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Screw it, I'm over what's his name. What I appreciate is the guys who really always gave their heart and have been more honest about this team and themselves. The real Thunder. From what I know, Collison, Russ, and Steven are 3 guys who've been in OKC who are nothing but totally real with everything they say.

I don't know how long Russ or Nick will be around (though I hope for a while), but think Steven will be for quite a few years. These are the guys who I really appreciate. Just wanted to give props to that, because that to me is deserving of praise.

It's all about the name on the front of the jersey

unless collison is on the back

I don't think we ever actually know public figures.

At the risk of sounding Bethlehem Shoals-like, we lionize or demonize athletes because they're symbols. Nick is seen as an avatar of loyalty, but outside of him staying here year after year what do we actually know about him? Maybe he cheats on his SO. Maybe he doesn't file his taxes. Maybe he doesn't do any of that, and we really are right considering him a loyal, upstanding kind of guy. Who knows?

The cynical take is to say that the only guy we can say actually chose OKC is Nick, since he's the only one who's been around long enough to sign multiple non-RFA contracts. Everybody else is either a rook or would have had no choice because of trade or RFA unless deliberately forcing their way out.

I think Russ is as real as he wants to be. He says what's on his mind. But he doesn't say everything. Maybe he stays, maybe he doesn't. If he had been up this year instead of KD, who's to say that he wouldn't have been the one that we're mad about? Maybe not as much—Russ seems like he likes the bright lights more than KD did (shows you how much we know)—and he's never been as open about his loyalty to the team as KD was.

I'll appreciate the guys we have while we have them.

dbrandon wrote:I don't think we ever actually know public figures.

At the risk of sounding Bethlehem Shoals-like, we lionize or demonize athletes because they're symbols. Nick is seen as an avatar of loyalty, but outside of him staying here year after year what do we actually know about him? Maybe he cheats on his SO. Maybe he doesn't file his taxes. Maybe he doesn't do any of that, and we really are right considering him a loyal, upstanding kind of guy. Who knows?

The cynical take is to say that the only guy we can say actually chose OKC is Nick, since he's the only one who's been around long enough to sign multiple non-RFA contracts. Everybody else is either a rook or would have had no choice because of trade or RFA unless deliberately forcing their way out.

I think Russ is as real as he wants to be. He says what's on his mind. But he doesn't say everything. Maybe he stays, maybe he doesn't. If he had been up this year instead of KD, who's to say that he wouldn't have been the one that we're mad about? Maybe not as much—Russ seems like he likes the bright lights more than KD did (shows you how much we know)—and he's never been as open about his loyalty to the team as KD was.

I'll appreciate the guys we have while we have them.

A) Nick is a goddam saint and you shut your dirty little mouth about him!

B) Russ may have left, hell may still leave, but he never would've said 'you raised me, but screw you this is too hard so I'm going to golden state.'

dbrandon wrote:I don't think we ever actually know public figures.

At the risk of sounding Bethlehem Shoals-like, we lionize or demonize athletes because they're symbols. Nick is seen as an avatar of loyalty, but outside of him staying here year after year what do we actually know about him? Maybe he cheats on his SO. Maybe he doesn't file his taxes. Maybe he doesn't do any of that, and we really are right considering him a loyal, upstanding kind of guy. Who knows?

I sort of assume most famous people are personally a-hats. Which is not to say i don't appreciate our players. I just don't think I'd actually want to hang with them.


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you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

pelifan wrote:you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

Thanks man, hope AD tears it up too.

Play angry MF's!

pelifan wrote:you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

Small markets unite!

Let's get the 5 Grizz fans on RealGM in on this too.

dbrandon wrote:

pelifan wrote:you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

Small markets unite!

Let's get the 5 Grizz fans on RealGM in on this too.

On mobile so I can't see your join date, but I remember a time back around the Miami/OKC finals where you couldn't even have a discussion on this board. There were literally 4 or 5 OKC posters posting in the finals game thread. It's amazing how much activity has been gained just since Bondom34 became mod.

spearsy23 wrote:

dbrandon wrote:

pelifan wrote:you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

Small markets unite!

Let's get the 5 Grizz fans on RealGM in on this too.

On mobile so I can't see your join date, but I remember a time back around the Miami/OKC finals where you couldn't even have a discussion on this board. There were literally 4 or 5 OKC posters posting in the finals game thread. It's amazing how much activity has been gained just since Bondom34 became mod.

June 22, 2015.

Bondom recruited me from Reddit cause I was doing writeups on CBA stuff and he figured I might enjoy Trades and Transactions. I did.

dbrandon wrote:

pelifan wrote:you all were there for the New Orleans Hornets in our time of need. Keeping us financially afloat. And I will always thank your fans for that.

But beyond that connection. While I'm still a Pelican's fan through and through, I now feel obligated. Obligated to support my fellow small market team. Changing the realgm icon, buying a jersey, and streaming thunder games in support. Especially as it's looking more and more like Westbrook will be there this season and the thunder won't just accept defeat. Maybe I'm just getting swept up in it all but I'd rather see your team win the championship this season than mine.

Let's go get some revenge.

Small markets unite!

Let's get the 5 Grizz fans on RealGM in on this too.

With me you now have 50% of the Pels RealGM fanbase behind you.