skyvue
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2008
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I attended my first Thunder game on Sunday (I was in OKC for my nephew's high school graduation). My dad and I had a great time, of course, given the win, but I was reminded of past discussions on this board regarding attendance at Sooner games and how some posters were convinced OU needed to try to make the game experience at LNC more like a Thunder game.
Now that I've attended a Thunder game, I'm speaking from firsthand experience in saying not just no, but H-E-double-toothpicks no.
The crowd was great, but the presentation, the overall experience, is a freaking assault on the senses. A constant stream of thumping bass-heavy music alternating with video clips from lame movie comedies, all with the volume cranked up to 11? The announcer screaming during the rare moments when the music and video weren't playing? No, thanks.
It was relentless. Like a hybrid of bad morning zoo radio and a rock concert (and lest anyone suggest I can't handle rock concerts, I've been to more rock shows than most of you will in your lifetimes). It's as if whoever programs all that crap is a pimply 14-year-old with a short attention span.
If college basketball ever does go down that rabbit hole, it'll be a rare day indeed that I attend a game. When I can't even turn to my father and have a conversation about the game -- and not just during the more exciting parts of the game but virtually throughout -- the intrusion of all the multimedia has gone too far.
The game itself ought to be enough. And if folks need all the extras in order to get pumped up for a game, then, bless their hearts, they're not really basketball fans. Because basketball was only a small part of what was going on at OKC Arena on Sunday.
It's like those posters who have defended Duck Vitale over the years, insisting he makes games more entertaining. Nonsense. A game doesn't need Vitale to be entertaining. And I feel about the music and video and screaming announcers and the steady stream of contests as I do about Vitale: The game's enough. All the other nonsense is just distraction intended for those who somehow aren't satisfied by the action on the court.
Now that I've attended a Thunder game, I'm speaking from firsthand experience in saying not just no, but H-E-double-toothpicks no.
The crowd was great, but the presentation, the overall experience, is a freaking assault on the senses. A constant stream of thumping bass-heavy music alternating with video clips from lame movie comedies, all with the volume cranked up to 11? The announcer screaming during the rare moments when the music and video weren't playing? No, thanks.
It was relentless. Like a hybrid of bad morning zoo radio and a rock concert (and lest anyone suggest I can't handle rock concerts, I've been to more rock shows than most of you will in your lifetimes). It's as if whoever programs all that crap is a pimply 14-year-old with a short attention span.
If college basketball ever does go down that rabbit hole, it'll be a rare day indeed that I attend a game. When I can't even turn to my father and have a conversation about the game -- and not just during the more exciting parts of the game but virtually throughout -- the intrusion of all the multimedia has gone too far.
The game itself ought to be enough. And if folks need all the extras in order to get pumped up for a game, then, bless their hearts, they're not really basketball fans. Because basketball was only a small part of what was going on at OKC Arena on Sunday.
It's like those posters who have defended Duck Vitale over the years, insisting he makes games more entertaining. Nonsense. A game doesn't need Vitale to be entertaining. And I feel about the music and video and screaming announcers and the steady stream of contests as I do about Vitale: The game's enough. All the other nonsense is just distraction intended for those who somehow aren't satisfied by the action on the court.
