Have you ever been so enamored with your favorite sports team that you found yourself wishing that you could do something — anything — to ensure its success?
Meet Ben Parker, the 35-year-old former middle school and high school basketball coach and founder of WeLoveKD.com.
Parker — who described himself to USA TODAY Sports as "just a nerd born and raised in Oklahoma" — has supported the Oklahoma City Thunder since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2007. The team became one of the more beloved organizations in professional sports almost instantaneously, due in large part to superstar forward and 2013 MVP, Kevin Durant.
Durant is set to become the NBA's most sought after free agent once the period tips off on July 1, and Thunder Nation is doing everything in their power to keep him around for the long haul. Not just because he's a world-class talent on the court, but off the court, he's bigger than basketball. As an extremely active member of the community, the seven-time All-Star has focused on helping at-risk and underprivileged kids with generous donations and hands-on mentoring through his foundation.
That's where Parker comes in.
"I started hearing the rumors, obviously a couple of years back, what's gonna happen with KD? All that fun stuff," Parker told USA TODAY Sports, citing fan efforts from Washington D.C. and other areas to woo Durant. "People were campaigning way early. I started looking around, and I went, 'Man, where's the Oklahoma portion?'"
Ergo, the website was born. It launched as nothing more than a far-fetched ploy to persuade Durant's offseason decision making, but after it started to gain a following and fans from across the country reached out to show their support, Parker elevated his efforts to the next level.
He reenergized the website before the 2016 NBA playoffs with a new initiative: Raising money to benefit Oklahoma's youth.
In partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, Parker began to sell WeLoveKD merchandise — flags, shirts, hats, bumper stickers, pins — in exchange for donations to the organization. Now, just 23 days later, Parker's $10,000 goal that he once thought to be unreachable has been reached. And he's not finished yet.
"It's nuts. It's absolutely nuts," Parker said. "I'll be honest with you, I never thought that it would catch hold like this."
Jane Sutter, the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County, echoed Parker's enthusiasm.
"Ten thousand dollars is awesome," Sutter told USA TODAY Sports. "It wasn't expected. We will put it to good use, I promise you. I love that it's just a grassroots recognition of the difference an organization like Boys and Girls Club can make for kids and appreciation for what the Thunder have done for our community and for our kids as well."
Parker says he's not sure if Durant — who was practically raised at a Boys and Girls Club — has taken notice of the website yet, but regardless, it's evolved into something much bigger than basketball. Just like Durant himself.
"It's super fun, and it's cool to be able to help," Parker said. "It's just a cool deal, man."
A cool deal, indeed.
Follow AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK
