June 19, 2025 • 48 mins
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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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thank you for watching.
Honest is a strong word and weall need honesty when it comes
to plumbing and HVAC needs,somebody who will take care of
the repairs efficiently and withquality.
Honest Plumbing and Air is whoI trust and they take pride in
that word.
Honest Plumbing and Air where ahandshake still means something
(00:50):
.
Alliburton up top Niphardtfakes, kicks it out, stolen by
SGA.
Two on one.
Gildress Alexander layup isgood and a foul All right.
(01:15):
I had a goal when I entered theTV 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 themost fun.
We got to cover an NBA teamthat was there temporarily.
Then a team from Seattle leftall that history and became the
Oklahoma City Thunder.
In year four they went to thefinals and now I had left that
(01:40):
year and I had been in Austin,texas, since then and wrapped up
that career.
But there are two guys who Iworked extensively with since
the inception of the Thunder andthey're back in the finals.
It took 13 years but they'vebeen very, very much a team that
has been, one that has beenaround the postseason a lot and
(02:01):
has determined who becomes thischampion Oklahoma City in the
NBA Finals again and an OklahomaCity reunion let's talk about
it.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Who gonna stop, Mr?
3-5 or 0?
Boy, you better call asuperhero when it comes to this
game.
Ain't nobody gonna stop, butwe're the big willies 3-5-0.
Boy, you better call asuperhero when it comes to this
game.
Ain't nobody going to stop us.
We're the big willies.
You're going to block thetrucks.
We got it popping as soon as wepop.
So get slammed on by SergeIbaka.
Westbrook be falling.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
All right, I think people who know me know that I
have a little bias toward thatguy, the War Zero, russell
Westbrook, toward that guy thatwore zero Russell Westbrook.
He's no longer with the Thunder.
He's gone on and done greatthings with other franchises,
but what that three did forOklahoma City really established
that franchise as a mainstay.
It was exciting to watch andreally what created the
(02:59):
atmosphere, laid that foundation, along with other guys like
Jeff Green and Kevin Durant andNick Collison.
You can go for on and on and onin a city that I dearly love
and I have great friends andit's right there 1A, 1b or share
1A with Austin, texas.
But before I introduce you tothe guys that I've worked
(03:21):
alongside with and covered thatgreat franchise, be sure to
follow us on each of our socialmedia platforms Facebook, igx,
youtube and TikTok and you know,with the economy and the state
that it is, you know things thatare free are few and far
between.
You can subscribe to ourYouTube page for free and that
is the most beautiful thing.
(03:42):
So that what you just saw was aflashback to 2012.
And that was a rap artist fromOklahoma City.
Young star gave flashbacks,actually did a live shot with
that guy the week of the NBAfinals in 2012.
And it feels like that wasn'tlong ago.
(04:04):
I just had a few more hairfollicles and that was such a
great time.
It was an eye-openingexperience for me, and you know
what else would be eye-openingIf you did not?
If you go this summer withouthaving your HVAC serviced you
know we're about to hit tripledigits for almost every day.
(04:26):
I had no power for twoconsecutive days because of a
thunderstorm yeah, oklahomansknow all about that and it was
90 degrees and I was miserable.
I lost all my stuff in myfreezer.
So call our guys at HonestPlumbing and Air before you run
into that, because 100 plusdegrees and 80 percent humidity
(04:49):
is not the route to go.
Hey, enough of looking at myhead.
I want to introduce you to twoguys who have really made a
lasting impression with mebecause 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.
(05:12):
All right, we're going to callthis a Fox 25 OKC reunion.
On the bottom was my formerboss, steve Myron Patton, curtis
Fitzpatrick.
On the top, right next to me.
Both these guys have done greatthings, won awards Myron's in a
(05:34):
Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City,both sports talk radio show
hosts.
Did you ever think that when weall parted or I parted to go
across that mighty Red River in2012, that we would have a
reunion on a podcast Myron?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Not really, not really.
I'm just proud of myself.
I could actually figure out howto get on camera.
We're so proud of you, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Curtis, this is modern day, yeah, everyday
occurrence.
And for us to evolve with thetechnology.
I think that's saying something.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I'm also proud, myron , to figure out how to get that
camera on.
Hey, I'm not gonna lie man.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
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 dothis.
Okay, I just talk, man.
When they play music, I cometalk.
You know, everybody else doesall the technical stuff.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
No, this is cool man.
Like I don't know when the lasttime is I mean, probably your
last day on the air.
Sean Was your last day on aSunday night.
We did this show.
Fox 25 Sports.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Traber was there, jim .
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Traber was there with us.
I think that was your lastnight.
That would have been the lasttime we were all three on the
air together.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It was the last week of November in 2012.
I can still water man.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I go to Stillwater for a game or some football game
.
The ladies that serve the foodand stuff they always ask about
Sean.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I love the Stillwater mama.
I love her Kathy, kathyRushmore.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, they ask about you all the time.
She's a son of marriage.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I miss, man.
I tell you what, for those ofyou who have any ill feelings
toward the state of Oklahoma,squash it, squash it, keep it.
You know for that day, thatOctober day in Dallas, it's all
right, it's okay.
But, man, that was a good part,a great part of my life, great
(07:34):
part of my life and so manybeautiful things.
And you know, I got toexperience a little bit the
first few years of the Thunder.
I thought the playoffatmosphere every year in that
city was phenomenal.
And myron, we'll start you.
What is the buzz like inoklahoma city as they are on the
brink of potentially winning achampionship?
(07:56):
What is it?
Is it?
What's different now than itwas when I left in 2012?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
well, they're just as loud man.
Loud City is just as loud, ifnot louder.
People are excited man, basedon the finals.
Twice in 13 years you talkabout Durant and Westbrook, but
it's as good or better in termsof where the crowd's involved.
I tell you what I've got somefamily from Fort Smith my mom's,
(08:24):
one of her sisters and theyused to live down the street
from Jalen Williams, arkansas.
Jalen Williams, the 6'9 onethey're talking about coming up.
They want to come up for somegames, just to watch games here.
They don't have tickets for thegames Just to be a part of the
atmosphere.
Because they knew Isaiah Joeand Jalen Williams for a long
(08:45):
time.
They were kids growing up.
Wow, no, it is amazing howcharged people are about this
team and what they've been ableto do so far.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Curtis, you and I and Myron and even Liam McHugh.
Back in the day when Seattlethe ownership changed with Clay
Bennett and the late AubreyMcClendon, they hired Sam Presti
, who's a mastermind that haslike 425 draft picks stored away
in a safe somewhere.
(09:16):
But how he rebuilt that, I'mblown away.
I mean, what is it?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
I mean, when you see what he's done, did you guys see
the vision that he saw when heblew up the team, when Russell
left Listen, did I think theycould get back to where they are
right now?
I mean, in the back of my mindI thought, well, maybe someday.
I did not think it would bethis soon.
(09:45):
Because in reality, I mean foryou know, for us having this
discussion with you involvedsean, it's like okay, 2012.
They got there 13 years later,um, but it felt longer when you
went through those really downyears, but in reality it's not
that long.
(10:05):
You know, it's 13 years.
We've had NBA basketball for 17years.
I mean Myron knows, myron'sseen a lot of NBA basketball
over the years.
Yeah, and you think about allthe 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
(10:27):
come through here in a 17-yearperiod.
You add all that up, mostcities.
If you said, would you takethat resume, they say sign me up
.
So I mean we've been veryfortunate.
But man, myron's right Like thebuzz is everywhere you know.
And I think I mean Myron'sright Like the buzz is
everywhere you know.
And I think I mean Myron, youmight agree with this.
(10:47):
I mean I think it means it.
What's different this time?
Fans have seen, I think, theNBA circle of life now, because
you got the team, they're bad,but everybody's euphoric Cause
it didn't matter, they would getan NBA team.
Then they immediately get tothe playoffs the next year.
Then they get Western Finals,nba Finals.
(11:11):
Then they're competitive.
Even though they trade JamesHarden, they're competitive.
They almost got to the NBAFinals again in 2016.
Should have up 3-1.
Horrible.
So then you have thatexperience and then your
superstar, cornerstone,franchise player leaves.
So you've experienced the highs, the immediate lows.
(11:33):
And then Russell Westbrook it'seuphoric 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 theappreciation for this team now
is much greater than it was in2012, because I think back then,
I think we all thought they'regoing to be here several years
(11:55):
and they never got back.
So I think that's what'sdifferent this time.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Yeah, I'd agree.
I mean, I think you look, youknow, 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 oflike what they've got right now
and you, a lot of people assumethey would get back.
Well, circumstances happen.
Russell next year knee injury.
In the first round against theRockets.
They won that series, but theylose the second round to Memphis
(12:22):
.
I mean bottom line, they nevergot back.
They went to four WesternConference finals.
They lose to Golden State,blowing the 3-1 series lead.
