Welcome to OKCThunderGround!

Well…so, the podcast owner and network parasite Tucker Carlson now asks all you white people who voted for Donald Trump in in 2024 to forgive him for lying to you about Donald Trump’s fitness for office.

This would be very amusing if the consequences weren’t so tragic for our nation as we witness the daily disgrace of our nation a notch lower every single day.

Me preaching to you at this point isn’t happening. If you were stupid enough to believe anything Tucker Carlson said or wrote that’s on you and your conscience… if you still have one. Additionally…if you’ve been stupid enough to ever embrace anything Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, or the late Charlie Kirk ever espoused, again, I’ll leave it to you evaluate all of this internally.

I’ve insulted you Trump fake Christians way too much on this blog already and it really in no way serves my spiritual journey as a Stage 4 cancer survivor who’s just waking up every morning and making the effort to be a better person in my own way. Trying to live the Golden Rule.

But I have to write this to you people…start reading books and if nothing else read the Wall Street Journal and the Christian Science Monitor instead of wasting your time on the likes of the people mentioned above.

I mean, Rupert Murdoch owns the Wall Street Journal and he should be proud of his ownership of that newspaper, while conversely he may very well rot in hell for what he’s done to America with Fox Network. But, hey, you know he and prodical son Lachlan both net a cool one billion dollars a year for what Fox Network does every single night to our country. It’s about the Murdoch family cash flow, baby.

Always know this about Little Tucker Carlson if you don’t watch the above video… he worked for Bill Kristol at the Daily Standard and they no longer speak. Bill Kristol was in a manner the successor to William F Buckley as the voice of conservatives. I doubt many of you even know who William F Buckley was or even know who George Will was so this paragraph was probably a complete waste of seventy-three words. Sigh.

After Carlson’s somewhat successful stinct as a magazine writer making $50,000 a year for Bill Kristol, Little Tucker decided his family needed more income so he then hosted a show on MSNBC. Then a show on PBS. Then the Crossfire show on CNN where he was eventually fired because Jon Stewart came on the show and just flat out dropped Tucker Carlson with a right cross which for a period of time seriously derailed Tucker’s career as a legiimate voice in American politics.

I mean, Jon Stewart called Tucker Carlson a thirty-five year-old dick wearing a little bow tie while pretending to be George Will. Probably even more classic than the Buckley-Gore Vidal fights on previous live telvision.

After this career disaster…Roger Ailes eventually hired Tucker Carlson as a rotating week-end part-time host at Fox and that’s where Carlson’s role stayed until Roger Ailes was fired for the sexual harrassment scandal at Fox.

And then came big boy Donald Trump down that escalator with third trophy wife Melania and the rest became history for our nation as Tucker Carslon somehow became Donald Trump’s Fox Network brain as Fox transitioned away from both Roger Ailes and sexual harrassment brother Bill O’Reilly.

If you think I’m making this up, I’m not. Research it tonight if you don’t have a strip bar or a Klan meeting to attend.

Anyway…in closing, Little Tucker Carlson is asking all you Trump fake Chrsitians to forgive him for lying to you about Donald Trump, and I’m guessing almost all of you will do just that because you apparently don’t know any better and haven’t ever read anything which might challenge your comfort zone.

Have a beautiful day, Oklahoma. If you get a chance maybe work on some additional funding for our stellar 50th ranked Oklahoma educational system.

Seriously, I’m praying for all us. You Trump people included. We’re all on the Titanic together at this point, if you haven’t fled the country to the Cayman Islands already.

Love and forgiveness always, Mike J.

Unless a healthy Mark Williams comes back for the Phoenix Suns and gives his team some semblance of a rim protector I see no need whatsoever to chronicle the OKC Thunder’s first round series versus the Phoenix Suns.

If Mark Williams comes back and the series becomes somewhat competitive to watch I’ll cover a few of the games. Otherwise I won’t be covering any Thunder games until Round 2 on America’s No. 1 NBA underground blog.

The Denver vs. Minnesota series has been clutch, as in both games fall under the NBA category of ‘clutch games’ decided in the final five minutes of play. Hence, I’ll recap Minnesota’s scintiilating Game 2 upset of the Nuggets at Denver last night which evened that series at one game apiece maybe tomorrow morning. Both games of this first round matchup have nbeen superb. The rest of NBA first round series…not as much depending on how the Detroit vs. Orlando series evolves.

But I do want to note on here Shai was deserving named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for clutch game performances this season.

I completely agree with the voters on this and I think it warrants Mike J playing his Superman video and not writing any unneeded words beyond…Congrats… Shai on a fabulous season, buddy.

Joyous eternal eternity, Mike J.

