Innocence lost in OKC? Maybe just a little bit

Yeah, this is late today, blame time zones. But with a 6 a.m. flight to Dallas tomorrow, we’ll be better.

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I’m sitting on a familiar stool (that’s what you get after being here for a bit of the Western Conference final and the NBA Final last June) and my friend Tess is still pouring.

After a re-introduction (“you’re the writer from Toronto, right?”) it’s pretty easy to understand the mood here after the James Harden trade.

“It’s like one of our kids left,” she says.

And that’s what makes this little city kind of special.

Because it’s so small, and because the team is so good, there’s a sense of common ownership with the fans, who really don’t have a lot of other sporting options around here. They take to the players like they’re family, and the players seem to have taken to the fans as well, as least during the season.

You’re not going to get it in a bigger city – I can’t imagine you’d get in it Toronto, that’s for sure – because it seems everyone is a fan, everyone wants to know a player, everyone takes pride in what the Thunder represents.

It’s very cool, actually. Kind of refreshing to come here once or twice a year and listen to how much these people – all of them – love their team.

But now it’s a bit broken up, for the first time since the Thunder got here, one of the good guys on a championship team left because the nasty business of the NBA reared its ugly head.

I’m not going to say there’s a total loss of innocence among the fans but it’s close, they’ve had a guy they loved on a team they love sent away for financial reasons. It happens often around the league, the Harden departure is the first time it’s happened here; I don’t imagine it’ll cost the team any fans but it might be the first step in them becoming just a wee bit jaded.

So, Tess, how will they react when Harden comes back?

“We’ll cheer. It’s what we do.”

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Speaking of Oklahoma City, My Man Perk found this gem of a local TV ad and it’s hilarious.

Wish there were some personalities or deals to be made with the Raptors because these things can be funny.

What’d we get?

Andrea and pasta.

Sam and cars in an ad that took away his personality.

Turk and pizza.

The best one was back in the day with the Leaves and the Raptors but that was so long ago few of you would remember it.

Our loss.

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Yes, we’ll be here about 8 eastern time for the IGBT, we’re trying to work out the font issue with the questions and the Tall Foreheads know about the iPhone or iPad issues, too.

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Not sure how many US Irregulars we have but if there are any out there, go vote today.

Vote early, vote often as my Chicago friends tell me because it’s the price you pay for the life you live.

I’m not going to tell you who to vote for (I like the guy who’s got the job, though) but exercising your franchise is not only a right, it’s a duty. Besides, as a wise man once told me, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

Look, I am of the believe to a large extent that the biggest goal of every politician is gaining power so they can retain it no matter what it takes but voting is one thing everyone should do.

And, who knows, it might make you feel good.

I can remember four years ago, well, four years ago minus one day, and walking into the Air Canada Centre for a morning shootaround before some nondescript regular season game.

And I will never forget the smiles on the face of Sam Mitchell and Alex English, I will never forget their feelings of satisfaction, that they had been involved with and witnessed history.

It was a great day for them, a significant day in the history of their country and it might be one of the most enduring images I’ll have of either man.

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Yes, this is entirely the cliché song and I know there may be better ones out there but we’re in Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie’s from here and let’s go with the iconic, shall we?

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Hey, how come no one told me Mandy Patinkin is in Homeland!

Just got to see a few episodes while flying yesterday thanks to the early Christmas gift of the mini-iPad from Super Family and there he was.

Have only seen a couple episodes but it looks like a keeper (Clare Danes is outstanding in her on-the-edge persona) and Patinkin’s better than he was at the end of his Criminal Mind days.

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The Raptors?

Right, them.

Nothing yesterday at all, in the middle of four games in five nights they took the day off before travelling here. They once again won’t have Linas Kleiza, he’s still dealing with a family matter but that’s the only thing close to news.

Maybe more after shootaround in a couple of hours, but I’d be surprised.

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You know that I don’t thin too many sports translate well onto radio – baseball being the only exception because of the pace and the lazy summer nights listening to a game – but if there was someone in basketball who could paint a picture like few others, it was Jim Durham of ESPN.

