Chris Wilcox of the Thunder expresses his frustration for a foul not being called with official James Capers in the second half of the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City Wednesday. Photo by Nate Billings
With 2:50 remaining in the third quarter Wednesday night, Thunder fans no longer could contain their frustration.
So they did the unthinkable.
They booed.
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For two full seasons while hosting the displaced Hornets, local NBA fans never booed the home team.
With the Los Angeles Clippers in the midst of a 42-12 run that required less than 12 minutes, Thunder fans broke their silence when coach P.J. Carlesimo called for a timeout.
There were more groans than boos, but undeniably, there were boos.
Philly fans boo Santa Claus, but Oklahoma City pro basketball fans don’t boo anything that’s theirs.
Until Wednesday.
The Clippers went on to post a 108-88 victory before a crowd of 18,312 at the Ford Center, handing the 1-11 Thunder its ninth straight loss.
Upon his arrival in Oklahoma City, Carlesimo was told of the city’s boo-free zone.
Carlesimo said he hoped the trend continued but would understand if Thunder fans booed when his team’s play warranted it.
Against the Clippers, it was warranted.
The Thunder led by 15 points with 2½-minutes left in the second quarter, and trailed by 15 with 2:50 left in the third.
Afterward, Carlesimo tried to respond to questions that have no good answers.
"Nobody feels worse than all our people," Carlesimo said.
Not even the most prolific get-well card in NBA history could cure what ails the Thunder.
The Clippers entered the game with a 1-9 record, though they’re much better than that with a roster consisting of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kaman.
Before Wednesday’s game, Carlesimo wished the Clippers would struggle for at least one more contest, and they obliged at first.
Then the Clippers found their rhythm.
Doesn’t everyone against the Thunder?
The Thunder knows pain and suffering, but the Clippers perfected it.
It was 1978 when the Buffalo Braves became the San Diego Clippers.
Since then, there has been no more feeble franchise in the NBA.
Four playoff appearances in 30 years, with three first-round exits.
Five times the Clippers have finished in the teens for total victories in a season.
One time, they didn’t even get to the teens (12-70 in 1986-87).
Another time, they failed to reach double-digits (9-41 in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season).
The Thunder has a long ways to go to catch the Clippers.
Former Oklahoma State standout Desmond Mason was with the Hornets during their stay in Oklahoma City and has said the best thing about playing ball here is you don’t get booed, no matter how tough the going gets.
All that ended Wednesday.
"I think the fans were a little upset we kept turning the ball over," said Mason, who was in street clothes due to a sprained right elbow.
The booing was short-lived, however.
When the Thunder walked toward their locker room after the game, they were showered with a smattering of applause from fans waiting at the tunnel.
"Even after a game like that, they told us to keep our heads up, to keep playing," Mason said. "You don’t get that kind of treatment very often."
True, but for how much longer?
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. on New JOX 930 (AM).
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fake paul, yukon: Actually, I am the one who has connected the dots (really not that difficult, it is all there for anyone who wants to see it can). I have laid everything out so those that haven't done any research can see what the facts are. Do find it interesting you didn't dispute any of my post, but rather decided to attack the messenger.
Obviously we see this differently. Please explain which dots you don't think I have been able to connect?
It is those who don't use their brains that are the worrisome ones, they accept whatever spin, half-truths and in some cases out-right lies that comes out of the Mayor's office & Chamber about the whole mess. Unfortunately, enough voters (a small minority of OKC residents/taxpayers) were fooled or uninformed about the realities of the Ford tax increase and now the City (taxpayers) is on the hook for this for the next 15 to 30 years (the length of the lease). With no way to pay for it.
I bet you ask any of the Sonic fans do they truly wish ill fate to the ex-Sonic team: no. Its more at the owner who bulled his way into getting a team on OK. Any city who had a guy come into there town and rape them would hold ill fate toward them. You OK's must admit,why the heck would he want an NBA trophy that was never won by the city the team is in. EGO, Jerseys of players never playing in OK to hang from the rafters? ENVY! Just an outsider looking in.....I bet Clay has the Thunder dancers wearing Sonic panties beneath there Thunder-wear.
Larry, we all gave up on you getting it, along time ago. You are just too slow and dim witted to connect the dots. That's OK, we're not mad at you....we just wish you would stay down in the shallow end where you belong...I am a highly educated man and you son, are the class dunce....now run along and play...
"First, Paul, I know this is difficult with only an 8th grade hillbilly education, but the possessive form is "your" not "you're." I'd let it go, but you make the same mistake in every post."
THANK YOU, nameless one for pointing out this ruination of the English language. The "fake Paul" is pathetic in being unable to use words as intended. Anybody who has been following these blogs knows that the fake Paul is an illiterate and a product of Okies 47th ranked education system, whereas I was educated in a state that ranks toward #1 and know the difference between "your" and "you're"....
Tdawg, Seattle wrote: "You need to go back and study the history of this more closely..."
Excellent idea!