So I think people are more NBAsavvy and I know me personally,
you know, because I like toeducate people, especially the
outside world you know how goodthis team has been for the
(12:46):
majority of 17 years.
They, you know, missed theplayoffs that first year there
and then the next year they get50 wins and they're an AC.
By the way, 50 wins in the Westgets you an AC.
You know they lose the Lakersin a six game series, you know.
But even after Durant left, youknow a lot of teams, a lot of
(13:08):
franchises would have kind ofokay, bottomed out, not be very
good.
Well, they still went to theplayoffs five straight years,
you know, and Russell and youknow, teaming with different
guys, I mean just trying to,whether it was Paul George or
you know a trait which led toSGA.
But before that you had VictorOladipo and Damanis Sabonis.
(13:30):
They found ways to bringdifferent guys in Carmelo
Anthony to try to stay in thehunt, stay in the mix, and even
though they didn't win, theydidn'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
(13:51):
, and then they basically wentfrom 24 to 41 to 57 to 68 NBA
finals.
Right now, I mean it's anamazing ladder.
They went in about a three orfour-year period.
It's an amazing ladder.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
They went in about a three or four-year period and I
just saw that they've extendedas far as the Keep the Thunder,
the document.
What was it Was?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
it Governor Stitt or Mayor Holt, david Holt, yeah,
mayor Holt.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Who is so visible with this thunder craze on
social media?
I never had a chance to get toknow him.
He was, you know, cornette wasstill around, very visible, but
there's a new arena on thehorizon.
I still remember it as Thunder.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Alley on.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Reno.
So I'm trying to.
It's going to be really weird.
So you know, I'm hoping to getup there for what would be a
celebratory parade.
So you know, I'm hoping to getup there for what would be a
celebratory parade.
So people are watching this.
This is game day.
This is at lunchtime If you'rewatching this live and this is
(14:59):
like an appetizer for tonight'sgame six, appetizer for
tonight's game six.
Myron, when you look at this,and Curtis, both.
I mean OKC has the edge rightnow, the momentum, but Indiana's
I'm going to be honest, I haveunderestimated that group.
They match up well with OKC.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I mean the series, I mean a lot of people.
They were a heavy favorite andthey're up 3-2, but it's been a
very competitive series.
I mean every game has you knowthey've won three, but they
haven't run away from them byany stretch of the imagination.
And you're right, indiana hasmore than shown that they were
overlooked.
The way they played, theyreally got hot in January.
And the thing about them, froman offensive standpoint,
(15:48):
virtually at all times they gotfive guys on the floor that can
score and they're going to pickup the pace.
They guard the full court andyou know they really force, and
both teams have done this.
Both coaching staffs have hadto kind of come up with some
things, deal with what theother's doing to them.
So it's been a really goodseries to watch, whether you're
a fan of either team, I think ifyou like basketball.
(16:12):
The game's been close,competitive and decided to drop
the stretch.
So it's been a great fun.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
It really has, curtis .
We've seen players get injured,but when you see a guy that is
impactful as Tyrese Halliburtonfor Indiana you see a guy that
is impactful as TyreseHalliburton for Indiana Should
Thunder fans be cautiouslyoptimistic or that he will be
limited?
Or do you expect whatelimination games playing for a
(16:36):
championship for an athlete does?
That's an adrenaline rush.
You can wrap that bad boyseveral times maybe.
Well, what do you expect here?
I don't remember the injury.
I don't remember seeing it.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Yeah, it's a calf injury, but he's had other
injuries on that same leg andthat one just was another one.
And I mean we're no doctorshere but we've watched enough
athletes go through injuries andwhen you hear about, all right,
the calf could maybe lead tosomething worse, or you know,
sometimes you overcompensate andthen you know one thing leads
(17:11):
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 gotto be cautious with him.
I mean, I think from what I'veexperienced and, myron, maybe
you've experienced the samething talking to people either
on the radio or just out andabout at my son's baseball games
(17:33):
everybody expects TyreseHalliburton to play.
How effective he's going togonna be.
I don't know.
Aaron Gordon did.
He played with basically whatlooked like a torn hamstring
against the Thunder game sevenfor the Nuggets.
Nobody thought he was gonnaplay.
Came out, started, hit a couplethrees but then was pretty much
useless after that.
You know, in your mind youstart thinking well, if
(17:56):
Halliburton plays, how effectiveis he gonna be?
You know, I think thedifference in this game for
Halliburton versus like an AaronGordon, this game's in Indiana,
that crowd's going to be juiced.
They're desperate, they they'reeverything's in front of them
and if they lose their season'sover, yeah, um, it's so it maybe
(18:17):
if Halliburton just gives thema couple minutes at the
beginning but just lifts theenvironment a little bit.
I mean, that's kind of likeWillis Reed type stuff.
You know, that's the kind ofthing you've got to watch out
for.
You can't assume Halliburton'snot going to be effective,
because his effectiveness, ifit's not tangible, could be an
intangible aspect that affectsthe rest of the team, the crowd.
(18:39):
And we saw in the last game.
If you watched that last gamewhen Halliburton was out, they
bring TJ McConnell in.
Thunder had no answer for him,none.
And they're capable.
If you're saying, are theycapable of putting it together
for one game without 100% Tyrese, halliburton and beating the
Thunder, they absolutely could.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Myron, go ahead.
I didn't mean to interrupt you.
Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
No, I was going to say, you know you mentioned
McConnell and of course he droveeverybody nuts that third
quarter he scores 13 points,goes six of seven and I think
Halliburton is going to try toplay first off.
But if he didn't play, you knowthere's a line of thought, you
know well, you bring McConnellto start.
(19:23):
But I wonder, would they sayyou know what, let's start maybe
Benedict Matherin, leaveMcConnell in his normal
off-the-bench role and startthere.
When Matherin had 27 in gamethree didn't now Game four, he
was bad, uh, or whatever Uh, butuh, was he getting a game five?
(19:44):
I guess he was bad, but uh,would they go that way as well?
But I I expect Halliburton togive it a go If he's not able to
stay, because it's the finals.
Uh, I'm like I wonder about theAchilles and all that, because
that's Kevin Durant.
Back when he tore his Achilleshe had a calf injury and then
his Achilles popped or whatever.
(20:05):
So I wonder about that.
But it's the finals.
I'll bet he'll do anythingpossible to get out there and
play.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I agree, it's not often, because you never know
when you get that chance againto play for a championship.
It's not often, because younever know when you get that
chance again to play for achampionship.
And between the three of us andthese knowledgeable fans and
those watching, we know there'ssomething different.
You, magically, are feelinggood, either a special shoe, a
boot, a good tape, job, hey,shout out to all athletic
(20:35):
trainers at every level.
They do miracle work at everylevel of sports.
But you mentioned JalenWilliams, the one from Arkansas,
the other Jalen Williams.
Pretty amazing what he did thelast game.
I mean, he has had somecriticism, but this guy put on a
freaking clinic in game five.
(21:07):
All right, what?
Speaker 3 (21:09):
He had three.
Yeah, he did everything hedunked.
He had threes.
He had big shots when they weremaking a run the fourth quarter
, indiana he had some big shotsto help stave off that run and
really kind of you know, he'spicked up.
He's had the last three games.
He's scored 26, 27, and 40points and it's just the fourth
(21:31):
time this season that both heand Shea have had at least 30
points in the same game.
So he's picked up his gamequite a bit and as big a year
it's been for Shea, for the MVPand all that kind of stuff.
Well, jalen made his firstall-star game, made his first
all-NBA team, firstall-defensive team and now he's
doing the finals.
It's been a big step in hisoffseason for him as well.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Curtis think about this is a part of that.
Jalen Williams there's so manyyoung 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, kdand Harden, just how these guys
(22:15):
carried themselves when theywere all young.
They were kids and they didn'tknow On the young.
They were kids and they didn'tjust on the scene they're
winning like this.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Yeah, and he's like he's awesome and he's getting
better.
He's only in his third year andhe's I mean, he's a guy who
lightly recruited at a highschool not rated at all, you
know, grew when he got to SantaClara, you know, spent more time
in college than a lot of theone and dones that you hear
(22:45):
about.
So he's kind of gone adifferent path to get here.
But man for the Thunder, samPreston, to identify him, get
him in the lottery with.
By the way, one of the Clipperspicks they got in the Paul
George trade.
So the same draft, sean, theygot Chet Holmgren and Jalen
Williams and the other JalenWilliams For them to hit that
(23:09):
home run.
That's one of the best.
Sam Presti's made a lot of goodpicks over the years.
If you just identify where hewas drafted and what the
production is, my goodness, thiscould end up being the best
draft pick he's ever had.
Obviously, durant, Westbrook,harden were all MVPs.
(23:30):
Serge Ibaka was a great pick.
I mean the Monta Sabonisbasically was Sam's draft pick.
Um, they arranged draft nighttrade.
He's going on to all-stars.
