaries. In other words, there was a cap set on the upper limit of income tax that players would need to pay. There wasn't any money from the state coffers used to get the team and there is actually more money being put into the state by the players being here (just not as much as it could have been without the exemption).

What did Tulsa pay to get the Thunder?

I recall that Clay Bennett and CO from OKLAHOMA CITY paid over $400 million to purchase the franchise, litigate against the city of Seattle, and move the damn team to OKC. I also recall OKC taxpayers building the Ford Center (that you all call a 'dump") and OKC taxpayers expanding it and building a practice facility.

What is this "millions in tax dollars" that you all keep whining about?

And truth be told - just so you know, the mayor of OKC nor Stern have a say so on the name of the team - it is the owners of the team who name it, market it, and pay salaries. Last I saw, ALL of the ownership group was from OKC. Where was Tulsa on this?  

Again - can someone please offer up tangible evidence to show Tulsa or the rest of the state had ANYTHING to do with the NBA coming to OKC (other than being 'words on a slideshow for the relocation committee")?

Why do you guys always wine and grumble about everything, yet dont EVER want to step up. ...

Playing some regular season games in Tulsa would go a long way toward forgiveness.

WHAT?

Dont count on getting a regular season game (it would be poorly attended anyways) - since "Forgiveness" as you put it, was given when AGAIN - Oklahoma City businessmen, went and bought Tulsa a WNBA team AND a D-League team. ...

What did Tulsa do? Where was Tulsa on this?

Where is Tulsa and all of this 'support' or 'millions of tax dollars' you keep talking about? How is Tulsa paying for any of this?

Stop whining about paying for this or that (whnen you aint) and go enjoy the freaking team.

[Hoss]

Do you care to inform everyone what is this "our millions in tax dollars" that the state is helping OKC Thunder?

The last I recall, the Thunder asked for a tax EXEMPTION on the top portion of player salaries. In other words, there was a cap set on the upper limit of income tax that players would need to pay. There wasn't any money from the state coffers used to get the team and there is actually more money being put into the state by the players being here (just not as much as it could have been without the exemption).

What did Tulsa pay to get the Thunder?

I recall that Clay Bennett and CO from OKLAHOMA CITY paid over $400 million to purchase the franchise, litigate against the city of Seattle, and move the damn team to OKC. I also recall OKC taxpayers building the Ford Center (that you all call a 'dump") and OKC taxpayers expanding it and building a practice facility.

What is this "millions in tax dollars" that you all keep whining about?

And truth be told - just so you know, the mayor of OKC nor Stern have a say so on the name of the team - it is the owners of the team who name it, market it, and pay salaries. Last I saw, ALL of the ownership group was from OKC. Where was Tulsa on this?  

Again - can someone please offer up tangible evidence to show Tulsa or the rest of the state had ANYTHING to do with the NBA coming to OKC (other than being 'words on a slideshow for the relocation committee")?

Why do you guys always wine and grumble about everything, yet dont EVER want to step up. ...

WHAT?

Dont count on getting a regular season game (it would be poorly attended anyways) - since "Forgiveness" as you put it, was given when AGAIN - Oklahoma City businessmen, went and bought Tulsa a WNBA team AND a D-League team. ...

What did Tulsa do? Where was Tulsa on this?

Where is Tulsa and all of this 'support' or 'millions of tax dollars' you keep talking about? How is Tulsa paying for any of this?

Stop whining about paying for this or that (whnen you aint) and go enjoy the freaking team.

Then don't expect Tulsa to support your crappy team.  OKC and it's politicians and movers/shakers for all I care can go piss off.

Go Lakers...

Oh, and Tulsa is paying for this indirectly with state sponsored tax breaks that were supposed to not be for entertainment businesses.  Guess what?  Bennett and the Thunder got an exemption for that.  Stealing from poor to line the pockets of the rich.

[road runner]

just stating facts, Hoss.

No need to get pissed again. Tulsa isn't paying for anything, those tax breaks just mean the state isn't collecting as much as it could.

You do know that OKC has more people than Tulsa, right? So Im sure OKC pays more for Oklahoma in taxes than Tulsa does. ...

And the Thunder isn't crappy, they have a good chance at upsetting the Lakers. It should be 2-1 Thunder already, but the young team didn't handle it well on game 2.

Go Thunder.

[Hoss]

just stating facts, Hoss.

No need to get pissed again.

And the Thunder isn't crappy, they have a good chance at upsetting the Lakers. It should be 2-1 Thunder already, but the young team didn't handle it well on game 2.

Go Thunder.

They're not exactly the class of the league at the 8 seed.

Lakers in 6.