Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Thunder Strikes Gold: The Rise of OKC's New Championship Contenders
Three broadcast veterans reunite to discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder's remarkable journey to the NBA Finals, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and insights from their time covering the team's early years.
• Thunder's return to the NBA Finals after 13 years represents one of the NBA's most successful rebuilds
• Sam Presti's methodical approach turned 22-win and 24-win seasons into 57 wins and now an NBA Finals appearance
• OKC fans create an atmosphere unlike any other in the NBA, uniting a state typically divided by college sports loyalties
• Jalen Williams has emerged as a potential Finals MVP candidate, scoring 40 points in Game 5 after being the 12th pick in the draft
• The current Thunder team appears to have better chemistry and fewer ego issues than the Durant-Westbrook era
• Indiana remains dangerous despite Tyrese Halliburton's injury, with TJ McConnell stepping up in his absence
• Both hosts predict the Thunder will close out the series in Game 6, though they expect a tough contest
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Thank you for watching. Honest is a strong word and we all need honesty when it comes to plumbing and HVAC needs, somebody who will take care of the repairs efficiently and with quality. Honest Plumbing and Air is who I trust and they take pride in that word. Honest Plumbing and Air where a handshake still means something. Alliburton up top Niphardt fakes, kicks it out, stolen by SGA. Two on one. Gildress Alexander layup is good and a foul All right.
Speaker 2:I had a goal when I entered the TV career of not being a fan of any program I ever covered. When I was in Oklahoma City, the third stop of my TV media career, it was perhaps I had the most fun. We got to cover an NBA team that was there temporarily. Then a team from Seattle left all that history and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. In year four they went to the finals and now I had left that year and I had been in Austin, texas, since then and wrapped up that career. But there are two guys who I worked extensively with since the inception of the Thunder and they're back in the finals. It took 13 years but they've been very, very much a team that has been, one that has been around the postseason a lot and has determined who becomes this champion Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals again and an Oklahoma City reunion let's talk about it.
Speaker 1:Who gonna stop, Mr? 3-5 or 0? Boy, you better call a superhero when it comes to this game. Ain't nobody gonna stop, but we're the big willies 3-5-0. Boy, you better call a superhero when it comes to this game. Ain't nobody going to stop us. We're the big willies. You're going to block the trucks. We got it popping as soon as we pop. So get slammed on by Serge Ibaka. Westbrook be falling.
Speaker 2:All right, I think people who know me know that I have a little bias toward that guy, the War Zero, russell Westbrook, toward that guy that wore zero Russell Westbrook. He's no longer with the Thunder. He's gone on and done great things with other franchises, but what that three did for Oklahoma City really established that franchise as a mainstay. It was exciting to watch and really what created the atmosphere, laid that foundation, along with other guys like Jeff Green and Kevin Durant and Nick Collison. You can go for on and on and on in a city that I dearly love and I have great friends and it's right there 1A, 1b or share 1A with Austin, texas. But before I introduce you to the guys that I've worked alongside with and covered that great franchise, be sure to follow us on each of our social media platforms Facebook, igx, youtube and TikTok and you know, with the economy and the state that it is, you know things that are free are few and far between. You can subscribe to our YouTube page for free and that is the most beautiful thing. So that what you just saw was a flashback to 2012. And that was a rap artist from Oklahoma City. Young star gave flashbacks, actually did a live shot with that guy the week of the NBA finals in 2012. And it feels like that wasn't long ago. I just had a few more hair follicles and that was such a great time. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and you know what else would be eye-opening If you did not?
Speaker 2:If you go this summer without having your HVAC serviced you know we're about to hit triple digits for almost every day. I had no power for two consecutive days because of a thunderstorm yeah, oklahomans know all about that and it was 90 degrees and I was miserable. I lost all my stuff in my freezer. So call our guys at Honest Plumbing and Air before you run into that, because 100 plus degrees and 80 percent humidity is not the route to go. Hey, enough of looking at my head.
Speaker 2:I want to introduce you to two guys who have really made a lasting impression with me because we work alongside each other. We got to cover the thunder, but the best part about them they're friends for life, they're Okies and for you Texans, don't hold that against them. All right, we're going to call this a Fox 25 OKC reunion. On the bottom was my former boss, steve Myron Patton, curtis Fitzpatrick. On the top, right next to me. Both these guys have done great things, won awards Myron's in a Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, both sports talk radio show hosts. Did you ever think that when we all parted or I parted to go across that mighty Red River in 2012, that we would have a reunion on a podcast Myron?
Speaker 3:Not really, not really. I'm just proud of myself. I could actually figure out how to get on camera. We're so proud of you, I'm here.
Speaker 2:Curtis, this is modern day, yeah, everyday occurrence. And for us to evolve with the technology. I think that's saying something.
Speaker 4:I'm also proud, myron, to figure out how to get that camera on. Hey, I'm not gonna lie man.
Speaker 3:I was like I was trying to do this. Okay, I just talk, man. When they play music, I come. Not going to lie man. I was like I was trying to do this. Okay, I just talk, man. When they play music, I come talk. You know, everybody else does all the technical stuff.
Speaker 4:No, this is cool man. Like I don't know when the last time is I mean, probably your last day on the air. Sean Was your last day on a Sunday night. We did this show. Fox 25 Sports.
Speaker 2:Traber was there, jim.
Speaker 4:Traber was there with us. I think that was your last night. That would have been the last time we were all three on the air together.
Speaker 2:It was the last week of November in 2012. I can still water man.
Speaker 3:I go to Stillwater for a game or some football game. The ladies that serve the food and stuff they always ask about Sean.
Speaker 2:I love the Stillwater mama. I love her Kathy, kathy Rushmore.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they ask about you all the time. She's a son of marriage.
Speaker 2:I miss, man. I tell you what, for those of you who have any ill feelings toward the state of Oklahoma, squash it, squash it, keep it. You know for that day, that October day in Dallas, it's all right, it's okay. But, man, that was a good part, a great part of my life, great part of my life and so many beautiful things. And you know, I got to experience a little bit the first few years of the Thunder. I thought the playoff atmosphere every year in that city was phenomenal. And myron, we'll start you. What is the buzz like in oklahoma city as they are on the brink of potentially winning a championship? What is it? Is it? What's different now than it was when I left in 2012?
Speaker 3:well, they're just as loud man. Loud City is just as loud, if not louder. People are excited man, based on the finals. Twice in 13 years you talk about Durant and Westbrook, but it's as good or better in terms of where the crowd's involved. I tell you what I've got some family from Fort Smith my mom's, one of her sisters and they used to live down the street from Jalen Williams, arkansas. Jalen Williams, the 6'9 one they're talking about coming up. They want to come up for some games, just to watch games here. They don't have tickets for the games Just to be a part of the atmosphere. Because they knew Isaiah Joe and Jalen Williams for a long time. They were kids growing up. Wow, no, it is amazing how charged people are about this team and what they've been able to do so far.
Speaker 2:Curtis, you and I and Myron and even Liam McHugh. Back in the day when Seattle the ownership changed with Clay Bennett and the late Aubrey McClendon, they hired Sam Presti, who's a mastermind that has like 425 draft picks stored away in a safe somewhere. But how he rebuilt that, I'm blown away. I mean, what is it?
Speaker 4:I mean, when you see what he's done, did you guys see the vision that he saw when he blew up the team, when Russell left Listen, did I think they could get back to where they are right now? I mean, in the back of my mind I thought, well, maybe someday. I did not think it would be this soon. Because in reality, I mean for you know, for us having this discussion with you involved sean, it's like okay, 2012. They got there 13 years later, um, but it felt longer when you went through those really down years, but in reality it's not that long.
Speaker 4:You know, it's 13 years. We've had NBA basketball for 17 years. I mean Myron knows, myron's seen a lot of NBA basketball over the years. Yeah, and you think about all the playoff runs they've had. Now getting to the finals twice, having three different guys be MVP, countless other All-Stars, hall of Fame guys that have come through here in a 17-year period. You add all that up, most cities. If you said, would you take that resume, they say sign me up. So I mean we've been very fortunate. But man, myron's right Like the buzz is everywhere you know. And I think I mean Myron's right Like the buzz is everywhere you know. And I think I mean Myron, you might agree with this. I mean I think it means it.