But this guy for him to be the12th pick in the draft and to
play his way in the third yearinto an all-star team, third
team all-NBA 40-point game inthe finals.
(23:53):
I mean it's not going to happen,but there's been talk of, hey,
maybe Jalen Williams should geta 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'samazing.
And listen, I mean, myron, youcan speak to this too.
These guys, they seem likereally good dudes, you know and
(24:15):
I don't want to rewrite historyfrom the previous trio, but
there might have been some egosinvolved and you know, so far
I've seen none of that from thisgroup.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
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 willprobably appreciate this when
you ask them a question, theyactually think about the answer
that they're going to give you.
They don't just give you likepat answers.
They will sometimes pause andthink about what you just asked
(24:48):
them and give you their honestthoughts on something.
Yeah, and I think this kind ofgoes in the chemistry that they
have amongst themselves in termsof whether it's Shea but it's
AJ Mitchell, the second-roundrookie out of Cal Santa Barbara.
I mean he holds as much weightas Jalen does.
(25:10):
I mean they all really have agood 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 officeof drafting guys or trading for
guys in the case of Caruso andguys like that.
That really fit what they'retrying to present in a culture
that they built, and I thinkthat's a big part of why they
(25:31):
went as well, because sometimesguys are not going to play.
I mean Jalen Williams, arkansas.
Jalen J Will he played big inthe Denver series Not so much in
this series, you know, but he'sone of the voices that's
talking to the huddles andeverything else, and so they've
got a really good chemistry,which I think is one of the big
reasons why they're able to winand there's not a lot of petty
(25:54):
jealousies going on that maybeyou see on some other teams.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I got to say Caruso, another great acquisition, a
little older compared to therest of this team, and I want to
call him the glue guy.
Is that?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
fair Curtis, he's awesome.
Sean, I know he's an Aggie.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I can look past that he lives in.
Austin, though he does, and Ithink my co-host sold him his
house.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
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 (26:31):
I mean you, hey, sean , you've got an Aggie and Caruso
in this series, you got aLonghorn and Miles Turner yep, I
mean you're, you're covering itall, man it's beautiful, uh,
it's, it's, uh, this is abeautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
The only thing missing is us together in the
flesh, which will happen.
And you know, before we take aquick break, we gotta, we gotta
continue a stories inside theman cave tradition.
I think you guys will love it,and there's been some legendary
man cave tradition.
I think you guys will love itand there's been some legendary
man cave stories.
We'll begin with my boy, myronpatton.
(27:14):
He was, I think.
Now you guys can go whateverdirection you'd like.
These are usually stories whichwere amusing when they happen,
and they're just as amusing nowwhen you tell them.
Myra, you could go back as faras when we all three worked
together, if you remember anystories or anything involving
(27:35):
covering the Thunder.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
You know what?
I remember one it's a footballSaturday and OSU's playing and
often you know you guys go coverthe game.
I'll go to the game and watch,but I'll leave early because I
got to get back and produce ashow and you guys stayed in
Stillwater and I'm there workingon the show.
(27:57):
And you walked in and you saidman, 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 talkingabout?
He just went off for like 6 or7 minutes.
(28:18):
He got mad at a reporter and hejust went off.
And six or seven minutes he gotmad at a reporter and he just
went off.
I listened to the tape and I'mlike it must have been a good
three or four minutes.
I said we're running it all,we're not cutting anything.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
No, highlights of the win against Tech.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah, against Texas Tech.
Exactly right.
I'm like we're running thewhole thing and it was like it's
one of the classic.
I mean, espn pulls it outanytime they can to play it,
whatever, but you guys, I didn'tsee it live because I left
early, but you had a great shotof it, sean, and we'll blast
(28:57):
audio.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I'm a man, I'm 40.
I'm a mother of children.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Bobby Reed, he was taken off the board.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Bobby Reed's a fine American.
He didn't deserve that.
Curtis, what comes to mind for?
Speaker 4 (29:20):
you, Sean, the second I start talking about this.
You're going to know where I'mgoing here.
So, Sean and I, Myron, we're atBig 12 Media Days in Dallas and
you know we're covering theevent.
We're shooting stories, youknow, for your Austin
listenership, and we're doingstories typically on OU and OSU.
(29:45):
So OU, I think, was the lastday we shot a story but we need
to get it back on the air and wedidn't have a hotel room.
I had to go on the radio thenext morning we started at 5 am.
I had to go on the radio thenext morning we start at 5 am.
Sean and I were having troublewith the old equipment they gave
us at Box 25, by the way.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
It was not the best.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
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 5Gconnection.
Well, that was a piece of junktoo.
So we're like well, let's pulloff at the nearest starbucks.
They have free wi-fi we triedin fort worth so.
(30:28):
but we have to get this videoback 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, Idon't know, 15, 20 minutes took
about six hours.
Sean and I are sitting atStarbucks.
Finally, somehow it worked out.
(30:49):
We got it there.
It was like old dial-upconnection because we had old
dial-up equipment, myron.
Somehow I assume you got it onthe air, myron, I got it on the
air.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
I remember that, I remember that.
I remember that All right.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
So somehow you get it .
Well then, sean and I, right,we got to get going.
I got to go to work and we'redriving Myron and we're hitting
construction and accidents and Imean I'm three hours away from
going on the air the nextmorning.
This is how long it took.
We missed the newscast, allthat stuff.
And Sean and I are driving.
(31:23):
We're both tired, we're likedude.
We got to pull over.
Pulled over take a nap.
The nearest exit was the GeneAutry, oklahoma exit.
We found whatever truck stop,god love those people was there.
That was the night I spentsleeping with Sean Clinch.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
For two hours Wow.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
In a Subaru.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Then I had to get up.
We had two hours Go straight tothe radio show.
That was quite a night.
You Go straight to the radioshow.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
That was quite a night.
You were the big spoon in theSubaru.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
I don't know about that.
We had to get some shut-eye.
We weren't going to make it.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
That's a lot of stories we told.
I mean because first off inthose days getting video back
was a little bit hard.
Some of the things you have todo to get stories back was
pretty entertaining stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Remember Baylor in 2008?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Yeah, Baylor 2008.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And wait at old Floyd .
Casey Stadium that was my firstoh yeah, oh yeah, I remember
that.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I remember.
I remember where we, oh, wewere covering the Big 12
basketball tournament and I hadtalked a lady at CNN, a lady at
CNN.
I had talked her into allowingus to feed back on what was the
tab called Special something.
(32:59):
I forgot what it was.
Basically, it was free, but wehad to go to the Fox station in
Kansas city.
Yes, and we go there and we hadto knock on a door.
This old guy comes out, he hasa string, this cable back from
master control, which is whereeverything is run people, that's
kind of the brains of the of atv station this long black cord,
(33:20):
and hook it up and in all thesecases you just barely get the
stuff back.
And it was like it was.
I mean, the things you would doto get video back was just
amazing, unreal.
I mean, I don't know, it's justsome stuff that goes on, that
you know the things you wouldhave to do to Behind the scenes,
(33:42):
who you have to talk to, whoyou'd have to, you know, grease
their palm a little bit, saygood things about them, you know
.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Yeah, I do remember having some issues in Memphis
during that 2011 run you and Iboth trying to get packages or
stories back and it took alittle while from that hotel but
not as bad as Baylor andeverything else.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
How about?
Here's one.
We're in Washington covering OUWashington football in Seattle.
For some reason, my flight,they booked me on something
screwed up and they wouldn'ttake my ticket.
I don't know this.
One of us had to get backbecause we had all the video and
(34:28):
all the stories about OUbeating Seattle.
I said, well, well, sean, yougot to get back.
So sean flew back.
I had to fly back on standbyand 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 (34:54):
St Louis to.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Dallas, Dallas to Oklahoma City, and if you've
ever phoned standby, it was likeyou don't really know if you're
going to stay on the flight ornot, because you're sitting
there until they close the door.
At any moment they might saysorry, sir, you've got to get up
, this is so-and-so seat, and soI'm at every stop I saying,
(35:16):
well, I could sleep there, youknow?
I mean it's like in theterminal.
I'm thinking where I couldcrash.
And then when I get on theplane, like close the door,
close the door, close the door.
Oh that door.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
I think I got back like one o'clock in the morning
oh, I do remember this because Ihad to do the Sunday show.
The other thing about that tripto Seattle if you remember one
of the pins that engage these sothose cameras have big block
batteries the pin engaging withthe camera fell off somewhere on
(35:47):
the plane so we had no power.
I shot nothing.
I had to borrow a battery froma.
Speaker 4 (35:54):
Seattle affiliate.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I got the second half .
Matter of fact, we barely goton that Friday before for a live
shot right before Just barelygot on out in front of the
stadium.
That was a beautiful place,Beautiful Husky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
The Puget Sound, I guess is right there, beautiful.
