Ever have one of those weeks that starts out looking really horrible and ends up being...sorta kinda...alright? I had one of those weeks last week. On Spring Break here a lot of my family trickled down to Mazatlan to enjoy the relaxing sun and surf. Been going there for years. This year the newest addition to the family...grandson...joined us. He is 14 months old and was quickly the hit of every place we went to for dinner...or anything else for that matter. While I only stayed a week because of work the rest of them stayed for two weeks. When the little guy got home he bagan running a high fever. Last Monday...after seizuring from a 104.8 degree temperature...we spent the day in the emergeny room with him. Six hours later we were told he had a viral infection that they couldn't pin-point. So...a prescription for Motrin to control the fever...and out the door to the house (he lives with us). Not a good start to the week.

The Mazatlan factor was at work again as my wife and a very close friend of hers drove back home from there. They spend most of the winter down there so they drive down and drive back. Well...the close friend got extremely ill the last week they were there and when they arrived in Dallas...where this woman has children living...they admitted her into the hospital. My wife was stranded...in Dallas...say it isn't so!!! Because of a variety of reasons putting her on an airplane was not an option so...yours truly...had to make a trip south. Fortunately for me...my dad went down to Dallas and picked up my wife and brought her back to Oklahoma City. The original plan was to go get her and make a quick turn around and come right back home. Plans change.

The Sooner end of spring football scrimmage...the Red-White game was this past weekend and...well...being down there already...we stayed and took in the game. At the same time I got caught up on some other Sooner football things.

We remember WR Malcolm Kelly for a number of things. His ability to get open and catch many key passes in his OU career. His speed in the open field after the catch. The classic touchdowns he has scored over the past couple of years. The attention he received last year which allowed Juaquin Iglesias to have a breakout year. The two Fiesta Bowls he didn't play in due to injury. HIs leaving OU for the NFL after his junior year. All good..right? Wrong. As he did not participate at the NFL Combine as the result of his latest injury he was expected to work out for scouts in Norman last Wednesday...which he did. And now we can remember Malcolm Kelly for another reason. After running a sluggish...the local paper called it a "pedestrian" 4.68 in the 40 yard dash...Kelly lashed out at...everyone but himself. He had been working out for the past month on astro turf. On Wednesday morning the NFL scouts switched the field for the workout and...doggone it...nobody told Malcolm. So, Kelly lashed out at OU strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. "Certain people have tried to hold me down, and they know who they are," Kelly said after the workout. "I wouldn't say the whole OU coaching staff, but certain people, I would say that." And that wasn't all Malcolm needed to get off of his chest. The OU medical staff misdiagnosed his thigh injury last December  which kept him from participating in the Fiesta Bowl and from training for the NFL Combine until a month ago. He also claimed that the OU staff basically told him to suck it up and play through it. Had he done that the risk of further injury would have threatened his NFL career which he also accused the OU staff of doing intentionally.

Here is what happened during the diagnosis. He WAS initially diagnosed with a deep thigh bruise. Within 48 hours of that diagnosis his status was upgraded to a deep thigh STRAIN. OU's treatment of a partial quadriceps tear and a quadriceps strain are virtually the same thing...inactivity. Rest and rehab and doing nothing that a WR does daily in order to help the injury heal...is...from my past injury history (which is sort of lengthy)...fairly standard practice.

Head Coach Bob Stoops called Kelly's remarks unfair. "I don't think that is fair," Stoops said. "A lot of deep tissue injuries take a while to figure out. Our doctors do as good a job as anybody in the country. Regardless of what his injury was, misdiagnosed or not, it was a deep tissue injury. He never played. It isn't like he played a game and re-hurt it. He would not have done anything different than he's done, which is to rest it for a long period of time, which he did, and rehab it." Kelly claimed that had it been diagnosed correctly two days before then he would have been able to play. Stoops said that comment is off base. "He didn't do anything the whole time before we went to the Fiesta Bowl. He didn't practice once," Stoops said. "He didn't practice at the Fiesta Bowl, even though we tried to warm him up. Its not realistic for that injury to heal that fast."

So...apparently Kelly's poor showing for NFL scouts last Wednesday wasn't because he isn't emotionally tough enough to handle a change of location (albeit a different...slower surface) but because the University of Oklahoma coaching and medical staff tried to screw him over. It had nothing to do with the fact that the NFL scouts ordered the change of location (to a surface more in line with the surface at the combine) but that Jerry Schmidt personally tried to ruin Kelly's chances on this particular day. QUESTION FOR YOU MALCOLM. Why would you train on a faster surface instead of one that simulates the surface at the combine? The scouts are going to make adjustments to your time on that surface anyway. Maybe your trainer, Chip Smith, should have worked you out on another surface as well. And maybe by Saturday he had given Malcolm Kelly some good advice. On Saturday morning Kelly was quoted in the Daily Oklahoman as saying, "I can't say I was as prepared as I should've been. I hadn't ever run on that surface as far as my training goes." Other quotes attributed to Kelly in the Saturday paper went like this. "Oklahoma did put me on the field, they gave me an opportunity for scouts to see me on film. So I can't take that away from Coach Stoops. He believed in my ability to go out there and play. I was a Sooner when I got up there and I'll be a Sooner when they put me in my grave." Kelly said his concern at the time he lashed out was for his family and his parent's, who he doesn't want to have to ever work again. Malcom, I understand your  concern. Hopefully you have just become man enough to take the next step. You accepted responsibility for the poor time and the poor training and admitted you went about this the wrong way. Now I can say, Good luck to you.

As for the game. WINDY. A hard steady wind with 30 to 40 mph gusts made it a "not so much good offense" kind of a day. That and the fact that Adron Tennel, DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown were among others who did not participate in the game...or in spring football for that matter. All of the above are recovering from injuries in one form or another so they haven't participated so far. That left three running backs healthy enough to handle the load during the game. Moissis Madu rushed 11 times for 31 yards, freshman Justin johnson carried the ball 20 times for 44 yards and Matt Clapp added a few nice runs at the end of the scrimmage. So the news odf the day from the offensive standpoint was passing, passing and more passing...and it was almost all of it...offensive. Sam Bradford tossed 3 interceptions and 1 TD pass. The QB's on the day threw 6 interceptions and had 3 of those returned for touchdowns. It would have been four but Bradford...apparently not having learned from the Texas Tech game...made a bone jarring tackle (his own) after one of his interceptions. ON the day Bradford went 12 of 25 for 191 yards on top of the other previously mentioned numbers. Joey Halzle, Keith Nicol and Landry Jones combined to hit on 9 of 33 passes for 112 yards, 2 touchdowns and three interceptions. Madu had 6 receptions and was the only player to record more than 2 catches on the day. Jones impressed me with his arm even if he did only complete 1 of 5 passes. Three of the incompletions were drops and his one comjpletion was a 50 yard TD . While the wind was obviously a factor in the offensive play the defense stepped it uop a looked very good.

Losing Curtis Lofton, Reggie Smith, Marcus Walker, Lewis Baker and a host of others from the Sooner defense was cause for concern going into this year. Well...start looking out for these names. Dominique Franks...picked off 3 passes and returned one of them 57 yards for a TD. Brian Jackson and Jonathan Nelson who took a Keith Nicol pass 81 yards the other way for a score. Sam Proctor and Lendy Holmes combined for 19 tackles on the day from the safeties positions.  Jackson broke up passes all day and tipped a ball that DE Alan Davis picked off. DT's Gerald McCoy and Demarcus Granger continually plugged holes on the inside giving the D line a strong showing on the day. This is great considering All Big 12 DE Auston English didn't dress. As for the linebacking...Curtis Lofton and Lewis Baker have moved on and it is now time for Ryan Reynolds, Austin Box and Keenan Clayton to take over. Clayton is a safety who has been transformed into a linbacker during his redshirt sophomore season. He didn't think he played very well during the Red-White game but he was the one player that Stoops and defensive coordinator Brent Venables singled out as having an excellent day.

Special teams were minimally effective and a lot of that had to do with the wind. Incoming kicker Jimmy Stevens kicked 3 field goals in 3 attempts  and made 4 extra points. The punting game struggled all day due to the wind factor.

So...all in all..with many key players absent...it was a decent enough game but the sun being out and being surrounded by family made it a special day. The Sooners should be formidable when they get key personnel back and if the performance of the defense is any indication of things to come. So...lets play some football.

And the little guy...my grandson...was eventually hospitalized when I was in Oklahoma picking up my wife. Seems he picked up Salmonilla poisoning in Mexico. But, after a few days in the hospital getting antibiotics through an IV he started this week back at home...where my wife and kids and grandkids are now all at home...safe...and for now...sound. So...a weird and whacky week...turned out alright after all. 

Andy Roddick helped eliminate France from Davis Cup play this past weekend. Actually, as well as Andy is playing...the French helped. Seems their number one player figured Andy was too good for him...so they played someone else against him. Roddick hammered Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 for the deciding victory in a best of 5 quarterfinal match.  Richard Gasquet, France's top player, begged out of the match. "He felt Roddick was playing too good for him and he probably had no chance," French captain Guy Forget said of Gasquet. Guess what Richard...conceding someone was playing too good for you...and saying you "probably" had no chance...spells out quitter. Unless someone tells me that you were too injured or ill to compete then I wouldn't want you anywhere near my team...especially if you were the best I had to offer...and second best at least put forth an effort. PLease tell me there is a real reason for begging out of the match with Roddick. I haven't jumped all over the French are this or that bandwagon...but I'm starting to think...well...maybe those negative comments ain't all that far off.

And that's the bottom line...

Boomer Sooner!!!

Quite a few years ago there was a dinner theater in Bloomington, MN called The Carlton Dinner Theater. My wife and I saw The Spinners and The Temptations there. We saw Roy Orbison there. The food was great and the seats were awesome. Another act we saw there was Leon Russell. Had to go twice to catch Leon. The first night we went to see him we arrived only to find the doors locked and chained with a notice that Leon had cancelled the scheduled performance but that it would be rescheduled. Turns out Leon couldn't make this performance because he was in a detox center in South Dakota. When we finally got to see him perform it was quickly apparent that detox didn't work. After stumbling through the standard "it is really great to be here" line it was obvious that Leon had no idea of where "here" was. A roadie finally told him he was in Bloomington. Leon thought he was in Indiana. Simple mistake...I guess. Aside from this Leon Russell had quite a few songs I enjoyed and a line from one of them clearly defines how I find myself thinking about what is going on in the sports world lately. "I'm up on a tightrope...one side hate and the other side hope."

I can't stand Jose Canseco. The self proclaimed savior of MLB dropping names and insinuations about certain players and leaving his comments to trail in the wind with no real support. Only to claim that he is always right and that eventually all will work out and we will see that he is an honest and truthful man whose only concern is for righting the wayward actions of the players in his sport. I'm up on a tightrope hating that people actually read and listen to this buffoon as he spews accusations without proof. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that the media quits giving this #### air time and print space to feed his enormous ego and hoping he will simply talk himself into oblivion.

While I find them entertaining I don't really understand the "Coaches on the Hot Seat" menality or what prompts people to write this stuff. I understand that opinions are just that...opinions and that we are all intitled to our opinions. And maybe they would be more acceptable to me if they were written from an X's and O's perspective instead of from the "this coach is on the hotseat because he can't control his players" perspective. I'm up on a tightrope hating that there are people out there who think Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis is on the hotseat because he is the head coach of the NFL's version of Alcatraz and he can't control the players. He's a football coach...not a prison warden. On the heels of WR Chris Henry being released last week after being arrested on assault charges comes news that RB Quincy Wilson was waived yesterday. Wilson is another player with an arrest record for failing to disperse when requested by law enforcement officials after a wedding party last June and was charged with disorderly conduct. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that some semblence of common sense enters into this and people quit holding Lewis responsible for being a subpar babysitter and try giving him some credit for doing what he was hired to do...coach football. On the hope side of the tightrope would be hoping that at some time in the immediate future the Bengals quit drafting wanna-be thugs and mental midgets (no offense to short people intended) who don't know what accepted appropriate social behavior is, or simply choose to ignore it.

To that end I am having a harder and harder time accepting the concept that NCAA College Football Coach's ( or any sports coaches) should be saddled with the responsibility of disciplining student athletes who get arrested by law enforcement officials for any kind of reason. In order to maintain control of their programs coach's have to have a certain degree of power of discipline. I don't think you need to remove that from them. But when it comes to handing down discipline in situations of arrest I think the coach needs some help and guidance. I'm up on a tightrope hating that we are asking these coach's to be prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, jury and hangman...along with trying to coach a competitive football team and maintain the integrity and character of the institution, themselves, and the program. I understand that they make a lot of money and should therefore accept the lions share of the responsibility for their program. But this is a different day and age and the student athletes aren't from the "Sir, yes, sir!" school anymore. Nope...a lot of these guys are from the "I'm entitled to be here and do whatever I damn well please" school. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that sometime soon the ineptitude of the NCAA's disciplinary policies will become obsolete and that a system devoted solely to assisting institutions and coaching staffs in dealing with runaway behavioral issues ending in arrest or incarceration for student athletes is created. I'm hoping that this system will allow the coach to maintain control of his program while keeping him/her from the old "hotseat for lack of control" situation. I'm hoping this system will determine levels of inappropriate behavior that allow for the coach to discipline and then include an increasing gradient where different infractions are dealt with appropriately BY THE INSTITUTION. Put it on the system and the institution to deal with student athletes who break the law and are A.) accused of breaking some law, B.) arrested and charged with a criminal offense, and C.) acquitted or convicted. And make it as BLACK and WHITE as it can possibly be made by eliminating the hidden outs of an inappropriate action from consequences. Basically...you do the crime (student athletes) you do the time...and the coach is removed from the equation for disciplining said student athlete. You want your coach to have the final say...or any say in the disciplinary process if you do something wrong. Then you better skip class or a team meeting because if you get drunk after curfew, punch someone in the face and get arrested for assault...the institution you are attending based on recommendations of the system will determine your fate. Sound a little like Big Brother is watching you? Probably! But who brought it to this? Must be the coaches, eh! NOT!!!

Speaking of Black and White...racism is in our face now more than ever. I'm up on a tightrope hating that if it isn't then there is surely someone who will bring it there. Its no freakin' wonder we continually slip backwards in regard to race in this country. Does the media treat white players differently than black players? Do black students have better opportunities for scholarships to college than the middle class white student? Am I a better hockey player than Grant Fuhr was because I'm white and he is black? While racism is not something that can, or should, be ignored...I often find myself  wondering why it is raised in such insignificant arena's. Who is the better defensive lineman...the white guy or the black guy? What? In what context? Who is the better hitter, the white guy, the black guy, the hispanic guy or the asian guy leading off? In what context? Skin color, power, speed, contact potential, literacy? I'm up on a tightrope hoping that context is included in the question the next time someone asks who is treated better, white athletes or black athletes. In other words I'm hoping that the question is based on a little more specific criteria than the color of skin or the generalized cultural background of those in question. At least then I won't feel like my intelligence is being called into question if I respond appropriately. Fuhr played in the NHL...I did not...enough said!

The Olympics are coming up and the host country, China, is giving itself a bad reputation. So much so that protestors world wide are out in force condemning their actions regarding how they treat their citizens and those of Tibet. I'm up on a tight rope hating that the Olympics have become much more than the intended sporting events between nations and different cultures and that so much venom is being spewed into this situation that will change...absolutely nothing. Of course, political stands and the Olympics have become bedfellows with each other...since 1936...at least. I'm up on a tight rope hoping that at some time, hopefully in my lifetime, we can actually watch an entire Olympic Games without someone, or some organization, turning them into a venue to spout their rhetoric and political platforms on. Can anyone answer me this. Do World Leader's outside of those from the host country, attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games? I guess I have never really payed any attention to this but I don't recall ever seeing Queen Elizabeth or Margaret Thatcher or Idi Amin at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. And if they don't generally do this...then why is it such a big deal if our fearless leader doesn't attend them...as protest over China...if he isn't expected to be there anyway. And if they do...well...like I told someone else...some politician I would be, eh?

Local Focal

Did failure to hit key free throws do in Memphis? Probably as much as falling apart in the OT did. Kansas wins the National Championship by elevating their level of play and taking advantage of key mistakes by Memphis. Kansas handled adversity better than Memphis did and therefore won the National Championship in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The last time Kansas won this Championship was in 1988 when Danny Manning was their star. They beat Oklahoma in that game largely because they handled adversity better than OU...that and OU coach Billy Tubbs took his star, Stacey King, out of the game...not literally...but physically and mentally. King never saw the ball in the second half of that game while Manning was taking control. Tubbs didn't have an answer for whatever Kansas was doing and in that context King was never a factor after halftime. Players never even tried to get him the ball. This year missed free throws, a strong Jayhawk rally, a crucial 3-pointer and a lot of standing around in OT led to Memphis' demise. Congratulations to Kansas... AND to Memphis. There are a lot of teams who would have given anything just to be there.

If the Minnesota Twins are going to compete this year it is generally agreed that their bullpen, which is given credit as being one of the best in baseball, needs to be extremely effective all year. Well, they took last night off. Without Tori Hunter and with Michael Cuddyer out of the lineup this team may score less runs than it did last year and they showed some of that last night by leaving runners in scoring position all night. This prompted Manager Ron Gardenhire to comment that they need to learn to close teams out. Leading 3-2 against the White Sox going into the seventh reliever Matt Guerrier walked Jim Thome and allowed a single to Paul Konerko. Pat Neshek came on and allowed a single to Jermaine Dye that scored Thome and moved Konerko to second. He struck out A.J. Pierzynski but Carlos Quentin singled to center. Bases loaded. Next batter...Joe Crede. Bases empty. Grand Slam...Twins lose! This will happen but with their offense it better not happen often. Also last night...Tori Hunter...2 HR's and the last one was a walk-off Grand Slam. Painfull, eh!

Nick Schultz, Minnesota Wild defenseman, will miss at least the first round of the playoffs due to an emergency appendectomy performed yesterday. Schultz is considered a stalwart (love that word) on the Wild blueline and his absence could prove crucial to their playoff hopes against Colorado who move the puck extremely well in the offensive zone. So, now who cares if Derek Boogaard or Chris Simon have Ian Laperriere in their sights for his chippy, 4 shots to the head act on Marion Gaborik...AFTER the final buzzer on Sunday. The Wild now need to find a way to get past an explosive Colorado Avalanche team without arguably their best defensive defenseman. Still, I'm back up on that tightrope hating that guy's like Laperriere pull this #### and think they can get away with it. The unwritten rule about not attacking the other teams star has all but been erased and it is not at all like it used to be. Big bruiser goes after big bruiser. Wayne Gretzky had one fight in his NHL career and it was against Neal Broten of the Minnesota North Stars who mighht have had the one and a roughing penalty. It was like a cat fight with the claws trimmed to nothing. And I'm back up on the tightrope hoping that Chris Simon or Todd Fedoruk take this smarmy little turd on and smack him around a little. He already said he won't fight Derek Boogaard. "I won't fight Boogaard and he knows that," said Laperriere, 34, a 14 year veteran with 161 fights under his breezers. "The guy is 6'7" and 270 lbs. I don't want anything to do with that." Yet, he'll rain punches on Gaborik's head AFTER the game is over and chop him and whack him repeatedly whistle after whistle during the game. Getting and edge is one thing and being a cheapshot hack is another. He thinks Gaborik had it coming. "Go back to the March 17 game in Minnesota, they played Peter (Forsberg) that way," Laperriere said. "OK, they might not have punched Peter in the face 4 times like I did to Gaborik, but overall, Peter had a much tougher night than Gaborik had." Hey, dipstick, at least Forsberg didn't have to protect himself from an all out assault... AFTER the game was over. This is the bush league #### the NHL has to deal with quickly...not the regular heat of the battle fighting that has been an inherent part of the game forever. Yep, I'm on that tightrope hoping that...say...Chris Simon...pummles this little creep.

And that from a non-violent man such as myself...imagine!

And that's the bottom line...

Boomer Sooner!!!

OK...so I go to Mazatlan for Spring Break and I leave the world behind for a week. Had a great time doing...absolutely nothing. Sat on the balcony of the condo we rented...on the beach...read a book or two and got a great tan. Absolutely fantastic. Now I'm wondering if I can go back...not for a week...not for a month...maybe for an extended period of time. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN" ME! I get home and nothing is any different in the sports world. Of course I didn't expect the morons to go away. I just kind of hoped they would take a break like I did. Lay low and stay out of the spotlight. Lay low and stay out of trouble. Lay low and act like you have been there before and know how to handle yourself. No such luck.

MLB opened another season this week and so far the most prolific thing I have read or heard is...complaining about the umpires. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? The season is not a week old and I have read blogs complaining about umpires, I have listened to broadcasters complain about umpires, from local broadcasts to National broadcasts, to people at work complaining about the umpires. Alright already. Every umpire working a MLB game this season is going to suck at some point in time this year. I hardly think they are holding personal grudges against teams or players. I don't think they are intentionally trying to mess up Joe Blows (arbitrary name for the normal fan in the stands) night at the ball park. And I don't think they are purposely trying to be bad at what they do. Actually I would think they take pride in doing what they do just as most of us...if we are lucky...take pride in what we do. All I can say is this. How long do you think the MLB season is going to be if all we get to listen to is how this umpire or that umpire screwed our favorite team or player on any given night. As much as I couldn't stand the whole steroid thing...I'll be looking forward to a discussion about it by the end of the year if this is what I get to listen to all year. Especially if it is like this after LESS than one week of the season has been played.

Speaking of MLB. I read today where Brian McNamee has autographed baseball paraphenalia from Roger Clemens that he, McNamee, has decided to autograph as well and then sell. Are the proceeds going to some kind of steroids awareness program or to some other viable charity? At least 80% of the profits are going to McNamee. Seems he so despises his former client now that he wants nothing to do with any of the paraphenalia Clemens signed for him. He said he doesn't want the gifts anymore. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? This is the #### who held on to syringes for years so that he would be able to supply evidence of Clemens' steroid usage if it ever came to that. This is a guy who received, as gifts from Clemens, autographed baseball paraphenalia all the while dating syringes of every supposed steroid shot he ever gave Clemens, or Rogers wife Debbie, for the purpose of...hanging Clemens out to dry when the time came. And now he has the audacity to sell said gifts for his profit. Honestly, I really don't care if he sells this stuff off. But give the proceeds to some other charity other than the Brian McNamee Fund. This smells so bad on so many levels. I'm having a really hard time giving any credence to his testimony now that he has done this. I questioned his motives before when I heard he saved syringes and stuff but this has removed all questions for me. He is all about him and his integrity and character are now as much in question as Clemens ever were. Given the opportunity to sit next to Clemens or McNamee in any situation...I'd pick Clemens.

On to the NFL. Matt Leinart is a party boy and we have pictures to prove it. He is a father and he is a professional football player and he got chastized by his head coach and some people have questioned the coach for doing that. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Leinart is acting like the coddled and spoiled rich kid he has probably been all of his life (OK, this line might get me in trouble), at least in college. He's 24 years old, with a ton of money, and a very interesting lifestyle to be sure. And, in all honesty, at least he isn't out there shooting someone, or getting shot. At least he isn't taking his behavior out in the streets and going to strip clubs and busting up patrons or employees...and continually going back for more...regardless of the attempts at discipline. But his coach has every right to call his future QB out on this. Signing the contract, whether anyone else agrees or not, put Leinart in a situation where he is representing a community and is most likely the future face of the organization. Frankly, I couldn't care less if Leinart spins around in a hot-tub with a bevy of beauties. And it was in his home. But that doesn't remove the responsibility he has to the Arizona Cardinals and the community. Matt, at the very least, when you are being responsible enough to take the car keys from your guests who will be drinking in the presented style...take their cell-phones so that you can act like a teenager in your home and nobody else will be any the wiser. And Coach...keep up the good work. 

