Jessica Alba Apologizes for Shark Posters in OKC

Believe it or not, actress Jessica Alba is on her way to felony charges for her infractions in Oklahoma City.

While on a film shoot in Oklahoma, Alba reportedly joined in a group of people who were going around the city, plastering shark posters on electrical boxes, a bridge, and a United Way billboard.

While the vandalism is still under investigation, Oklahoma City Master Sergeant Gary Knight said if the police determine the crime to be a felony, it will be given to the district attorney's office for review. If this act of "shark sniping" is deemed a misdemeanor, it will passed off to the city attorney's office.

Alba is known for her role as Susan Storm in both of the "Fantastic Four" blockbusters.

Under the law of the state of Oklahoma, defacing or damaging property is a misdemeanor if the damages are under $1000, and a felony if damages exceed $1000.

City spokespeople say they do not anticipate the damage to exceed the $1000 mark, but estimate damages between $500 and $700 to remove the posters from the electrical boxes.

No word yet on what sort of charges Alba will face, but we'll just have to watch and see. I'm just upset that I wasn't back up at school to maybe cover this better.

But there you go, for your consideration.

WonderBlog #5: Strange Laws in Oklahoma, Part 2

As long as we are keeping the focus on animals here, there is another quite unique and rather disturbing strange law in the state of Oklahoma that I feel compelled to share with you all.

Another weird law states that it is illegal for the owner of a bar to allow anyone inside to pretend to have sex with a buffalo.

First off, people really do that? They go out in public, mind you, and for some reason they want to pretend to have sex with a buffalo of all things? In a bar, of all places?

And second, how would you even go about pretending to do that? How would that even work?

You know what, never mind, I don't wanna know.

I suppose this aspect would fall under the general rules that most bar owners comply with, namely the prevention of the performance of sexual acts that are prohibited by Oklahoam law.

Still, I'm not sure a case like this would ever arise. But then again, a Texas fan was nearly castrated when he walked into an Oklahoma City bar two years ago, so maybe it's not too far-fetched.

Y'all be the judge.

WonderBlog #4: Strange Laws in Oklahoma, Part 1

Browsing the Web yet again, I discovered a list of many laws in the state of Oklahoma that are, well, not so logical or explainable.

1) For one thing, no one in the state of Oklahoma is allowed to promote a "horse-tripping" event.

Now, at first, I laughed when I read about this law. I mean, who wouldn't? I immediately thought of cow-tipping, of extremely bored kids sneaking out at night long past their curfew, snickering quietly and telling each other to shush as they sneak over and push the poor behemoths onto their sides, then sprinting for their lives.

But the hard truth remains, horse-tripping is actually a painfully real practice. During horse-tripping events, the object is literally to trip very real horses, you score points the more horses you trip. With the use of electric prods, Mexican cowboys, more commonly known as "charros", force the animals to run at a full gallop and then lasso their front or hind legs, which inevitably cause them to fall crashing to the ground.

Witnesses have reported that the charros will continue this practice until the horses become lame. Thousands of horses become injured at Mexican-style rodes every year.

Although the charros who have publicly discussed the practice have said that their intention was never to harm the horses and that they only rope the horses one out of every ten tries, horse-tripping has been banned in several U.S. states including California, Florida, Illionois, Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. They have also been banned from all television and film production, by the Profesional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and by the American Quarter Horse Association. Citizens continue to fight for bans in other states.

But in these states the practice is just a misdemeanor, they haven't eradicated the practice so much as reduced it with the promise of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail follwing the event's execution.

You can learn how to ban horse-tripping in your area by contacting Cathleen Doyle of the California Equine Council at 818-771-0702 and by her e-mail, savethehorse@earthlink.net.

This is also her mailing address:
Cathleen Doyle
California Equine Council
P.O. Box 40000
Studio City, CA 91614

WonderBlog #3: Minnesota Students Watching Students?

If people have always wondered how strange some campus organizations may seem, have I got a story for them.

The University of Minnesota has such a unqiue organization.

50,000 people walk back and forth across the Minnesota campus, and that requires a specific group of people in order to observe and monitor every last one.

They're called the Campus People Wacthers, if you are even interested in witnessing the idiosyncrassies of the human race. This is the perfect group for people who are quite interested in observance, or just really, really, really, really bored.

The University of Minnesota's Web site calls the Campus People watchers a "non-creepy organizations for those who are into the social, psychological, and analytical aspects of people watching".

The Web site also makes the good point that everybody people watches, why not join an organization that has planned activities for such activities? Hard to argue with that logic.