We didn't have time to go eatat the fish market, but we saw
it, we saw it, we were there, wehad a couple hours rest,
beautiful man.
We've got a lot of stories, butI love these guys.
These are Fox bros for life.
But we're going to take a quickbreak and on the other side
(36:34):
it's real quick, real quick, andI lied to these guys we were
going to have a 30-minuteepisode, but on the other side
we're going to tell you, we'regoing to talk a little bit and
kind of paint the picture of howamazing Oklahoma City Thunder
home games really are.
That's on the other side.
The Saxton name resonates inAustin, jim's late father.
(36:57):
James Saxton is a Longhornlegend, a Heisman finalist while
playing for Darryl K Royal, andJimmy is a UT football legacy
from Westlake.
He has been insuring Austin fordecades.
He and his staff will give youold school hospitality when
servicing your insurance needs.
Ojc, ojc, OJC, ojc, ojc.
(37:25):
Not gonna lie, gentlemen, Imiss that Even, as when we
(37:48):
worked those games, thoseThunder games, and we had seats
either at the top, near the roof, or I'm hustling, getting
pregame interviews or not even.
But what is it real quick?
Beginning with Myra, what is itabout that crowd?
Now, we've all three seen greatcrowds elsewhere around the NBA
(38:10):
.
Memphis was great.
We know Indiana has a great fanbase, but why is it that OKC
fans?
It's just different compared tothe rest of the NBA.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Well, I've always felt that when the team got
there first off, it's the onlyprofessional in terms of, you
know, like big league team thatOklahoma City has, in terms of,
you know, like big league teamthat Oklahoma City has, and I've
always felt that people took itpersonally to want to make it
successful.
It's the only thing that OU andOSU fans agree on.
(38:45):
If OU wins a big bowl game, ournational championship, osu fans
are not happy about that.
Same thing, if OSU you know, ifthey went a big, you know, go
deep in the tournament inbasketball or something like
they won a bowl game, OU fansaren't celebrating that either.
But they all agree on thethunder.
And I've said this before, I'vebeen to every arena but I've
(39:07):
been to most and I haven't heardany word louder.
And I wonder, when, the nextmorning, when people have to go
to work like you know, it's aWednesday game or something they
got to go to work how can thesepeople talk?
Because they're making noiseconstantly before the game,
during the game.
Of course, nba finals it's evenanother level.
(39:28):
So I wonder how they talk thenext morning.
But it is an insane environmentthat the players appreciate and
even the opposing team theyrecognize.
It's a very tough place to winOne because the Thunder's good,
but also the fans give them agreat home court.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I couldn't agree more , curtis, your take on that.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
No, mine's 100%.
I've been to a couple arenas aswell, even during playoffs.
There's nothing like whathappens here, and I think what
Myron's talking about is right.
Not only is it, you know, youcan look at OU and OSU fans
coming together, it's a commonbond.
I mean the city.
(40:08):
I mean you know, sean, havinglived here, how much it grew
when you first came here to whenyou left.
From when you left to now, whatyear was it when you left, sean
?
Speaker 2 (40:21):
December, November of 2012.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
I mean, think about that, myron, how much the city's
changed in the last 13 years.
You've had a lot of people moveinto the community that have no
affiliation with OU or OSU,because of business.
I mean we've had a lot ofeconomic boom here and that's
their way to identify with thecity and their new place.
There's so many people thatcome from all walks of life that
(40:48):
have this common bond and thecity has grown with the team.
The team is part of the growthof the city and I think that's
attracted business, attractedpeople living here, quality of
life, all that stuff.
I'm sure fans of San Antoniofeel that way.
With the Spurs there's some, youknow, community involved.
You know it's kind of like theGreen Bay Packers You've heard
(41:09):
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 andMyron can do the same thing it's
easy to say we want the Thunderto win, you know, and you can
be upset when they lose If it'sOU or OSU.
Of course you want the localteams to do well, but you also
(41:32):
got to watch what you say everynow and then.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
You can't be picking spots.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Yeah, that's right.
That's a good way to put it.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I love that.
It is unique, I will say DallasMavericks.
Although passionate, nowhereclose to the decibels.
Sustained noise at.
American Airlines, the Spurs,it's close, very close.
Houston not a chance, not achance.
(41:59):
There's nothing, nothing butMemphis.
That was Myron, that was apretty good atmosphere there.
But OKC, very, very specialplace.
Real quick predictions, myron.
Tonight, game six, what happens?
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Oh man, I'm superstitious.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
I believe in basketball gods.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I mean I really do.
You know now I've said allalong I think the Thunder is a
better team, right, and before Isaid six.
So I guess I'll stay with thatman, indiana.
They put up a better fight thanI thought they would.
If it ends in six tonight, it'sgoing to be a tough six.
(42:47):
It's not like, oh, they won acouple games and the Thunder
just no.
Every one of the games they'vewon has been a dogfight.
But I'll begrudgingly saythey're going to find a way.
I want them to, because youknow fans, oh, it'd be great if
they won at home.
I'm like you, better try to getit as soon as you can.
Speaker 4 (43:14):
If you fight tooth and but get tonight.
Curtis man, yeah, for the lastweek and a half, I've said it's
going 7-7-7-7-7.
And the Thunder?
Somehow.
At one point I was worried theThunder was going to go down 3-1
, and who knows what wouldhappen.
They evened it up and I'mthinking this is definitely
going seven.
I don't know how anybody'sgoing to win.
(43:36):
On the other home court, theThunder took care of business in
game five.
The thing that makes me want tothink Thunder in six now,
though, is the Halliburton thing.
Again, I just told you, yeah, Ithink Indiana can rise up and
muster up one awesome effort.
I think Indiana can rise up andmuster up one awesome effort.
My gut tells me maybe theThunder smell what's about to
(44:00):
happen.
It's sharks and the blood inthe water, the whole thing.
I think they might get it done.
I think it's going to be agreat game.
My hunch and I'm like Myron getit over with.
Don't mess around with the homecourt celebration.
No, no, no, no.
You take it.
Ask the people, take a timemachine, go back to 2012.
They'll take it any way theycan get it.
(44:21):
I think they get it done in sixnow.
Hey Ben, tell me something good.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
Well, hey, we've been going from the bottom to the
top.
I sounded like drake for aminute.
Um just realize that, curtis,there's so much negativity in
this world, but a lot ofpositivity.
When you're talking about thenba finals and the thunder and
that wonderful city, you twocall home.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
Um tell me something good, my brother well, I Well,
I'll tell you this, sean, I'mjust going to point it right
back to you, my brother, you aremaybe the most positive person
I know.
So I'm here to tell theaudience, thankful for your
friendship and always keeping asmile on your face, always a
(45:10):
laugh from Sean, I mean Myroncan attest the newsroom was
never a dull moment when SeanClinch walked in that door.
That is definitely true In manyways many ways, more ways than
I can count.
There you go, Sean.
Speaker 3 (45:26):
What ways you can say .
Everybody remembers Sean.
Nobody says Sean Clinch I neverget it.
Everybody remembers Sean.
Nobody says Sean, I never getit.
You have a way of making alasting impression.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
I am so grateful that's a blessing, man a
positive thing is sports.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
I mean, we all do sports and grew up playing
sports and everything else.
And you know, I did news for awhile.
I tell people I did news and itwas actually easier than sports
, because a lot of people do alot 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
(46:10):
right down to it it's not lifeor death, but it is something
that we've all grown up to beable to do and I appreciate that
Sports entertains us and playsan important role in our lives.
So for those who listen to usyou, sean, and me encouraging
everybody else we've been luckyto do what we do.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
Yeah, there is no doubt We've had a blessed life.
And then you too, man, workingwith you guys and, to this day,
calling your brothers andfriends, that means a lot, a lot
to me, man.
I appreciate you guys being apart of this today.
Thank you, dude, appreciate ityeah, absolutely, and you know,
hopefully I can clear theschedule and not to jinx
(46:54):
anything tonight, but hopefullyI get up there to either see do
I dare say it get up there tosee game seven or a.
Nba title championship paradein Oklahoma City.
Speaker 4 (47:10):
We'll save a spot on the float for you, Sean.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Oh man, please, hey, is that burlap Speedo still Can
I wear that?
Speaker 1 (47:19):
Hey, if the Thunder get another, if you're not on a
picture.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
I can say if the Thunder get another win, fans
won't care what you wear.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
They just want to win .
Yeah, they want to win.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
That's absolutely man .
So, hey, hey, all I can say isnow because I don't really cover
them, I'm not a, uh, aprofessional media member
thunder up much love to okc andwhat you guys did for me and and
provided me a great life there.
You know, and and and for you,myron patton and curtis
(47:51):
fitzpatrick and your families.
Much love to you guys.
So whenever you get a chance totalk 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.
Thank you for watching.
Honest is a strong word and weall need honesty when it comes
to plumbing and HVAC needs,somebody who will take care of
the repairs efficiently and withquality.