Hey, everybody...have you heard? Tony Romo, the Cowboys QB finished 34th in a golf tournament. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME?  I'm not sure what tournament and I couldn't care less. I don't care if it was for some kind of charity. Here is my question. Why is this newsworthy in any way shape or form? Tony, did you know that a lot of NHL players travel with their golf clubs and when they go to places like Florida and California they play a ton of golf. I know several myself that are outstanding golfers who have won a few local tournaments now and then and they didn't get any press for that. And they wouldn't want it. Let me guess...Jessica Simpson was with and she was reporting the scores for you. That or our sports press is so hard up for any story that this is what got in for news. Bet all Cowboys fans are happy to hear you play golf. Do you think they wonder if you can get them to the Super Bowl? As the tournament you played probably wasn't a pro-am (as I didn't really recognize any names) and you did finish...34th...why would anyone care? Just curious.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooner Head Football Coach, read an article wherein the fact that West Virgina "WANTED" last years Fiesta Bowl win more than the Sooners did and was prompted to act. He has hung the article up in the Sooner locker room as inspiration for the upcoming season. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Right now OU is going through Spring Football with many of their key performers not participating while they recover from injuries. DeMarco Murray is still not over the kneecap injury that shortened his season. Chris Brown is not participating. Several key defections and graduations from the defense must be addressed as well not to mention Malcolm Kelly's departure for the NFL has left you with a need to find another wideout. Especially with Adron Tennell not practicing yet, either. If I get stuck watching many more games of the Bradford to Iglesias pitch and catch show I may kick a hole in my television. The good news is that all the young kids who will need to step up are getting quality reps and time. But maybe the focus at this point in time should be on filling holes with capable bodies. Then we can get on to cliche moves like holding up newspaper articles that question your teams initiative. And, Coach Stoops, I love the job you've done at OU but...maybe you should read the article as well. The last few BCS games haven't really been played up to expectations by the players...or the coaching staff.

The college football season is what...6 months away? How many people or publications are doing predictions now...and why? ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Look at the paragraph immediately preceding this one. This is about the OKlahoma Sooners who I care about almost as much as I care about my family. This team has been mentioned anywhere from Number 1 in the country to Number 3 in the country. They lost Malcolm Kelly, Allen Patrick, Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith to NFL and secondary and linebacker corp  was blasted with graduations. Besides Lofton at linebacker Lewis is gone now as well. Mike Reed was released from the team and Ryan Reynolds and Austin Box are hopefully ready to step in. QB and offensive line will be the strong point this year going in. Where Murray and Brown will be is, hopefully, ready to play but...who knows. Iglesiais had an awesome year last year...how much of that was because he was generally lined up opposite Kelly who was getting double covered most of the time. Am I saying the Sooners shouldn't be considered the #1 , #2, or #3 team in the country when the season opens up? NO! What I am saying is that early predictions when every team has issues like these are a waste of time, effort and print.

Jacques Lemaire, the Minnesota Wild coach is one victory away from his 500th in the NHL. This will tie him with his first coach in Montreal, the legendary Toe Blake. Who else did Lemaire play for in Montreal? Let's see...hmmmm...got it right here in the old memory file...Scotty Bowman. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? No wonder this guy knows how to coach. He learned from two of the best. Good luck against Calgary tomorrow night in your quest Jacques.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting cranky as I get older. Things that weren't a big deal to me at one time seem to bother the hell out of me now. I'm not talking about being bothered by the greater than thou mentality of over paid professional athletes. I'm not talking about GM's, Commissioner's, Coach's or Sports Officials who think their way is the only way...regardless of what the right thing should be. I'm not talking about "Sportswriters and Broadcast Buffoons" who think they know everything when in all actuality they may be the least informed and less knowing than their egos can admit. NO...these kinds of people have bothered me FOREVER! So it isn't these kinds of people and things that are making me cranky as I get older. They always have made me cranky. No, I'm getting cranky as I get older and I know exactly what it is. That is why I can say I'm getting cranky and I don't wonder why.

I am a teacher who has worked in general education and in special education. I have coached a variety of sports over the past 30 years or so after my goals and dreams as a player ended on a surgeons table. I have worked with America's youth (and all of their diverse backgrounds) for most of my life. I have seen great kids come and go and have seen the not so great ones come and go as well. I have seen kids struggle in their youth and turn into successful adults and I have seen the popular kids in school struggle with drug abuse and never truly realize their potential. Hell, I'm not sure I've realized my potential yet! Through all of this I think I have maintained a pretty calm demeanor and attitude throughout my life and my experiences. I have had success with kids and failures with kids. I have suffered great personal tragedies and had great personal success. And throughout all of this I never really felt any sense of entitlement to anything. You get what you have worked hard for and you shouldn't have anything handed to you. Well, what have I earned in this period of time? I had to have an experience that bothered me to reflect on what I have earned and what I think I am entitled to.

Last weekend was the MN Boy's High School Hockey Tournament and it ws held at the Excel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, MN. This is the facility where the Minnesota Wild play their home games. The team I coach did not make it as a participant in this years tournament. In the past we have had access on a first come basis as a coaching staff to tickets to this event in case we didn't make it as a participating team. Last year the Excel Energy Center screwed up and didn't send us our tickets that were ordered by our Blueline club. This year they did but they put us at the bottom of the ladder so to speak. For years we had seats in a level of the Ex that ALL of the coaches sat in. This year the Excel sent us tickets, which each of us pays $72.00 for, behind a goal with student sections and the bands all around us. I've worked with this population for 30 years, right! What could be the problem? Well...there are a couple and they are these.

1.) Tickets that I pay good money for have me sitting with students and bands from other schools.

2.) I have to sit and ATTEMPT to watch a hockey game through students who stand up during play and sit down between periods.

3.) I have to sit behind the drums of a band, watch the gme through the drums and then receive pounding headache as I am forced to endure their pounding at almost every TV timeout and goal scored. Not that I got to see the goal being scored.

4.) And on the last day I arrived at my seat to find the staff at the Excel had re-sold my seat to the band and that I would have to wait for the second game (Championship Game in Class 2A) to get my seat back. How did I find thi out? From the drummer with the green hair and the white and green paint on his face.

5.) An announcement is made prior to every game requesting that people respect others around them and to please not move up and down the isles until there is a stoppage of play. Guess what?

If I wanted to sit with the student section and the band I would have become a band instructor. Then I would relish the opportunity to take my kids to a venue that they couldn't care less about (except for the opportunity to be out of school) to let them #### their drums and screech their horns all day long. This would also mean that number 3 wouldn't bother me at all. I paid $72.00 for my weekend tickets and had to sit next to student sections that the majority of the students didn't pay for. Granted, their parents had to up some dough but they had no intention of attending the game. Much like, I'm sure, their offspring had no intention of watching said game. This was social period for these kids and they couldn't care less who was around them. This also was problematic from a #5 point of view. Constantly, while play was going on these kids were up and down the isle in front of us and some even decided to carry on conversations in the isles...while play was going on. Sadly, it wasn't only students. The parental units of some of these kids found it necessary to bound down the isles and give their kids money or tell them where they were meeting after the game or to make sure they were acting responsibly and respecting the people around them. Yea, like they were pefect examples of being able to follow a request by the PA announcer. And after checking my ticket to make sure I had a seat in that section, why didn't the Excel staffer tell me there was a problem with my seat and that the band had been sold my seat. Why did I have to hear it from the Little Drummer Boy? So...what exactly do I think I am entitled to?

