Thunder Fan Petitioning To Change Name of Oklahoma Town from Durant to Westbrook
Oklahoma City Thunder fans are not taking Kevin Durant’s departure to the Golden State Warriors well. In the latest example of that, Ryan Nazari of Edmund, Oklahoma has begun a petition to change the name of Durant, Oklahoma to Westbrook. This is a real thing that’s actually happening.
The petition — not so cleverly named “Change the name of the City of Durant, OK to Westbrook, OK” — is aimed at Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin and the mayor of Durant, Stewart Hoffman.
The text of the petition is both funny and kind of sad. Check it out:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the great state of Oklahoma has been betrayed. As many of you know, Kevin Durant has left our state, torn out our hearts, and left our beloved Oklahoma City Thunder in depleted shape. All of this after even being offered a cabinet position for the State of Oklahoma. It is because of this heinous action that I believe the State of Oklahoma has a responsibility to change the name of the City of Durant to Westbrook, the man who is loyal, whom we believe in, and who will lead our team to glory. Yes, it is understood that the city Durant was not named after the evil Kevin Durant, but it is just another hideous reminder of what happened to our community. Support the Cause. #WestbrookOK"
Durant has a population if 15,856 and is located close to the Texas border in Bryan County. Dixon Durant is credited as the founder of the city, he opened the town’s first store in 1873. His family (last name pronounced Doo-Rant) immigrated to the southeastern part of Oklahoma in 1832.
Look, Thunder fans, I know you are still inconsolable after losing the best player in your franchise’s history, but it’s time to get over it. Dixon Durant and his family shouldn’t be punished because Kevin Durant hightailed it into the safety of Stephen Curry’s shadow.