- Original Text (Rephrased English)
- Sam Presti and the Rise of the «Oklahoma Standard»
- The Team`s Service to the Community
- Richard Williams` Story and the Team`s Gratitude
- Oklahoma City`s Transformation and Future
- Oʻzbekcha Matn (Lotin alifbosida)
- Sem Presti va «Oklahoma Standarti»ning Yuksalishi
- Jamoaning Jamiyatga Xizmati
- Richard Uilyamsning Hikoyasi va Jamoaning Minnatdorchiligi
- Oklahoma Cityning Oʻzgarishi va Kelajagi
Original Text (Rephrased English)
Over 30 years ago, Kyle Genzer, then an eighth-grader, told his mother Jamie he loved her before she left for work in downtown Oklahoma City. A few hours later, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, where she worked, was bombed. Kyle initially thought the shaking was thunder. Jamie, a 32-year-old single mother of two, was among the 168 killed in the devastating act of domestic terrorism.
Now 44, Kyle visits the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. He stands before the Field of Empty Chairs, each representing a victim, including his mother Jamie. Smaller chairs commemorate the 15 children who died in the building`s daycare. The quiet of the memorial is only broken by water, and Kyle feels his mother`s presence there.
Six years ago, Kyle and his son Brendlee participated in the annual Remembrance Ceremony, reading names of victims. There they met Sam Presti, GM of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since the team`s arrival in 2008, Presti has made it mandatory for every player and staff member to tour the memorial. He believes it`s crucial for them to understand the 1995 tragedy, the city`s collective recovery known as the «Oklahoma Standard,» and how the team should embody these values.
For 17 years, the Thunder have maintained a deep connection to the memorial and the Oklahoma Standard, led by Presti. Players have formed bonds with survivors and first responders. Presti emphasizes that the Thunder`s presence in Oklahoma City is directly linked to the city`s resilient response and rebuilding efforts. Many current players were not alive during the bombing, yet their understanding and commitment to the story mean a great deal to those still affected by the tragedy. Kyle Genzer, expressing profound gratitude, states that true Oklahoma City residents understand this history, making them lifelong Thunder fans.
Sam Presti and the Rise of the «Oklahoma Standard»
In 1995, 18-year-old Sam Presti watched news of the bombing from Massachusetts, calling it a «stark reality.» Arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008 as the NBA`s second-youngest GM, he explored the city, including the memorial. He was particularly moved by journalist Tom Brokaw`s quote praising Oklahomans` resilience, goodness, and community spirit.
Inspired, Presti contacted Kari Watkins, CEO of the memorial museum, to establish a team tradition: all new Thunder personnel would tour the site. Nick Collison, a then 27-year-old Thunder forward, recalled how the memorial`s «Field of Empty Chairs» brought the tragedy`s statistics to life for him and his teammates. Watkins has since guided over 550 tours for Thunder players, staff, and families, with Presti consistently present, reinforcing the message: «You need to know and understand this story.» It has become a vital rite of passage for the team.
The memorial features a magazine cover of Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a special jersey designed in collaboration with the memorial. Players are deeply affected by the museum`s exhibits, especially the moment of the explosion and the faces of the 168 victims. Gilgeous-Alexander, now a father, finds the story profoundly moving, giving him a «sense of purpose» and connecting him to the community beyond just playing basketball. Isaiah Hartenstein, who joined the Thunder recently, was also deeply moved, particularly by the daycare exhibits after having his own child.
Hartenstein learned about the bombing`s immense scale and its impact on the city—hundreds of buildings damaged, one-third of the population knowing a victim. Yet, the story also highlighted the extraordinary «Oklahoma Standard» response: citizens rushing injured to hospitals, volunteers providing food and supplies, and rescue workers from across the nation receiving unwavering support without cost. This collective, compassionate effort, dubbed the «Oklahoma Standard» by national media, became the core foundation for the Oklahoma City Thunder`s identity.
The Team`s Service to the Community
The Oklahoma Standard is deeply ingrained in the Thunder`s brand and community engagement. Following a devastating tornado in Moore in 2013, the team and star Kevin Durant donated millions and helped with recovery, reflecting the «Oklahoma Standard.» For the bombing`s 20th anniversary, Presti led a campaign encouraging acts of service, honor, and kindness, with team staff and players placing flowers at the memorial. Recently, players like Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe attended First Responders Day, while Hartenstein recorded a video for survivors and is actively involved in numerous charitable initiatives, all embodying the team`s commitment to the community.
Nick Collison, «Mr. Thunder,» describes the Oklahoma Standard within the organization as «looking out for each other, taking care of people, being kind.» Presti explains that since 2008, the team has intentionally sought inspiration from the community`s history. He believes it`s for others to judge if the Thunder embodies the Oklahoma Standard, but their goal is to make Oklahomans proud by reflecting the state`s values.
Richard Williams` Story and the Team`s Gratitude
In November 2019, before a Thunder game, a special ceremony honored the families of the 168 victims. Judge Taylor addressed the families, emphasizing community support. The Thunder presented them with customized City Edition jerseys, inscribed with «Service Honor Kindness» and «We remember those who were changed forever,» and featuring emblems of the memorial, including the Survivor Tree. Richard Williams, a bombing survivor who lost 116 friends and colleagues, attended on behalf of a victim`s family. He recalled waking in a hospital, severely injured and covered in glass, only to learn days later the full horror of the attack.
Deeply moved by the ceremony, Williams` wife wrote to Presti, thanking him and mentioning their grandson Carson, a fan of both the Thunder and former player Russell Westbrook. Presti responded with a handwritten letter, thanking Williams and reaffirming the unique bond between the Thunder and the memorial, emphasizing the lessons to be learned. Williams, now battling throat cancer, still carries glass shards from the blast as a reminder. Despite his illness, he remains a dedicated Thunder fan, concluding with a defiant «Go Thunder.»
Oklahoma City`s Transformation and Future
Oklahoma City, historically marked by tragedies like the Osage murders and devastating tornadoes, was once seen as «a place where bad things happened.» Mayor David Holt notes its unique «birthday» from the 1889 land run, but by the early 90s, the city was «dead» after an oil bust. Former Mayor Mick Cornett initially struggled to change its image, as people still associated it primarily with the bombing. Despite efforts to attract a major league team, NBA Commissioner David Stern initially dismissed the idea.
However, Hurricane Katrina`s impact on New Orleans in 2005 led to the temporary relocation of the Hornets to Oklahoma City. Their success, with season tickets selling out quickly, put Oklahoma City on the NBA`s radar. Three years later, a local business group bought the Seattle SuperSonics and moved them, creating the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mayor Cornett insisted on «Oklahoma City» in the team`s name to solidify a new identity. Presti then intentionally used the bombing memorial and its lessons to forge a unique team culture, something Cornett found surprising and impactful.
Sam Presti`s impact on Oklahoma City is now widely recognized, leading to his induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. The city has seen remarkable growth and revitalization, from two downtown hotels in 1993 to 23 today, climbing to the 20th largest city in the U.S. It will host Olympic events and is planning the «Legends Tower,» a skyscraper symbolizing its statehood. U.S. News and World Report ranked it the «Best Big City to Live.» Voters overwhelmingly approved funding for a new $900 million arena for the Thunder, designed by Manica, known for iconic stadiums.
During discussions for the new arena`s design, Manica officials asked what Oklahoma City represented. The answers – «Resiliency,» «Unity,» «Community» – directly echoed the bombing`s aftermath and the city`s recovery. Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which mends broken pottery with gold to make it stronger, the designers envisioned the arena reflecting how Oklahoma City, shattered by the bombing, was rebuilt with the «gold» of its people to become more resilient. After touring the memorial, Manica`s team realized they were designing more than just a sports venue; they were designing an arena for the entire city, imbued with its powerful history.
The strong link between the Thunder and the memorial, fostered by Presti, serves as a crucial bridge connecting the city`s past and present.
Oʻzbekcha Matn (Lotin alifbosida)
30 yildan ko‘proq vaqt oldin, o‘shanda sakkizinchi sinf o‘quvchisi bo‘lgan Kayl Genzer, onasi Jeymiga Oklaxoma-Siti markazidagi ishiga ketayotganida uni sevishini aytadi. Bir necha soatdan keyin, onasi ishlagan Alfred P. Murra Federal binosi portlatiladi. Kayl dastlab yer silkinishini momaqaldiroq deb o‘ylaydi. Jeymi, ikki farzandning 32 yoshli yolg‘iz onasi, Amerikadagi uy terrorizmining halokatli harakatida halok bo‘lgan 168 kishi orasida edi.