Decent seats where I have sat for years for this tournament. After all the years we have put in I think we have earned at least that. I have earned the right to NOT be forced to sit with the band, especially from a school I have no affiliation with. If I am going to go home deaf for the remainder of the evening I have earned the right for it to be my choice. I have earned the right to be able to pay $72.00 for tickets to an event...and to be able to sit and watch it without having to bob and weave like a prize fighter looking for the next great shot at my opponent...just to watch a power play. I have earned the right to watch a hockey game and not have to be interrupted by Mr. Johnny Comeondown as he gives his kid money and instruction while disregarding the request of the PA announcer and disregarding plain old respect for those around you.. Do it before you say good-bye to the child in the concourse.

I know exactly what is making me cranky as I get older and it is lack of respect for other people around you. It is the self-important attitude that is pervasive in society and mocks respect of our fellow man. It is being instilled in children at an early age and you can see where it comes from in situations like this. I have encountered things like this in other venues like college and professional sporting events. There have been quite a few posts on here lately about people accepting personal responsibility for what they do. Does that only count for professional athletes who used performance enhancing drugs in their careers? Does it only count for bloggers who manipulate a computer to alter their appearance and become someone they aren't? I don't think so. Accepting responsibility for behaviors should go beyond the public realm. It has to happen in everyday life. I wanted my experience at the tournament to be about enjoying hockey. The highlight of my tournament experience was this. Four students decided to stand in the isle in front of us (not at a seat) and carry on a conversation. After five minutes of listening to this and asking them to sit own and NOT being able to see the game I got up out of my seat and stepped up to the four students. When I inquired if they were at their seats I was told that only one of them had a seat there. The other three told me their seats were in another section. My response, "Then go to your seats and quit standing in my way." They promptly left. Why should that have been the highlight of the tournament for me? It shouldn't have. But, I'm getting cranky as I get older. At least I know why.

And that's the bottom line...

Boomer Sooner!!!

I have been following the MLB performance enhancing drug usage scandal as much, well maybe not as much, as anyone. I read and listened to the Marion Jones debacle and shrugged my shoulders and bowed my head. I remember when Ben Johnson lost his status in the track world for using outlawed drugs and did much the same thing. I firmly believe that Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were using performance enhancing drugs when they went on their homerun barrage that helped return the fan to MLB. I also firmly believe that Bud Selig and Donald Fehr knew about it and didn't do anything constructive about it. MLB and the MLBPA have to be responsible enough to step up to the plate and accept responsiblity for this ugly mess we have in MLB. And it starts with their respective leadership. Instead of casting stones at one another they have to put that behind them come to some kind of agreement on what is banned and what and when testing should be done. It is something they have to agree upon and I, personally, think it is the only way baseball will ever get past the steroid era.

I am sick and tired of hearing Bud Selig sound like the tough guy now after he turned a silent ear and eye to this issue when the power hitters were filling the seats again. This guy is a sham and should be considered as such. Here is the tough guy on the result of the Mitchell Report which he authorized on March 30, 2006.

"I haven't seen the report yet, but I'm proud I did it." - a comment on December 12, 2007 the day before the report was made public.

Selig referred to the Mitchell Report as "a call to action. And I will act."

"Discipline of players and others identified in this report will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If warranted, those decisions will be made swiftly." - another comment made by Selig as a result of the Mitchell Report.

Is Fehr an innocent here? Not hardly, but you know what, he knows it. In his press conference regarding the Mitchell Report Fehr accepted some responsibilty for the steroid problem in MLB. At the same time he voiced his concern for the players named in it and how they would be treated by the league. Was Fehr wrong to issue to the players the following statement regarding their cooperation with Mitchell? "While Senator Mitchell pledges in his memo that he will honor any player request for confidentiality in his report, he does not pledge, because he cannot pledge, that any information you provide will actually remain confidential and not be disclosed without your consent. For example, Senator Mitchell cannot promise that infromation you disclose will not be given to a federal or state prosecutor, a Congressional committee, or even turned over in a private lawsuit in response to a request or a subpoena."

The Mitchell Report, authorized by Bud Selig, focused on players using and did not investigate the role teams played. The Mitchell Report claimed that the MLBPA was "largely uncooperative." Can't imagine why. Hadn't the MLBPA agreed to anonymous testing in 2003 only to find out that anonymous went out the window when the names of those who tested positive appeared in government documents during the BALCO investigation. How could that have happened, Bud? And why did Mitchell give Selig an advance copy of the report but not the MLBPA? Jason Giambi was interviewed by Mitchell because of his history and comments regarding steroid usage. He was also threatened with discipline by Big Bad Bud.

So, who do you believe? Bud and MLB or Donald and the MLBPA? Do you believe Roger and Barry or do you believe Kimberly Bell and Brian McNamee? Do you believe the 89 players who weren't supposed to be named in the Mitchell Report, but were, or do you believe a couple of guys who wrote a book about steroid usage in MLB? I don't know. I have such a hard time with it and apparently the lying isn't only in MLB.

Imagine how shocked I was when Robert Irvine, the culinary star of "Dinner:Impossible" on the Food Network disclosed that he kind of "cooked up" some of the stuff on his resume. Like he never really cooked for the Royal Family or various U.S. Presidents. His response..."I am truly sorry for misleading people and misstating the facts." Really? The Food Network's response...it won't be renewing his contract. How about that...simple and easy. He lied and now he will fry.

And then there is Margaret B. Jones who had her critically acclaimed memoir, "Love and Consequences" published last week. Margaret had a rough life being half white and half American Indian growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a foster child hanging with gang####ers and running drugs with the Bloods. Sounds rough doesn't it? Guess what...it ain't true. Maragret B. Jones is actually Margaret Seltzer who is all white and grew up in well to do Sherman Oaks, CA. Didn't hang with gang####ers and probably wouldn't know a Blood from a Crip or a red crayon. Her response..."For whatever reason, I was really torn and I thought it was my opportunity to put voice to people who don't get listened to," she said. "Maybe it's an ego thing...I don't know. I just felt that there was good that I could do and there was no other way that someone would listen to it." Her publisher's reponse. Recalled all copies of the book and has cancelled her book tour. Simple and right to the point. Bingo. You lied...you stay home and put roses between the pages of all the copies of your never to be read book.

So, do any of you think MLB and the MLBPA could ever get to satisfactory justice the quick and easy way? Hell no! Neither is willing to make the kind of concessions necessary. Fehr will continue to be a stalwart for the players and until they direct him to make changes and find a peaceful middle ground nothing constructive will happen on their end. And as long as Allan "Bud" Selig is the commissioner of MLB the ego driven attitude of its leadership will never be willing to admit any responsibility for this sad part of MLB. Selig is more than willing to jump to the front when it comes to accepting accolades for increased attendance and revenues. He is more than willing to jump all over the accolades that come with establishing International play. He is more than willing to take credit for the success of Wild cards and the playoff format and interleague play. And, maybe he should. But it ain't all it seems Bud. You have to take the good with the bad. You are the presiding leader of MLB during what could arguably be called it's greatest scandal. And you ain't lily white in this deal.

Sadly, in MLB, on the Food Network and in certain literary pages, nobody is who or what they appear to be. I suppose it is like that all around us. So why do we let the baseball thing get us where we turn into something other than what we really are? Or is this really the worst thing going on around us now? Is this really what should be taking up our news pages and our Congress and FBI's efforts on a daily basis? Can't they just say that if you used these drugs you are done? Can't they just say that if you lied about it you are done? You know, as much as I cannot stand the hypocrisy of the Court of Public Opinion I think in some cases I would appreciate the expediency with which these kinds of things are dealt with. It hasn't been proven that Barry Bonds used these drugs or even lied about it but the COPO (Court of Public Opinion) has determined he is guilty. Barry...you're fired. Roger hasn't admitted using them and any evidence against him is...well...curious at best. But the COPO says he is guilty as hell. Roger...you're fired. The 89 guys in the Mitchell Report...sorry fellas...you're fired. Donald Fehr...you're fired. Hey Bud, this Buds for you and...you're fired...twice! 

Maybe it really is time to shut off the television and cancel the newspaper subscription. Now ain't that a sad state of affairs.

