OKC in the NYTimes

[bjohn9]

Today's New York Times has an interesting story on the Thunder's Kevin Durant and his life around OKC. Surprisingly it's pretty positive... read it here.

[metro]

Not sure how I feel about the article and thanks for sharing! I don't care for the picture they used at the practice facility. It definitely makes us look like a hick town with the field of grass and the grain silo in the background.

[Platemaker]

Agriculture ≠ Hick

[kmf563]

Great. This makes it sound as if we don't know who he is. I've seen him and most of the team around town, having dinner, going to the movies, and whatever else they want to do. I think they just haven't learned that we as Oklahoman's are just respectful. I consider them Oklahomans now and just don't want to be rude. I sat next to 3 of them at the bar at Chili's one night. We all had a toast, conversed, and had dinner next to each other at the bar. We shared appetizers even. And then went our separate ways without ever once mentioning basketball. I absolutely knew who they were, I just didn't think I should intrude upon their personal time with pointing it out.

[so1rfan]

Not sure how I feel about the article and thanks for sharing! I don't care for the picture they used at the practice facility. It definitely makes us look like a hick town with the field of grass and the grain silo in the background.

That pic is so small I missed it.

I did notice that the writer had to mention cows and pastures and an empty airport though.

[okclee]

The New York Knicks are rumored to be highly interested in signing KD once his contract is up with the Thunder.

[BDP]

The New York Knicks are rumored to be highly interested in signing KD once his contract is up with the Thunder.

Yeah, them and 30 other teams. ; )

[ksearls]

Excuse me but Kevin went to UT, think there are lots of cows there too. I am not a cattle expert but I think Bevo is a boy cow. Maybe that is why this story seems to be fixated on cows.

Yes, we know who you are and think that it is awesome that you play for us, but we are not generally rude here. Maybe we need to start fawning over him a little bit more, ask for his autograph while he is eating, at the urinal etc.

[Doug Loudenback]

Excuse me but Kevin went to UT, think there are lots of cows there too. I am not a cattle expert but I think Bevo is a boy cow. Maybe that is why this story seems to be fixated on cows.

Yes, we know who you are and think that it is awesome that you play for us, but we are not generally rude here. Maybe we need to start fawning over him a little bit more, ask for his autograph while he is eating, at the urinal etc.

Be careful what you ask for, Kim!

[OKCMallen]

Not sure how I feel about the article and thanks for sharing! I don't care for the picture they used at the practice facility. It definitely makes us look like a hick town with the field of grass and the grain silo in the background.

metro, you care so much about OKC, yet you dislike random things about the city we both love. It's so weird some times.

We ARE a bit of a hick town! Embrace it. We're a bit hickish, we're a bit cowboy, we're a lot oil and gas, and we have an NBA team and deep urban revival.

You know what makes other towns SEEM cooler than OKC?! They EMBRACE their differences. Austin is highly liberal and weird, for instance. They EMBRACE that. We're a little city gettin' big. We have mild accents. There are grain elevators converted into indoor climbing facilities. There are LOTS of undeveloped areas in the middle of our city (i.e.- GREEN areas). We dip stuff in ranch. We like chicken fried steak. We listen to country music. We're not at the front of economic or fashion trends. We are not a cosmopolitan city and never will be one...but we can be and are great. Who the hell cares about a silo in the background; people in NYC probably find that fascinating. I don't want to Dallas my OKC.

We're OKC. We make no apologies. And the sooner everyone gets that, we can shed this self-loathing lack of definition we've had for so damned long.

[OKCMallen]

That was an awesome article chronicling KD's lifestyle and the awesome, interesting, and compelling dichotomy we here in OKC have as a successful, yet young and western, city.

[metro]

Matt, I agree. If you notice much, I'm NOT one of the ones that gripes all the times about buffalos, cowboys, horses, etc. around town. In fact, I embrace it and see it as the missing link to us achieving the next level of greatness. Texas has embraced it quite well and is riding success because of it. People want to come here to see that type of "western" culture or vibe. I'm no cowboy type by any means, nor care to be, but I realize the value of it. Still, my opinion doesn't change about the poor image that the NY Times used for the article. It shows metal buildings with a grain elevator (actually the Purina dog food mill) I believe, and a bunch of weeds/grass. Not exactly the image we're trying to convey. Everyone in NYC expects we have that, but doesn't expect the urbanness, etc. THAT is the real surprise about OKC to outsiders!

[bluedogok]

Many New Yorkers (and easterners in general) tend to view everything west of Philadelphia and south of DC as "hick towns" even places like Atlanta, Dallas and Houston. As OKCMallen stated, some find it fascinating while others don't, that could be said about pretty much any place. I know people in OKC who will never visit a city bigger than Dallas, to them NYC is an overpopulated wasteland. It just depends on what your point of view is and for the most part you are never going to change those mindsets, so why worry about trying...just try and attract those who would be interested.

[mugofbeer]

Many New Yorkers (and easterners in general) tend to view everything west of Philadelphia and south of DC as "hick towns" even places like Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.

try west of the Hudson.....

[Rover]

I have read other places as well where our players like the solitude and slow pace of being in OKC, as well as the friendly nature of the people. They like being people here, not rock stars. Keep in mind that their normal pace is city to city, crowds and more crowds and many times a total lack of privacy. It is why many footballers like to play in Nashville. They can have a life.

There are many pro players that like the party life and hanging with their entourages in loud and trendy night spots, but there are just as many who grew up in and like the slower, quieter off court lifestyle. Guys like Kevin and Desmond and CP. The only thing missing here for them is lucrative local ad deals.

[bluedogok]

try west of the Hudson.....

Well, I was trying to be a bit generous...

[kmf563]

I think over the years Metro and I have been on the same page and just didn't realize it. After fighting through the rough posts, it seems we are both trying to say the same thing - we don't hate cows, buffalo, native american art, oil rigs, wheat, scissortail flycatchers, schooners, or anything else that IS and makes oklahoma....but there is sooooo much more to this state. We just don't like the idea of those things ALWAYS representing the state and being promoted on every single corner. I totally agree - Don't NYC my OKC - but also don't take away everything else OKC has to offer and don't downplay it into a hick town.

[okcpulse]

Not sure how I feel about the article and thanks for sharing! I don't care for the picture they used at the practice facility. It definitely makes us look like a hick town with the field of grass and the grain silo in the background.

Actually, that is not a grain elevator, although it looks so. For the longest time it stored unmixed concrete. At least that is what my uncle told me.

[fromdust]

ive never seen him around town. i would love to! i would recognize him and say hi and of for sure get my pic with him.

[Richard at Remax]

And those are the back of the old adams course to the left and the ice rink to the right that are on kelly. just to let people know where that is.

[soonerguru]

We are not a cosmopolitan city and never will be one...

Say what? That is an extreme statement, and I hope for the sake our city's future you're wrong.

[metro]

yeah, I was surprised Matthew said that too. I have to disagree with that statement.

[Platemaker]

Just wondering who Matthew is?

[metro]

OKCMallen, the one soonerguru quoted

[dmoor82]

The smallest market in the NBA??? I thought SLC,NO,MEM were all smaller!!and about not knowing who KD is PLEASE,this article is BS! empty airport and cows,OMG! I think the people around the country that read crap like this thinks OKC is a small city with no tall bldngs. and nothing to do and it makes it seem like we arent sports savy!wich is false this city is sports crazy!