When you think about sports in Oklahoma, football comes to mind immediately. When asked, most Oklahomans are proud to tell you they are an OU Sooner or an OSU Cowboy fan and the rivalry is intense. Oklahoma loves football so several years ago when Oklahoma City started talking about bringing NBA basketball to our great state; I thought that will never fly. Who in the world is going to get behind that? We are in football country!

Well I am very proud to say that I was wrong. I have now attended three OKC Thunder games and let me tell you, NBA basketball in Oklahoma is red hot. Every seat in the Chesapeake Arena is full and everyone is up on their feet screaming. It’s not called “Loud City” for nothing. People are crazy for NBA basketball in Oklahoma, in the middle of football country. The Oklahoma City Thunder is referred to as “the team we can all get behind.”

I just kind of take it all in from the moment we enter the Arena until we left. It truly is like attending a show that just happens to have a basketball game going on at the same time. From before tipoff until the time on the clock runs out, everything is orchestrated and coordinated. While timeouts are occurring, you are being entertained by something on the court, or T-shirts being shot out of a cannon or contests between fans. If you came in thinking you were going to watch a leisurely game of basketball, you quickly find out that you were wrong.    In fact, it truly is sensory overload, music, lights, cheering, buzzers, people wearing crazy outfits and the game itself.

I have never been an NBA fan and don’t know much about basket ball, but I can sure tell you about the starting lineup for the Thunder. If you have never seen an NBA game, I encourage you to go. The players are phenomenal. They can fly through the air with ease and can make the impossible possible. I’m blown away each and every time. I’ve even starting watching their games on TV. I think I’m officially a basketball fan.

Now with all that said, let me just tell you that our awesome Thunder players have embraced Oklahoma City as their home. They are involved in the community, especially with children and charities. It warms my heart each and every time I learn of something new they are doing to help out.   They are good people with exceptional talents and huge hearts.

Thunder up baby!