On newsstands tomorrow: Kevin Durant, Thabo Sefolosha and Nenad Krstic on SI cover

The Sports Illustrated cover - not a bad way to start the NBA season for Oklahoma City.

Kevin Durant will make his third appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated when the NBA Preview issue hits the newsstands tomorrow. His other covers were Feb. 19, 2007 and Oct. 28, 2008 (regional). Senior SI writer Lee Jenkins wrote the feature story in the issue, called Rolling Thunder.

An excerpt (from page 66 of the issue):

"The Ford Center is only a mile from the [Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum], but it is more closely connected than that. In the years following the bombing the political landscape in Oklahoma City underwent a radical shift. A traditionally conservative constituency voted for every tax initiative put on the ballot. It didn’t matter whether the initiative was for parks or sidewalks or an arena, Oklahoma City always voted to tax itself. ‘Every time,’ says Mayor Mick Cornett. ‘It was unprecedented.’ In March 2008, with the Sonics’ move hanging on the outcome, 62% of voters passed an initiative to extend a 1% sales tax that would pay for a $100 million renovation of the Ford Center and a $21 million practice facility. A month later they had their team, a chance to tell the nation they were back, in full throat."

Well, I know one person who will be trying to track down the mag tomorrow - me!

Thunder Up!