Speaker 4:What's different this time? Fans have seen, I think, the NBA circle of life now, because you got the team, they're bad, but everybody's euphoric Cause it didn't matter, they would get an NBA team. Then they immediately get to the playoffs the next year. Then they get Western Finals, nba Finals. Then they're competitive. Even though they trade James Harden, they're competitive. They almost got to the NBA Finals again in 2016. Should have up 3-1. Horrible. So then you have that experience and then your superstar, cornerstone, franchise player leaves. So you've experienced the highs, the immediate lows. And then Russell Westbrook it's euphoric again, he resigns, then he's gone. You rebuild, you're down again, all of it to get back to where they are. So in my mind, I feel like the appreciation for this team now is much greater than it was in 2012, because I think back then, I think we all thought they're going to be here several years and they never got back. So I think that's what's different this time.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'd agree. I mean, I think you look, you know, when they didn't win. They lost to Miami in 2012, four games to one in the NBA finals. It was a young team, kind of like what they've got right now and you, a lot of people assume they would get back. Well, circumstances happen. Russell next year knee injury. In the first round against the Rockets. They won that series, but they lose the second round to Memphis. I mean bottom line, they never got back. They went to four Western Conference finals. They lose to Golden State, blowing the 3-1 series lead.
Speaker 3:So I think people are more NBA savvy and I know me personally, you know, because I like to educate people, especially the outside world you know how good this team has been for the majority of 17 years. They, you know, missed the playoffs that first year there and then the next year they get 50 wins and they're an AC. By the way, 50 wins in the West gets you an AC. You know they lose the Lakers in a six game series, you know. But even after Durant left, you know a lot of teams, a lot of franchises would have kind of okay, bottomed out, not be very good.
Speaker 3:Well, they still went to the playoffs five straight years, you know, and Russell and you know, teaming with different guys, I mean just trying to, whether it was Paul George or you know a trait which led to SGA. But before that you had Victor Oladipo and Damanis Sabonis. They found ways to bring different guys in Carmelo Anthony to try to stay in the hunt, stay in the mix, and even though they didn't win, they didn't bottom out either. And so they basically, you know, bottoming out was basically two years, a 22-win season. A 24-win season, 41 wins, play-in, losing a second play-in, and then they basically went from 24 to 41 to 57 to 68 NBA finals. Right now, I mean it's an amazing ladder. They went in about a three or four-year period. It's an amazing ladder.
Speaker 2:They went in about a three or four-year period and I just saw that they've extended as far as the Keep the Thunder, the document. What was it Was?
Speaker 4:it Governor Stitt or Mayor Holt, david Holt, yeah, mayor Holt.
Speaker 2:Who is so visible with this thunder craze on social media? I never had a chance to get to know him. He was, you know, cornette was still around, very visible, but there's a new arena on the horizon. I still remember it as Thunder.
Speaker 1:Alley on.
Speaker 2:Reno. So I'm trying to. It's going to be really weird. So you know, I'm hoping to get up there for what would be a celebratory parade. So you know, I'm hoping to get up there for what would be a celebratory parade. So people are watching this. This is game day. This is at lunchtime If you're watching this live and this is like an appetizer for tonight's game six, appetizer for tonight's game six. Myron, when you look at this, and Curtis, both. I mean OKC has the edge right now, the momentum, but Indiana's I'm going to be honest, I have underestimated that group. They match up well with OKC.
Speaker 3:I mean the series, I mean a lot of people. They were a heavy favorite and they're up 3-2, but it's been a very competitive series.
Speaker 3:I mean every game has you know they've won three, but they haven't run away from them by any stretch of the imagination. And you're right, indiana has more than shown that they were overlooked. The way they played, they really got hot in January. And the thing about them, from an offensive standpoint, virtually at all times they got five guys on the floor that can score and they're going to pick up the pace. They guard the full court and you know they really force, and both teams have done this. Both coaching staffs have had to kind of come up with some things, deal with what the other's doing to them. So it's been a really good series to watch, whether you're a fan of either team, I think if you like basketball. The game's been close, competitive and decided to drop the stretch. So it's been a great fun.
Speaker 2:It really has, curtis. We've seen players get injured, but when you see a guy that is impactful as Tyrese Halliburton for Indiana you see a guy that is impactful as Tyrese Halliburton for Indiana Should Thunder fans be cautiously optimistic or that he will be limited? Or do you expect what elimination games playing for a championship for an athlete does? That's an adrenaline rush. You can wrap that bad boy several times maybe. Well, what do you expect here? I don't remember the injury. I don't remember seeing it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's a calf injury, but he's had other injuries on that same leg and that one just was another one. And I mean we're no doctors here but we've watched enough athletes go through injuries and when you hear about, all right, the calf could maybe lead to something worse, or you know, sometimes you overcompensate and then you know one thing leads to another. So there's no definitive answer. You can't just say, oh well, that could lead to a blown Achilles someday, but they got to be cautious with him. I mean, I think from what I've experienced and, myron, maybe you've experienced the same thing talking to people either on the radio or just out and about at my son's baseball games everybody expects Tyrese Halliburton to play. How effective he's going to gonna be. I don't know.