After a six day layoff it took the Nuggets a few minutes to get back in sync after an especially slow start from Nikola Jokic who almost had more turnovers than points in the first half inside of a raccous Ball Arena.

During that brief hybernation by Jokic the rest of the Nuggets led by Jamal Murray slowly but surely worked the game back in the favor of the now streaking and healthy Denver Nuggets. As is usually the case with the former champion Nuggets their offense primarily works through the two man game of Nikola and Jamal.

Jamal lead all scorers in this game with 30 points and was a game best for either team at +13. It was a Shai like Free-Throw Merchant game as Jamal went 15-15 at the line. The free throws were huge in that they kept Denver in the game until Jokic became un hybernated (word?) in the second half and displayed why he’s the best player in the league with a 25, 12, 13 triple double.

Remember this…both Shai and Jamal played for Coach Cal at Kentucky. These Kentucky guards in the league are special for certain. Both Canadians as well. Porter Moser needs to start recruting Canada…just MJ thinking out loud a bit as he just looked at the Sooners roster for next season off the Portal Tracker.

When Nikola the Big Bear gets going he’s virtually unstoppable and the best player in the league. But I did vote for Shai as the regular season MVP. These two guys are special and we can only hope as fervent NBA fans it’s an OKC vs. Denver Western Conference Final.

Hope Alex Caruso doesn’t get maimed this year from the Big Bear in that I’m fairly certain Big Bear still remembers that rugby match in Game 7 last spring when the apparently blind Scott Foster lost his whistle in the second period.

But there he is right now…on my screen…Scott Foster being allowed to ref yet again in these NBA Playoffs.

Coach David Adelman appears to have a fluid nine man rotation in place which from my view looked pretty darn good yesterday with Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson finally all healthy and rounding into the type of playoff shape I’ve been waiting to see all season to date from this team.

I would also add when Denver has to go those non-Jokic minutes with Tim Hardaway, Bruce Brown, Spencer Jones, and Jonas V with Jamal out there I thought they were solid yesterday for the most part.

As was the case last spring, Peyton Watson would appear to be the 10th man depending on the opponent and situation. There will be a time though when he’s needed once he’s totally healthy.

The Minnesota TWolves…they will go as far as Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle’s offensive production will take them. Yesterday AE went 7-19 and Julius went 7-16. Do the math…14-35 versus a dynamic offensive team like the Nuggets will get you a 116-105 Game 1 road loss. These two guys simply didn’t get it done.

Amazingly, my TWolve player of the game was Rudy Gobert who played one of the most nuanced offensive games I’ve ever witnessed from a guy I’ve described on here multiple times as an offensive slug. Rudy G went 8-9 from the field and scored 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds. It’s a shame the TWolves wasted that virtuoso performance on a double didgit Game 1 loss.

My Three Stars of the Game went…1 Jamal, 2 Big Bear, and 3 Aaron Gordon.

Game 2 on Monday night inside of Ball Arena.

Love and kindness always, MJ.

Well, that was an ugly ending to a miserable season for the Golden State Warriors. As if that needed to be written by a guy at the okcthunderground.com. I would say Steph needs to retire and pursue his dreams on the golf course.

Steph looked like a worn out, beaten up Warrior last night in the loss to the Suns. His body to me looks to be exhausted from getting the best defenders in the NBA beating up on him every single time he touches the basketball.

The Golden State dynasty is officially dead although in reality the funeral came in last year’s elimination exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round. As a huge Steph fan…I’m actually grateful his beaten up body does not have to be beaten up even worse by losing four games to the crazy physical Oklahoma City Thunder wing defenders.

With his incredible performance in Paris at the Summer Olympics when he saved Team USA in the Gold Medal game…he in my mind made the perfect exclamation ending to his increddible basketball career with that performance.

Know when to exit, Steph.

Now…I will add this though… a great deal of this is on the Warrior front office for flaming out on No. 2 lottery pick James Wiseman and No. 4 lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga.

In a world like the Oklahoma City Thunder have under Sam Presti…those two failures by the Warriors’ front office is a significant reason as to why the Warriors aren’t still a contender. Those two guys should have assimilated and grown into players who at the least should now have been in the top five rotation for Steve Kerr.

And where was Porzingus last night? If Chet is soft…WTF is the Unicorn…seriously?

So, in closing…if I were Steph’s Uncle MJ and he were asking for my advice… I’d say if you’re going to play another year it needs to be on a team which is a contender and doesn’t need you to carry the rest of the team. Maybe something like the role Ray Allen played for those two Miami Heat championship teams with LeBron and DWade.

Steph Curry…I love you. I fell in love with you when your Davidson team almost made it to the Final Four in that regional final opposite the Kansas Jayhawks.

I think you’re a better golfer than Michael Jordan as well. I think that MJ’s an overrated chucker on the course. MJ’s better than Charles Barkley for certain, but not in your league as far as golf goes. So…what Uncle Mike is saying here is…do what’s in your heart. You don’t owe the Warriors anything else at this point. They owe you for an incredible journey.

Follow your heart, kid.

Eternal love, Mike J

Great news for those of us in Sooner Nation looking ahead to next football season when the Sooners will once again have the toughest schedule in DI football.

This is actually massive for Brent Venables as I predict Owen along with John Mateer and Kip Lewis will be three of the OU captains next fall. You know…maybe Coach BV will even add crazy man edge rusher Taylor Wein into a captaincy role…we’ll have to see on that one.

It is ludicrous the inept NCAA pushed this matter with Owen Heinecke to the point of which they did. Owen PLAYED 15 MINUTES of lacrosse at Ohio State and his coach was supposed to have red-shirted him to save his year of eligibility.

Note to Owen…maybe you should sue Ohio State and the NCAA for punitive damages for the emotional hardship this has put you and family through. I know some lawyers.

In the Wild West World of current college athletics where NIL and the PORTAL have turned college football and basketball into Soddam and Gomarrah, (MJ’s been waitin’ for the right time to use that one with the NCAA) it is stunning this entity is still allowed to govern college athletics.

You younsters out there…google the Peter Principle. That’s what the leadership of the NCAA is. To be more exact…the Peter Principle on steroids. I used that once at a pathetic HOA meeting in Edmond and got applause from a raccous gathering.

Instead of wasting time on a petty deal like this on a kid who’s already earned his accounting degree and is working on his graduate business degree…one would think and hope the NCAA has much more important issues to address. Like maybe…changing the PORTAL to where the yearly exodus of players which takes place is changed to instill some pragmatic adult modifications.

Owen’s dad played at OU and Owen came to OU as a walkon after the lacrosse experience at Ohio State came to an end. Owen’s story from walkon to difference maker at OU was clearly one of the feel good stories in college football last season.

In closing…I’m thrilled for Owen and happy for our football team to have a role player turned difference maker as a role model for the younger players in the program.

Gotta go get some work done on the mini-ranch as storms are predicted in Deer Creek this afternoon.

Eternal love,

Mike J

I was wrong. The Warriors actually trailed the Clippers by thirteen points in the fourth period before their comeback. So…I wanted to correct that on my content excellent, traffic not so excellent NBA geopolitical, Oklahoma City cultural blog.

There’s always been this narrative in Oklahoma City that if Kevin Durant had stayed after the meltdown to the Warriors in 2016 after the 3-1 series blown lead…that Al Horford would have joined former college coach Billy Donovan the next season in OKC.

Of course…we know how that went. Both Draymond and Jerry West lured Kevin away because both correctly told Kevin he’d never win a single NBA championship with the mecurial Russell Westbrook as his point guard.

And as we all know, both Draymond and Jerry West were spot on. Kevin then went on to win back to back Finals MVPs for the Warriors while Russell proved Jerry West totally prescient by never getting to another conference finals depite playing with Paul George, James Harden again, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, James Harden again, Kawhi Leonard, and Nikola Jokic. Damn…Russ that’s just about every single generational player from this generation!

So why the f–k are these dumbass Thunder fans still booing Kevin is my rhetorical observation circa 2026?

And btw…I now know I can say f–k whenever the heck I feel the notion given Dimwit POTUS 47’s Easter message to the Christian world. I told you people…it only means Forced Unlawful Carnal Knowledge of which Dimwit POTUS 47 is an authority on the subject.

But enough of that… at least we know the Strait of Hormus is at a peaceful standstill now as opposed to the completely free and unencumbered passsage it was before Benjamin Netanyahu became POTUS 48 without an election even taking place.

But back to the trivia question… Did Al Horford ever play for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

And the answer is… yes.

During the Thunder’s miserable tanking season of 2020-21 when the Thunder went 22-50, Big Al Horford played in 28 games in OKC before leaving for the Boston Celtics where he went on to win an NBA championship to go along with his two NCAA ‘ships he won with Billy Donovan at Florida.

Al Horford’s numbers in those 28 games were 14.2 ppg, 6.7 rbpg, and 3.4 astpg.

So…if the Warriors can get past Phoenix on Friday night it would be a homecoming of sort for Al Horford.

That’s it for me today.