What exactly is the "arena problem"? The Key was designed and built to the EXACT specifications of the team and NBA. It was called by Commish Stern a model NBA arena and state of the art. Then about 6 years later the team want a remodel. What happened in those 6 years, did the Key change? No, the NBA business model changed where they needed to get as much revenue from as many sources as they possibly can (high end restaurants, bars, concessions, merchandise etc., etc.)
It goes back to the sharing thing, they can't stand the idea that they aren't getting more of the money that people are spending in the surrounding area before and after the game. They want you from birth to grave, so to speak.
The "problem" isn't with the arena itself... the Key has the same problem the Ford has in that regard. Yes, the Key has the smallest seating capacity of any NBA arena, but was it always that way? Or did it become the smallest as newer, bigger arenas opened? Even if it has always been the smallest, it was built that way because the team wanted it that way.
Interesting to note that Bennett's new $500 million arena he demanded in Seattle would have had more seating capacity than the Key, but smaller than the Ford. Can certainly understand if someone questioned why a bigger arena was needed when they couldn't keep the smaller arena filled.
The other "arena problem" was the lease. Because of the broken business model, the NBA isn't real big on sharing revenue (they even want revenue from non-NBA events, held in a building they don't own...they want naming rights to a building they don't own..etc.).
Ran across an article that showed EVERY owner of the Sonics (even if they were losing millions yearly as a team), made up for ALL of the losses and still made a nice net profit when they sold the team.
Of course it helps if you can find a buyer (Bennett) who is willing to pay $100 million more for the team than what it was worth (yet not willing to pay for the improvements that are designed either for the team itself or to "maximize the revenue streams" for the team).
"I'm sorry Mitch, could you please repeat that in English? You know, that language your Oklahoma hillbilly pidgin is loosely based on?"
Sure. I see you and the rest of the usual intellectually challenged mo-rons who have no visible means of employment, since they post on the Disappointment's forum throughout the day, are still occupying this space. I believe you are too obtuse to lose interest in repetitive, mindless drivel.
Brian, Oklahoma City wrote: "Key arena was built in the 60's. Why do you idiots always say it was built a decade ago?"
They keep saying that because that is the fact. Google it. The Key is only about 12 years old (approx double the age of the Ford). The original building (the Coliseum, which was built in the early 1960s) was completely gutted down to the support columns and the roof line. They lowered the floor to add additional seating (since they kept the same roof line, they couldn't go up or out).
The totally rebuilt Key (not just remodeled like the Ford improvements) was about the same age as the Ford when the team started asking for more improvements to be made. Remember the Key was rebuilt to the exact specifications of the team/NBA. Stern called it a state of the art and model NBA arena (I've seen the clip on u-tube).
Stern supported a remodel of the Key and even went to the Washington legislature to lobby for it. Once Bennett bought the team, a remodel was out of the question. It was a new arena or the team moves. Now that the team has moved, Stern says a remodel of the Key will be fine again.
Oh, God, yes heaven forbid anyone should actually boo their own team. Big f-ing deal — your team deserves to be booed. They're the worst team in professional sports. For Pete's sake. You people are ridiculous. Bush league. No surprise there, I guess.
First of all, anyone who wasn't at the game has no room to talk. I was there, 7 rows from the floor. There was no booing of the team! The only "boos" were directed towards the refs, who sucked. There were some "ughs" when the kept turning the ball over and over. However they weren't actually booed!!
And just to let you know, the "hillbilly" city I come from outside of Oklahoma City has one of the highest levels of college education in the country. Keep up your delusions if that's what it takes to make you feel good about yourself.
It's the bitter little people like the unnamed person from Seattle reinforce the mostly untrue stereotypes about people from Seattle. How many people with any self-esteem get off by trying to insult other cities? I guess you just can't get over it. It's a crappy deal for all the people who were Sonics fans, but you are flat out childish.
First, Paul, I know this is difficult with only an 8th grade hillbilly education, but the possessive form is "your" not "you're." I'd let it go, but you make the same mistake in every post.
Second, college is not considered in the same league as professional sports anywhere but in backwaters like Oklahoma. That said, there's more to college sports than football, so congrats on the Sooners basketball team making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Granted, my Wazzu team got to the Sweet 16, but . . . wait, what was that you were saying about our college teams not being competitive again? Well, geez Paul, now you just don't seem to even know what *you're* talking about.
Third, there is no "Sonics" anymore. And good luck with *your* pipe dream of competing in the NBA anytime in the next decade, assuming the team you are referring to is the Thunder(sucks).
Oh yea, slick....you're pathetic teams are going to get better but ours is going to continue to suck. The Sonics have a much better chance to be good in two years than the 'hawks or the M's.
And in the mean time we have college teams playing at the highest level and competing for conference and national titles.
UW and WSU are screwed. There is no reason to believe that they will ever be competetive.
No Paul, you're experiencing the karma right now. As we said, enjoy.
Granted, Seattle sports are in the pits right now. But it's all cyclical. Our NFL and MLB teams will be good again. We're getting a new Major League Soccer team this year, as well. That should be fun. All of them will regularly draw two to three times the crowds the Thunder(sucks) ever will.
