Ode to Kevin Durant.

Confession: I like to mother athletes.

Example #1 — At the beginning of the BYU basketball season when Steve told me all about the boys on the team this year, where they were from, their backgrounds, etc., he mentioned that Jimmer was from New York. As the season started, I felt bad for him that his family didn't get to come see him play much, that he had no family around to support him and certainly no family Sunday dinners. It was heartbreaking to see other players filling the family section of the stands with extended family and spouses while some players didn't have family in attendance

(or not that I knew of).

Example #2 — When rumors began circulating last year that the reason why O'Neill Chambers was kicked off the BYU football team was for hazing freshman quarterback Jake Heaps, I felt so bad for Jake Heaps. Poor kid, a freshman in college, away from home for the first time, eating in the Cannon Center. That poor kid. I was sure he needed someone to take care of him.

Example #3 — Kevin Durant's super skinny legs always have me worried he's going to collapse one of these days after a hard foul or jumpshot. He has acne that could use a little help, and he's just so young I seem to be worried about him anytime he plays.

I feel like he needs someone to stand up for him.

I never realized I mother athletes until Steve pointed it out recently.

I don't find my interest in sports to be about teams' records and successes,

but more about the players' lives, accomplishments and families.

Then I form an emotional connection with the teams.

This article certainly made my emotional connection to Kevin Durant and the Thunder even stronger.

Such a good article, definitely worth the read.

Steve loved the article too.

And actually when he first came across the article and read it out loud to me,

he even began to tear up.

Subsequently, the Pierce Family takes their Oklahoma City Thunder basketball very seriously these days. Steve has been a fan since they were the Seattle SuperSonics and, with the great players on the team now, it's impossible not to be a fan!

I seriously don't see how anyone can cheer against Kevin Durant.

He is such an incredible person,

still lives at home with his mom,

hangs out with the little kids in his neighborhood.

We could all learn a thing or two from him.

(except Lindsay, she's the only person who is allowed to cheer for the Mavs!)