He was pretty much the best there’s been and his passing at just 65 years old on the weekend – after working a game last week in Miami – was as sad as it was shocking.

RIP. A giant.

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Comments

[doug]

this is why in the NBA as a fan or player you can't compare games or go into a game thinking there is a sure outcome....the Nets beat us, dominate us inside, we in turn beat the Wolves without much of a struggle once we got going in 4th....last night Wolves beat the Nets on the road handily after being down by as much as 19 or so...that is the NBA a a box of chocolates and why if I were a coach or as a fan i never accept the excuse it's only the 2nd game of season, the Nets are stronger,better etc...each and every night you just never know....ok cheers...

[DannyFromFreddy]

Hey Doug, I see your man Shved had a big game last night for the T-Wolves.

Blogger's note: And got a haircut! He's the anti-Sampson

[john]

Hey Doug perhaps this means a list is coming of worst radio sports? While driving one day I could not believe that Tennis was on the radio. It was comical.

Blogger's note: Curling and golf

[Mike]

If the OKC fans cheer Harden I'll tip my hat to them, if he were a former Raptor returning to the ACC I don't doubt there would be a significant contingent of Toronto fans that would boo him given the reasons behind the trade (not saying it's right, just that it's our track record around these parts).

On the one hand I would have thought Nav Bhattia (Superfan) would have convinced some of the Raptors to do a similar commercial by now. I guess he's enough of a celebrity in his own right that he doesn't have to pay the players to appear, he can do his own commercials!

[Richard]

The fans in Oklahoma never had to suffer through years and years of having a crappy team. They had one bad year when they got the team, since then they have been great. It's easy to be a great fanbase under those circumstances.

[Greg]

Thanks for the great blog! A couple of things I spotted ...

Sixth paragraph up from the video: Look, I am of the "belief"

Third paragraph from the bottom: You know that I don't "think"

Hope this helps,

[Arlene]

Hindsight is wonderful...keep thinking back to the draft year when Bargs was selected ahead of Lamarcus Aldridge. Know there were concerns about LA's knees....but Chris Bosh advocated for him. A physical player which Bargnani is not. Get feeling Bargs is back to preferring to stand outside and shoot three's...
let Jonas do heavy work. Not good for the team long term. Hopefully he changes his attitude and work ethic.

[Lorie]

Ha! Gread ad, Doug; nice find by Perk! (And isn't Serge Ibaka one good-looking, cool dude?) But did you know Jose Calderon has done an ad for Kia in Spain that is pretty cool. And I don't care what the cynics say: I'm certain that not a single one of those shots were 'doctored'.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/2012/08/22/raptors_jose_calderon_trick_shots/
And I seriously don't know how you can describe what they did to Shved's gorgeous locks a haircut. I think he must've been the victim of a hazing ritual...he should've chosen the backpack option.

[80 and 2]

The raptors finest ads must have come in the 99 season. Anyone remember the raptors are coming into your home spots? YouTube those for an old school treat.

[Rob]

Good commercials featuring the raptors?? Remember back in the day, the season when we drafted vince carter, and got kevin willis. They ran a series of commercials for tv channel showing the raptors games, it was tittled "take the raptors home with you", and featured vince carter going to a local tailor and then joining them for dinnner, john wallace going to the boy scouts, and the best one, kevin willis joining a couple of kids for a slumber party........

[Matt G]

Chuck Todd just asked on The Daily Rundown, in Oklahoma: will Kevin Durant score more points over the Raptors than President Obama will achieve as a share of the vote in the state? (my rendition is a bit clumsy) I say Obama gets a greater share (over 42%) than Durant scores (<42pts). What's the feeling down there towards the election?

Blogger's note: Haven't asked, actually

[johnnnyc]

Old Home week for Mark Cuban.....Trailblazers in Dallas on the 5th with Terry Stotts & Dwayne in next.....Good on Cuban......he let two talented coaches go for head coaching opportunities.......