Honest Plumbing and Air is whoI trust and they take pride in
that word.
Honest Plumbing and Air where ahandshake still means something
(00:50):
.
Alliburton up top Niphardtfakes, kicks it out, stolen by
SGA.
Two on one.
Gildress Alexander layup isgood and a foul All right.
(01:15):
I had a goal when I entered theTV 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 themost fun.
We got to cover an NBA teamthat was there temporarily.
Then a team from Seattle leftall that history and became the
Oklahoma City Thunder.
In year four they went to thefinals and now I had left that
(01:40):
year and I had been in Austin,texas, since then and wrapped up
that career.
But there are two guys who Iworked extensively with since
the inception of the Thunder andthey're back in the finals.
It took 13 years but they'vebeen very, very much a team that
has been, one that has beenaround the postseason a lot and
(02:01):
has determined who becomes thischampion Oklahoma City in the
NBA Finals again and an OklahomaCity reunion let's talk about
it.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Who gonna stop, Mr?
3-5 or 0?
Boy, you better call asuperhero when it comes to this
game.
Ain't nobody gonna stop, butwe're the big willies 3-5-0.
Boy, you better call asuperhero when it comes to this
game.
Ain't nobody going to stop us.
We're the big willies.
You're going to block thetrucks.
We got it popping as soon as wepop.
So get slammed on by SergeIbaka.
Westbrook be falling.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
All right, I think people who know me know that I
have a little bias toward thatguy, the War Zero, russell
Westbrook, toward that guy thatwore zero Russell Westbrook.
He's no longer with the Thunder.
He's gone on and done greatthings with other franchises,
but what that three did forOklahoma City really established
that franchise as a mainstay.
It was exciting to watch andreally what created the
(02:59):
atmosphere, laid that foundation, along with other guys like
Jeff Green and Kevin Durant andNick Collison.
You can go for on and on and onin a city that I dearly love
and I have great friends andit's right there 1A, 1b or share
1A with Austin, texas.
But before I introduce you tothe guys that I've worked
(03:21):
alongside with and covered thatgreat franchise, be sure to
follow us on each of our socialmedia platforms Facebook, igx,
youtube and TikTok and you know,with the economy and the state
that it is, you know things thatare free are few and far
between.
You can subscribe to ourYouTube page for free and that
is the most beautiful thing.
(03:42):
So that what you just saw was aflashback to 2012.
And that was a rap artist fromOklahoma City.
Young star gave flashbacks,actually did a live shot with
that guy the week of the NBAfinals in 2012.
And it feels like that wasn'tlong ago.
(04:04):
I just had a few more hairfollicles and that was such a
great time.
It was an eye-openingexperience for me, and you know
what else would be eye-openingIf you did not?
If you go this summer withouthaving your HVAC serviced you
know we're about to hit tripledigits for almost every day.
(04:26):
I had no power for twoconsecutive days because of a
thunderstorm yeah, oklahomansknow all about that and it was
90 degrees and I was miserable.
I lost all my stuff in myfreezer.
So call our guys at HonestPlumbing and Air before you run
into that, because 100 plusdegrees and 80 percent humidity
(04:49):
is not the route to go.
Hey, enough of looking at myhead.
I want to introduce you to twoguys who have really made a
lasting impression with mebecause 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.
(05:12):
All right, we're going to callthis a Fox 25 OKC reunion.
On the bottom was my formerboss, steve Myron Patton, curtis
Fitzpatrick.
On the top, right next to me.
Both these guys have done greatthings, won awards Myron's in a
(05:34):
Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City,both sports talk radio show
hosts.
Did you ever think that when weall parted or I parted to go
across that mighty Red River in2012, that we would have a
reunion on a podcast Myron?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Not really, not really.
I'm just proud of myself.
I could actually figure out howto get on camera.
We're so proud of you, I'm here.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Curtis, this is modern day, yeah, everyday
occurrence.
And for us to evolve with thetechnology.
I think that's saying something.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
I'm also proud, myron , to figure out how to get that
camera on.
Hey, I'm not gonna lie man.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
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 dothis.
Okay, I just talk, man.
When they play music, I cometalk.
You know, everybody else doesall the technical stuff.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
No, this is cool man.
Like I don't know when the lasttime is I mean, probably your
last day on the air.
Sean Was your last day on aSunday night.
We did this show.
Fox 25 Sports.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Traber was there, jim .
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Traber was there with us.
I think that was your lastnight.
That would have been the lasttime we were all three on the
air together.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
It was the last week of November in 2012.
I can still water man.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I go to Stillwater for a game or some football game
.
The ladies that serve the foodand stuff they always ask about
Sean.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I love the Stillwater mama.
I love her Kathy, kathyRushmore.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
Yeah, they ask about you all the time.
She's a son of marriage.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I miss, man.
I tell you what, for those ofyou who have any ill feelings
toward the state of Oklahoma,squash it, squash it, keep it.
You know for that day, thatOctober day in Dallas, it's all
right, it's okay.
But, man, that was a good part,a great part of my life, great
(07:34):
part of my life and so manybeautiful things.
And you know, I got toexperience a little bit the
first few years of the Thunder.
I thought the playoffatmosphere every year in that
city was phenomenal.
And myron, we'll start you.
What is the buzz like inoklahoma city as they are on the
brink of potentially winning achampionship?
(07:56):
What is it?
Is it?
What's different now than itwas when I left in 2012?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
well, they're just as loud man.
Loud City is just as loud, ifnot louder.
People are excited man, basedon the finals.
Twice in 13 years you talkabout Durant and Westbrook, but
it's as good or better in termsof where the crowd's involved.
I tell you what I've got somefamily from Fort Smith my mom's,
(08:24):
one of her sisters and theyused to live down the street
from Jalen Williams, arkansas.
Jalen Williams, the 6'9 onethey're talking about coming up.
They want to come up for somegames, just to watch games here.
They don't have tickets for thegames Just to be a part of the
atmosphere.
Because they knew Isaiah Joeand Jalen Williams for a long
(08:45):
time.
They were kids growing up.
Wow, no, it is amazing howcharged people are about this
team and what they've been ableto do so far.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Curtis, you and I and Myron and even Liam McHugh.
Back in the day when Seattlethe ownership changed with Clay
Bennett and the late AubreyMcClendon, they hired Sam Presti
, who's a mastermind that haslike 425 draft picks stored away
in a safe somewhere.
(09:16):
But how he rebuilt that, I'mblown away.
I mean, what is it?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
I mean, when you see what he's done, did you guys see
the vision that he saw when heblew up the team, when Russell
left Listen, did I think theycould get back to where they are
right now?
I mean, in the back of my mindI thought, well, maybe someday.
I did not think it would bethis soon.
(09:45):
Because in reality, I mean foryou know, for us having this
discussion with you involvedsean, it's like okay, 2012.
They got there 13 years later,um, but it felt longer when you
went through those really downyears, but in reality it's not
that long.
(10:05):
You know, it's 13 years.
We've had NBA basketball for 17years.
I mean Myron knows, myron'sseen a lot of NBA basketball
over the years.
Yeah, and you think about allthe 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
(10:27):
come through here in a 17-yearperiod.
You add all that up, mostcities.
If you said, would you takethat resume, they say sign me up
.
So I mean we've been veryfortunate.
But man, myron's right Like thebuzz is everywhere you know.
And I think I mean Myron'sright Like the buzz is
everywhere you know.
And I think I mean Myron, youmight agree with this.
(10:47):
I mean I think it means it.
What's different this time?
Fans have seen, I think, theNBA circle of life now, because
you got the team, they're bad,but everybody's euphoric Cause
it didn't matter, they would getan NBA team.
Then they immediately get tothe playoffs the next year.
Then they get Western Finals,nba Finals.
(11:11):
Then they're competitive.
Even though they trade JamesHarden, they're competitive.
They almost got to the NBAFinals again in 2016.
Should have up 3-1.
Horrible.
So then you have thatexperience and then your
superstar, cornerstone,franchise player leaves.
So you've experienced the highs, the immediate lows.
(11:33):
And then Russell Westbrook it'seuphoric 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 theappreciation for this team now
is much greater than it was in2012, because I think back then,
I think we all thought they'regoing to be here several years
(11:55):
and they never got back.
So I think that's what'sdifferent this time.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Yeah, I'd agree.
I mean, I think you look, youknow, 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 oflike what they've got right now
and you, a lot of people assumethey would get back.
Well, circumstances happen.
Russell next year knee injury.
In the first round against theRockets.
They won that series, but theylose the second round to Memphis
(12:22):
.
I mean bottom line, they nevergot back.
They went to four WesternConference finals.
They lose to Golden State,blowing the 3-1 series lead.
So I think people are more NBAsavvy and I know me personally,
you know, because I like toeducate people, especially the
outside world you know how goodthis team has been for the
(12:46):
majority of 17 years.
They, you know, missed theplayoffs that first year there
and then the next year they get50 wins and they're an AC.
By the way, 50 wins in the Westgets you an AC.
You know they lose the Lakersin a six game series, you know.
But even after Durant left, youknow a lot of teams, a lot of
(13:08):
franchises would have kind ofokay, bottomed out, not be very
good.
Well, they still went to theplayoffs five straight years,
you know, and Russell and youknow, teaming with different
guys, I mean just trying to,whether it was Paul George or
you know a trait which led toSGA.
But before that you had VictorOladipo and Damanis Sabonis.
(13:30):
They found ways to bringdifferent guys in Carmelo
Anthony to try to stay in thehunt, stay in the mix, and even
though they didn't win, theydidn'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
(13:51):
, and then they basically wentfrom 24 to 41 to 57 to 68 NBA
finals.
Right now, I mean it's anamazing ladder.
They went in about a three orfour-year period.
It's an amazing ladder.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
They went in about a three or four-year period and I
just saw that they've extendedas far as the Keep the Thunder,
the document.
What was it Was?
Speaker 4 (14:14):
it Governor Stitt or Mayor Holt, david Holt, yeah,
mayor Holt.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Who is so visible with this thunder craze on
social media?
I never had a chance to get toknow him.
He was, you know, cornette wasstill around, very visible, but
there's a new arena on thehorizon.
I still remember it as Thunder.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Alley on.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Reno.
So I'm trying to.
It's going to be really weird.
So you know, I'm hoping to getup there for what would be a
celebratory parade.
So you know, I'm hoping to getup there for what would be a
celebratory parade.
So people are watching this.
This is game day.
This is at lunchtime If you'rewatching this live and this is
(14:59):
like an appetizer for tonight'sgame six, appetizer for
tonight's game six.
Myron, when you look at this,and Curtis, both.
I mean OKC has the edge rightnow, the momentum, but Indiana's
I'm going to be honest, I haveunderestimated that group.
They match up well with OKC.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I mean the series, I mean a lot of people.
They were a heavy favorite andthey're up 3-2, but it's been a
very competitive series.
I mean every game has you knowthey've won three, but they
haven't run away from them byany stretch of the imagination.
And you're right, indiana hasmore than shown that they were
overlooked.
The way they played, theyreally got hot in January.
And the thing about them, froman offensive standpoint,
(15:48):
virtually at all times they gotfive guys on the floor that can
score and they're going to pickup the pace.
They guard the full court andyou know they really force, and
both teams have done this.
Both coaching staffs have hadto kind of come up with some
things, deal with what theother's doing to them.
So it's been a really goodseries to watch, whether you're
a fan of either team, I think ifyou like basketball.
(16:12):
The game's been close,competitive and decided to drop
the stretch.
So it's been a great fun.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
It really has, curtis .
We've seen players get injured,but when you see a guy that is
impactful as Tyrese Halliburtonfor Indiana you see a guy that
is impactful as TyreseHalliburton for Indiana Should
Thunder fans be cautiouslyoptimistic or that he will be
limited?
Or do you expect whatelimination games playing for a
(16:36):
championship for an athlete does?
That's an adrenaline rush.
You can wrap that bad boyseveral times maybe.
Well, what do you expect here?
I don't remember the injury.
I don't remember seeing it.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Yeah, it's a calf injury, but he's had other
injuries on that same leg andthat one just was another one.
And I mean we're no doctorshere but we've watched enough
athletes go through injuries andwhen you hear about, all right,
the calf could maybe lead tosomething worse, or you know,
sometimes you overcompensate andthen you know one thing leads
(17:11):
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 gotto be cautious with him.
I mean, I think from what I'veexperienced and, myron, maybe
you've experienced the samething talking to people either
on the radio or just out andabout at my son's baseball games
(17:33):
everybody expects TyreseHalliburton to play.
How effective he's going togonna be.
I don't know.
Aaron Gordon did.
He played with basically whatlooked like a torn hamstring
against the Thunder game sevenfor the Nuggets.
Nobody thought he was gonnaplay.
Came out, started, hit a couplethrees but then was pretty much
useless after that.
You know, in your mind youstart thinking well, if
(17:56):
Halliburton plays, how effectiveis he gonna be?
You know, I think thedifference in this game for
Halliburton versus like an AaronGordon, this game's in Indiana,
that crowd's going to be juiced.
They're desperate, they they'reeverything's in front of them
and if they lose their season'sover, yeah, um, it's so it maybe
(18:17):
if Halliburton just gives thema couple minutes at the
beginning but just lifts theenvironment a little bit.
I mean, that's kind of likeWillis Reed type stuff.
You know, that's the kind ofthing you've got to watch out
for.
You can't assume Halliburton'snot going to be effective,
because his effectiveness, ifit's not tangible, could be an
intangible aspect that affectsthe rest of the team, the crowd.
(18:39):
And we saw in the last game.
If you watched that last gamewhen Halliburton was out, they
bring TJ McConnell in.
Thunder had no answer for him,none.
And they're capable.
If you're saying, are theycapable of putting it together
for one game without 100% Tyrese, halliburton and beating the
Thunder, they absolutely could.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Myron, go ahead.
I didn't mean to interrupt you.
Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
No, I was going to say, you know you mentioned
McConnell and of course he droveeverybody nuts that third
quarter he scores 13 points,goes six of seven and I think
Halliburton is going to try toplay first off.
But if he didn't play, you knowthere's a line of thought, you
know well, you bring McConnellto start.
(19:23):
But I wonder, would they sayyou know what, let's start maybe
Benedict Matherin, leaveMcConnell in his normal
off-the-bench role and startthere.
When Matherin had 27 in gamethree didn't now Game four, he
was bad, uh, or whatever Uh, butuh, was he getting a game five?
(19:44):
I guess he was bad, but uh,would they go that way as well?
But I I expect Halliburton togive it a go If he's not able to
stay, because it's the finals.
Uh, I'm like I wonder about theAchilles and all that, because
that's Kevin Durant.
Back when he tore his Achilleshe had a calf injury and then
his Achilles popped or whatever.
(20:05):
So I wonder about that.
But it's the finals.
I'll bet he'll do anythingpossible to get out there and
play.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
I agree, it's not often, because you never know
when you get that chance againto play for a championship.
It's not often, because younever know when you get that
chance again to play for achampionship.
And between the three of us andthese knowledgeable fans and
those watching, we know there'ssomething different.
You, magically, are feelinggood, either a special shoe, a
boot, a good tape, job, hey,shout out to all athletic
(20:35):
trainers at every level.
They do miracle work at everylevel of sports.
But you mentioned JalenWilliams, the one from Arkansas,
the other Jalen Williams.
Pretty amazing what he did thelast game.
I mean, he has had somecriticism, but this guy put on a
freaking clinic in game five.
(21:07):
All right, what?
Speaker 3 (21:09):
He had three.
Yeah, he did everything hedunked.
He had threes.
He had big shots when they weremaking a run the fourth quarter
, indiana he had some big shotsto help stave off that run and
really kind of you know, he'spicked up.
He's had the last three games.
He's scored 26, 27, and 40points and it's just the fourth
(21:31):
time this season that both heand Shea have had at least 30
points in the same game.
So he's picked up his gamequite a bit and as big a year
it's been for Shea, for the MVPand all that kind of stuff.
Well, jalen made his firstall-star game, made his first
all-NBA team, firstall-defensive team and now he's
doing the finals.
It's been a big step in hisoffseason for him as well.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Curtis think about this is a part of that.
Jalen Williams there's so manyyoung 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, kdand Harden, just how these guys
(22:15):
carried themselves when theywere all young.
They were kids and they didn'tknow On the young.
They were kids and they didn'tjust on the scene they're
winning like this.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Yeah, and he's like he's awesome and he's getting
better.
He's only in his third year andhe's I mean, he's a guy who
lightly recruited at a highschool not rated at all, you
know, grew when he got to SantaClara, you know, spent more time
in college than a lot of theone and dones that you hear
(22:45):
about.
So he's kind of gone adifferent path to get here.
But man for the Thunder, samPreston, to identify him, get
him in the lottery with.
By the way, one of the Clipperspicks they got in the Paul
George trade.
So the same draft, sean, theygot Chet Holmgren and Jalen
Williams and the other JalenWilliams For them to hit that
(23:09):
home run.
That's one of the best.
Sam Presti's made a lot of goodpicks over the years.
If you just identify where hewas drafted and what the
production is, my goodness, thiscould end up being the best
draft pick he's ever had.
Obviously, durant, Westbrook,harden were all MVPs.
(23:30):
Serge Ibaka was a great pick.
I mean the Monta Sabonisbasically was Sam's draft pick.
Um, they arranged draft nighttrade.
He's going on to all-stars.
But this guy for him to be the12th pick in the draft and to
play his way in the third yearinto an all-star team, third
team all-NBA 40-point game inthe finals.
