Thunder fans are celebrating two great seasons starting this week. Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season on Wednesday, and the Thunder regular season gets under way on Thursday.
What happens when these worlds collide and our fans get a little creative? Yup, Thunder pumpkins! Here are a few photos from our fans, via Twitter and Instagram. Nice work, everyone!
- Karina Henderson
If his parents have any say in the matter, Axton Kyle Allred will grow up as a Thunder fan.
He’ll at least know from an early age what Thunder blue looks like.
Chase and Rachel Allred, Axton’s parents, gave every inch of their son’s room a Thunder makeover, down to the paint and pillows. Chase’s mother painted a custom mural, swapping out the “OKC” in the Thunder logo for her grandson’s initials.
Rachel reports that Axton, who was born on Oct. 11, has KD’s feet and already loves him some Rumble.
With a room like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if, as he grows up, little Axton counts 3-pointers to drift off to sleep and has sweet dreams of Thunder victories.
- Karina Henderson
As I stood above the court, taking in the sights and sounds of pregame warmups at Chesapeake Energy Arena, I was approached from behind by the friendly voice of Sondra, one of our game-night staffers.
She introduced herself, and as I explained that I was drinking in the scene that I hadn’t seen in a few months, Sondra noted that it was her first night to work at the arena.
“I just wanted to be around positive energy,” she explained, so taking a job working Thunder games seemed like the thing to do.
It’s a reminder that someone in the building is always experiencing the Thunder for the first time – sometimes even our staff. That’s why, even though this is our second game this season, everyone in the building knows to treat this game like it’s Opening Night.
- Karina Henderson
It was a memorable night at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Friday. The sellout crowd of 18,233 watched the Thunder defeat the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game.
The best news came later in the evening when we counted the cash that came in during a special “pass the bucket ” effort for Folds of Honor, a Tulsa-based foundation providing scholarships to families of soldiers killed or wounded in action.
Foundation founder Maj. Dan Rooney introduced the crowd to one family already benefitting from the program. The fans were called on to help and the Thunder Cares buckets made their way through the arena.
The final count? Thunder fans gave $25,000! Combine that with a $10,000 donation from the Thunder and the Folds of Honor Foundation will be able to fund seven scholarships.
Thank you Tulsa!
Learn more about the Folds of Honor Foundation at their website here.
-Dan Mahoney
The Thunder players and coaching staff are hard at work here in Tulsa thanks to Thursday night’s Blue and White Scrimmage and tonight’s preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns at the BOK Center.
This afternoon, however, between morning shootaround and tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT, there was time for some fun and games on the floor at the BOK Center. 200 students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades from north Tulsa middle schools were selected to be a part of a Thunder event that was both exciting and inspirational. Kicking off the proceedings on Friday afternoon was a talk from Thunder broadcasters Brian Davis and Grant Long, who spoke on the importance of school, digging deeper to get where they want to go in life and overcoming adversity.
Next, the students had the chance to interact with Rumble, who put on quite a show. From explaining the importance of a good diet and exercise to showing the kids the benefits of reading, Rumble also gave the students a message to bring home. Of course, Rumble also utilized his own special style to make the kids laugh and have a good time. One student was brought out to help Rumble complete a magic trick, then a group of students and two teachers came on the floor for a teamwork competition. Finally, students were able to get onto the court at the BOK Center and shoot basketballs, just like the Thunder will in a matter of hours.
Lorelei Decker has faced more obstacles in her young life than anyone should ever have to. Stricken with cancer, this inspiring teen takes on her challenges with humor, grace, determination and style. It was never more evident than Thursday evening in Phoenix as Lorelei and her family joined Thunder Coach Scott Brooks to accept a national award given to the Thunder from the Make-A-Wish Foundation for granting her wish in April to be a Thunder coach for a day.
Coach Brooks told Make-A-Wish leaders from across the nation how Lorelei has inspired him, his coaches and his players. “A lot of times we go through life and we see or meet people and we wonder why they are in our lives,” Brooks said. “I KNOW why Lorelei is in our lives. Because she’s a special young lady, a beautiful young lady, she is the superstar among all the stars I’m able to hang out with every day with my team. I thank her for that.”
For Lorelei it was a big day: flying with Coach Brooks on a Lear Jet provided by a Make-A-Wish donor, sharing stories with other Make-A-Wish kids and meeting WWE star John Cena, honored at the event for granting more than 300 wishes.
“It’s been more than I expected,” she said. Friday, she enters the hospital for at least a month as she undergoes a bone marrow transplant. She said the excitement of the Phoenix trip has done wonders for her spirits and has kept her mind off what’s ahead. “I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about how I got to have a day like today, spend the day with Coach Brooks, fly on a Lear jet, meet John Cena! That’s what the Thunder does for me. It helps me keep my mind on positive things.”
At the Thunder, we’re sending our prayers and lots of positive thoughts Lorelei’s way.
John Rohde at the Oklahoman wrote a nice piece on Lorelei and the Make-A-Wish honor for the Thunder. You can read it here.
And you can return to April and read the story and watch the video we produced of Lorelei’s granted wish: a day as a Thunder Coach.
-Dan Mahoney
As one fan walked into tonight’s Blue & White Scrimmage in Bixby, he commented, “This feels like a high school game.”
With the level of involvement by local high schools, he certainly hit on the atmosphere the Thunder tried to create.
The Bixby High School band set up outside the arena, playing music as the crowd gathered before the team arrived. The high school spirit squad lined up to welcome the players and coaches as they entered the building, giving cheers and getting some high-fives as they walked through.
And the first fans to enter the building, getting an early look at player warm-ups were also high-schoolers. A few hundred local high school basketball players enjoyed a brief talk from Thunder broadcaster Brian Davis, then had the arena to themselves as the players first took the court – perhaps several of them dreaming of being in the NBA players’ shoes in a few short years.
Just another way the Thunder works to tie in the community during events like tonight.
- Karina Henderson
UPDATE 3:18 p.m.: At this point, Shields Blvd. is scheduled to be reopened to traffic at around 5 p.m. today. However, please do allow extra time before tonight’s game and be prepared for any construction detours that may still impact your travel to and from the game.
With the removal of the old I-40 overpass still ongoing, we wanted to let you know about some potential traffic issues for those of you headed to tonight’s preseason game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
E.K. Gaylord Blvd./Shields Blvd. is currently closed south of Reno Ave. This may impact your travel tonight in the following ways:
COMING TO THE GAME:
LEAVING THE GAME:
For a detailed map of downtown street closures, go to the Project 180 website.
- Karina Henderson
With most of our preseason games not being broadcast on TV, our Thunder fans are finding other ways to get their fix, based on the photos we saw posted to Twitter last night. It’s a definite sign of the times …
(Photos from Twitter via @Austin_Ennis, @lucero_LA_, @Braylebrown2, @MastaLane, @maddik4, @Kolbsterrr and @ednalai)
- Karina Henderson
You really never know what Rumble is going to do next.
Our superhuman – er, superbison? – mascot proved today that he’ll do pretty much anything to support our team and our community.
This morning, Rumble went “Over the Edge” for Special Olympics Oklahoma, rappelling down the 30-story SandRidge building (with his handler, Jon, going down right next to him) to benefit one of our great community partners.
Rumble expressed some trepidation before the big event, pacing back and forth in the staging area, gesturing that his heart was pounding and repeatedly shaking his head when people asked whether he was ready. Even though he had made the trip once before – joining the event in 2010 – it didn’t make this trip any easier. But in the end, our bison dug deep and found the courage to make the (controlled) descent.
Of course, having a few Thunder fans – including staff – on top of the building with him beforehand and cheering him on from below surely helped him overcome any anxiety about this feat. Plus, there was a virtual paparazzi watching Rumble rappel – news crews, Thunder photographers and camera-clicking fans were with him every step of the way – and Rumble always rises to the occasion when the cameras are rolling.
The equally brave Jon made the trip down with a little less fanfare, but he’s used to playing second fiddle when Rumble is around. (Heck, we all know we can’t trump Rumble!)
Rumble and Jon were happy to put aside their fears and do this daring deed because they knew it would help some great Oklahoma kids live out their dreams of becoming athletes.
But that didn’t make them any less happy to find themselves back on solid ground.
Check out more great photos and our video from Rumble’s big adventure!
- Karina Henderson
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