The Oklahoma City-Indiana NBA Finals haven’t been a ratings bonanza, but the series has developed into an interesting one through its first four games (although it appears Oklahoma City may have taken control with its win Friday night.)

At the time of this writing, the ratings for Game Four weren’t totally compiled, but the Game Three ratings were down 20 percent from the 2024 Game Three between the Celtics and Mavericks.

In 2024, the game drew 11.43 million viewers, while this year’s Game Three attracted 9.19 million.

In this version of the Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and sometimes before and beyond — I’ll look back at some Indiana and Oklahoma ties in sports, pop culture and within the Philly sports world.

Also, what city moved its franchise to Oklahoma City? What ex-Sixer played a prominent role in Indiana’s past? Did the Phillies ever have minor league teams in Oklahoma and Indiana? What colorful wrestler from Indiana once held the IHC and WWF belts at the same time? And who was the former Expos reliever who spent parts of the 1992 season with the Phillies and Mets?

Finally, what ex-Phillies manager once pitched in the minor leagues in Indiana?

Who Were They? ... Before they were the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were ... the Seattle Supersonics.

Seattle management couldn’t secure a new arena in their city, so they made the move to Oklahoma City in 2008.

Growing up, we all have our own memories of the Supersonics. For me, it was original members Don Smith — who became Zaid-Abdul-Aziz — Bob Rule and Spencer Haywood, along with the iconic Donald “Slick” Watts, known for his bald head and head band.

They won their lone NBA championship by defeating the Washington Bullets in five games, and it was one of the lowest rated series. Ironically, it was a rematch in which Washington won in seven games the previous year.

The Sonics’ 1979 team had finals’ MVP Dennis Johnson, Gus Williams, big-blond center Jack Sikma, veteran guard “Downtown” Freddie Brown, and ex-Sixer Dennis Awtrey. I also remember reserves Joe Hassett, Wally Walker, and ex-Knick Lonnie Shelton.

Lenny Wilkins, one of the smoothest scorers for the Sonics and Cavaliers (I was too young to remember the St. Louis Hawks), was their coach.

By the way, Wilkins — at age 87 — and Dick Motta, who coached the Bullets the following season and is 93, are the oldest living NBA coaches who have won titles.

Ex-Sixers who once played for the Sonics were Archie Clark, Bob Weiss, Mike Bantom, Hersey Hawkins, Gerald Henderson, Clemon Johnson and Sedale Threatt.

Go West, Young Phillies ... From 1976-1982, the Phillies’ Triple-A team was the Oklahoma City 89ers.

Their inaugural manager was legendary pitcher Jim Bunning, who produced a 72-63 record and a second-place finish in the American Association.

His roster featured Lonnie Smith, Randy Lerch, Dane Iorg, Jim Morrison and Rick Bosetti.

The following season, Cal Emery, Billy Connors, and Mike Ryan managed the team. Ryan also piloted the 1978 squad.

Former Phils’ skipper Lee Elia led the team to a 72-63 mark and lost in the league finals. Jim Snyder took over in 1980 and 1981. The next season, the club was led by the trio of Ron Clark, Cot Deal and former Phils’ second baseman Tony Taylor, and they combined for a 43-91 record in the final season as the Phillies’ affiliate.

Some of you old timers may remember the Phillies also had a Class “B” affiliate in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1946-54, and they also had a Class “D” team in Matton on which Dallas Green played in 1955. In 11 games and eight starts, Green was 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA with 85 strikeouts and 42 walks in 55 innings (That was an impressive strikeout ratio for Big D).

From America’s Crossroads to a Liberty Bell ... Several notable Phillies players were born in Indiana.

They are with their towns: Scott Rolen (Evansville), Chuck Klein (Indianapolis), Mickey Morandini (Chesterton), Kyle Gibson (Greenfield), Eric Bruntlett (Lafayette) and Jerad Eickhoff (Evansville).

Setting the Pace ... Indiana appears to be in a position to soon win an NBA title. However, they were a force in their old days in the ABA.

If you were an avid ABA fan like I was, you’ll know the names of George McGinnis, Roger Brown and Mel Daniels. Bobby “Slick” Leonard, a standout for the Minneapolis Lakers in the late 50s, was the coach for the championship teams.