They say those who are interested in experiencing group psychology, writing critiques, and delving into the culture of the University of Minnesota should look into this organization.

Try to guess the group's principal activity. Go on, I'll wait.

The Web site also states that the Campus People watchers benefit the University community by helping students experience everything that the University of Minnesota has to offer.

For University of Minnesota students who are interested in becoming a People Watcher, they can contact David Shaffer at shaff081@umn.edu for more information.

What wonders shall we create next?

J.T. Wise Named Big 12 Player of the Year

Norman, Oklahoma keeps on seeing an incoming of Big 12 awards even though they've also seen an outpouring of OU students for the summer.

Senior catcher for the Sooners baseball team J.T. Wise was officially named Big 12 Player of the Year today, Tuesday, May 19th. He leads the conference with a .375 batting average during the regular season. In other news, his partner on the team, freshman Garrett Buechele, was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Wise has aided in leading OU to a second place finish in the Big 12 conference this baseball season, leading to this weekend's conference championship.

Wise has become the third Sooner to receive the conference's top award and the first since Rick Gutierrez in 1994.

Funny how he came to OU, Wise actually started his collegiate baseball career as a Lousisiana State Tiger, becoming a freshman All-American at second base there. He transferred to OU in his sophomore season at LSU and hit .278 with seven homeruns and 49 RBIs as a junior Sooner.

EnviroBlog #1: Recycling Plastic Bags

Plastic bags have been exponentially growing in American households each and every day. Most people just stuff them in every knook and cranny in their kitchens that they can find, yet a very small percentage winds up in the recycling bin.

But often, curbside programs will not accept plastic bags, due to their lack of weight and their ease in getting caught into the machines. However, with the large expansion of their presence in the United States alone, they have found themselves pushed toward the forefront of the environmental preservation debate.

Nearly 400 billion plastic bags are used each year, and only a little over 5 percent of these bags in the municipal waste system were recycled in 2005. Plastic bags make up about 9 percent of debris found on U.S. coastlines, the information being gathered as a result of a five-year study.

One of the most unfortunate facts about plastic bags is that they do not bio-degrade, they photo-degrade, meaning they eventually break down into smaller parts that can contaminate soil and waterways.

The toxic chemicals needed to make this plastic produce pollution when in the manufacturing process. If we use less plastic bags, then we will have less pollution.

Countless numbers of these bags end up in the ocean, where marine animals can be severely harmed by their intrusion. After all, these bags can be mistaken for food. Plastic bags look a lot like jellyfish, which is the primary source of food for many turtles.

But there are many benefits to recycling these suckers. Besides clearing up all of tat extra space in your own habitat, when just one ton of plastic bags is recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil is saved.

Here's a number of helpful tips that you can use to recycle plastic bags:
1) You can use plastic bags as opposed to expensive filler when packing your bags.
2) Use the bags as trash can liners, that's one of my favorites.
3) use them to pick up animal waste.
4) You can create art-pastic bag crochet patters are available online.
5) Cut the bags to make bibs or aprons, save a little dough.
6) Use them as overshoes to keep your carpet clean when someone has muddy shoes.

Thes types of plastic bags can be recycled, according to plasticbagrecycling.org:
-grocery bags
-retail bags
-paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap
-newspaper bags
-dry-cleaning bags

These CANNOT be recycled:
-Used food or cling wrapping
-Prepackaged food wrappings, including frozen foods
-Bio-based or composable bags

When you're ready to take those bags to be recycled, you can check the number on the bottom of the bags and use Earth911's recycleing locator to find out where you can recycle them from.

Most of this information was gathered from: http://earth911.com/plastic/plastic-bags/

WonderBlog #2: World Superhero Registry

Browsing the Web, I discovered something rather unique that I'm sure everyone has wondered about the existaence of at some point or other.

Are there real superheros? Do people really put on capes and masks in this day and age, trying to make a difference one criminal at a time?

Well the answer is a definitive: YES. There is, in fact, a world superhero registry that can be accessed and updated through the click of a mouse. Several years ago, the World Superhero Registry began promoting real-life superheroes, helping them stick their feet in the door of the public's awareness and helping to generate the apparently flourishing superhero community that exists to this very day.

But how can a bunch of people go around and stop crime while adhering to the laws themselves. This isn't a comic book, the real-world laws still apply. Usually, being a real-life superhero can vary in diffculty from place to place. Citizen'z arrest statues are different from state to state. Some states even ban the wearing of a mask. Before anyone thinks about putting on a cape and joining this registry, they must first consult the laws of their state and adjust their own unique style of crime-fighting in order to comply with them.

Some real-life superheroes are even sanctioned by their local law enforcement, while others are constantly attempting to stay one step ahead of the police to avoid arrest. It's a hard-knock life for a real-life masked vigilante.

There are a variety of resources available to the real-life superhero at the World Superhero Registry's Web site, ranging from legal advice to Hero support (freelance servicers contructing masks, gadgets, gear, etc.).

Some of these real-life superheroes have banded together to form groups in certain parts of the country: The Great Lakes Heroes Guild based in Minnesota and Michigan, Utah's Black Monday Society, and The Moonlight Club stationed in the American Southwest, among others.

Several of these heroes can be contacted through their MySpace or E-mail, some of these groups even have their own Web page.

So, if you're ever wandering the streets at night, look up at the top of a building, or down a shadowy alley, there may be a caped crusader stalking the streets, protecting the citizens whenever and wherever they can.

http://www.worldsuperheroregistry.com/world_superhero_registry_gallery.htm

Update on my Amusement Park Story.

It appears that the Walt Disney Company has suffered more damages than at first reported by me in my report about Oklahoma's own amusement park, "Frontier City", and how it plans to survive the difficult economy during the summer.

Disney reported last Tuesday that its second-qaurter net income fell 46 percent, possibly caused by an underperforming movie slate and the impact of the recession on its theme parks.

Disney's profit in the quarter through March 28 was $613 million, down from $1.13 billion the year before.

Revenue also fell 7 percent.

There's been a 97 percent drop in movie profits. The company booked $305 million in charges for the quarter. "Confessions of a Shopaholic", "Bedtime Stories", and "Race to Witch Mountain" all had disappointing turnouts for the family entertainment giant.

Attendance at Disney's major parks has also declined, falling 1 percent at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida but up to 2 percent at the Disneyland parks in Anaheim, California.

Overall, spending per visitor to U.S. parks fell 6 percent.

Disney announced last week it would allow older Disney movies and ABC shows available on Hulu.com, while adopting an equity stake with NBC Universal and News Corp.

WonderBlog #1: Jedi Churches

That's right, you heard me. They exist.

Jediism is the new non-theistic religiousmovement based on the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the Jedi as depicted in the Star Wars fanchise. (Thank you Wikipedia).

Apparently these real-world Jedi assert the actual existence of the Force, advocating adeherence to the Jedi code.

I know what you're thinking: there's no way this movement could be a very large one, right? But according to recent census in some English-speaking countries, over 500,000 people identidied their religion as Jedi.

There are also a few Jedi churches out there.

Now, the definition of religion states that a relligion is a group of people gathering togethr sharing a common belief. These real Jedis are united in their belief of the Force and how it guides them throughout their lives.

The Jedi church recognizes that there is one all-powerful Force binding all things in the universe together, not necessarily confirming or denying the existence of a God, just not believing in one, knowing full well the Force is their only guide.

In the United Kingddom, 2% of people in Brighton reported their religion as "Jedi".

On January 12th of this year, the Government of Canada granted Order of the Jedi, Inc. certification which recognized them as the world's first Federally Incorporated Non-Profit Religious Entity. On that day in January the church was founded.

From what I could gather in my research, there are Jedi Orders in New Zealand, in the United Kingdom, and in Maryland right here in the states among others.

They even conduct Jedi Marriages: "Do you Jedi ___ take Jedi ___ to be your husband...."

For more information and to do your own research into the world of Jediism, check out this Web site among others: http://www.jedichurch.org/jedi-marriage-licence.html

When They See It, They'll Believe It

That's pretty much the attitude that students at the University of Oklahoma exhibited when I went out on campus to talk to them about the Swine Flu.
I actually saw just one OU student a couple days ago walking around with a surgical mask on, which the majority of the students I interviewed believed to be pretty radical and extreme, not necessary. One of the girls I talked to happened to be a zoology major and told me about how masks won't really help keep you safe from this flu seeing as how it's a virus and therefore too minuscule to be hindered by covering one's face like that.
Despite there being recent outbreaks in the Texas and Kansas, as well as the first U.S. death from the flu coming from the Lone Star State, Oklahoma students, for the most part, say that they'll be worried once there are outbreaks in Oklahoma and in the Norman area, which has largely been diagnosed as negative for the Swine Flu.
Only time will tell if this trend continues.

A Look at the Sooners in the Draft

The results are in. Here's a look at the teams that the Oklahoma Sooners who went out for the draft will be departing to following the end of their collegiate careers.