Hozir 44 yoshda bo‘lgan Kayl Oklaxoma-Siti Milliy yodgorligi va muzeyiga tashrif buyuradi. U bo‘sh stullar maydoni oldida turibdi, har biri qurbonlardan birini, shu jumladan onasi Jeymini ham ifodalaydi. Kichik stullar binoning bolalar bog‘chasida halok bo‘lgan 15 bolaning xotirasini abadiylashtiradi. Yodgorlikning sukunatini faqat suvning shovqini buzadi va Kayl u yerda onasining borligini his qiladi.
Olti yil oldin, Kayl va uning o‘g‘li Brendli har yili o‘tkaziladigan Xotira marosimida ishtirok etib, qurbonlarning ismlarini o‘qiydilar. U yerda ular Oklaxoma-Siti Thunder jamoasining bosh menejeri Sem Prestini uchratadilar. Jamoaning 2008 yilda kelishidan boshlab, Presti har bir o‘yinchi va xodim uchun yodgorlikni ziyorat qilishni majburiy qilib qo‘ygan. Uning fikricha, jamoa 1995 yilgi fojiani, shaharning «Oklaxoma Standarti» nomi bilan tanilgan jamoaviy tiklanishini va jamoa bu qadriyatlarni qanday aks ettirishi kerakligini tushunishi juda muhimdir.
17 yil davomida Thunder jamoasi, Presti boshchiligida, yodgorlik va Oklaxoma Standarti bilan chuqur aloqani saqlab kelmoqda. O‘yinchilar omon qolganlar va birinchi yordamchilar bilan aloqalar o‘rnatganlar. Presti, Thunder jamoasining Oklaxoma-Siti shahrida mavjudligi shaharning barqaror javobi va qayta qurish sa’y-harakatlari bilan bevosita bog‘liqligini ta’kidlaydi. Ko‘pgina hozirgi o‘yinchilar portlash vaqtida hayotda bo‘lmaganlar, ammo ularning bu voqeani tushunishi va unga sodiqligi fojiadan haligacha azob chekayotganlar uchun katta ahamiyatga ega. Kayl Genzer chuqur minnatdorchilik bildirar ekan, Oklaxoma-Sitining haqiqiy aholisi bu tarixni tushunishini va bu ularni umrbod Thunder muxlislari qiladi, deydi.
Sem Presti va «Oklahoma Standarti»ning Yuksalishi
1995 yilda, 18 yoshli Sem Presti Massachusetsdan portlash haqidagi yangiliklarni tomosha qiladi va buni «dahshatli haqiqat» deb ataydi. 2008 yilda NBAning ikkinchi eng yosh bosh menejeri sifatida Oklaxoma-Sitiga kelganida, u shaharni, jumladan yodgorlikni ham ziyorat qiladi. U ayniqsa jurnalist Tom Brokouning oklaxomaliklarning matonati, mehmondo‘stligi va jamoaviy ruhini maqtagan iqtibosidan juda ta’sirlanadi.
Ruhlantirilgan Presti, yodgorlik muzeyi bosh direktori Kari Uotkins bilan bog‘lanib, jamoa an’anasini o‘rnatadi: barcha yangi Thunder xodimlari bu joyni ziyorat qilishadi. O‘shanda 27 yoshli Thunder hujumchisi Nik Kollison yodgorlikning «Bo‘sh stullar maydoni» fojia statistikalarini u va uning jamoadoshlari uchun qanday jonlantirganini eslaydi. Uotkins o‘shandan beri Thunder o‘yinchilari, xodimlari va oilalari uchun 550 dan ortiq ekskursiyalar o‘tkazgan, Presti doimiy ravishda ishtirok etib, shuni takrorlaydi: «Bu hikoyani bilishingiz va tushunishingiz kerak.» Bu jamoa uchun muhim bir odatga aylangan.
Yodgorlikda Thunder himoyachisi Shay Giljeus-Aleksandrning yodgorlik bilan hamkorlikda yaratilgan maxsus formadagi jurnali muqovasi ham joylashgan. O‘yinchilar muzey eksponatlari, ayniqsa portlash lahzasi va 168 qurbonning yuzlari chuqur ta’sir qiladi. Hozirda ota bo‘lgan Giljeus-Aleksandr bu hikoyani juda ta’sirli deb biladi, bu unga «maqsad hissi» beradi va uni basketbol o‘yinidan tashqari jamoaga bog‘laydi. Yaqinda Thunderga qo‘shilgan Isayya Xartenstayn ham, o‘z farzandi bo‘lganidan keyin ayniqsa bolalar bog‘chasi eksponatlaridan chuqur ta’sirlanadi.