 

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Information used in this post came from the Tuesday, March 4, 2007 of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and from MLB.com and wikipedia (yea, whatever!)

Now that the high school hockey season, at least for my teams, is over I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. And now that the school I work at finally hired a full-time teacher to take over for the teacher we lost around Thanksgiving I have the same dilemna...a lot of time on my hands. So what is there to do with all of this newly received gift of time. I have random thoughts. Not important thoughts really. Just random! How random?

I read the other day that MLB has had record shattering attendance in each of the past four years. And I wondered why? You know with all of the negative #### going on I randomly wondered how MLB could have record attendance year in and year out. So I checked. In 2004, the first year of record attendance in MLB, 73,022,969 people went to a MLB game. In 2005, 74,926,174 people did the same. In 2006, 76,043,902 people left their hoes and ventured out to the MLB stadium of choice (or not) and watched a bal game. In 2007 MLB attendance rose 4.1% and 79,502,524 people went to a ball game of the MLB variety. Yea, more and more people are going to MLB games than ever before. MLB credits the rise in attendance to increased competitive balance brought on by economic reforms of the last decade. The winning percentges of all teams were within the .600 to .400 range. By the way all of these numbers come from MLB.com so it ain't like I racked my brain to come up with them. Then I came upon things like this. For only the SECOND time in MLB history all teams winning percentages were in this range. So, it happened before. The 2007 season is the first one SINCE 1988 in which no division winner repeated. So, it happened before. HMMMMMM!!! And yet the past 4 years have shown record attendance increases.

"The immensity of this record is staggering, and it serves as a perfect illustration of the passion and excitement for the game that exists across the entire Major League Baseball landscape," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said. "Our sport has reached heights that were unimaginable only a few years ago. By any measure, this is truly a golden age for Major League Baseball." - comment on record breaking attendance on 10/2/2007

Random thought! Those heights were considered unimaginable only a few yers ago...why? Could it be that MLB was losing fans because of things like All-Star game tie, no World Series, Contraction issues, Conflict of Interest talk regarding Commissioner/Owner Selig, embezzlement convictions of Selig and Montreal Expos owner during or around contraction era...among other things. And what made them imaginable and obtainable? Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chasing HR records while on performance enhancing drugs. Peak interest in the game...return fans to seats...records being broken right and left. Yea, baby. And in the conference rooms and board rooms whispers of these performance enhancing drugs and their usage was being disregarded by Selig and others. Bad Bud has commented on this situation numerous times always attempting to separate himself from any responsibilty. HMMMMM!

Another random thought! How can he consider this a "golden age in Major League Baseball" in light of all of the MLB players accused of using PED's and with Congress and the FBI involved in investigating these same players. I mean it ain't like the attendance records are making the nightly news...NIGHTLY!

Latest random thought! I think Bud likes the media circus in every park that surrounds every team in MLB with regard to PED's and their usage. Keeps his sport in the media spotlight day in and day out! And as long as he can throw up other stuff (record attendance) as a smokescreen to shield his initial neglect of this problem then I guess I can see how he thinks this is a "golden era" for MLB. That or he has Pee'd all over it for so long it has taken on a permanent golden glow.

Another random thought...this may or may not end this random thought process.

In light of all of the steroid/HGH revelations floating around MLB and the fact that Congress has to get down and dirty with it, a new revelation was revealed (ha, ha) from the Minnesota Twins first day of training camp. Now I don't know about you all but I'm sure there are some who might say this guy is a cheater. You might say that he took a performance enhancing drug so that he could get back into the swing of things sooner. Some of you might think he did it to give himself an edge on his opponents. Some of you probably couldn't give a rats a $ $ why he did it...he just shouldn't have done it. I say he ain't cheatin' he's just really competitive.

It was reported in today's issue of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the first injury from camp was to Manager Ron Gardenhire. Apparently Gardenhire showed up to camp with a sore shoulder. Out of the line-up and not able to throw batting practice, unable to swing his golf clubs effectively and therefore not be ready for his scheduled golf outings this week and possibly not being able to compete in his annual spring bowling spree prompted an outrageous act by Gardenhire.

Gardenhire is said to have sought out a fast cure remedy to get himself back into action. A cortizone shot! Freakin' cheater! Oh, my God...how could Gardy do this to us?" Call it in and get congressional help...NOW. Gardenhire is trying to get healthy so he can clean up on all those golfing bets and bowling wagers. He's looking for an upper hand. Soon all of his opponents will know that he cheated. His golfing buddies and bowling buds will be turning their backs on him. He took a steroid to gain an advantage. OK, so it ain't HGH but who cares...he's cheating.

Or, maybe he just wants to be able to do all the things he wants to do and is used to doing in Fort Myers. Maybe he wants to just be as pain free as he can while he does these activities. And maybe Gardy is old school and remembers when athletes were regularly injected with things like cortizone to get them back on the field very quickly after injury. Maybe he remembers when this was common practice in baseball, football, hockey, basketball, badmitten, tennis, soccer, parchise, backgammon, etc., etc.! Maybe he remembers when this accepted and common practice was blamed for ruining many careers of prominent and not so prominent athletes because it only masked symptons of the injury and created further injury. Please, someone remind me as I haven't taken my daily supplement of memory restorer...did Congress ever get involved in that debate?

It's all so ridiculous now. People throwing stones and accusations and ruining legacies and reputations over what? An age old practice that at one time was as acceptable as summer time and mom's apple pie. Only the players have changed and the stakes are higher. But, alas, I ask you all...are they? To some of us it simply doesn't matter and we, at least I, have been castigated for my lack of caring about it. These are grown men. This practice was accepted forever. When did it change? When did it become sooo freakin' important to throw stones and make these outrageous accusations and put so much on the player's shoulders? When did the court of public opinion become so self important that everyone needed to know who, when, where and why these things were happening? I still remember when the star of the team would get injured and the comments from the fans in the stands would be, "Ah, hell, they'll shoot him up and get him on the field soon." When did we all become roving police with the right to just accuse without any evidence to actually support what we were accusing people of? And then convict without same! I don't know. I try not to think that I am living in the dark ages and I try not to act like it as well. But if the old days are called the "Dark Ages" maybe that is where I belong.

Gardy...give 'em hell throwing BP and golfing and bowling! I'm with you, dude! After all...a little old cortizone never really hurt anybody. At least not like this steroid/HGH thing seems to be hurting people...in a whole lot ways.

As for me...tonight I think it will be "Leave it to Beaver" reruns on the Nostalgia Channel.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Nooch and I had a brief conversation yesterday the gist of which was that the "experts" have already determined in many instances who will play in conference championship games...who will win conferences...who will play in the National Championship games...and in some cases...who will win the National Championship. I don't really care who plays in the National Chamionship game so long as they are playing Oklahoma. Am I taking on the roll of an "expert" and picking OU to play in the National Championship game. Not on your life...my life...the lives of any family members...or even on the lives of people I don't know. It isn't because I wouldn't dare to pick OU to play in the National Championship game. It is because I am realistic and take things into consideration that the "experts"...apparently...do not!!!

We get to witness on television or read in the paper the "experts" views on who will wind up where. Whatever! What continually astounds me is the lack of common sense things these "experts" don't take into account when making these bold claims. We hear about SOS (strength of schedule) for those who haven't bothered keeping up with NCAA FB or colege football this year. We hear about conference strength and we hear about BCS computers and coaches polls and this poll and that but, we rarely hear about things like rivalry games and road games and toughest venues to play in or any of the intangible things that don't seem to get any thought process from the "experts." I'm sick and tired of hearing about all of the standard ####. If I were playing one of the "top" teams in the country I would only need to open the paper or turn on ESPN to get all the motivation I would need to beat a"top" team. In this year of upsets...maybe that is all these coaches have done...open the paper or turn on the tube. "Guy's! Look at the lack of respect you are getting from the college football "experts" (done with two hands up and two fingers on each hand moving up and down)!!! Use that for your motivation!"

