"The Heartland vs Hollywood"

Well, this is a little dated, considering that the Lakers are now enjoying a 2 game lead in the Western Conference championship series against the Phoenix suns..however, a few weeks ago ..I did witness some magic in OKC..and wrote something about it ...I tried to get this posted in the Oklahoman, but the process didn't work...and even so ..it would have limited me to 250 words..but here it is
rayray


Last night I felt like I was watching a Disney fairy tale of sorts...or at
least...that’s what it felt like...All of the sudden the scene was not out of
a Disney movie...but in Downtown Oklahoma City, watching the OKC
Thunder dismantle the Los Angeles Lakers, to even the series at 2 games
a piece, in their best of 7, first round of the NBA western conference
playoffs......Hollywood...had to finally take notice of the Heartland....
Having lived in Dallas, for a few years from 2001-2007, I came to learn
a little about that area of the country, and traveled to OKC...several
times...I didn’t know much about the city, short of the tragedy 15 years
ago, that forever shaped their collective memories.. and... ours too
From an outsiders point of view, it seemed to me.... that OKC always
played 2nd fiddle to The Big D...
Yes... I had heard of Norman, Oklahoma, the home of the Sooners, and
the pride of all Oklahomans..
For as long as I can remember sports history.....that area has been
associated with being a college town, OU, not ever a Pro town...
That started to change after the city, temporarily housed the New Orleans
Hornets, after Hurricane Katrina.... and permanently welcomed the
Seattle Supersonics, who later became the OKC Thunder.
In many ways the Heartland and the values it embraces... has always
played 2nd fiddle to the glitz, glitter and falsetto world of
Hollywood...and anywhere... where there is no real meat on the bone....
Remember this was the backdrop for Steinbeck’s.... “The grapes of
wrath”, retelling the story of the famed dust bowl time of Oklahoman
history...or Gordon McRae’s lead role in the classic heartland film
musical...
In many ways, smaller market Cities, like OKC, and the sports teams
they house...... provides an uncanny ability of equalizing the playing
field...unifying a community....and in many ways.... unifying us all... as
a country....when we see triumph come out of tragedy, resurrecting the
spirit.....and above all, show us that we can come back even
stronger...like Jedi Knights..
It gave me such a sense of exhilaration, to see the Heartland collectively
collide with Hollywood and come out on top..
This town and its people has emerged from tragedy, rebuilt itself, and
has become a testament to the human spirit...and what it really means to
be forgiving.. We hurt for you, and we healed along with you...and now
we rejoice together... in this very special moment. Not only in Sports,
but in World history....
When all is said and done, you couldn’t write a better Hollywood
script.....one that many Oklahomans will love to retell..... and.. it
starts......
“Once upon a time, there was Thunder...” and God said.... “they played
real good...”