Toby Keith is proud of the Oklahoma City Thunder, his daughter Krystal - NewsOK.com (blog)

on May 18, 2012M at 9:01 pm

Toby Keith (Photo by Kyle Roberts)

A former semi-professional football player, Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith is known for his love of sports, particularly of University of Oklahoma gridiron action.

The Norman resident also has developed pride and a rooting interest in the Oklahoma City Thunder. The fledgling NBA franchise is taking on the Los Angeles Lakers at 9:30 tonight at the Staples Center in the third game in the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder lead the series 2-0, and tonight’s game is airing on ESPN.

“It’s great. Watching TV the other night, seeing the crowd outside as well as in was pretty amazing. Great thing for Oklahoma City to have that much excitement. It’s wonderful, and I think they’re gonna do real well to be honest. They’re scrappy,” Keith said today at the groundbreaking for the Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral, a home-away-from home for pediatric cancer patients and their families on the south end of the OU Health Sciences Center.

Keith’s 25-year-old daughter Krystal, an aspiring country singer due to release her debut album this year, sang the National Anthem before the opening game in the series Monday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. She might have been a good luck charm for the Thunder because the hometown heroes routed the venerable Lakers by 29 points.

“She didn’t sing at the second game and it was closer,” Keith said with a grin. “She did a good job. … She’s got her album done, and we’re trying to get it all mixed up and wrapped up. I’m excited for it. I think it’ll do well.”

Keith is continuing to raise funds for the OK Kids Korral, hosting a private dinner and auction tonight and teeing off his Ninth Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic Saturday at Belmar Golf Club in Norman. Look for more coverage of the OK Kids Korral groundbreaking Saturday in The Oklahoman, on NewsOK and here at BAM’s Blog.

-BAM

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