'Something' explains humble Thunder star
Something has made him this way. Something has made Durant probably the least pretentious megastar in pro basketball. He’d rather have a key to the gym than a key to the penthouse. It may sound clichéd, but he really is usually first to practice and last to leave. He’s not clamoring to take his talents to South Beach; instead, he just re-upped for five more years with Oklahoma City.
“Oklahoma City’s got a basketball team?” he was asked during another stroll in the mall one day.
“Yeah, we’re relatively new,” he answered.
It’s a riveting, revealing story. It’s an educational piece for anyone who wonders how Durant — and the Thunder — went from a 3-29 start just a few years ago to one of the elite teams in the NBA.
There’s just one major flaw.
This is GetReligion, so you may be able to guess what it is.
Religion ghosts haunt this piece throughout. The role of Durant’s Christian upbringing and the influence of faith in his life make cameo appearances in this story. But the writer never seriously examines either. In fact, he almost seems to go out of his way to avoid meaty discussion of the subject.
We find out that Durant’s mother took him to church on the weekends, but then the piece quickly makes a detour to weekdays at the rec center. We find out that Durant played high school basketball at the National Christian Academy, but then the piece quickly makes a detour to famous college coaches and free sneakers. We find out that Durant turned around a rough spot in his basketball career when he stopped snoring in church, but then the piece quickly makes a detour to, well, basketball statistics — with no explanation of how church benefited his playing.
You get the idea.
In a 5,000-word story, the writer can’t help but include a few quotes where Durant mentions God. But each time, God disappears as quickly as a fast break.
The closest the piece comes to getting religion is this, and even here, it misses the net by about half a court:
What’s made him this way is his soul. He recently purchased a 3,460-square-foot home in the upscale Gaillardia section of Oklahoma City. Just when he was reveling in the scale of it all, he began talking with one of community’s security guards.
The Oklahoma City bombing came up, and the guard mentioned he’d lost his wife in the explosion. Durant, who had a bible in his backpack, told the man he’d pray for him.
Route 66 Oklahoma - News
This time, the road to the NBA Finals goes through an oil field on Route 66. For the record, a few of us do have running water in this small town of 580000 people — 1.25 million if you count the entire metro area. As the Thunder play the Texas rival
The Old Route 66 Vegetable Farm run by Bob and Dorothy Harper is a fun place to visit. The owners have a truckload of enthusiasm for gardening and meeting folks who appreciate good, homegrown food. I don't think I've tasted better spinach in my life,
A return to the Route 66 Motor Speedway in Amarillo, Texas, is slated for Saturday, May 21, where the Day Motor Sports Southwest Region champion will be crowned and the next batch of drivers will be qualified for this year's Hunt for the USMTS Casey's
The measure directs that when funds become available, the Department of Transportation will create a shoulder lane for use by bicycle traffic on the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail. The measure's author, Arcadia Rep. Lewis Moore, says the new lane will
The 24-hour crackdown begins at midnight Thursday with the theme “Get Your 'Clicks' on Route 66.” High-visibility enforcement will take place from border to border on Oklahoma's 400 miles of SH 66, with saturation patrols and checkpoints at various
Oklahoma Route 66 Bike Trail signed into law « Route 66 News
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin today signed into a bill that creates a 90-mile Historic Route 66 Bike Trail from Sapulpa to Edmond.
House Bill 2049, introduced by Rep. Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia) and co-sponsored by Sen. Andrew Rice (D-Oklahoma City), passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate.
The law goes into effect on Nov. 1, although when the trail will be actually created remains unclear. Building a new bicycle shoulder along Oklahoma Highway 66 is “contingent on funds available.” However, a committee report noted that in the coming years, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation already is planning on shoulder improvements along that stretch of highway.
Moore also said private donations would defray the initial cost of the signs.
Moore, a cycling aficionado, said in an interview he wanted more bicycle trails in Oklahoma, and thought Oklahoma Route 66 would be an ideal spot for one.
