Oglebating: To Boo or Not to Boo James Harden

Well, this is awkward.

Nearly one month after being dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Martin will face his former team, the Houston Rockets, tonight at Chesapeake Arena.

Okay, so that's not the storyline at all. You know what it is. James Harden is making his highly anticipated return to Oklahoma City. Obviously, there's a lot of discussion surrounding this event. People want to know how the Oklahoma City will fans treat the beardgrower. Will they cheer and applaud, or boo and hiss?

Marisa and I tackle the issue in a special edition of "Oglebating: To Boo or Not to Boo James Harden." Check out our positions and vote for how you feel after the jump.

Patrick: Boo

I think this is a simple decision. Boo tonight and boo unmercifully. Here are three reasons why:

He's a greedy multi-millionaire who abandoned Oklahoma City. Remember, the Thunder offered Harden a four-year $53-million offer ($13.5-million per year). Sure, he got a longer deal and couple more million per season with the Rockets, but he lied to everyone about wanting to stay in OKC and forced the Thunder to trade him. Who cares about his silky smooth play, the gigantic three against the Spurs, and all the other fond memories he left us with. He's a greedy, selfish professional athlete who burned the city that reared him so he could lease a slightly bigger yacht. 

Oh yeah, he broke up a potential dynasty. Sure, as long as the Thunder have a healthy Kevin Durant they're always going to be on the verge of a potential dynasty, but with a lineup of KD, Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka, Berry's Boomers were all but guaranteed repeat visits to the NBA Finals.

We're going to miss out on a half-dozen Jenni Carlson columns criticizing his character. Oh well, maybe she'll make up for it by writing a weekly column praising Johnny Suckball (Landry Jones).

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Marisa: Not to Boo

So, James Harden is coming back to Oklahoma City after tearing our hearts out like a Mortal Kombat fatality just one month ago. We all feel hurt and still cry ourselves to sleep sometimes. Perk’s new goatee isn’t enough to sate our beard lusts and the rest of the Thunder isn’t old enough to have even started shaving yet. But, please, readers, I implore you, do not boo the beard. Sure, he left us, but we’re better than that. Need I remind you of the parable of the Prodigal Son? I sure hope not, because I’m not a Christian and I only really know the name of the parable, not the story, but I’m sure it applies here.

Let’s be good sports tonight. Think about all the times the Clippers come to Oklahoma City and how we cheer like crazy for Blake Griffin. He left Oklahoma too, though perhaps on better and much different terms than did our Beard. Either way, Harden was a great member of the team and brought honor and pride to our great city. Let us not begrudge him a heartfelt welcome simply because we’re bitter. Think of all the good that has come out of that trade! We now have K-Mart who’s pretty good at basketball, and Jeremy Lamb, who doesn’t get that much playing time because most of the games take place after his bedtime. Regardless, no booing. Mr. Harden is now a Houston resident, and living in that Hell hole is punishment enough.

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Anyway, screw what we think. How do you feel about this?

Vote below and/or leave a comment: