Welcome to OKCThunderGround!

I finished this book last night and very much enjoyed it. I’m going to go work out and then come back later today and review the book. I would encourage every American who can read to take the time to read the book before our next election cycle. If this eliminates half of the Trump base…then so be it. That’s on you.’

………………….

This was a nice little book told in a folksy manner about the life of Harold Hamm. It’s a story about a poor kid from rural Oklahoma from a family of thirteen children who becomes the epitome of an oil and gas wildcatter who hits it extremely big.

I especially liked the book, being my son has now been in the oil and gas commodity and hedge aspect of energy for fourteen years. My son started at Devon and then took a job with a company in Denver at Antero Resources which is one of the largest publicly traded natural gas and LNG companies in the U.S.

I’m always eager to learn more about the oil and gas business, while improving my literacy on the subject.

I pretty much agree with Harold Hamm in this book. I think it’s foolish for the far left wing of the Democratic Party to strive to eliminate the American oil and gas business.

With the advent of horizontal drilling the U.S. has become the leading natural gas producing country in the world and could be the same with oil if the U.S. governement took a more broadened, pragmatic view of how to integrate the ‘somewhat’ efficent renewables with what we already have in place.

Harold and I agree that banning the burning of dirty coal around the world should be the first step in reducing the world’s carbon footprint.

Currently, the U.S. contributes 11% of the world’s carbom emissions while China and India lead the world in carbon release because they both use dirty coal as a means of creating their electricity needs.

It wasn’t that long ago the U.S was contributing 19% of he world’s carbon release. The U.S industry needs to continue to use every technology available to accelerate carbon recapture.

I think everyone, excepting the most ‘out there’ Trump supporters…pretty much agree climate change is a real thing and it is related to carbon emissions. To me…the most logical step for America would be to bring China and India on board using natural gas as their primary source of creating electricity.

There’s an anacronym used in the current American oil and gas business called ESG…which stands for Environmental Societal Governance. This is where the American oil and gas industry has to continue to not only educate Americans, but the rest of the world as well as we all work together in a pragmatic manner to reduce the world’s carbon emission levels, while at the same time not allowing the Democracies around the world to be held captive by dubious characters like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

This will take nuance and the far left wing in this country needs to come to terms with this fact unless they’re okay with diminishing many of the current luxuries enjoyed in America today by everyone. Possibly one, being democracy.

I don’t agree with Harold Hamm on Donald Trump. I believe that a country upwards of 330 million people…one would hope the Republican Party could come up with a more mature, pragmatic leader than Donald Trump.

Maybe Harold will change his mind. But I know I’m not changing my mind on this subject of POTUS 45.

In closing, let me use a verbatim quote by Harold as to what should be the American vision on oil and gas moving forward: pg. 244, paragraph 5.

‘Let’s quit pretending we have an energy strategy. ‘No more fossil fuels’ sure isn’t one. The energy transition and the use of oil and natural gas are not mutually exclusive.’

I would give Game Changer a thumbs up as a book I hope most Americans take the time to read.

MJ

The conference realignment dust has somewhat settled for the moment. Big 12 commish Brett Yormark has nudged the conference to sixteen teams with the recent additions of Colorado, Utah, Arizona State, and Arizona. For the time being, Gonzaga and U Conn will not be included in the Big 12 mix.

With OU and Texas headed to the SEC at the conclusion of this season, the Big 12 now stands at sixteen teams with the broadest geographical foot print of any of the Power 4 conferences left standing.

All things considered…I would think the eight original Big 12 teams have to be very pleased as to how the conference landed. I mean, from my view, this new Big 12 will be the third best football conference behind the SEC and the Big Ten with the ACC coming in fourth.

From a basketball standpoint, the Big 12 was already the toughest conference in the land and will remain as such with the additions of Houston, BYU, Cincy, and Utah. Basketball-wise…I would rank the conferences in this order…1 Big 12, 2 SEC, 3 ACC, and 4 Big Ten. The year in and year out hype as to Big 10 basketball is a joke. The Big Ten teams chronically underacheive in the tournament, yet always lead the way with the most teams invited to the Big Dance.

From a football standpoint, the additions of Utah, BYU, and UCF intrigue me….with the other five basically being inert filler. Don’t forget….the Utah Utes have been in back to back Rose Bowls and have one of the truly great coaches in college football in Kyle Whittingham.

As an OU fan, let me say this, if the thing with Brent Venables does not pan out…this new alignment of Big 12 football teams currently has six coaches I would seriously consider as replacements…. Kyle Whittingham, Chris Klieman, Sonny Dykes, Gus Malzahn, Dave Aranda, and Joey McGuire.