Alumnus Tackle Phil Loadholt: Minnesota Vikings
-Selected as the 54th overall pick in the second round on Saturday. Loadholt is now the third OU player to be selected by the Vikings during the last three years. If he attains the starter position, he'll be blocking for former Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson.

Alumnus Wide Receiver Juaquin Iglesias: Chicago Bears
-Iglesias went at the 99th overall pick in the third round on Sunday. The Bears have drafted 24 Sooners overall and five since Head Coach Bob Stoops took the reins of the team in 1999. Chicago hopes to add Iglesias to bolster their considered thin receiving group.

Alumnus Safety/Linebacker Nic Harris: Buffalo Bills
-Drafted at the 147th pick in the fifth round. Harris spent the majority of his time at OU filling in the secondary, but may work as an outside linebacker when he comes to play in Buffalo.

Alumnus Guard Duke Robinson: Carolina Panthers
-As the 163rd pick overall, Robinson was selected in the fifth round. His draft position fell unexpectedly after being considered to be a first-round pick prior to the 2008 season, but Duke has won the honor of being the first Sooner ever to be picked by the Panthers, making the Houston Texans now the only team in the NFL to not have drafted a player from Oklahoma.

Alumnus Wide Receiver Manuel Johnson: Dallas Cowboys
-Johnson squeezed out of the final round of the NFL draft as the 229th pick overall to Dallas. He is now the eigth Sooner drafted by the Cowboys in Stoops' tenure. After Dallas cut its number one receiver in Terrell Owens, they were looking for a receiver to fill the position.

Nic Harris Looks to the Draft

This'll be fun, reporting about an Oklahoma player who shares my first name....minus the K.

But former OU safety Nic Harris has definitely lit up the field in his time as a Sooner. His senior season alone contained 75 tackles, making him fourth overall on the team. Three tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery, one interception and three forced fumbles can also be added to his resume over this past season.

The two-year starter also adopted a very versatile role in this last season, having to shift positions to middle linebacker in multiple games due to many injuries on the position.

The Oklahoma Daily sat down with Harris to get his thoughts on the weekend draft which will determine his future in professional football.

Harris expressed a willingness to play either as safety or linebacker on the pro field, as long as he's on the field period.

He says his knowledge of the game will give him an edge in the draft. He says he hopes his ability to make the calls as well as make the plays will make him successful in the pros.

Harris said he's looking forward to being a largely successful player in the NFL, not just wearing the helmet. He wants to make himself as marketable as possible on the field.

He has predicted he won't be getting any sleep the night before the announcements. He says he's planning a major extravaganza with family and friends as it's happening and will try to use it to give back to his community in an undisclosed way.

Nic claimed he worked out with St. Louis, New England, and Buffalo. He said he's also met up with Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, among other teams.

We'll find out where the Sooner Safety Star will go on Saturday.

Juaquin Spills on NFL Draft

The campus newspaper of the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Daily, recently sat down with former OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias and asked about his thoughts on the upcoming NFL Draft.

Iglesias first arrived to play for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2005, his first home game being one of only two games that Bob Stoops has lost at home under his career at Oklahoma, when the Sooners fell to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. However, his last home game saw a romping of the Texas Tech Red Raiders three years later in 2008, 65-21, arguably thew greatest home game of the season.

In his time as a Sooner, Iglesias has racked up 202 receptions for 2,821 receiving yards, both records ranked second all-time in Oklahoma football history.

Iglesias was reported saying he is very excited about ending the process and bringing everything to a close, finding out where he's going to go in the NFL.

He says he has been working on his releases, his sharpness and routes and his overall mental aspect concerning the game to become better on and off the football field.

So far Iglesias said he has had correspondence with the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahwaks, and has even worked out with the Chicago Bears. However, Iglesias it would be a dream come true to play for the team he watched all while he was growing up, the Dallas Cowboys.

Iglesias says he'll be spending time with his family and loved ones when the NFL draft is released on Saturday.

Stay Tuned....

A Sooner's Advice to the Aggies.

OK, Mikey, baby, sit down.

Yeah, you too, Jerrod, and the rest of you Aggies, sit yourselves on down.

Yes yes, I know Stephen McGee's gone. I know, I know. Trust me, we're gonna miss Sam when he leaves, I can bet you any amount of money on that.

No, guys. I'm not gonna make good on that bet. Who do you think I am? Franchione?

OK, yeah, you're right, that was uncalled for, and I do apologize. We shouldn't be bickering, you and I. We should be pooling our efforts together.