Again, enjoy your god-awful basketball team. With their god-awful name. In your god-awful town. We'll enjoy all of our other major professional sports teams. None of which you will ever have in OKC.
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Obviously we see this differently. Please explain which dots you don't think I have been able to connect?
It is those who don't use their brains that are the worrisome ones, they accept whatever spin, half-truths and in some cases out-right lies that comes out of the Mayor's office & Chamber about the whole mess. Unfortunately, enough voters (a small minority of OKC residents/taxpayers) were fooled or uninformed about the realities of the Ford tax increase and now the City (taxpayers) is on the hook for this for the next 15 to 30 years (the length of the lease). With no way to pay for it.
Allowing a team to score 42 points in 12 minutes is NOT coaching. It is LAZINESS on the players' part.
THANK YOU, nameless one for pointing out this ruination of the English language. The "fake Paul" is pathetic in being unable to use words as intended. Anybody who has been following these blogs knows that the fake Paul is an illiterate and a product of Okies 47th ranked education system, whereas I was educated in a state that ranks toward #1 and know the difference between "your" and "you're"....
Excellent idea!
What exactly is the "arena problem"? The Key was designed and built to the EXACT specifications of the team and NBA. It was called by Commish Stern a model NBA arena and state of the art. Then about 6 years later the team want a remodel. What happened in those 6 years, did the Key change? No, the NBA business model changed where they needed to get as much revenue from as many sources as they possibly can (high end restaurants, bars, concessions, merchandise etc., etc.)
It goes back to the sharing thing, they can't stand the idea that they aren't getting more of the money that people are spending in the surrounding area before and after the game. They want you from birth to grave, so to speak.
The "problem" isn't with the arena itself... the Key has the same problem the Ford has in that regard. Yes, the Key has the smallest seating capacity of any NBA arena, but was it always that way? Or did it become the smallest as newer, bigger arenas opened? Even if it has always been the smallest, it was built that way because the team wanted it that way.
Interesting to note that Bennett's new $500 million arena he demanded in Seattle would have had more seating capacity than the Key, but smaller than the Ford. Can certainly understand if someone questioned why a bigger arena was needed when they couldn't keep the smaller arena filled.
The other "arena problem" was the lease. Because of the broken business model, the NBA isn't real big on sharing revenue (they even want revenue from non-NBA events, held in a building they don't own...they want naming rights to a building they don't own..etc.).
Yet here you are checking up on everyone and posting this same thing in at least one other thread...LMAO
Of course it helps if you can find a buyer (Bennett) who is willing to pay $100 million more for the team than what it was worth (yet not willing to pay for the improvements that are designed either for the team itself or to "maximize the revenue streams" for the team).
Sure. I see you and the rest of the usual intellectually challenged mo-rons who have no visible means of employment, since they post on the Disappointment's forum throughout the day, are still occupying this space. I believe you are too obtuse to lose interest in repetitive, mindless drivel.
They keep saying that because that is the fact. Google it. The Key is only about 12 years old (approx double the age of the Ford). The original building (the Coliseum, which was built in the early 1960s) was completely gutted down to the support columns and the roof line. They lowered the floor to add additional seating (since they kept the same roof line, they couldn't go up or out).
The totally rebuilt Key (not just remodeled like the Ford improvements) was about the same age as the Ford when the team started asking for more improvements to be made. Remember the Key was rebuilt to the exact specifications of the team/NBA. Stern called it a state of the art and model NBA arena (I've seen the clip on u-tube).
Stern supported a remodel of the Key and even went to the Washington legislature to lobby for it. Once Bennett bought the team, a remodel was out of the question. It was a new arena or the team moves. Now that the team has moved, Stern says a remodel of the Key will be fine again.
Second, college is not considered in the same league as professional sports anywhere but in backwaters like Oklahoma. That said, there's more to college sports than football, so congrats on the Sooners basketball team making it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Granted, my Wazzu team got to the Sweet 16, but . . . wait, what was that you were saying about our college teams not being competitive again? Well, geez Paul, now you just don't seem to even know what *you're* talking about.
Third, there is no "Sonics" anymore. And good luck with *your* pipe dream of competing in the NBA anytime in the next decade, assuming the team you are referring to is the Thunder(sucks).
And in the mean time we have college teams playing at the highest level and competing for conference and national titles.
UW and WSU are screwed. There is no reason to believe that they will ever be competetive.
Granted, Seattle sports are in the pits right now. But it's all cyclical. Our NFL and MLB teams will be good again. We're getting a new Major League Soccer team this year, as well. That should be fun. All of them will regularly draw two to three times the crowds the Thunder(sucks) ever will.
Again, enjoy your god-awful basketball team. With their god-awful name. In your god-awful town. We'll enjoy all of our other major professional sports teams. None of which you will ever have in OKC.
Oh, and go Red Raiders!
-Seattle
It probably helps that our other sports teams are so good. It kind of balances things out.