(23:53):
I mean it's not going to happen,but there's been talk of, hey,
maybe Jalen Williams should geta 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'samazing.
And listen, I mean, myron, youcan speak to this too.
These guys, they seem likereally good dudes, you know and
(24:15):
I don't want to rewrite historyfrom the previous trio, but
there might have been some egosinvolved and you know, so far
I've seen none of that from thisgroup.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
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 willprobably appreciate this when
you ask them a question, theyactually think about the answer
that they're going to give you.
They don't just give you likepat answers.
They will sometimes pause andthink about what you just asked
(24:48):
them and give you their honestthoughts on something.
Yeah, and I think this kind ofgoes in the chemistry that they
have amongst themselves in termsof whether it's Shea but it's
AJ Mitchell, the second-roundrookie out of Cal Santa Barbara.
I mean he holds as much weightas Jalen does.
(25:10):
I mean they all really have agood 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 officeof drafting guys or trading for
guys in the case of Caruso andguys like that.
That really fit what they'retrying to present in a culture
that they built, and I thinkthat's a big part of why they
(25:31):
went as well, because sometimesguys are not going to play.
I mean Jalen Williams, arkansas.
Jalen J Will he played big inthe Denver series Not so much in
this series, you know, but he'sone of the voices that's
talking to the huddles andeverything else, and so they've
got a really good chemistry,which I think is one of the big
reasons why they're able to winand there's not a lot of petty
(25:54):
jealousies going on that maybeyou see on some other teams.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I got to say Caruso, another great acquisition, a
little older compared to therest of this team, and I want to
call him the glue guy.
Is that?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
fair Curtis, he's awesome.
Sean, I know he's an Aggie.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I can look past that he lives in.
Austin, though he does, and Ithink my co-host sold him his
house.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
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 (26:31):
I mean you, hey, sean , you've got an Aggie and Caruso
in this series, you got aLonghorn and Miles Turner yep, I
mean you're, you're covering itall, man it's beautiful, uh,
it's, it's, uh, this is abeautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
The only thing missing is us together in the
flesh, which will happen.
And you know, before we take aquick break, we gotta, we gotta
continue a stories inside theman cave tradition.
I think you guys will love it,and there's been some legendary
man cave tradition.
I think you guys will love itand there's been some legendary
man cave stories.
We'll begin with my boy, myronpatton.
(27:14):
He was, I think.
Now you guys can go whateverdirection you'd like.
These are usually stories whichwere amusing when they happen,
and they're just as amusing nowwhen you tell them.
Myra, you could go back as faras when we all three worked
together, if you remember anystories or anything involving
(27:35):
covering the Thunder.
Speaker 3 (27:37):
You know what?
I remember one it's a footballSaturday and OSU's playing and
often you know you guys go coverthe game.
I'll go to the game and watch,but I'll leave early because I
got to get back and produce ashow and you guys stayed in
Stillwater and I'm there workingon the show.
(27:57):
And you walked in and you saidman, 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 talkingabout?
He just went off for like 6 or7 minutes.
(28:18):
He got mad at a reporter and hejust went off.
And six or seven minutes he gotmad at a reporter and he just
went off.
I listened to the tape and I'mlike it must have been a good
three or four minutes.
I said we're running it all,we're not cutting anything.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
No, highlights of the win against Tech.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
Yeah, against Texas Tech.
Exactly right.
I'm like we're running thewhole thing and it was like it's
one of the classic.
I mean, espn pulls it outanytime they can to play it,
whatever, but you guys, I didn'tsee it live because I left
early, but you had a great shotof it, sean, and we'll blast
(28:57):
audio.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
I'm a man, I'm 40.
I'm a mother of children.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Bobby Reed, he was taken off the board.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Bobby Reed's a fine American.
He didn't deserve that.
Curtis, what comes to mind for?
Speaker 4 (29:20):
you, Sean, the second I start talking about this.
You're going to know where I'mgoing here.
So, Sean and I, Myron, we're atBig 12 Media Days in Dallas and
you know we're covering theevent.
We're shooting stories, youknow, for your Austin
listenership, and we're doingstories typically on OU and OSU.
(29:45):
So OU, I think, was the lastday we shot a story but we need
to get it back on the air and wedidn't have a hotel room.
I had to go on the radio thenext morning we started at 5 am.
I had to go on the radio thenext morning we start at 5 am.
Sean and I were having troublewith the old equipment they gave
us at Box 25, by the way.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
It was not the best.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
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 5Gconnection.
Well, that was a piece of junktoo.
So we're like well, let's pulloff at the nearest starbucks.
They have free wi-fi we triedin fort worth so.
(30:28):
but we have to get this videoback 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, Idon't know, 15, 20 minutes took
about six hours.
Sean and I are sitting atStarbucks.
Finally, somehow it worked out.
(30:49):
We got it there.
It was like old dial-upconnection because we had old
dial-up equipment, myron.
Somehow I assume you got it onthe air, myron, I got it on the
air.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
I remember that, I remember that.
I remember that All right.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
So somehow you get it .
Well then, sean and I, right,we got to get going.
I got to go to work and we'redriving Myron and we're hitting
construction and accidents and Imean I'm three hours away from
going on the air the nextmorning.
This is how long it took.
We missed the newscast, allthat stuff.
And Sean and I are driving.
(31:23):
We're both tired, we're likedude.
We got to pull over.
Pulled over take a nap.
The nearest exit was the GeneAutry, oklahoma exit.
We found whatever truck stop,god love those people was there.
That was the night I spentsleeping with Sean Clinch.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
For two hours Wow.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
In a Subaru.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
Then I had to get up.
We had two hours Go straight tothe radio show.
That was quite a night.
You Go straight to the radioshow.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
That was quite a night.
You were the big spoon in theSubaru.
Speaker 4 (32:04):
I don't know about that.
We had to get some shut-eye.
We weren't going to make it.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
That's a lot of stories we told.
I mean because first off inthose days getting video back
was a little bit hard.
Some of the things you have todo to get stories back was
pretty entertaining stuff.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Remember Baylor in 2008?
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Yeah, Baylor 2008.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
And wait at old Floyd .
Casey Stadium that was my firstoh yeah, oh yeah, I remember
that.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I remember.
I remember where we, oh, wewere covering the Big 12
basketball tournament and I hadtalked a lady at CNN, a lady at
CNN.
I had talked her into allowingus to feed back on what was the
tab called Special something.
(32:59):
I forgot what it was.
Basically, it was free, but wehad to go to the Fox station in
Kansas city.
Yes, and we go there and we hadto knock on a door.
This old guy comes out, he hasa string, this cable back from
master control, which is whereeverything is run people, that's
kind of the brains of the of atv station this long black cord,
(33:20):
and hook it up and in all thesecases you just barely get the
stuff back.
And it was like it was.
I mean, the things you would doto get video back was just
amazing, unreal.
I mean, I don't know, it's justsome stuff that goes on, that
you know the things you wouldhave to do to Behind the scenes,
(33:42):
who you have to talk to, whoyou'd have to, you know, grease
their palm a little bit, saygood things about them, you know
.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Yeah, I do remember having some issues in Memphis
during that 2011 run you and Iboth trying to get packages or
stories back and it took alittle while from that hotel but
not as bad as Baylor andeverything else.
Speaker 3 (34:07):
How about?
Here's one.
We're in Washington covering OUWashington football in Seattle.
For some reason, my flight,they booked me on something
screwed up and they wouldn'ttake my ticket.
I don't know this.
One of us had to get backbecause we had all the video and
(34:28):
all the stories about OUbeating Seattle.
I said, well, well, sean, yougot to get back.
So sean flew back.
I had to fly back on standbyand 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 (34:54):
St Louis to.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Dallas, Dallas to Oklahoma City, and if you've
ever phoned standby, it was likeyou don't really know if you're
going to stay on the flight ornot, because you're sitting
there until they close the door.
At any moment they might saysorry, sir, you've got to get up
, this is so-and-so seat, and soI'm at every stop I saying,
(35:16):
well, I could sleep there, youknow?
I mean it's like in theterminal.
I'm thinking where I couldcrash.
And then when I get on theplane, like close the door,
close the door, close the door.
Oh that door.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
I think I got back like one o'clock in the morning
oh, I do remember this because Ihad to do the Sunday show.
The other thing about that tripto Seattle if you remember one
of the pins that engage these sothose cameras have big block
batteries the pin engaging withthe camera fell off somewhere on
(35:47):
the plane so we had no power.
I shot nothing.
I had to borrow a battery froma.
Speaker 4 (35:54):
Seattle affiliate.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
I got the second half .
Matter of fact, we barely goton that Friday before for a live
shot right before Just barelygot on out in front of the
stadium.
That was a beautiful place,Beautiful Husky Stadium.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
The Puget Sound, I guess is right there, beautiful.