Xartenstayn portlashning ulkan miqyosi va uning shaharga ta’siri — yuzlab shikastlangan binolar, aholining uchdan bir qismi qurbonni bilishi haqida bilib oladi. Biroq, hikoya favqulodda «Oklaxoma Standarti» javobini ham ta’kidlaydi: fuqarolar jarohatlanganlarni shifoxonalarga shoshilinch olib borishadi, ko‘ngillilar oziq-ovqat va materiallar bilan ta’minlaydilar, va butun mamlakatdan kelgan qutqaruvchilar hech qanday to‘lovsiz yordam oladilar. Milliy OAV tomonidan «Oklaxoma Standarti» deb nomlangan bu jamoaviy, mehr-shafqatli sa’y-harakatlar Oklaxoma-Siti Thunder jamoasining o‘ziga xosligining asosiy poydevoriga aylanadi.
Jamoaning Jamiyatga Xizmati
Oklaxoma Standarti Thunder brendi va jamoat ishtirokiga chuqur singdirilgan. 2013 yilda Murdagi halokatli tornadodan so‘ng, jamoa va yulduz Kevin Durant millionlab dollar xayriya qiladi va tiklanish ishlariga yordam beradi, bu «Oklaxoma Standarti»ni aks ettiradi. Portlashning 20 yilligi munosabati bilan Presti xizmat, sharaf va mehribonlik harakatlarini rag‘batlantiruvchi kampaniya o‘tkazadi, jamoa xodimlari va o‘yinchilari yodgorlikdagi 168 stulga gul qo‘yishadi. Yaqinda Jalen Uilyams va Isayya Jo kabi o‘yinchilar Birinchi yordamchilar kuni tadbirida ishtirok etishadi, Xartenstayn esa omon qolganlar uchun video yozib oladi va ko‘plab xayriya tashabbuslarida faol ishtirok etadi, bularning barchasi jamoaning jamiyatga bo‘lgan sadoqatini aks ettiradi.
«Mister Thunder» laqabli Nik Kollison «Oklaxoma Standarti»ni tashkilot ichida «bir-biriga g‘amxo‘rlik qilish, odamlarga yordam berish, mehribon bo‘lish» deb ta’riflaydi. Presti tushuntirishicha, 2008 yildan beri jamoa ataylab jamiyat tarixidan ilhom izlagan. Uning fikricha, Thunderning Oklaxoma Standartini o‘zida mujassam etganini boshqalar baholaydi, ammo ularning maqsadi oklaxomaliklarni o‘z jamoasidan faxrlantirishdir, shahar qadriyatlarini aks ettirib.
Richard Uilyamsning Hikoyasi va Jamoaning Minnatdorchiligi
2019 yil noyabr oyida, Thunder o‘yinidan oldin, 168 qurbon oilalarini sharaflash uchun maxsus marosim o‘tkaziladi. Sudya Teylor oilalarga murojaat qilib, jamiyat yordamini ta’kidlaydi. Thunder ularga maxsus «City Edition» formalarini sovg‘a qiladi, ularning ustiga «Xizmat Sharaf Mehr-shafqat» va «Biz abadiy o‘zgarganlarni eslaymiz» deb yozilgan bo‘lib, yodgorlikning ramzlari, jumladan, «Tirik qolgan daraxt» ham aks ettirilgan. 116 do‘sti va hamkasblarini yo‘qotgan portlashdan omon qolgan Richard Uilyams qurbonning oilasi nomidan ishtirok etadi. U kasalxona karavotida og‘ir yaralangan va shisha parchalari bilan qoplangan holda uyg‘onganini, bir necha kundan keyingina hujumning to‘liq dahshatini bilganini eslaydi.
Marosimdan chuqur ta’sirlangan Uilyamsning rafiqasi Prestiga xat yozadi, unga minnatdorchilik bildiradi va ularning nabirasi Karsonni eslatadi, u Thunder va sobiq o‘yinchi Rassell Vestbrukning muxlisi edi. Presti o‘z navbatida qo‘lyozma maktub bilan javob beradi, Uilyamsga minnatdorchilik bildiradi va Thunder hamda yodgorlik o‘rtasidagi noyob aloqani tasdiqlaydi, o‘rganilishi kerak bo‘lgan saboqlarni ta’kidlaydi. Uilyams, hozir tomoq saratoni bilan kurashayotgan Uilyams, portlashdan qolgan shisha parchalarini eslatma sifatida hali ham o‘zida saqlaydi. Kasalligiga qaramay, u sodiq Thunder muxlisi bo‘lib qoladi va qat’iyat bilan «Olg‘a Thunder» deya yakunlaydi.