Eternal love as always,

Mike J

Like everyone else who loves the NBA Playoffs… I’m just chillin’ and taking in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Prime. All four of the first round games in the tournament have been excellent with very competitive games mixed with controversy and then a touch of Steph Curry Magic to close out the first round.

Okay…so I hope I have this right…Philly will be our No. 7 seed in the East and will take on Boston without Joel Embiid. Charlotte which should have had LaMelo Ball ejected with a Flagrant 2 vs. the Miami Heat will need to beat the Orlando Magic to play the 60-win Detroit Pistons.

As far as the Ball deal where his cheap play removed Miam’s best player Bam Adebayo from the game in the first half…it sucks for NBA fans. Because Spoelstra’s team would have added some interest perhaps to the East where a Detroit vs. Miami first round matchup could have been insightful to see how legit the Pistons will be in the upcoming days and weeks.

But it is what it is…although it’s unfathomable to me given how much time NBA refs waste with frivolous reviews that this crew DID NOT REVIEW THIS PLAY.

So now it’s Orlando vs.Charlotte for the right to play Cade Cunningham and the Pistons.

Portland somewhat surprised Phoenix and will now face the Spurs in the first round. Golden State came back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Clippers and advance to a winner take all game versus the Suns in Phoenix.

I know Steve Ballmer has more money than any human would ever need, but damn it would suck to be the owner of the LA Clippers. They always find a way to lose even with new players like Darius Garland and Ben Mathurin.

Kawhi has one year remaing on his deal so maybe with those three guys the Clippers can end the Steve Ballmer curse and do something of tangible consequence next season. So when you’re praying for our broken country…pray for the cursed LA Clippers as well. That 4th quarter up close of him late was brutal…like something you’d see from Suzie Wiles after a late night of Donald Trump social posting.

Given the way Steph, Draymond, Porzingus, Santos, Melton, and the ageless Al Horton performed in the fourth quarter…I would have say I’m picking the Warriors to win at Phoenix and punch their ticket for the right to play the defending champ Oklahoma City Thunder.

I’m not in any way going to think about an OKC-Golden State possible matchup until I see the Warriors win at Phoenix though.

I actually like the Play-In Tournament because it gives teams a chance for redemption if they were ravaged by injury in the regular season to get into the playoffs with two wins. And that premise is squarely in play for Steph, Draymond, and Porzingus as they rest in preparation for their game in Phoenix on Friday night which will be must see NBA Prime television.

In closing, having written all the above..I still only have six teams in my mind who can win the NBA Championship once we get down to sixteen teams. My top six goes in this order…1 OKC Thunder, 2 Denver Nuggets, 3 Boston Celtics, 4 San Antonio Spurs, 5 New York Knicks, and 6 the Detroit Pistons. My No. 7 wildcard is Minnesota. Can Anthony Edwards finally do it and figure some things out?

Me having the Spurs at No. 4 is something I’ll probably twist with a bit. We’ll see how it goes given it’s the first time in the playoffs for these youthful Spurs.

Hope you’re luvin’ the NBA post-season life ballin’ on Prime like Mikey J. is doing.

Eternal love,

MJ

What a great Sunday of golf at Augusta! This final round had about everything any golfing fan could want minus a Scottie Sheffler victory rally coming down the stretch.

I write that because I believe Scottie is the most popular golfer in the USA, while at time it seems to me Rory has taken some flack which to me is absurd.

Both of these guys are generationally GREAT golfers. Both minus injury will leave iconic legacies behind them. Rory in fact, was my father’s favorite golfer and I’m sure Dad has a smile on his face and a little extra bounce in his step this morning.

It appeared Rory had this Masters locked up after thirty-six holes when he birdied six of his last seven holes coming the stretch of the back nine. Rory had a six shot lead with a score of -12 after thirty-six holes.

Meanwhile…Trump’s personal LIV toadie Bryson DeChambleau tripled bogied his 36th hole to prematurely end his week-end missing the cut at +7. Not a great week-end for the Divine Pussy Grabber, as his Saudi tour boy embarassingly missed the cut and Pope Leo dissed him again and droped DPG dead in his tracks as far as approval ratings go.

Pope Leo > DVG…not even close.

But…to Rory’s credit after blowing his historic six shot lead after thirty-six holes in the third round…he steadied himself on Sunday with what I thought was some very smart golf minus his errant tee shot on the 18th which caused him to bogey the 72nd hole and only beat Scottie by one shot instead of two.

None of my young guys who I looked for to make a run in this Masters did much. Matthew Fitzpatrick, Goddrerup, and Viktor just never got going. It can happen. But on the other hand…Cam Young and Sam Burns seriously contended at times on Sunday and one would think both will eventually win a major.