Speaker 4:Aaron Gordon did. He played with basically what looked like a torn hamstring against the Thunder game seven for the Nuggets. Nobody thought he was gonna play. Came out, started, hit a couple threes but then was pretty much useless after that. You know, in your mind you start thinking well, if Halliburton plays, how effective is he gonna be? You know, I think the difference in this game for Halliburton versus like an Aaron Gordon, this game's in Indiana, that crowd's going to be juiced. They're desperate, they they're everything's in front of them and if they lose their season's over, yeah, um, it's so it maybe if Halliburton just gives them a couple minutes at the beginning but just lifts the environment a little bit. I mean, that's kind of like Willis Reed type stuff. You know, that's the kind of thing you've got to watch out for. You can't assume Halliburton's not going to be effective, because his effectiveness, if it's not tangible, could be an intangible aspect that affects the rest of the team, the crowd.
Speaker 4:And we saw in the last game. If you watched that last game when Halliburton was out, they bring TJ McConnell in. Thunder had no answer for him, none. And they're capable. If you're saying, are they capable of putting it together for one game without 100% Tyrese, halliburton and beating the Thunder, they absolutely could.
Speaker 2:Myron, go ahead. I didn't mean to interrupt you. Go ahead.
Speaker 3:No, I was going to say, you know you mentioned McConnell and of course he drove everybody nuts that third quarter he scores 13 points, goes six of seven and I think Halliburton is going to try to play first off. But if he didn't play, you know there's a line of thought, you know well, you bring McConnell to start. But I wonder, would they say you know what, let's start maybe Benedict Matherin, leave McConnell in his normal off-the-bench role and start there. When Matherin had 27 in game three didn't now Game four, he was bad, uh, or whatever Uh, but uh, was he getting a game five? I guess he was bad, but uh, would they go that way as well? But I I expect Halliburton to give it a go If he's not able to stay, because it's the finals. Uh, I'm like I wonder about the Achilles and all that, because that's Kevin Durant. Back when he tore his Achilles he had a calf injury and then his Achilles popped or whatever. So I wonder about that. But it's the finals. I'll bet he'll do anything possible to get out there and play.
Speaker 2:I agree, it's not often, because you never know when you get that chance again to play for a championship. It's not often, because you never know when you get that chance again to play for a championship. And between the three of us and these knowledgeable fans and those watching, we know there's something different. You, magically, are feeling good, either a special shoe, a boot, a good tape, job, hey, shout out to all athletic trainers at every level. They do miracle work at every level of sports. But you mentioned Jalen Williams, the one from Arkansas, the other Jalen Williams. Pretty amazing what he did the last game. I mean, he has had some criticism, but this guy put on a freaking clinic in game five. All right, what?
Speaker 3:He had three. Yeah, he did everything he dunked. He had threes. He had big shots when they were making a run the fourth quarter, indiana he had some big shots to help stave off that run and really kind of you know, he's picked up. He's had the last three games. He's scored 26, 27, and 40 points and it's just the fourth time this season that both he and Shea have had at least 30 points in the same game. So he's picked up his game quite a bit and as big a year it's been for Shea, for the MVP and all that kind of stuff. Well, jalen made his first all-star game, made his first all-NBA team, first all-defensive team and now he's doing the finals. It's been a big step in his offseason for him as well.
Speaker 2:Curtis think about this is a part of that. Jalen Williams there's so many young talents that they interchange like a game of chess. But this Jalen Williams unreal. I mean his role he's played. I mean he received criticism. It does remind me when Russ, kd and Harden, just how these guys carried themselves when they were all young. They were kids and they didn't know On the young. They were kids and they didn't just on the scene they're winning like this.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and he's like he's awesome and he's getting better. He's only in his third year and he's I mean, he's a guy who lightly recruited at a high school not rated at all, you know, grew when he got to Santa Clara, you know, spent more time in college than a lot of the one and dones that you hear about. So he's kind of gone a different path to get here. But man for the Thunder, sam Preston, to identify him, get him in the lottery with. By the way, one of the Clippers picks they got in the Paul George trade. So the same draft, sean, they got Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams and the other Jalen Williams For them to hit that home run. That's one of the best.
Speaker 4:Sam Presti's made a lot of good picks over the years. If you just identify where he was drafted and what the production is, my goodness, this could end up being the best draft pick he's ever had. Obviously, durant, Westbrook, harden were all MVPs. Serge Ibaka was a great pick. I mean the Monta Sabonis basically was Sam's draft pick. Um, they arranged draft night trade. He's going on to all-stars. But this guy for him to be the 12th pick in the draft and to play his way in the third year into an all-star team, third team all-NBA 40-point game in the finals.
Speaker 4:I mean it's not going to happen, but there's been talk of, hey, maybe Jalen Williams should get a couple votes for finals MVP, which I mean that's amazing. You have the MVP on your team, but that's the kind of production he's had, he's amazing. And listen, I mean, myron, you can speak to this too. These guys, they seem like really good dudes, you know and I don't want to rewrite history from the previous trio, but there might have been some egos involved and you know, so far I've seen none of that from this group.
Speaker 3:I think that's a good point. They all are. I mean one thing that you know, and of course this is a media deal, but I think fans will probably appreciate this when you ask them a question, they actually think about the answer that they're going to give you. They don't just give you like pat answers. They will sometimes pause and think about what you just asked them and give you their honest thoughts on something.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I think this kind of goes in the chemistry that they have amongst themselves in terms of whether it's Shea but it's AJ Mitchell, the second-round rookie out of Cal Santa Barbara. I mean he holds as much weight as Jalen does. I mean they all really have a good chemistry together. You've got to be able to play, certainly, but they've done a really good job. I'm talking to the front office of drafting guys or trading for guys in the case of Caruso and guys like that. That really fit what they're trying to present in a culture that they built, and I think that's a big part of why they went as well, because sometimes guys are not going to play.
Speaker 3:I mean Jalen Williams, arkansas. Jalen J Will he played big in the Denver series Not so much in this series, you know, but he's one of the voices that's talking to the huddles and everything else, and so they've got a really good chemistry, which I think is one of the big reasons why they're able to win and there's not a lot of petty jealousies going on that maybe you see on some other teams.
Speaker 2:I got to say Caruso, another great acquisition, a little older compared to the rest of this team, and I want to call him the glue guy. Is that?
Speaker 4:fair Curtis, he's awesome. Sean, I know he's an Aggie.
Speaker 2:I can look past that he lives in. Austin, though he does, and I think my co-host sold him his house.
Speaker 3:okay, we need to get him on Chuck yeah, right now station, but now lives in Austin. So yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 4:I mean you, hey, sean, you've got an Aggie and Caruso in this series, you got a Longhorn and Miles Turner yep, I mean you're, you're covering it all, man it's beautiful, uh, it's, it's, uh, this is a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2:The only thing missing is us together in the flesh, which will happen. And you know, before we take a quick break, we gotta, we gotta continue a stories inside the man cave tradition. I think you guys will love it, and there's been some legendary man cave tradition. I think you guys will love it and there's been some legendary man cave stories. We'll begin with my boy, myron patton. He was, I think. Now you guys can go whatever direction you'd like. These are usually stories which were amusing when they happen, and they're just as amusing now when you tell them. Myra, you could go back as far as when we all three worked together, if you remember any stories or anything involving covering the Thunder.
Speaker 3:You know what? I remember one it's a football Saturday and OSU's playing and often you know you guys go cover the game. I'll go to the game and watch, but I'll leave early because I got to get back and produce a show and you guys stayed in Stillwater and I'm there working on the show. And you walked in and you said man, you're not going to believe what happened. I can't believe it. I'm like what happened? Mike Gundy, I'm a man, I'm 40. I was like what are you talking about? He just went off for like 6 or 7 minutes. He got mad at a reporter and he just went off. And six or seven minutes he got mad at a reporter and he just went off. I listened to the tape and I'm like it must have been a good three or four minutes. I said we're running it all, we're not cutting anything.
Speaker 2:No, highlights of the win against Tech.
Speaker 3:Yeah, against Texas Tech. Exactly right. I'm like we're running the whole thing and it was like it's one of the classic. I mean, espn pulls it out anytime they can to play it, whatever, but you guys, I didn't see it live because I left early, but you had a great shot of it, sean, and we'll blast audio.
Speaker 2:I'm a man, I'm 40. I'm a mother of children.
Speaker 3:Bobby Reed, he was taken off the board.
Speaker 4:That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2:Bobby Reed's a fine American. He didn't deserve that. Curtis, what comes to mind for?
