Comments on: Video: “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez, not an Oklahoman, to sing national anthem before tonight’s Thunder vs. Heat NBA Finals Game 1

By: lsweet love

lsweet love — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 01:20:02 +0000

See what happens OKC. Do good and you will be blessed. But sorry too late. Good job and congratulatons to Miami Heat…OKC better luck next time/next year maybe??? And maybe try to be nice to all of out of state singers to sing the national anthem…

By: Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:13:59 +0000

That’s your Oklahoman pride…Thunder what? Heat is ON!

By: lsweet love

lsweet love — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:27:56 +0000

Now I know how Oklahomaans are…! I would never visit or
vacation in this state. Such very cold people. So narrow minded. Right now just by reading your post I feel not welcome if I ever go to OK. It’s not really a question of who will sing the anthem, it’s the question who will sing it the proper way. One nation, united we stand–but no-
One Nation, OK stand by itself. Just huge disappointment to such beautiful state.

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:05:48 +0000

Quoted from this blog:

“The pick of Sanchez … led to an outcry by many loyal Oklahoma music fans”

That is an exaggeration.

The people with any strong negative reaction to this are on the fringe of Oklahoma music and/or just people that think they act as the voice of a diverse group of musicans (most of whom wouldn’t touch the anthem or the NBA finals stage with a 100 foot pole.)

The fact that you choose to blog about it in such a fashion is borderline hyperbole.

You also say you that as a “faithful” Oklahoma music fan you are “disappointed” that they didn’t select an Oklahoman. This comes off as slightly pretentious: I am a Oklahoma music fan too… but am I unfaitful because I wasn’t disappointed that an Oklahoman didn’t perform it? What does it say about my support of Oklahoma music that I was excited that Jessica would perform?

Spoilers: it doesn’t say anything about my support of Oklahoma music… and that’s the real point here.

Also, for what it’s worth: get some thicker skin. You are blogging about the NBA finals, emotions will run high. No one wants to read a secondary rant where you accuse people of being lazy and that you totally aren’t racist. The vast majority of the folks reading this don’t think you are, so deal with it.

By: Blue

Blue — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:20:01 +0000

Jessica is welcome to Florida and sing the National Anthem, and ROCK IT the same way for the NBA in Oklahoma. That girl can SANGGGG!

By: pushmonk

pushmonk — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:46:44 +0000

Sooner-
Just stop. You obviously do not, and it seems you will not, understand this blog post.

By: Sooner

Sooner — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:55:23 +0000

My stance is that this is a GREAT opportunity to show the rest of the nation how hospitable and welcoming the state is to those who are invited and want to perform in front of them. Once announced, be gracious and welcome them. Fight your battles before and don’t drag the innocent talent down because you’ll end up being misinterpreted in this soundbyte culture we live in. You can see that what was meant to be a positive pov can turn sideways rather quickly. Or at least bring the topic up against a 16 year old that isn’t so well loved by the nation (and the world) at the moment whose father is currently overseas in the military. Just bad timing.

By: dgp

dgp — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:15:57 +0000

this article is preposterous! they actually have singers of any note from OK corral? dude, the twang twang twang doesn’t count. you’re lucky you get a TRUE talent to grace your state….one of the most inconsequential state in the US!

By: Okie Ex-pat

Okie Ex-pat — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:15:02 +0000

Maybe the “not an Oklahoman” line is a not-so-subtle AKA totally blatant way of pointing out that she’s NOT FROM OKLAHOMA. You people making this about race have got to be kidding me. This is Oklahoma’s chance to put its best face forward on the National stage, and yes, it seems most fitting that we would feature local artists doing a version of the National Anthem. It makes sense for a team that has done extremely well in the nation’s smallest NBA market to promote talent from their state; what’s good for the state is good for the Thunder and its future prospects. From Jabee to Samantha Crain to Wayne Coyne to even god-forsaken Carrie Underwood, who cares what color they are so long as we’re showcasing the talent that our great state has put forth.

By: hi

hi — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:54:14 +0000

I honestly hoped the talented Hanson brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma will sing in Game 1 of the NBA Finals!