They had a great run in the early 70s when they won titles in 1970, 1972 and 1973. Other players who come to mind are lanky center Rik Smits and guard Don Buse.

Another Classic Game ... In 1979, Lakeside — a major sports toy manufacturer in the day — released the Double Play Baseball Dice Game. It was a mini-sized dice game for two players.

There was a pitch dice for a ball or strike, one for you selected “Superstar,” and eight others for the rest of the lineup.

Unlike most of its contemporaries, this didn’t have electronics, and it could be played rather simply. There was a stadium backdrop.

Lakeside also created a football and basketball version.

On the Radio ... One of the first recollections that I had with “Indiana” in its title was R. Dean Taylor’s “Indiana Wants Me” from 1970. It was a song about a fugitive from Indiana.

Taylor’s hit was released in August and it rose to No. 6 on the Billboard 100 chart and topped the Cashbox chart.

An album with the state in its title was the Jackson 5’s “Going back to Indiana” which was their sixth album released on Sept. 29, 1970 and sold 2.6 million copies. It was taken from the ABC TV special of the same name nearly two weeks earlier.

The Jacksons’ TV special featured football stars Ben Davidson and Rosey Grier, and basketball standouts Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor and Elvin Hayes.

In 1985, John Mellencamp’s smash “Small Town” highlighted his time in Indiana towns Seymour and Bloomington. It was released in November 1985, and made it to No. 6 on the Billboard 100 chart and to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks.

Some of you may remember that Grier was a bodyguard for the late Robert F. Kennedy, and he subdued his assailant, Sirhan Sirhan, on the night of Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968.

On the Tube ... Over the years, there have been a handful of TV shows based in Indiana and Oklahoma.

In Indiana, “Family Affair (1966-71) supposedly was set in Terre Haute, the home of Uncle Bill. I’m sure you also recall Buffy, Jody, Sissy and, of course, Mr. French.

The F.B.I. (1965-74) had shows set in Indiana and Oklahoma City.

Two possible TV stumpers set in Oklahoma were westerns — Sugarfoot (1957-61) and Hec Ramsey (1972-74).

WWF/WWE Wrestling Wrap ... Every column, I’ll look back at a wrestler from our youth.

Do you remember The Ultimate Warrior?

Born James Brian Hellwig in Crawfordsville, Indiana, he spent time in the WWF from 1987-1992. Prior to his arrival, the colorful Ultimate Warrior worked in the Continental Wrestling Association, the Universal Wrestling Federation, and World Class Championship Wrestling.

A year after his debut in the WWF, the Warrior won the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (IHC) from the Honkey Tonk Man, and he was a two-time champion.

The Warrior then met WWF champion Hulk Hogan in Wrestlemania VI at Toronto’s SkyDome for the Ultimate Challenge in 1990, when both the WWF and IHC were on the line. The Warrior defeated Hogan and became the lone man to hold both titles.

A year later, the Warrior lost the WWF title to Sgt. Slaughter, who was helped by Randy “Macho Man” Savage. The Warrior and Savage met in a “Career-Ending “match in which the Warrior won.

The Warrior also had some memorable feuds with The Undertaker involving coffins and snakes. Through the years, the Warrior had been involved in various Wrestlemania and Summer Slam events, but he left the WWF in 1992 due to steroid use allegations.

Known for his ultimate splash, the Warrior recorded an overall impressive 802-129-22 record over 23 seasons that ended in 2008.

Tragically, the Warrior passed away at age 54 due to a heart attack in 2014.

Memory Lane ... Each week, I’ll recall a former player, coach, manager or media personality from our yesterday.

Anyone remember Phillies’ reliever Barry Jones? The Centerville, Indiana native was acquired by the Phillies from the Expos on Dec. 9, 1991 for catcher Darrin Fletcher (who remembers Darrin Fletcher?)

Jones had a 5-6 record with a 4.64 ERA in 54.2 innings over 44 games, and he issued 24 walks and recorded 19 strikeouts. On Aug. 8, he was released by the Phillies and signed by the Mets on Aug. 14. In 17 games with the Mets, Jones was 2-0 with a 9.39 ERA.

The right-hander spent eight seasons in the majors, breaking in with Pittsburgh in 1986. His final year was in 1993 during his second stint with the White Sox.

Jones compiled an overall 33-33 record with a 3.66 ERA in 348 games with 250 strikeouts and 194 walks.

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