Speaker 4:you, Sean, the second I start talking about this. You're going to know where I'm going here. So, Sean and I, Myron, we're at Big 12 Media Days in Dallas and you know we're covering the event. We're shooting stories, you know, for your Austin listenership, and we're doing stories typically on OU and OSU. So OU, I think, was the last day we shot a story but we need to get it back on the air and we didn't have a hotel room. I had to go on the radio the next morning we started at 5 am. I had to go on the radio the next morning we start at 5 am. Sean and I were having trouble with the old equipment they gave us at Box 25, by the way.
Speaker 1:It was not the best.
Speaker 4:Yeah right, we're trying at the hotel. Nothing's working. It's not connected. Let's get down the road. We'll try it in the car. We had some kind of 5G connection. Well, that was a piece of junk too. So we're like well, let's pull off at the nearest starbucks. They have free wi-fi we tried in fort worth so.
Speaker 4:but we have to get this video back through the internet, or what's called an ftp connection, to myron so he can air it for the newscast that night. And what should have taken, I don't know, 15, 20 minutes took about six hours. Sean and I are sitting at Starbucks. Finally, somehow it worked out. We got it there. It was like old dial-up connection because we had old dial-up equipment, myron. Somehow I assume you got it on the air, myron, I got it on the air.
Speaker 3:I remember that, I remember that. I remember that All right.
Speaker 4:So somehow you get it. Well then, sean and I, right, we got to get going. I got to go to work and we're driving Myron and we're hitting construction and accidents and I mean I'm three hours away from going on the air the next morning. This is how long it took. We missed the newscast, all that stuff. And Sean and I are driving. We're both tired, we're like dude. We got to pull over.
Speaker 4:Pulled over take a nap. The nearest exit was the Gene Autry, oklahoma exit. We found whatever truck stop, god love those people was there. That was the night I spent sleeping with Sean Clinch.
Speaker 3:For two hours Wow.
Speaker 2:In a Subaru.
Speaker 4:Then I had to get up. We had two hours Go straight to the radio show. That was quite a night. You Go straight to the radio show.
Speaker 2:That was quite a night. You were the big spoon in the Subaru.
Speaker 4:I don't know about that. We had to get some shut-eye. We weren't going to make it.
Speaker 3:That's a lot of stories we told. I mean because first off in those days getting video back was a little bit hard. Some of the things you have to do to get stories back was pretty entertaining stuff.
Speaker 2:Remember Baylor in 2008?
Speaker 3:Yeah, Baylor 2008.
Speaker 2:And wait at old Floyd. Casey Stadium that was my first oh yeah, oh yeah, I remember that.
Speaker 3:I remember. I remember where we, oh, we were covering the Big 12 basketball tournament and I had talked a lady at CNN, a lady at CNN. I had talked her into allowing us to feed back on what was the tab called Special something. I forgot what it was. Basically, it was free, but we had to go to the Fox station in Kansas city.
Speaker 3:Yes, and we go there and we had to knock on a door. This old guy comes out, he has a string, this cable back from master control, which is where everything is run people, that's kind of the brains of the of a tv station this long black cord, and hook it up and in all these cases you just barely get the stuff back. And it was like it was. I mean, the things you would do to get video back was just amazing, unreal. I mean, I don't know, it's just some stuff that goes on, that you know the things you would have to do to Behind the scenes, who you have to talk to, who you'd have to, you know, grease their palm a little bit, say good things about them, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do remember having some issues in Memphis during that 2011 run you and I both trying to get packages or stories back and it took a little while from that hotel but not as bad as Baylor and everything else.
Speaker 3:How about? Here's one. We're in Washington covering OU Washington football in Seattle. For some reason, my flight, they booked me on something screwed up and they wouldn't take my ticket. I don't know this.
Speaker 3:One of us had to get back because we had all the video and all the stories about OU beating Seattle. I said, well, well, sean, you got to get back. So sean flew back. I had to fly back on standby and it was like every stop I went from this. Was we made to denver together? Yeah, which is a hub. I went from den to Phoenix, phoenix to St Louis.
Speaker 1:St Louis to.
Speaker 3:Dallas, Dallas to Oklahoma City, and if you've ever phoned standby, it was like you don't really know if you're going to stay on the flight or not, because you're sitting there until they close the door. At any moment they might say sorry, sir, you've got to get up, this is so-and-so seat, and so I'm at every stop I saying, well, I could sleep there, you know? I mean it's like in the terminal. I'm thinking where I could crash. And then when I get on the plane, like close the door, close the door, close the door. Oh that door.
