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TU alum Ruffin Thunderstruck
Published: 9/28/2009 5:30 PM
Last Modified: 9/28/2009 5:30 PM

The Oklahoma City Thunder won't play a regular season game in Tulsa. The franchise chose to name itself the Oklahoma City Thunder instead of the more all-inclusive Oklahoma Thunder.
Considering the aforementioned, do the franchise's actions indicate that the Thunder values Tulsa as a valued partner in the NBA business?
Just about a year ago, I wrote a column suggesting that if the Oklahoma City Thunder really wanted to be a statewide franchise, maybe the team should consider employing someone -- ideally, Michael Ruffin -- with Tulsa ties.
And, today, I am writing this: Thanks, guys.
The Thunder released its training camp roster today and one of three new additions is -- surprise! -- Ruffin, a 32-year-old former University of Tulsa player who has played for six NBA teams during a 414-game career.
What you really should know about Ruffin is that he's one of the smartest dudes in the league (at one point, he was considering going to vet school after his career ended; while in college, he had more critters than Elly Mae Clampett). And, bonus, he's one of the best guys you could ever have in a locker room. Thunder players should love him because he concentrates on defense and rebounding and won't be taking any shots away from Kevin Durant and his supporting cast.
Ruffin still must make the team, of course, but Tulsa now has two reasons on the roster to feel connected to the Thunder. Booker T. Washington alum Etan Thomas of Syracuse also is on the squad.




Reader Comments 2 Total
BLA (3 years ago)
Flippin awesome! I will probably now attend at least 1 Thunder game this year.
huricandeoro (3 years ago)
Well since they decided to show Tulsa the ultimate disrespect of scheduling the Thunder preseason game on the same night as Tulsa vs. Boise St. I will never attend a Thunder game. They can't be dumb enough to have done that on accident. The Boise game has been on the schedule forever and the thunder could have chosen any number of games to play at the BOK.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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