I can’t imagine Joe C ever having any interest whatsoever in Mike Gundy in that Mullet King is not into playing difficult schedules….pffft. There will be no room in the SEC for head coaches with the passive submissive gene. If I had been Boone…I would have fired Mike Gundy after the Florida State Kick-Off classic bullshit in 2012 and hired Todd Monken as my new coach then and there. But that’s just me.

UCF is the most intriguing member to me though beyond Utah. Don’t forget UCF has had recent success in playing in New Year’s Day Bowls and has a coach in Gus Malzahn who came within a few minutes of winning a national championship when he was at Auburn. Add to the fact, UCF has a huge enrollment and is right there in Florida amidst some of the most fertile high school football recruiting grounds in the nation.

As far as predicting how this season goes…I have not a clue. The Big 12 has 150 new players who have entered the league via the transfer portal. I do think though…it should be a great conference race with probably seven or eight teams having a chance to win the conference crown.

I in no way see Texas as a clear cut favorite despite all the usual Texas pre-season bullshit hype. When Texas actually does something in football….I’ll change that point of view.

Mike Gundy of all people at the Big 12 Media get together picked his own O State Cowboys to win the Big 12 this season. Whatever. Where was the hubris back in the Golden Ages of the Boone Pickens Renaissance when it was needed? Give me a break. Seriously.

From my view, K-State’s Chris Klieman and Utah’s Whittingham give the Big 12 two of the best unheralded coaches in the nation. They both consistently get the most out of their roster talent.

That’s it for me today.

I think I’ll do my OU football preseason outlook tomorrow.

Enjoy this mild weather day before the heat returns.

MJ

Whew, Mike’s Special Trump Mailbox is overflowing after my Trump Indictment piece. Since I seem to be pretty much healthy…I think I need to get the mailbox going again on here.

1 “Michael….darling. I love your blog. You are clearly one of the few American men I know who calls it like it is with Donalt.

Donalt…..is a pathetic, weak little man. Nothing at all like my very virile father, Vicktor. Everything you right on your courageous blog in regards to Donalt is the truth. I have no idea whatsoever how such a provocative, yet sensual man like yourself can live in godforsaken Oklahoma.

And you are spot on in that Kamala is an even bigger bitch than Hillary.

Hopefully, Donalt will be dead soon and my prenup ‘obligations’ will be fulfilled for the whole payment.

Let’s keep in touch in the event you yourself don’t die.”

Always, Melania

2 “Comrade, you are a very skilled blogger. I’m always looking for new people in America to help with our overall mission to Make Russia Great Again (MRGA). Your writings are intuitive and prescient. You know your history.

If my idiot little puppy dog Donald doesn’t win the election in 2024, I fear the Motherland will never be great again.

You are what the NY Times and weak Washington Post wish they could be.

Keep up the excellent work, Mikhail. My people will be reading for me and keeping me apprised of your writings.”

Helsinki forever.”

Sincerest regards, Vlad

3 “Mike, one of my coastal elite friends told me about this blog. I have to tell you…you knocked me to the floor with your takes on Daddy. Such strength and honesty is rarely if ever exhibited by men in the mainstream American fake news media.

Daddy has become senile and we know we need to lock him up or something. Your writing projects such strength….like I’m reading diologue from Sean Connery from a steamy Bond script. You must know… Jared is such a schlong and I’ve always had a thing for older men.

Hopefully, these people in Georgia will get a conviction of Daddy and solve all our problems.”

Keep in touch. Intrigued, Ivanka

That’s it for the mailbox this week. Sorry if I didn’t get to your letter.

MJ

Wow.

Seriously, wow. I was going to write this last night, but as I was scanning the Evil Empire….a.k.a. Fake News CNN… I noticed POTUS 45 was indeed indicted in Georgia for I believe sixteen different crimes on this most recent set or criminal acts.

If you’re in a Fantasy Presidential Criminal Activity League and you have Donald Trump over Richard Nixon…. I’d say you’re looking pretty good right now.

For those not up to date on the Trumpster Leaderboard update….this now puts Donald Trump at four different indictments in four different jurisdictions with an overall crime specific acts at +94. If you were playing the Trump Felony Over/Under bet at 75 it was an interesting day. I took the over. It was a terrible day for America, but pretty sweet for me.

Oh….to be a Christian evangelical or family values dude wearing a MAGA ball cap with an AK assault rifle under each arm. Color Mike boring.

Maybe if Donald Trump either murdered Stormy Daniels on a special Fox live telecast with Hannity or lynched Mike Pence in Iowa next week he could crest the five indictment marker and 115 unique criminal acts marker.