The bad things about letting the "experts" determine things before they are played out is this. When a bunch of "experts" picks your team to finsih so high...get to the conference championship game (if your conference has one), get to the National Championship game..etc., etc., etc. and your team doesn't make it...too bad so sad! Watch how fast you tumble out of the picture...especially if you haven't been in that picture before. If one the other hand you are picked to lose...and you win...all hail the conquering heroes...until the shoe is on the other foot. What am I getting at? Here we go.

I am so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing OU the Big 12 South Champions...with 2 games to play...that I can't stand it.

I'm so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing Oregon the PAC 10 Champions...with 3 games to play...that I can't stand it.

I'm so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing LSU the SEC Champions and in many cases the National Champions...with 2 games to play...that I can't stand it.

The only conference championship that hasn't been annointed yet is the Big 12 North. The "experts" are at least using "if" when they talk about this one. Missouri and Kansas play on Nov. 24th and that may decide the Big North...if something else doesn't happen by then. And in this year of the upset...well...you never know. And that is why I am getting tired of the "experts" and their annointings.

LSU has yet to play Mississippi and Arkansas. Yet...those two teams can't possibly stand in the way of LSU's march to a National Championship. No UPSET possibilities there???

Kansas plays Iowa State this weekend and then Missouri. While we don't expect trouble this weekend for Kansas the Cyclones are much improved and have played pretty well the seond half of the year. I'd turn on the tube and purchase a ton of newspapers for my team.

Missouri gets Kansas State tihs weekend. Yea, we all know the lowly Cornhuskers blew Kansas Stae away but the Wildcats have played some inspired ball this season at times. Do we expect issues...naw! Let's just go straight to the 24th. Again...more ESPN and the black and wide and occasionally color of the local written press.

Oregon plays Arizona on Thursday night. No problems here right? Well...typical Mike Stoops team needs the entire first half of the season to get ready to play ball the second half of the season. On an odd night on the road. Upsets do happen when schedules change. But...we shouldn't consider ay of that and Oregon rolls. That's just dandy. Because they follow that up on the road with UCLA. The same UCLA that started in the top 10 or 15 (depending on what "expert" you follow) this year. Well...they aren't that good now. Consistently...maybe...but at home...with another teams season to crush. Naw...no problem...Ducks cruise! And to top that off they follow UCLA with Oegon State...in-state rivalry game. And we all know that NOTHING out of the expected ever happens in those games. What the hell am I thinking? There is nothing standing in Oregon's way. Silly me.

OU goes to Lubbock, Texas this weekend to play Texas Tech. Tech blows! Well...except for the high powered offense and a QB named Graham Harrell. This kid throws for 500 yards a game against solid secondaries. The verdict is still out on OU's secondary. Not to mention that Tech plays OU hard in Lubbock and some of OU's stumbles have come...in Lubbock...against...Texas Tech. Not this year. OU rolls...so say the "experts." Then the Sooners travel back to Norman to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This would fall under the "in-state rivalry" game (see Oregon-Oregon State) but this poses no problems for the Sooners and they will be the Big 12 South Champion heading to San Antonio to play with Kansas or Missouri. But the Cowboys have become famous for knocking OU from the ranks. Never mind...still not an issue. Thank the "experts" for that.

There is a lot of football to play and the "experts" who are already annointing champions are not giving any of the opponents of these teams and freakin' credit. They don't consider things that come into play when we are talking UPSETS in the year of the UPSETS. The "experts" can ramble on all they want but PLEASE use some kind of intelligence and give these other teams some kind of credit. But they won't and don't and that makes no sense to me. And it could continue to make no sense to me and I wouldn't freakin' care...so long as the ramifications of the upset weren't so harsh. I mean...we all know upsets will happen. Hell, that's why we play 'em on the field. But you have teams that go into hostile environments to play in-state rivalry games and if the lose...the fall is catastrophic. Why? Because the "experts" give no consideration to intangibles that have bearings on the outcomes of some of these games. There is absolutely no way OU should EVER lose to Colorado. On paper I might agree. On the road in a different atmosphere with a HISTORY of these kinds of things happening...I don't think it is realistic to assume that the Buffaloes should NEVER beat OU. This happens all over the country between the "top" teams and the...not so top teams. Especially this year when upsetting top teams is so...for lack of a better phrase...common place!

Personally...Texas Tech worries me this weekend and I probably won't get any satisfaction out of the next two weeks unless OU actually does end up in the Big 12 Championship game. If I were an Oregon fan I would be concerned with all three of our remaining games. I know Nooch has some concerns. If I were Kansas and Missouri I would take heed to thisseasons history and not take this weeks opponents lightly...in any way. Same for LSU who...in my humble opinion...has been winning "lucky" lately and...well...sometimes the luck runs out.
I don't really care if these "experts" continue to ramble on and on about who will be here and there based on who SHOULD be here and there. I base my opinions on being as realistic as I can possibly be...and that's why I could NEVER be a college football "expert."

And that's the bottom line...

GO SOONERS!!!

Has anyone ever read the AP posts here or the Fox updates and then read the comments section at the end of them? The running blogs somewhat like we have here. I do but I never comment on them because the comments range from the benign to the incredibly ignorant...by the majority of the commentors. Whereas here we only seem to have a few of those that go to the other side of the moon when commenting. As is my usual pattern I got up yesterday morning and pulled up the OU-Baylor gametrax and read the follow-up article and then some of the comments that followed. I'm not going to give them any form of recognition here but if you ever want to look them up...well...feel free, but there was a conversation between two people (as is generally required unless you are kellyscott talking about last years OU-Oregon game...whoops....just messin' with ya ks) regarding OU's defensive effort against Baylor. One commentor said that Brent Venables can't handle the pressure of his job and that OU's secondary better figure things out before their trip to Lubbock, TX this weekend for their game against Texas Tech. The other person commented that this person was not a true fan of OU for saying what they said. I strongly disagree with that line of reasoning. As for me...I call 'em as I see 'em...and...it doesn't make me any less a fan than the proverbial "butt-kissing my team can do no wrong" fan.

I call 'em as I see 'em and I agree that the Sooner secondary...well...actually the entire defense...better get it together before they play another game...ANOTHER GAME...or all the help they have gotten to get back into the BCS NCG picture will be wasted. Baylor's QB threw up 280 yards against the Sooner secondary on Saturday night and 2 TD's. Brandon Whitaker, Baylor's RB from OU, carried the ball 15 times for 149 yards and a TD. Hey there boys...that's almost 10 yards a pop!!! Here are some comments from Sooner coach Bob Stoops and some of the players after the game.

"Defensively, we had some breakdowns and gave up a lot of yards. I'm glad I do not have to see us give up that many yards every week. IT HASN'T BEEN US, and we'll see some things we can do better. The obvious one was the one before the half. We busted coverage. We were supposed to be playing four deep and one of our safeties didn't communicate well and was playing in the flats. IT HADN'T HAPPENED BEFORE, and we can't let it happen again. A couple of the runs early we just didn't recognize the blocking schemes and they busted a couple. Bylor did a nice job of executing, give them credit. In the end, we came up with enough stops and turnovers and took advantage of opportunities when we were given them." - Head Coach Bob Stoops

"We broke down in some areas where someone has the Quarterback on the option and ran past him. That happens, and there were some areas where we could have been better." - Head Coach Bob Stoops

"It was ugly. We gave up a lot of stuff that we shouldn't have, busting coverages and missing tackles, things like that. These are things WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING ALL YEAR." - OU CB Reggie Smith

"Getting interceptions have definately changed the momentum of the game and helped the offense. But, overall, we have to play better as a defense. As the defense, we want to come out and slow them down. But I don't think we did a good job of that today. It was a bend, don't break defense. We need to just get better, and be better on our pass coverage." - OU LB Curtis Lofton

OK!!! So what is wrong with an OU fan sharing their opinion about a defense that didn't play up to it's capabilities on Saturday? Not a damn thing. I'll take it farher than that because I call 'em as I see 'em. See all the words in BOLD above regarding comments to the effect that WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT BEFORE? Well...yes you have. Can you say Tulsa? Can you say Colorado? Can you say Missouri? I can and the big plays against have been way too numerous...ALL YEAR LONG!!! Over committing in the secondary...jumping coverages on corner routes...have been common for this OU defense this year.