Speaker 2:I think I got back like one o'clock in the morning oh, I do remember this because I had to do the Sunday show. The other thing about that trip to Seattle if you remember one of the pins that engage these so those cameras have big block batteries the pin engaging with the camera fell off somewhere on the plane so we had no power. I shot nothing. I had to borrow a battery from a.
Speaker 4:Seattle affiliate.
Speaker 3:I got the second half. Matter of fact, we barely got on that Friday before for a live shot right before Just barely got on out in front of the stadium. That was a beautiful place, Beautiful Husky Stadium.
Speaker 2:The Puget Sound, I guess is right there, beautiful. We didn't have time to go eat at the fish market, but we saw it, we saw it, we were there, we had a couple hours rest, beautiful man. We've got a lot of stories, but I love these guys. These are Fox bros for life. But we're going to take a quick break and on the other side it's real quick, real quick, and I lied to these guys we were going to have a 30-minute episode, but on the other side we're going to tell you, we're going to talk a little bit and kind of paint the picture of how amazing Oklahoma City Thunder home games really are. That's on the other side.
Speaker 2:The Saxton name resonates in Austin, jim's late father. James Saxton is a Longhorn legend, a Heisman finalist while playing for Darryl K Royal, and Jimmy is a UT football legacy from Westlake. He has been insuring Austin for decades. He and his staff will give you old school hospitality when servicing your insurance needs. Ojc, ojc, OJC, ojc, ojc. Not gonna lie, gentlemen, I miss that Even, as when we worked those games, those Thunder games, and we had seats either at the top, near the roof, or I'm hustling, getting pregame interviews or not even.
Speaker 2:But what is it real quick? Beginning with Myra, what is it about that crowd? Now, we've all three seen great crowds elsewhere around the NBA. Memphis was great. We know Indiana has a great fan base, but why is it that OKC fans? It's just different compared to the rest of the NBA.
Speaker 3:Well, I've always felt that when the team got there first off, it's the only professional in terms of, you know, like big league team that Oklahoma City has, in terms of, you know, like big league team that Oklahoma City has, and I've always felt that people took it personally to want to make it successful. It's the only thing that OU and OSU fans agree on. If OU wins a big bowl game, our national championship, osu fans are not happy about that. Same thing, if OSU you know, if they went a big, you know, go deep in the tournament in basketball or something like they won a bowl game, OU fans aren't celebrating that either. But they all agree on the thunder.
Speaker 3:And I've said this before, I've been to every arena but I've been to most and I haven't heard any word louder. And I wonder, when, the next morning, when people have to go to work like you know, it's a Wednesday game or something they got to go to work how can these people talk? Because they're making noise constantly before the game, during the game. Of course, nba finals it's even another level.
Speaker 3:So I wonder how they talk the next morning. But it is an insane environment that the players appreciate and even the opposing team they recognize. It's a very tough place to win One because the Thunder's good, but also the fans give them a great home court.
Speaker 2:I couldn't agree more, curtis, your take on that.
Speaker 4:No, mine's 100%. I've been to a couple arenas as well, even during playoffs. There's nothing like what happens here, and I think what Myron's talking about is right. Not only is it, you know, you can look at OU and OSU fans coming together, it's a common bond. I mean the city. I mean you know, sean, having lived here, how much it grew when you first came here to when you left. From when you left to now, what year was it when you left, sean?
Speaker 2:December, November of 2012.
Speaker 4:I mean, think about that, myron, how much the city's changed in the last 13 years. You've had a lot of people move into the community that have no affiliation with OU or OSU, because of business. I mean we've had a lot of economic boom here and that's their way to identify with the city and their new place. There's so many people that come from all walks of life that have this common bond and the city has grown with the team. The team is part of the growth of the city and I think that's attracted business, attracted people living here, quality of life, all that stuff. I'm sure fans of San Antonio feel that way.
Speaker 4:With the Spurs there's some, you know, community involved. You know it's kind of like the Green Bay Packers You've heard that reference in the NFL. I mean one pro team, everybody's on board with it, you know. I mean I'm not going to lie, I'm on the radio. I mean it's easy to say and Myron can do the same thing it's easy to say we want the Thunder to win, you know, and you can be upset when they lose If it's OU or OSU. Of course you want the local teams to do well, but you also got to watch what you say every now and then.
Speaker 3:You can't be picking spots.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's right. That's a good way to put it.
Speaker 2:I love that. It is unique, I will say Dallas Mavericks. Although passionate, nowhere close to the decibels. Sustained noise at. American Airlines, the Spurs, it's close, very close. Houston not a chance, not a chance. There's nothing, nothing but Memphis. That was Myron, that was a pretty good atmosphere there. But OKC, very, very special place. Real quick predictions, myron. Tonight, game six, what happens?
