OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE: Patel brings hometown to Muskogee

Sep. 14—Vik Patel recalled playing the bat and ball game cricket often while growing up in India.

"Here, when you are kids, you play football, baseball or soccer," he said. "In India, you play cricket most of the time. My father and grandfather played cricket in their town."

Patel said his hometown had four or five fields.

"Everyone in my town played cricket," he said. "We used to watch every time, that's how we learned. In our schools and colleges, we had cricket teams where we played every day."

Although he never thought of playing professionally, he said he did think about being a physical therapist for players.

Patel operated a physical therapy clinic in India for three years before coming to the United States to further his education around 2012.

"I came to the U.S. for my education, to earn my master's degree in kinesiology," he said, adding that he attended Bacone College for one year.

His ambitions changed when he got into the family business. Patel said several family members owned hotels in the area. He now operates two hotels in Muskogee and one in Wagoner.

Patel said he doesn't see much difference between Muskogee and his homeland.

"I had lots of family here when I moved," he said. "We don't go out to eat much, we have home cooked food. We can find stuff, all the things we can get at Walmart. There is nothing we are missing."

Not long after coming to Muskogee, Patel found a way to play cricket.

"When I came here, friends said, "yeah we've been playing cricket here for a long time, too,'" he said. "They play in Tulsa. I started joining them. In 2017, I became captain of their team."

Earlier this year, Muskogee Parks and Recreation installed a 22-yard cricket pitch at Hatbox Field. The team practices on Thursdays. A finals game is to be played in Muskogee this weekend.

"We are the best team from around this area, winning from seven times we were champion in this league."

Location is key for Patel

Operating two hotels on U.S. 69 keeps Vik Patel busy. Hotel Muskogee is on Azalea Park Drive and Comfort Inn and Suites is on Military Boulevard.

"As you know, U.S. 69 is the busiest highway around here," he said. "We've got everything around here, all the restaurants."

Nearby restaurants, such as IHOP and the new Olive Garden and Whataburger, help attract overnight guests.

"It's pretty easy for everyone to settle down for the night," he said.

It's a competitive area with 11 hotels within a mile radius.

"The competition is always good," he said. "We all know each other."

Patel said a his main goal for his hotels is to get the customer to come back again.

"Our rooms are up to date and everything," he said. "They want a hot breakfast, we have a hot breakfast. We have four hot items every day. They want a sound sleep. We have a heated pool until 10 at night so they can take a swim."

Patel said the job's biggest challenge is "to keep an eye on everything — the facility, the staff."

"When the economy goes down, it's hard to keep up," he said. "We have at least 15 to 10 employees."

He said he's happiest when he hears good things from customers.

"When you come and somebody said 'I had a very good sleep," he said. "You feel your hard work is the best reward."

Cricket not easy to explain to most

Patel says cricket can be a full day of excitement — or sprinting.

"I can't explain it," he said. "It's like a dream every time, enjoyment you're out with your friends."

According to ESPN, the game is played on a grassy field about 500 feet in diameter. The bowler (or pitcher) throws a ball at three poles with small sticks on top, 66 feet away. A batsman swings a bat to prevent the pitch. When a hit is in play, the batsmen run back and forth across the 66-foot space to score as many points before the ball is returned to the bowler.

"To get a good score, you need to practice all the time," Patel said. "Watch the ball very closely with your eye, keep pushing the ball, You have to take your time. You have to keep going for one, two points, that's how you make a score."

Games can take up an entire day, Patel said, adding that the hardest part of the game is "when you have a field and it's 100 degrees."

"It's like four hours you are in burning heat," he said. "You don't get a break It's just four hours of running around sprinting around, continuous sprinting all the time."

team is winning tournaments

Patel said Muskogee has one of the larger teams in the league, about 25 members.

"There are usually 20 people," he said. "Everybody has their own routine and job, so we are always rotating the players."

The season runs from spring through October.

There are tournaments on long weekends. The team plays clubs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

"Sometimes we go out of state, Wichita, Kansas, or Bentonville, Arkansas," he said.

They won a Labor Day tournament in Bentonville, which included teams from Texas, Missouri and Tennessee.

"We won the cup," he said. "We practiced hard, that's the main thing to win that thing. We analyzed the situation, played according to the situation we needed to do. That's the best thing. All the players knew what they were doing and what they needed to do. Simple things, practice hard and win the cup."

Patel said that, as a rounder, he did well pitching and batting.

"Next year, we hope to bring the tournament to Muskogee," he said.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE AN OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE?

"I came to Muskogee when I came to visit family here. I started staying with them. That's how I started living in Muskogee."

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT MUSKOGEE?

"Everything. Muskogee is a beautiful city. You have good city. You have good people around here, good restaurants, good shopping area. We have a new Olive Garden. Muskogee is a pretty good size town, less time."

WHAT WOULD MAKE MUSKOGEE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE?

"Muskogee is already a better place. We have everything here. We have good restaurants, a good city. We have good schools. What else do you need. We have a lot of opportunity."

WHAT PERSON IN MUSKOGEE DO YOU ADMIRE MOST?

"I really can't say, but the mayor, Mr. Patrick Cale. I followed him for a couple of years, and he's a very well adjusted person, dedicated to the development of the city. That's the main thing I like about him."

WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN MUSKOGEE?

"My first hotel job was in Muskogee. The Western Inn, which I did for four or five years. Then we got the business and everything here (at Comfort Inn). My journey started from here and always stayed here. I don't want to move to Tulsa or anywhere else."

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

"Listen to music, practice cricket in my back yard. Watch football. Cowboys is my favorite team."

HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP MUSKOGEE IN 25 WORDS OR LESS?

"Used to be a great place, and it still is a great place to live. You see how we have festivals in Muskogee that don't happen anywhere else. We have good museums, good hospitals."