Oklahoma Cityning Oʻzgarishi va Kelajagi
Oklaxoma-Siti, tarixan Osage qotilliklari va halokatli tornadolar kabi fojialar bilan belgilangan bo‘lib, bir paytlar «yomon narsalar sodir bo‘lgan joy» deb qaralgan. Mer Devid Holt uning 1889 yilgi yer yugurishidan kelib chiqqan noyob «tug‘ilgan kuni»ni qayd etadi, ammo 90-yillarning boshida neft tanqisligidan keyin shahar «o‘lik» holatda edi. Sobiq mer Mik Kornet dastlab uning imidjini o‘zgartirishga qiynaladi, chunki odamlar uni asosan portlash bilan bog‘lashardi. Katta ligada o‘ynaydigan jamoani jalb qilish harakatlariga qaramay, NBA komissari Devid Stern dastlab bu g‘oyani rad etadi.
Biroq, 2005 yilda Nyu-Orleanga «Katrina» to‘foni zarba berishi natijasida Hornets jamoasining vaqtincha Oklaxoma-Sitiga ko‘chirilishi ro‘y beradi. Mavsumiy chiptalarning tez sotilishi bilan ularning muvaffaqiyati Oklaxoma-Sitini NBA e’tiboriga oladi. Uch yildan so‘ng, mahalliy ishbilarmonlar guruhi Sietl Supersonicsni sotib oladi va uni Oklaxoma-Sitiga ko‘chiradi, shu tariqa Oklaxoma-Siti Thunder jamoasi tashkil etiladi. Mer Kornet yangi o‘ziga xoslikni mustahkamlash uchun jamoa nomida «Oklaxoma-Siti» so‘zini ishlatishni talab qiladi. Shundan so‘ng, Presti ataylab portlash yodgorligi va uning saboqlaridan foydalanib, noyob jamoa madaniyatini shakllantiradi, bu Kornet uchun kutilmagan va ta’sirchan bo‘ladi.
Sem Prestining Oklaxoma-Sitiga ta’siri hozirda keng e’tirof etilgan bo‘lib, u Oklaxoma Shon-sharaf zaliga kiritiladi. Shahar ajoyib o‘sish va jonlanishni ko‘rdi, 1993 yildagi ikkita markaziy mehmonxonadan hozirda 23 taga yetdi, AQShdagi 20-chi yirik shahar darajasiga ko‘tarildi. U Olimpiya o‘yinlariga mezbonlik qiladi va o‘zining davlat maqomini ifodalovchi «Afsonalar minorasi» nomli osmono‘par bino qurilishini rejalashtirmoqda. U.S. News and World Report uni «yashash uchun eng yaxshi yirik shahar» deb baholadi. Saylovchilar Thunder uchun Manika tomonidan loyihalashtirilgan, mashhur stadionlari bilan tanilgan yangi $900 millionlik arenani moliyalashtirishni katta ovoz bilan ma’qulladilar.
Yangi arenaning dizayni bo‘yicha muhokamalar chog‘ida Manika rasmiylari Oklaxoma-Siti nimani ifodalashini so‘radi. Javoblar – «Matonat», «Birlik», «Jamiyat» – portlashdan keyingi oqibatlar va shaharning tiklanishini bevosita aks ettirardi. Singan sopolni oltin bilan yopishtirib, uni avvalgisidan ham mustahkamroq qiladigan yapon san’ati Kintsugidan ilhomlangan dizaynerlar, arenani Oklaxoma-Siti portlash natijasida vayron bo‘lganidan keyin o‘z xalqining «oltini» bilan qanday qilib yanada matonatli qilib qayta qurilganini aks ettirishini ko‘zda tutdilar. Yodgorlikni ziyorat qilgandan so‘ng, Manika jamoasi ular shunchaki sport maydonchasi emas, balki butun shahar uchun, uning kuchli tarixi bilan sug‘orilgan arenani loyihalashtirayotganlarini tushunishdi.
Presti tomonidan qo‘llab-quvvatlangan Thunder va yodgorlik o‘rtasidagi mustahkam bog‘liqlik, shahar o‘tmishi va hozirgi o‘rtasidagi muhim ko‘prik vazifasini o‘taydi.