Speaker 3:Oh man, I'm superstitious.
Speaker 1:I believe in basketball gods.
Speaker 3:I mean I really do. You know now I've said all along I think the Thunder is a better team, right, and before I said six. So I guess I'll stay with that man, indiana. They put up a better fight than I thought they would. If it ends in six tonight, it's going to be a tough six. It's not like, oh, they won a couple games and the Thunder just no. Every one of the games they've won has been a dogfight. But I'll begrudgingly say they're going to find a way. I want them to, because you know fans, oh, it'd be great if they won at home. I'm like you, better try to get it as soon as you can.
Speaker 4:If you fight tooth and but get tonight. Curtis man, yeah, for the last week and a half, I've said it's going 7-7-7-7-7. And the Thunder? Somehow. At one point I was worried the Thunder was going to go down 3-1, and who knows what would happen. They evened it up and I'm thinking this is definitely going seven. I don't know how anybody's going to win. On the other home court, the Thunder took care of business in game five. The thing that makes me want to think Thunder in six now, though, is the Halliburton thing. Again, I just told you, yeah, I think Indiana can rise up and muster up one awesome effort. I think Indiana can rise up and muster up one awesome effort. My gut tells me maybe the Thunder smell what's about to happen. It's sharks and the blood in the water, the whole thing. I think they might get it done. I think it's going to be a great game. My hunch and I'm like Myron get it over with. Don't mess around with the home court celebration.
Speaker 4:No, no, no, no. You take it. Ask the people, take a time machine, go back to 2012. They'll take it any way they can get it. I think they get it done in six now. Hey Ben, tell me something good.
Speaker 2:Well, hey, we've been going from the bottom to the top. I sounded like drake for a minute. Um just realize that, curtis, there's so much negativity in this world, but a lot of positivity. When you're talking about the nba finals and the thunder and that wonderful city, you two call home.
Speaker 4:Um tell me something good, my brother well, I Well, I'll tell you this, sean, I'm just going to point it right back to you, my brother, you are maybe the most positive person I know. So I'm here to tell the audience, thankful for your friendship and always keeping a smile on your face, always a laugh from Sean, I mean Myron can attest the newsroom was never a dull moment when Sean Clinch walked in that door. That is definitely true In many ways many ways, more ways than I can count. There you go, Sean.
Speaker 3:What ways you can say. Everybody remembers Sean. Nobody says Sean Clinch I never get it. Everybody remembers Sean. Nobody says Sean, I never get it. You have a way of making a lasting impression.
Speaker 2:I am so grateful that's a blessing, man a positive thing is sports.
Speaker 3:I mean, we all do sports and grew up playing sports and everything else. And you know, I did news for a while. I tell people I did news and it was actually easier than sports, because a lot of people do a lot of stuff for you. But it's not news, my friend, so it's life or death issues. So we cover things that, although important, when you get right down to it it's not life or death, but it is something that we've all grown up to be able to do and I appreciate that Sports entertains us and plays an important role in our lives. So for those who listen to us you, sean, and me encouraging everybody else we've been lucky to do what we do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there is no doubt We've had a blessed life. And then you too, man, working with you guys and, to this day, calling your brothers and friends, that means a lot, a lot to me, man. I appreciate you guys being a part of this today. Thank you, dude, appreciate it yeah, absolutely, and you know, hopefully I can clear the schedule and not to jinx anything tonight, but hopefully I get up there to either see do I dare say it get up there to see game seven or a. Nba title championship parade in Oklahoma City.
Speaker 4:We'll save a spot on the float for you, Sean.
Speaker 2:Oh man, please, hey, is that burlap Speedo still Can I wear that?
Speaker 1:Hey, if the Thunder get another, if you're not on a picture.
Speaker 4:I can say if the Thunder get another win, fans won't care what you wear.
Speaker 3:They just want to win. Yeah, they want to win.
Speaker 2:That's absolutely man. So, hey, hey, all I can say is now because I don't really cover them, I'm not a, uh, a professional media member thunder up much love to okc and what you guys did for me and and provided me a great life there. You know, and and and for you, myron patton and curtis fitzpatrick and your families. Much love to you guys. So whenever you get a chance to talk about the OKC Thunder with a chance to win the NBA Finals, man, it's always good to talk about it. Thanks for watching, guys.