We didn't have time to go eatat the fish market, but we saw
it, we saw it, we were there, wehad a couple hours rest,
beautiful man.
We've got a lot of stories, butI love these guys.
These are Fox bros for life.
But we're going to take a quickbreak and on the other side
(36:34):
it's real quick, real quick, andI lied to these guys we were
going to have a 30-minuteepisode, but on the other side
we're going to tell you, we'regoing to talk a little bit and
kind of paint the picture of howamazing Oklahoma City Thunder
home games really are.
That's on the other side.
The Saxton name resonates inAustin, jim's late father.
(36:57):
James Saxton is a Longhornlegend, a Heisman finalist while
playing for Darryl K Royal, andJimmy is a UT football legacy
from Westlake.
He has been insuring Austin fordecades.
He and his staff will give youold school hospitality when
servicing your insurance needs.
Ojc, ojc, OJC, ojc, ojc.
(37:25):
Not gonna lie, gentlemen, Imiss that Even, as when we
(37:48):
worked those games, thoseThunder games, and we had seats
either at the top, near the roof, or I'm hustling, getting
pregame interviews or not even.
But what is it real quick?
Beginning with Myra, what is itabout that crowd?
Now, we've all three seen greatcrowds elsewhere around the NBA
(38:10):
.
Memphis was great.
We know Indiana has a great fanbase, but why is it that OKC
fans?
It's just different compared tothe rest of the NBA.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Well, I've always felt that when the team got
there first off, it's the onlyprofessional in terms of, you
know, like big league team thatOklahoma City has, in terms of,
you know, like big league teamthat Oklahoma City has, and I've
always felt that people took itpersonally to want to make it
successful.
It's the only thing that OU andOSU fans agree on.
(38:45):
If OU wins a big bowl game, ournational championship, osu fans
are not happy about that.
Same thing, if OSU you know, ifthey went a big, you know, go
deep in the tournament inbasketball or something like
they won a bowl game, OU fansaren't celebrating that either.
But they all agree on thethunder.
And I've said this before, I'vebeen to every arena but I've
(39:07):
been to most and I haven't heardany word louder.
And I wonder, when, the nextmorning, when people have to go
to work like you know, it's aWednesday game or something they
got to go to work how can thesepeople talk?
Because they're making noiseconstantly before the game,
during the game.
Of course, nba finals it's evenanother level.
(39:28):
So I wonder how they talk thenext morning.
But it is an insane environmentthat the players appreciate and
even the opposing team theyrecognize.
It's a very tough place to winOne because the Thunder's good,
but also the fans give them agreat home court.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
I couldn't agree more , curtis, your take on that.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
No, mine's 100%.
I've been to a couple arenas aswell, even during playoffs.
There's nothing like whathappens here, and I think what
Myron's talking about is right.
Not only is it, you know, youcan look at OU and OSU fans
coming together, it's a commonbond.
I mean the city.
(40:08):
I mean you know, sean, havinglived here, how much it grew
when you first came here to whenyou left.
From when you left to now, whatyear was it when you left, sean
?
Speaker 2 (40:21):
December, November of 2012.
Speaker 4 (40:24):
I mean, think about that, myron, how much the city's
changed in the last 13 years.
You've had a lot of people moveinto the community that have no
affiliation with OU or OSU,because of business.
I mean we've had a lot ofeconomic boom here and that's
their way to identify with thecity and their new place.
There's so many people thatcome from all walks of life that
(40:48):
have this common bond and thecity has grown with the team.
The team is part of the growthof the city and I think that's
attracted business, attractedpeople living here, quality of
life, all that stuff.
I'm sure fans of San Antoniofeel that way.
With the Spurs there's some, youknow, community involved.
You know it's kind of like theGreen Bay Packers You've heard
(41:09):
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 andMyron can do the same thing it's
easy to say we want the Thunderto win, you know, and you can
be upset when they lose If it'sOU or OSU.
Of course you want the localteams to do well, but you also
(41:32):
got to watch what you say everynow and then.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
You can't be picking spots.
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Yeah, that's right.
That's a good way to put it.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I love that.
It is unique, I will say DallasMavericks.
Although passionate, nowhereclose to the decibels.
Sustained noise at.
American Airlines, the Spurs,it's close, very close.
Houston not a chance, not achance.
(41:59):
There's nothing, nothing butMemphis.
That was Myron, that was apretty good atmosphere there.
But OKC, very, very specialplace.
Real quick predictions, myron.
Tonight, game six, what happens?
Speaker 3 (42:18):
Oh man, I'm superstitious.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
I believe in basketball gods.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
I mean I really do.
You know now I've said allalong I think the Thunder is a
better team, right, and before Isaid six.
So I guess I'll stay with thatman, indiana.
They put up a better fight thanI thought they would.
If it ends in six tonight, it'sgoing to be a tough six.
(42:47):
It's not like, oh, they won acouple games and the Thunder
just no.
Every one of the games they'vewon has been a dogfight.
But I'll begrudgingly saythey're going to find a way.
I want them to, because youknow fans, oh, it'd be great if
they won at home.
I'm like you, better try to getit as soon as you can.
Speaker 4 (43:14):
If you fight tooth and but get tonight.
Curtis man, yeah, for the lastweek and a half, I've said it's
going 7-7-7-7-7.
And the Thunder?
Somehow.
At one point I was worried theThunder was going to go down 3-1
, and who knows what wouldhappen.
They evened it up and I'mthinking this is definitely
going seven.
I don't know how anybody'sgoing to win.
(43:36):
On the other home court, theThunder took care of business in
game five.
The thing that makes me want tothink Thunder in six now,
though, is the Halliburton thing.
Again, I just told you, yeah, Ithink Indiana can rise up and
muster up one awesome effort.
I think Indiana can rise up andmuster up one awesome effort.
My gut tells me maybe theThunder smell what's about to
(44:00):
happen.
It's sharks and the blood inthe water, the whole thing.
I think they might get it done.
I think it's going to be agreat game.
My hunch and I'm like Myron getit over with.
Don't mess around with the homecourt celebration.
No, no, no, no.
You take it.
Ask the people, take a timemachine, go back to 2012.
They'll take it any way theycan get it.
(44:21):
I think they get it done in sixnow.
Hey Ben, tell me something good.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
Well, hey, we've been going from the bottom to the
top.
I sounded like drake for aminute.
Um just realize that, curtis,there's so much negativity in
this world, but a lot ofpositivity.
When you're talking about thenba finals and the thunder and
that wonderful city, you twocall home.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
Um tell me something good, my brother well, I Well,
I'll tell you this, sean, I'mjust going to point it right
back to you, my brother, you aremaybe the most positive person
I know.
So I'm here to tell theaudience, thankful for your
friendship and always keeping asmile on your face, always a
(45:10):
laugh from Sean, I mean Myroncan attest the newsroom was
never a dull moment when SeanClinch walked in that door.
That is definitely true In manyways many ways, more ways than
I can count.
There you go, Sean.
Speaker 3 (45:26):
What ways you can say .
Everybody remembers Sean.
Nobody says Sean Clinch I neverget it.
Everybody remembers Sean.
Nobody says Sean, I never getit.
You have a way of making alasting impression.
Speaker 2 (45:42):
I am so grateful that's a blessing, man a
positive thing is sports.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
I mean, we all do sports and grew up playing
sports and everything else.
And you know, I did news for awhile.
I tell people I did news and itwas actually easier than sports
, because a lot of people do alot 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
(46:10):
right down to it it's not lifeor death, but it is something
that we've all grown up to beable to do and I appreciate that
Sports entertains us and playsan important role in our lives.
So for those who listen to usyou, sean, and me encouraging
everybody else we've been luckyto do what we do.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
Yeah, there is no doubt We've had a blessed life.
And then you too, man, workingwith you guys and, to this day,
calling your brothers andfriends, that means a lot, a lot
to me, man.
I appreciate you guys being apart of this today.
Thank you, dude, appreciate ityeah, absolutely, and you know,
hopefully I can clear theschedule and not to jinx
(46:54):
anything tonight, but hopefullyI get up there to either see do
I dare say it get up there tosee game seven or a.
Nba title championship paradein Oklahoma City.
Speaker 4 (47:10):
We'll save a spot on the float for you, Sean.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Oh man, please, hey, is that burlap Speedo still Can
I wear that?
Speaker 1 (47:19):
Hey, if the Thunder get another, if you're not on a
picture.
Speaker 4 (47:23):
I can say if the Thunder get another win, fans
won't care what you wear.
Speaker 3 (47:27):
They just want to win .
Yeah, they want to win.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
That's absolutely man .
So, hey, hey, all I can say isnow because I don't really cover
them, I'm not a, uh, aprofessional media member
thunder up much love to okc andwhat you guys did for me and and
provided me a great life there.
You know, and and and for you,myron patton and curtis
(47:51):
fitzpatrick and your families.
Much love to you guys.
So whenever you get a chance totalk 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.
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