The GOP debate is next week while I’ll be in Colorado. Let me tell you how that will go….. pretty boring with the exception of Chris ‘ Kips Big Boy’ Christy go after POTUS 45 like an obese doberman going after a pork chop.

Trump will then take to Twitter and write something like….’Asa Hutchinson…boring. Will Heard… weaker than Little Marco Rubio. Chris Christy…too fat, even fatter than Oprah or Rosie O’Donnell.’

And Trump will continue to crest with the Richard Nixon Silent Majority crowd, the John Birchers, the KKK’ers, the Proud Boys, and the other whites in this country who’ve never read a book in their life or are making so much money they couldn’t give a shit about what Donald Trump does or doesn’t do.

So….Should Joe Biden run for a second term?

I would say no. Joe Biden is too old and his running mate is perceived as even bitchier than Hillary Clinton. Keep in mind, this comes from an ex-Republican and current Independent who would under no set of circumstances ever vote for Donald Trump for any office…let alone POTUS.

Add to the fact Hunter Biden is a greater political liability than Sarah Palin, Dan Quayle and Billy Carter combined. Hunter Biden’s story in no way makes Joe Biden appear either aspirational or inspirational.

So let’s pretend I’m Jimmy Carvelle and you called me for some advice on who would make a Dem ticket I could vote for in 2024.

Here’s my first list…. Admiral William McRaven, Hakeem Jeffries, Tim Ryan, Michael Bennett, Chris Coons, Cory Booker, Gretchen Witmer, and Tony Blinken.

That’s it for me today. I’m heading off to the OKC Healthy Living Wellness Center to attack the terrain bike, then play my solo basketball game I’ve devised to help my agility and endurance. No weight work today. I killed it yesterday.

I’ll be reporting from the Milwaukee debate next Tuesday before I head off to Colorado.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

MJ

I think what I’m going to do here on the highly acclaimed, award winning okcthunderground.com is go ahead and move my Michael Smerconish Question of the Week all the way over to Monday evening.

I have to be a realist, my Saturdays are about to be consumed with college football. My Sunday mornings are consumed with CBS’s Sunday Morning, then the first thirty minutes of Fareed (just to see what Putin, Trump, and Xi Jipeng are up to), and then Meet the Press with the usually disappointing Chuck Dodd. Man….I miss Timmy Russert.

So, like yesterday, I was going to do this week’s Question of the Week, but I got derailed watching Team U.S.A. beat Spain as my guy Austin Reaves continued his torrid, clutch play. Still hard to believe Sam Presti could have had Austin for a late second round pick and instead opted to waste his time with guards like Theo Maldon, Lindy Waters, and Ty Jerome. Sigh. Some things never change.

I went over to see the Daily Thunder message board after the game, the same board from which I have been banned for life from ever making another comment to the millenial, nilhist, minimalist, strung out rabble over there.

God bless those people…truly. My former protege…. Justin apparently is now in upper management over there. Good lord. Seriously. My PSA count is great, I don’t need the stress….so let me just take the Michelle Obama approach with these ‘people’ and say, “God bless the DT rabble….everyone of you.”

So… I’m too busy on the week-ends to do the Smerconish Question of the week….so I’m going to slot in the SQOTW on Monday evenings starting tonight.

My question this week is…. Should Joe Biden Seek a Second Term?

I’m now going to wotk out on the terrain bike, then work on the weights with Jerome and Earl.

Have a great Monday

Later

MJ

I’ve had a great week. Maybe my best week in a year or so. I’m literally getting stronger every day with my new holistic approach to living. I actually spent Wednesday in Tulsa at a mini swim party with my two grandchildren Robert (3) and Aubbie (2). It was a blast.

I think people around me are starting to believe me when I say I have every intention of beating or controlling cancer despite the horrific PSA count of 1212 back in March. I’m now swimming, plus messing around on the basketball court in addition to my terrain biking, weight work, and walking. I actually plan on riding my son’s terrain bike in Colorado in nine days when we visit Denver for a week.

I also plan on being on the slopes this ski season with Robert who got on skiis last season. I was a pretty decent skier… blacks and some lesser double diamond blacks. Nothing pretty as far as form, but pretty much fearless. You know, the grinder I truly am. I call my grandson Bad Little Dude when his parents aren’t looking. But while I was down …Bad Little Dude got a little cocky. My second run down the slopes… BLD will see nothing in front of him but Mike’s ass…if you know what I mean.

So….. it’s time for me to pivot somewhat and start writing more basketball, football, hockey, political, and healthy living content.

Before I do my Thunder All-Time Top Ten List…I felt as if I should put my Top Ten Seattle Super Sonic list on here so as I can compair the two and make my summation on which list is the strongest.