Justin Rose…bless his heart. There he was again coming down the back nine on Sunday at Augusta with a reasonable chance to win, but he then missed two short you gotta make putts and once again came up short in his quest for a Green Jacket. I mean… I just wanted to reach into my flatscreen and give him a consolation hug for his dogged determination to win this tournament. Don’t give up, Justin.

So with Rory’s repeat he notched his 6th major title in his storied career to date and is the only golfer this season now with any chance to win a very improbable one season grand slam. Plus, Rory becomes only the fourth golfer in Masters history to repeat along with Jack, Nick Faldo, and the continually troubled Tiger Woods.

Dan Jenkins, buddy…I know you’re up there looking down on me this Monday morning. That’s the best I can do because No One measured up to you as far as golf scribes go. No one. I hope you’re well and maybe you could give a shout-out to my Dad.

Above…one of my favorite scenes from Dan’s iconic Dead Solid Perfect.

I’ll need to write about the Denver Nuggets surprising win over the Spurs yesterday in San Antonio some time either this evening or tomorrow.

God bless and congrats, Rory.

Mike J

Unless the Denver Nuggets can go into San Antonio and win their last game of the season last night’s B League 127-107 win over the OKC Thunder probably won’t mean much other than the Nuggets will have homecourt vs. the Houstons Rockets in the 4-5 matchup in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Amazingly…the LA Lakers have won their last two games and close with tanking Utah on Sunday. Unless the Nuggets can win at San Antonio or even try to win…they’ll end up in a tie with the Lakers. And double amazingly…back win the Lakers were healthy and the Nuggets weren’t LA won that series 2-1.

The Nuggets head to head this season versus the Rockets is 2-1. So…maybe, just maybe this will all workout with the four best rosters still available advancing to the Western Conference semi-finals. On my sheet right now after Denver’s 11th straight win last night my Western Conference most dangerous teams goes in this order…1 OKC Thunder, 2 Denver Nuggets, 3 San Antonio Spurs, and 4 Minnesota Timberwolves.

I know I’m giving Minnesota a bit of break, but they have been to the Western Conference Finals the two previous seasons and they still have a lineup with the addition of Ayo Dosunmu which would make me nervous as an opposing coach if Anthony Edwards can just grow up and become the player he should already be.

If you put Shai’s head and heart on top of Anthony’s body you’d have something even scarier than the now two-time MVP.

Just saying.

I love Shai’s outfit. What I wore at the destination wedding rehearsal dinner in Scottsdale was similar down to the gold chain. John Marshall boys wear gold chains too.

Like I’ve said on the blog before numerous times…you’ll never read me dogging Shai, Lu Dort, or Kenrich on my blog. I will not do that.

Congratulations on another great season, Shai. Dude…you carried these guys…literally. It’s time now for JDub, Chet, and Caruso to reciprocate.

In closing…I’m especially in a state of eternal calm as my recent blood lab frm Wednesday came back with a PSA of .055…the lowest yet in the Stage 4 journey. Trust me…going from 1,212 to .055 has been a journey.

With the grace of God, family, and friends, plus Dr Show and Dr. Lam….it worked out. I need a workout song for early Saturday morning. Don’t ever give up. Ever.

Love, Mike J

Well…it seems fitting that in an NBA season marked by historic DNPs the Thunder will sit Shai and nine other players tonight in Denver. The Thunder have the overall No. 1 seed in the bag and I’m to guess as well Shai probably has done enough to repeat as the regular season MVP.

Denver is precariously sitting in the No. 3 position with but a one game lead over both Houston and the LA Lakers. Looking at the standings in the West I would think the Nuggets would very much like to avoid dropping to No. 4 with the possibility of having to play the Thunder in the second round.

I have no idea how David Adelman and the Nuggets will play this tonight in regards to Jokic and Jamal Murray playing in this game. I woud guess Aaron Gordon for certain is a load management DNP.

To me…it would seem obvious they should play to simply hold onto that very tangible goal of No. 3 to avoid the Thunder for a round. If that’s not a tangible thing at all…then why would you have to date gone pretty much all in with the two Nugget stars and just shoot for the No. 6 seed where the grossly disappointing Minnesota TWolves now reside.

It’s all good for the Thunder right now, like the Iranians with the Strait or Hormuz..it’s the Thunder with all of the leverage over the rest of the league.

What a bummer…another possible marquee NBA game wiped off the slate this season.

I guess I’ll just chill and watch the second round of the Masters tonight on ESPN. That is one thing about golfers…it’s very rare we witness much load management. You have to give these guys credit that given all the torque they put on their spinal cord.

I wonder how many DNPs Chet would have as a PGA golfer?

Take care.

Love, Mike J