ESPN.com's preview of the team

[Royce]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-OklahomaCityPreview0809

Check it out. Especially what OKC should do down one with 9.2 seconds to go. :D

[Plainsman]

That's a huge collection of OKC haters, all in one place.

We've talked about this and hashed it out on these boards for two years and I'm sick of it, but they continue to put a spin on Bennett that's not true .......

Hollinger says



NORTHWEST: 5 | WEST: 15 Jeer the two-faced owner all you want, but don't blame the good people of Oklahoma for the mess in Seattle -- it's bad enough that they have to watch the Thunder this year. GM Sam Presti is building a solid future, but it'll take time.

I don't get this. In the PC was held to announce the sale of the team, Bennett very clearly told them they had one year to put an arena deal in place, or he was moving the team. How can that be interpreted as " two faced " ??? He told them how it was and he meant it.

But these people will get the last spin and many won't know they're a bunch of Sonics fans.

[Royce]

That's a huge collection of OKC haters, all in one place.

We've talked about this and hashed it out on these boards for two years and I'm sick of it, but they continue to put a spin on Bennett that's not true .......

Hollinger says



I don't get this. In the PC was held to announce the sale of the team, Bennett very clearly told them they had one year to put an arena deal in place, or he was moving the team. How can that be interpreted as " two faced " ??? He told them how it was and he meant it.

But these people will get the last spin and many won't know they're a bunch of Sonics fans.
I know. I've written about it a lot but I'm sick of it. It will pass with time (just like the hate for the Baltimore Ravens passed) but it hurts during the time.

[the_Mont]

I'd rather be hated than ignored. But that's just me. :D

[Plainsman]

But all in all .......... that preview is brutal. Won't find much hope in those predictions.

Just to take a pollyannish view and try to find hope and be optimistic, I think they may be overlooking .......

potential at the center position

Jeff Green being much improved

Westbrook catching on quickly

Collison having a better year than last

And Wilcox playing lights out every game in contract year.

I'm not gonna let them beat me completely down :)

[Royce]

But all in all .......... that preview is brutal. Won't find much hope in those predictions.

Just to take a pollyannish view and try to find hope and be optimistic, I think they may be overlooking .......

potential at the center position

Jeff Green being much improved

Westbrook catching on quickly

Collison having a better year than last

And Wilcox playing lights out every game in contract year.

I'm not gonna let them beat me completely down :)

There's a reason I'm predicting a 30-win season. I'm a homer and a fan and I'm a glass half full kind of guy.

And the Hornets were the consensus worst team in 2005. Of course I don't think Russell Westbrook is Chris Paul, but Kevin Durant could have that kind of impact...

[bbingham05]

I think the most important thing is to remember they are all talking about the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER.

[Royce]

I think the most important thing is to remember they are all talking about the OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER.
Which is awesome. ESPN talking about a pro sport in OKC with no "slash New Orleans" by it.

Awesome.

[artbypaul]

Oklahoma has long been bashed by media outside the state, this is nothing new.

I'm going to enjoy having the NBA here and not let ESPN dictate my feelings towards them.

[Doug Loudenback]

Oklahoma has long been bashed by media outside the state, this is nothing new.

I'm going to enjoy having the NBA here and not let ESPN dictate my feelings towards them.
Actually, Paul, OKC was adored by the media when the Hornets were here, especially during the first season. In that time, I fairly well obsessed (as if that's news) about the articles around the country ... see http://www.dougloudenback.com/hornets/HornetsMedia.htm

In that 1st Hornets year especially, for the most part, OKC was the darling of the media.

The media taste which favored Seattle turned sour when Seattle became involved. And Plainsman is 100% correct ... Bennett laid down the ground rules from day 1. And I still believe that he preferred to keep the team in Seattle if the new arena (he NEVER said that a revised Key would be acceptable, 100% the opposite) and new contract terms were agreed upon. PBC would have made lots more money had Seattle/Washington taken him seriously. They didn't. Their loss, our gain. We wouldn't have a team but for Seattle/Washington's (definition: (1) government+(2) business+ (3) fans) not really giving a damn. The 3 groups never converged. IMO.

I expect (though it will not bother me in the least if my expectation does not occur) that Seattle wishful thinking/anti-Okc talk will not exist after the 1st season here, and, I'd suppose, by much sooner than that.

OKC is going to knock NBA-media socks off this season, just as it did before.

That's my prediction. As the season progresses, we'll hear less and less about Seattle and more and more about Oklahoma City and their crazy fans, regardless of how the team fares in W/L records.

This is OUR team now, and we will damn well keep it, and we'll show others who might be interested how that's done! We did that already with the March 4 vote, and we'll do it all season long, each and every blessed game by game! :D

[artbypaul]

You're absolutely right, Doug. We did get a bit of praise during the Hornets temporary stay here.

So I guess everything at ESPN is fair and balanced. What's to complain about?

LIFE IS GOOD! :)

NBA IS HERE! :)

P

[NBAOK]

Quote"This is OUR team now, and we will damn well keep it, and we'll show others who might be interested how that's done! We did that already with the March 4 vote, and we'll do it all season long, each and every blessed game by game! "

WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE!!!!!!