It’s clearly the Thunder, who still haven’t won anything, but I wanted to do it in this manner because it’s my blog. So there.

1 Gary Payton

2 Ray Allen

3 Shawn Kemp

4 Jack Sikma

5 Detlef Schremph

6 Spencer Haywood

7 Tom Chambers

8 Dennis Johnson

9 Downtown Freddie Brown

10 Dale Ellis

To me, Gary Payton was easily No. 1 on this list. I didn’t put Kevin Durant on the list primarly because in his two seasons in Seattle he was a rail thin rookie and second year player and was no where near the player he became in 2011.

As far as Ray Allen, I know, Ray Allen was a great Buck, a great Celtic, and even a great Heat at the end, but I put Ray on my list just to illustrate how much I respect the manner in which Gary Payton played basketball.

It’s ironic isn’t it though, in relation to Kevin Durant. In all likelihood, Kevin will end up in the top fifteen players of all-time and then become part owner of the new franchise in Seattle when Adam Silver finally does the right thing.

I’d also guess Kevin buys a home on Mercer Island just like Bill Russell did because I’d guess if you really got inside of Kevin’s head it was Bill Russell who he most respected as a man and a basketball player. Just a guess on my part.

This was cool. Congrats, Tony Parker. Love the new Timmy hair look. Timmy has become the black Bill Walton…just sayin’.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

MJ

For the first time in a while….. I just slept in and loafed today after taking my wife to the airport for her trip to Panama City. It was nice just sleeping as the thunderstorms rolled over the mini-Deer Creek ranch.

This is when I really miss Pauli. I need a dog. It’s been a year. I think maybe in two months….. I could possibly consider a dog. It’s a tough decision, you know, given the Stage 4 thing and all, but I’m feeling better about my outcome with every passing day.

My Mom and I are headed to Tulsa tomorrow to hang out with my two grandkids at a swimming get together at Elanie’s parents house. Robert is three. Aubrey is two. This will be the first time I’ve seen them swim together.

Robert is a pistol. Constant motion and chatter…just like his namesake, my father. Aubrey is the boss though. She has no problem whatsoever putting Robert in his place when he gets out of line.

He calls her, “Aubbie.” It’s adorable. But you put that kid on a soccer field in Washington Park in the midst of all the lit woke children of Denver…. and he becomes an assassin. He’s already on skates and skiis as well. He’s already been warned twice for checking in the little co-ed soccer league at Wash Park which is even more passive submissive extreme than the North Edmond Mother’s Rec Soccer League. He’ll be a marked pariah in no time.

Evidently, yesterday, after swimming all morning and doing other in constant motion things…Elaine tried to put both of the kids to sleep. Aubbie instantly fell asleep, but Robert popped right back up and said,”Mommy, I didn’t get my two hours of park time this morning. I need my park time.”

So…what are you are going to do? Elaine’s mom took Robert to the park and tried to wear him out. Jerome would love Robert. Just sayin’.

So for the first time in a while…I woke up sore this morning. I basically came out too strong and too fast on the terrain bike and wore myself down before even getting to the weight training part of my workout.

Earl admonished me for coming out too strong on the bike and preached to me about the art of proper breathing and pacing. Megan was nowhere to be seen.

With about thirty minutes left in my workout, Jerome comes over to me and says,”MJ, what’s the problem today? I’m not seeing that dog in you today.”

I shook my head and said, “I came out too fast on the bike. I’m dying. Plus, there’s no music playing in here today.”

He looked at me and said,”You’re right. I’ll go take care of that, and you need to get your ass in gear.”

A half minute later, he was back behind me saying, “Let’s go. Jerome needs to see that dog, MJ.”

So with Stevie Wonder blaring on the speakers…I finished strong.

So there, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Have a nice Wednesday and always try to be kind to others in these tumultuous times.

MJ

I’m going to do the Big 12 realignment piece later this week. Today, I wanted to write about Russell Westbrook.

Even though, at times, I’ve wanted to strangle Russell, in the end he has to be my favorite Thunder player ever with Nick at 2 and Kevin at 3.

Russell is clearly the Allen Iverson of this generation as a player, but as a person I love Russell.

Unless he’s fooled me… he’s a wonderful guy with his priorities in line. His devotion to his family and his inner circle are very similar to the way I’ve tried to approach my own journey through life.

I love the manner in which he was loyal to his teammates and to Sam Presti despite some of the things I’ve written on this blog.

I love the manner in which he has cared for his parents and his younger brother Ray.

I love the manner in which he values his own family. Russell and Kevin are exactly the same age as my son…..and I know what it feels like to be proud of your son in these crazy times in America.

