At 10:04 p.m. on May 10, 2012, I officially became an Oklahoma City Thunder fan.

To some, that date may just symbolize a regular Thursday night. They might have spent the night out on the town, enjoying the summer weather or cuddled up on a couch with the newest Redbox release.

For me, that night represents the day that the Chicago Bulls were knocked out of the NBA playoffs. In the days after, I still wasn’t ready to face the facts. I wandered around my house, donned in my Ben Wallace Chicago Bulls jersey, avoiding Sportscenter like the plague.

Whoever the god of basketball is, he obviously doesn’t like the Bulls (although I’m sure he’s jealous of Michael Jordan). However, time heals all wounds (even ACL tears), and I eventually emerged from my downward spiral, ready to love again.

Since that time, I’ve arduously followed Kevin Durant and company through an incredibly exciting semifinals series against the Lakers. So much so that when they officially won the series last night, the image of Derrick Rose writhing in pain on the United Center’s floor almost left my head (key word: “almost”).

Some may wonder why I chose the Thunder as my new team for the remainder of the playoffs. They might ask why I’d “choose a team that, up until a week ago, was a huge threat to the Bulls’ title hopes?”

My answer is simple: in this day and age, humility seems to have disappeared from sports altogether. To me, the Thunder represent specific ideals no longer existent in sports. The “Big Three” of OKC was not premeditated, but carefully planned and executed.

There were no celebrations when the stars of the Thunder were drafted- no promises of “not one, not two…” championship trophies, no banners raised or parties held. Instead, the Thunder have emerged as contenders for the NBA title through perseverance, fortitude and executive integrity.

Kevin Durant, who finished second in this season’s MVP voting, is never one to gloat or complain. He carries a humility that seems lost among today’s crop of professional athlete.

The story of Oklahoma City is reflective of this mindset. Most Americans probably could not even pinpoint it on a map. Prior to the team’s arrival in Oklahoma, mention of the city likely conjured references to Timothy McVeigh’s deadly bombing.

However, the Thunder have given new hope to a city plagued by tragedy, and residents across the state are embracing the team as a beacon of much-needed hope. The thousands of fans watching the game on a screen outside the Ford Center tonight are a testament to that fact.

Every so often, sports will represent something outside of rules, playbooks and uniforms. There are great sports stories, and then there are great stories which happen to involve sports. The rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder is undoubtedly the latter.

John Downen can be reached at [email protected] or 581-7942.