[Lorie]

And more Alexey! If Dave Zirin's tweet goes viral ("The basketball loving world is about to clamor for some Shved-dy balls" ) how long before SNL updates and puts an NBA spin on the classic Alec Baldwin skit? http://youtu.be/6R5xcydYKqU

[Wilber]

Doesn't Hedo for Pizza Pizza rank up with the best? I keed, I keed.
Our favourite in-game spots at the ACC were Mark Jackson for the fifty-fifty draw. WIN money. HELP children. Play fiddy-fiddy." Cracked us up everytime.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

When you say that Linas is dealing with a family matter, do you if it is his family in North America, or is he back in Lithuania?

Blogger's note: Not sure, and haven't asked

[M!k3]

Hey Doug,

Homeland is pretty great; you're in for a wild ride.

Have you ever seen Dead Like Me? Another great Mandy P show from a few years back. He's the same old Mandy, but the show itself was (darkly) comedic.

Blogger's note: Watched a lot of Dead Like Me, enjoyed it

[capt kirk]

Raps on NBA TV or TSN? How does one choose? Who gets the Westbrook assignment?This trip may bring out the best in the starters seeing all the matchup problems on both sides. The second of six back-to-backs this month doesn't help the rotations, but it may help in developing chemistry. Lowry and JV working the pick and roll is something to watch.

[Jay]

Hey Doug,

I don't want to know or think we have a right to know the details of Linas' family matter. Do you think if he had won the starting job ahead of Feilds he would still be away? or would there pressure from the team for him to stay and play?

Blogger's note: No pressure. Family's family

[Matthieu]

Hi Doug,

Here is the local take on tonight's game: http://newsok.com/the-no.-1-reason-for-thunder-fans-to-root-against-the-raptors/article/3726106

Interesting angle.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Even if the fans in Oklahoma did have to "suffer through years and years of having a crappy team", they would still applaud Harden when he returns, and they would still cheer the team on when they're playing poorly or losing... because that's just how people are in the Midwest. They're fundamentally positive, and competitive, and appreciative. And they tend to view booing (other than at bonehead calls by officials) as bush league. And I think that might be Doug's point.
Back in my day in the Midwest, whatever teams you were lucky to have were pretty much the biggest show in town. For big games (I'm remembering some Lute Olson Hawkeyes vs. Bobby Knight Hoosiers here, or a #1 Oklahoma State vs. #2 Iowa wrestling meet here), it was highly unusual to sit for even one second of live play. The sound was deafening – never mind announcers or 'game ops', you couldn't have heard those if you tried – and you left the arena hoarse... from cheering, not booing.
Cheers. (See? Positive. Cordial.) Go Raps! (Competitive. Appreciative.)

[GM]

Not sure of the commercial spots in the States but the big problem I have with the ads up here is that they're over-played. I can go from liking an ad to being neutral about it to absolutely hating it all within the course of one game because it'll come on every single break.

Thanks for the find on the Jose ad, @Lorie. Doug, have you asked Jose if that was doctored?

Hey, has anyone else noticed how painfully slow the graphics are to reflect the score on Raptors games? When you watch a game with any other production crew and the screen score changes about a second after a basket is scored. With the Raptors, you sit and wait. The other team has the ball at the other end before it finally changes. I always like to imagine someone sitting there with one eye on a hockey game or texting their girl/boyfriend, then hearing in the background the announcer allude to a score. Then they frantically look around to ask someone if it was a 2 or a 3. Any idea how they work that, Doug?

Blogger's note: Haven't asked either question. I will

[D-Mac Ottawa]

I might add that we did indeed and in fact "suffer through years and years of having a crappy team" with several teams and in several sports, but we still showed up to support them, and we didn't kill the energy by booing...
And of course that ad was 'doctored'... same as a few dozen others along these same lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnxIITeNftE
Cheers again. Cordially. Yeah, go Raps!!

[Dave R]

Doug, the Homeland plot can get iffy at times, but the acting performances by Danes, Lewis and Mandy are amazing. Both Danes and Lewis deserved their emmys.

[Liam]

Doug,

Can you please pull Andrea aside... and smack him in the face several times. His defensive intensity is non-existent.