I also love the fact he was kind to my guy Austin Reaves and took an undrafted player like Austin and helped AR become a well paid member of the NBA family. I’ve watched Austin closely since he transferred to OU from Wichita State and I’m truly touched how kind Russell was considering AR took his place in the Laker rotation.

As I morph myself in retirement…I’d actually like to be a volunteer on the Thunder Reading Bus or in one of Russell’s Reading Rooms. That would be a comfortable wheelhouse for me and I wouldn’t wear a Warriors’ jersey.

When you think it through…..Russell Westbrook has to be the greatest Thunder player of all-time despite the lack of a ring.

Question of the Week/

Was Harry S Truman justified in using the atomic bomb to bring World War II to an end?

I’ve read David McCullough’s excellent biography on Truman and now seen the movie Oppenheimer. The debate has never really been won by either side of the question.

If Truman hadn’t used the bomb….thousands of American young men would have been killed or wounded as the war dragged on in the Pacific. Add to the fact, there was Stalin and Russian troops in Berlin with American troops as well after the Germans surrendered.

Add to these facts…Truman had just ascended to the presidency by way of FDR’s death early in his fourth term. Truman was not at this point in any way considered a political heavyweight of any sort.

Here was this somewhat little known man from Independence, Missouri who never attended college making the toughest decision in contemporary American history.

Most people do not instantly remember Truman had by his side three of FDR’s most trusted advisor’s…. General Dwight Eisenhower, General George Marshall, and General Lucious Clay. If you want to know who were FDR’s most trusted advisors during WWII…google George Marshall and Lucious Clay. If you really want to learn about American policy at this time read the excellent biography written by Jean Edward-Smith in regards to General Lucious Clay.

All three of these men advised Truman to end the war. All three were much more prominent figures than Harry Truman.

Can you imagine the anguish of American parents if they later found out their sons had died in vain for no reason?

Can you imagine the difficulty Truman would have had explaining to Americans why he didn’t use the bomb after Japan’s unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941?

It’s easy here in the present to answer this question as no. None of us were sitting in Harry S Truman’s chair. None of us can possibly relate to the anguish he must have felt internally the rest of his life.

It’s an almost impossible question to answer.

But given all the considerations Truman faced…I would answer the question…yes.

I think my question next week will be.. Should Joe Biden Run for a Second Term?

Peace.

I’m kicking back today and enjoying the break in the mini-heat wave out here at the Deer Creek mini-ranch. I love it out here at the mini-ranch….it makes me feel like Reagan, Bush 43, or even LBJ. The Kennedys, Clinton, and President Obama never had a ranch. Just an observation.

A hard week, but a great week, as I took my physical rehab to a whole next level. Instead of walking at North Park yesterday, I went back to ‘my’ Health Wellness center and did my most grueling workout to date.

Thirty minutes on the terrain bike, then an hour on the weights with Jerome somewhat supervising. He’ll be my alpha on Mike’s Team over at the Wellness Center with Megan and Earl in support.

Jerome is uber competitive like Charity… which I like. Jerome early on noticed my intials are the same as Michael Jordan and is calling me MJ during the workouts….which I like as well.

“Damn…MJ, you got some dog in you like Michael.” I love that. Just sayin’.

So…I think moving forward I’ll do four days a week at the NW OKC Wellness Center and two days a week at North Park until the Beautiful People in North Edmond get the running trails back open at Mitch Park since they’ve been down pretty much all spring and summer. Sigh.

Sunday will be my kick back day and my Smerconish Sunday question of the week deal which I’ll deal with tonight in relation to the movie “Oppenheimer’ and Harry S. Truman’s decision to use the bomb.

My Sundays are usually a light breakfast, coffee, the Sunday news shows, some reading, an early dinner with either my Mom or my wife’s parents and just kicking back in general. Maybe a movie or something on Netflix. I believe if I’m correct the series Winning Time: The Story of Jerry Buss’s LA Lakers begins Year 2 tonight. I would suggest Sam Presti view this if he’s not already.

I finished the Herman Melville double novelette of Billy Budd and Benito Cereno. Given the very real possibility Donald Trump could somehow get elected again…I’m now reading Churchill’s ‘The Gathering Storm.’

Since Covid started…I’ve begun watching the Saturday Night Movie of the Week on Oklahoma’s PBS affilliate. Last night was a movie titled Love and Mercy which dealt with the life of Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys starring John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks. Whew…what a very dark film.

I knew Brian Wilson had some problems, but I had no idea he was Hunter Biden. So I’m closing this session with a Brian Wilson song so as that’s the guy I remember.