‘Brick Man' Derrick Seys among fans rearranging their lives during Thunder playoffs

Why all the miles?

Seys lives in Coal Valley, Ill.

Home games aren't exactly at home for him. Still, Seys is dedicated to seeing the Thunder as much as possible. He became a huge fan when the team came to town — a “super fan,” actually; his giant brick head made him known as “Brick Man” — and when he landed a new job near the Illinois-Iowa border, he wasn't about to let that keep him from his Thunder.

“People will say, ‘Oh, I didn't know you moved away,'” Seys said. “‘I see you every game.'”

Not quite.

But close.

Seys is like Thunder fans near and far — rearranging their lives during these playoffs. Meetings have been postponed. Get-togethers have been rescheduled. Bedtimes have been delayed.

Life hasn't been put on hold during the Thunder's playoff run, which has surpassed the five-week mark and will continue Monday night with Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

Rather, Thunder fans say life has been enhanced.

“Here I am ... living and dying with every possession,” Thunder fan Ann Parker said.

The Del City grandmother barely watched the Thunder when the team came to town two seasons ago. She'd been a pro-basketball fan in the 70s, cheering on the Lakers, but then, she lost interest.

Now, she is so passionate about the Thunder that she nearly sneaked out of her granddaughter's high school graduation to watch the Western Conference Finals opener.

“I sat there ready to bolt at tipoff,” Parker said. “Then I came to my senses and remembered I had DVR'ed it.”

Still, the lifelong Oklahoma football fan nearly used a trick that she's pulled during Sooner games.

“I would have taken a radio to the graduation,” she said, “but last year at my husband's cousin's wedding during the Cincinnati game, I took it and everyone really got annoyed with me going outside to check the score.”