And with all of that said they still sit at #3 in the AP and #4 in the BCS. Why? Surely with a defense that porous they shouldn't be there, gcoach. So why are they there? Because defensively they have made huge plays when they need them and the offense has so many options that even Kevin Wilson's conservative play calling can't slow them down.

Need examples...Lofton's fumble recovery against Missouri. D.J. Wolfe's endzone interception against Iowa State. Get the point? I've said all along that the offense was very, very good. But the major strength of this team coming into this season was supposed to be the secondary. The questions...QB...defensive ends...and the linebackers. Defense!!! This team has MAAAD talent on both sides of the ball. So what is it that makes the defense a bend but don't break defense? I'm thinking attitude. I think they are very young and they think they will befine every night...even after they have been proven wrong. For this much physical talent talent it has to be the mental side. Can it be fixed? Sometimes it doesn't look like it is broken. Inconsistent is more the pattern. But, yes, it can be fixed. How, gcoach, tell us how? Simple. Walk the walk don't just talk the talk.

For Saturday pay heed to one of your own.

"This game gave us a wake-up call; we definately have to work on some things and make some adjustments on pass coverage. We need to get in the film room and learn from this game. We need to asess our weakneses and get ready for a good passing game from Tech." - OU LB Curtis Lofton

We heard a lot of this after the Colorado game out of the Sooners and they won a couple of big games against Texas and Missouri and then WENT TO Ames, IA and had to have a big 4th quarter to win there...looking horrible in doing so. Don't talk the talk unless you FULLY INTEND to walk the walk!

Oh...and in their defense...Auston English has to be able to play and contribute. He is having a monster year and has made one of the questions on defense...the DE question...much less of a concern. A stress fracture held him ut of the Baylor game...but WE Sooner fans better hope he is available on Saturday night.

"Auston is such a great player and it makes them have to send two guys, leaving someone open. Not having Auston out there hurts a little bit." OU LB Curtis Lofton

I think it hurts alot. Another reason the Sooners sit at #3 or #4 is the offense.

While Auston English has helped answer the DE concerns and Curtis Lofton has donethe same with the LB question...nobody has had a better answer to the questions than Sam Bradford at QB. He hit the 300 yard mark for the first time on Saturday and his efficiency was outstanding. He went 20 for 25 for 353 yards and 3 TD's along with an int. This kid is the real deal. Fortunately for the Sooners his worst game was against Iowa State and the Sooners survived that.

DeMarco Murray had another big game touching the ball 18 times and scored 4 touchdowns...one on a 91 yard kickoff return that didn't start out so well. But it ended great. Manuel Johnson entered the picture as another receiver for OU that showed potential big game stuff catching 4 passes for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. Malcolm Kelly added a TD catch and the receiving corps is showing that the Sooners don'y need to play the pitch and catch between Bradford and Juquin Iglesiais they have done in the past.

All in all this is still a very, very good football team with a world of very young talent on both sides of the ball. Stepping it up defensively is going to be huge at the end of the year. Aside from a big game in Lubbock this weekend they follow up with Oklahoma State in Norman. This means they need to show they can play big on the road (which they really haven't done yet) and control their in-state rivals in the last game of the regular season. Virtually everyone I read or talk to has OU in the Big 12 Championship game in San Antonio. Keep the offense rolling...and shore up the inconsistent play from the defense and I think they will be there as well. However...this OU FAN is realistic as well. Too cocky and lackadaisical on the defensive side and it won't happen. Beware of Lubbock. Even though we didn't get the correct call and lost there a couple of years ago...this is a pretty good team with a very potent offense.

I love the Sooners and I call 'em as I see 'em.

And that's the bottom line....

Go Sooners!!! BOOMER SOONER!!!

I'm trying really hard here to keep it clean but I'm finding it a bit difficult. What is happening in the world of MLB? They just have to keep finding ways to keep in the limelight when...in all actuality...they need to pull back from the front page. Gimme' a freakin' break here!

Steroids schmeroids. George Mitchell talked to several active players about performance enhancing drugs. Most notably...at least from what I know now...Jason Giambi. But according to the players union he spoke to quite a few others. OK...fine! MLB has said that when the report is completed they will release it...names included...of those who cooperated and those who are believed to have used performance enhancing drugs...STEROIDS!!! This goes completely the other way of former commissioner Faye Vincent...who was sought out by Bud Selig for his advice on an investigation...in stating the purpose of an investigation. Vincent stated on more than one occasion that the purpose of an investigation was to determine the number of players involved with the usage of performance enhancing drugs...NOT in publicly naming who they were. So Selig and Mitchell take it upon themselves to name names. Selig couldn't possibly do anything else to tarnish his legacy as a self important hypocrite...could he? Stay tuned...he ain't done yet. Gimme a freakin' break here.

And now...in the face of a tragedy wherein a minor league base coach was killed when struck by a foul ball...MLB General Managers have determined that all base coaches will wear helmets during games this upcoming season. I will grant you that the young mans death was indeed a tragedy but aren't we going just a wee bit too far here. Two years ago...based on the research presented to USA Hockey by the Minnkota District Coach-in-Chief...this organizational body passed a rule making it mandatory for every coach involved in youth hockey at every level to have to wear a helmet when involved in on ice activities. Six cases where a coach died in a short span of time was the research cited and given to the organization. Not one word about the thousands of practices or games that have occured in that time span wherein NO COACH or anyone died in relationship to what happened on the ice. Based on the evidence he provided a youth coach doesn't even get a choice in the matter. Much as it sounds like MLB base coaches don't. Gimme a freakin' break here.

I completely understand the effort to protect the peope involved and the fans from having to ever have to see that kind of tragedy. But there are other people involved here. Like the ones who are being forced to wear this ear. Here me out.

I have coached for a very long time a variety of different sports...most notably hockey and soccer. I have never worn a helmet when coaching at the high school level or the youth level (until I was forced to last year) because I am comfortable without one when I am coaching(I wear one when I play). It also makes it easier to communicate with my players without it. They can see what I am saying as well as hear it when I don't have  helmet on. I have had my nose broken at least a half a dozen times on the ice and I took a deflected puck over my left eye that opened me up to the bone and required 18 stitches to close during a game I was coaching. It is all a part of the game. It's been that way since before I ever started to play it or coach it. Am I kind of old school then? Oh, hell yea!!! And while I can still appreciate the effort these people are making...I want my choice. I would gladly sign a waiver (the NHL used to require players who didn't wear helmets to sign them) absolving the organization I work for...the team I coach...and any building/rink I am in of any responsibility in the event that I were a victim of some horrible tragedy while I was coaching. Just let me have the choice and don't cram the new rules down my throat without letting me voice my opinion...which is basically what happened in USA Hockey. Gimme a freakin' break here.

Basically...quit telling me what I have to do to make the game more respectable to the fans or the participants when it comes to my safety. There are so many other issues with both of these games that it really seems like a stick and cover effort to get our attention off of the other things that are really hurting the game. Like the leadership in MLB and the hypocrisy we see daily from Bud and the boys and from selecting elite Mite aged teams and putting them in traveling programs where they don't practice but twice and then they play 35 games a year. Or people hounding high school aged players to leave high school and go to Juniors so you can get a big career out of hockey. Forego the high school experience and everything that is important to social development and education in those years. Oh, yea...well you can go to school later if you want.  There are so many other issues out there that forcing coaches to wear helmets...when the lack of wearing them HAS NEVER been an issue before...in all of the years these games have been played...seems a bit of a dodge the real deal effort. At least let us have a voice and a choice. Or is sports going the way of real world politics when the people are so often neglected by those we vote into office. Gimme a freakin' break here!!!

Yea! Gimme a freakin' break here! Quit forcing new rules down our throats...deal with the real...issues at hand!

***Ahhhh...another rant concluded*** I feel better already!