UPDATE 5/13/2011: The Associated Pres s has a story about the new law. The story claims the bicycle trail will go from the Kansas state line to the Texas state line. However, the bill says the Historic Route 66 Bicycle Trail covers only Oklahoma Highway 66, which starts in Vinita and ends in El Reno — a distance of about 200 miles.
UPDATE 5/18/2011: An e-mail from Rep. Lewis Moore clarified that the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail does indeed go from the Kansas state line to the Texas state line. Earlier versions of the bill weren’t that extensive, but he was encouraged to expand its breadth by other legislators.
Moore added that he’d like “an organized, sponsored group ride take on the entire route. Could be great publicity. I am very excited about what we can do with the trail in the future.”
A proposal of a peddle bicycle trail which would parallel Route 66 a safe distance away from the sometimes narrow roadbed would be a more safe approach rather than considering to build a peddle bicycle lane along, and/or, near the shoulder of an exisiting 65mph highway. The Mother Road in the eastern half of Oklahoma is many times already congested enough as it is, especially during high traffic hours of the day, let alone to add more safety related peddle bicyclists to the flow of exisiting traffic who will have the need to contend with narrow bridges and roadway curves. In all actuality… why should Oklahoma citizens be spending precious tax dollars on such non-recoup projects??? It appears that Mary Fallin and Oklahoma’s legislature proposes to reduce the state’s deficit by cutting state education/schools tax funding, yet wishes to support projects such as building a peddle bicycle lane/path??? Absurd!!! Rather… how about keeping the tax funding at least the same, if not more, for our children’s schools and teachers, while spending what’s left over on Oklahoma’s “past due” bridges and roadway replacements. (Notice I mentioned “replacement” rather than the usual shoddy “patchwork repair” job)! Better pay for teachers… YES! Better schools for our children… YES! Better roadways for Route 66 travelers… YES! Spend some millions on a peddle bicycle lane/path… NO!!!
I'm at Route 66 - Oklahoma State Line 
Camping west of Oklahoma City. Tomorrow I embark on Route 66.
Once upon a Highway: Route 66 in Oklahoma (The New Forums Oklahoma Centennial Collectors' Series, V. 1): 
Ok, it's decided, I'm going to Oklahoma to film my documentary. Now I need to find the best route 66 diner to shoot in- suggestions?!
Route 66 1964 chevy impala police car oklahoma 1/18: humbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/380339179681_0.jpgUS $29.99 (0 Bid) End Route 66 Oklahoma - Bookshelf
Route 66, images of America's Main Street
Long before the birth of Route 66, the Round Barn was the main landmark in the vicinity of Arcadia, Oklahoma. The barn was constructed of burr oak from a ...Road Trip USA Route 66
Northeast Oklahoma: The Sidewalk Highway In the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma, old Route 66 runs through a hardscrabble former lead- and zinc-mining ...Oklahoma Route 66
Route 66, The Mother Road
"Oklahoma is where it's at as far as Route 66 goes," says Tcrrcncc Mcxjre, a southwestern photographer raised in a California orange grove right beside ...Route 66 Backroads, Your Guide to Scenic Side Trips & Adventures from the Mother Road
To explore Oklahoma, you can drive over four hundred miles of historic Route 66 or follow the legendary Chisholm Trail. Take a boat and explore 2500 miles ...Daily Info Directory
Oklahoma Route 66 Association
of Route 66. But only in Oklahoma do the elements of buildings, roadside attractions, people and history come together in such overwhelming abundance. ...
Amazon.com: Oklahoma Route 66 (9780967748122): Jim Ross: Books
Amazon.com: Oklahoma Route 66 (9780967748122): Jim Ross: Books ... "Oklahoma Route 66" is the ultimate tour book to the Sooner State's 400 miles of Mother Road. ...
U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The historic U.S. Route 66 ran from west to northeast across the U.S. state of Oklahoma, along the path now taken by Interstate 40 and State Highway ...
Oklahoma Route 66
Old Route 66 western interest historical site photo gallery. Take a journey down what's left of America's Mother Road
Route 66 Museum
Offering history, videos, displays, memorabilia, and collectibles.