After all, we do have a common enemy. The Texas Longhorns.

Trust me, we want to beat them just as much as you do. However, I'm afraid that, with the way things look right now, I think we have a much better chance of beating them than you do.

That's not an insult! I'm just saying. You guys went from stomping them into the ground for two years and then you get your butts handed to you several times over in Austin last season.

Don't look at me like that, you know it's true. Why did it happen? Well, it took the 'Horns two years to figure out that Colt needed to bulk up and they needed to realize that he's just not Vince Young and that other teams ARE in fact better than them. Once they got that under their skin and got one heck of a better defensive line, then they figured out the secret formula.

Unfortunately, all the times things were going right for them, all the wrong things were happening to you.

You lose Dennis, get a new head coach who, while coaching college in the past, was fresh off the NFL, and you had one of the youngest squads in the Big 12 last season, only comparable to Baylor.

And the thing that hit the final nail in the coffin, you just happened to be in the toughest division of a conference in the NCAA last season, the Big 12 South.

However, next season is a level playing field. Well, a little more so.

Tech is rebuilding with the loss of their two golden boys, Texas' secondary will be much weaker as well as their D-line, and we just lost several weapons on offense as well as pretty much our entire O-Line.

So, in light of that and the comradery we share through the hatred we share of the same team, here's some keys that I think will help you guys majorly next year.

First off, you got a couple of promising runners coming up. Jay Tolliver and Cyrus Gray. Guard them well. Also, Jerrod, you're really starting to come into your own in a conference full of some of the best QBs in the country, and who knows? Next year could be your break-out season and you could show Robert Griffin what for.

Your O-line, like ours, will pretty much need to be re-built, but it's not hopeless by any means. Watch out for pass protection, we can be a pass-happy league at times.

We'll see how the defense holds under the experiences of cornerbacks Justin McQueen and Terrence Frederick, and it'll be interesting to see how Chevar Bryson does as a converted wide receiver. You guys definitely need some stronger and sturdier hands at that position just like us.

All in all, you'll build yourselves back up again. Like Nebraska up in the North. I've got a feeling the playing field is gonna change next year. I don't think Mizzou will dominate the North for much longer and we may see a very different South next year, perhaps a South where Baylor can beat Tech and maybe Okie State can take it all (God Forbid).

Play your cards right, and I think you'll surprise your hated in-state rival, and maybe even get to a non-BCS bowl when you're done.

My point is, keep the faith. Sometimes it's all you got. I know the Sooner Nation will be pulling for you when face off against Texas.

Boomer Sooner and we'll see you guys in Norman.

Paris Twins Headin' Home to Cali in the WNBA

The golden state, home, is the destination of seniors Courtney and Ashley Paris for both of their professional careers.

Courtney and Ashley were chosen as the 7th and 22nd overall pick respectively in the WNBA draft.

Courtney Paris will play for the Sacramento Monarchs and Ashley for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Courtney Paris' pick was the highest any Sooner had attained since Stacy Dales was picked third in the 2002 draft.

Courtney was also named the Lowes Senior Class award recipient this season as well as Big 12 Player of the Year.

The Monarchs went 20-19 last season and lost in their conference semifinals to San Antonio.

The Sparks were the WNBA champions in 2001 and 2002.

Blake Griffin Goes Pro

After leading the Oklahoma Sooners to one of their best seasons in six years in men's basketball and shortly following his acceptance of the Naismith trophy and becoming college basketball's National Player of the Year, #23 Blake Griffin has decided that the time has come to forgoe his last two years of eligibility and declare for the 2009 NBA draft.

At a joint press conference with Head Coach Jeff Capel in the Lloyd Noble Center yesterday, the sophomore declared his intent to go pro.

"First, I want to thank everybody for coming," started Griffin, "This past week I have been going over in my mind what I should do. I sat down with Coach Capel and my family and I think it is time for me to move on and take my game to the next level.

"(The decision) was tough. I love playing here, this is my home state. This is the school I wanted to come to, obviously. It is tough to walk away from something like this, but at the same time this is a big opportunity. I felt like I was ready for it this year as opposed to last year."

Griffin will depart from the Sooner Nation one of the most accomplished players in Sooner men's basketball, averaging 22.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He also registered 30 double-doubles.

He will leave the team along with his older brother, senior Taylor Giriffin, as well as seniors Austin English and Omar Leary.

OU Women Advance to Final Four, 74-68

Though the season is over for the Oklahoma men's basketball team, the Sooner ladies are heading to St. Louis where they will compete with three other teams for the number one spot in NCAA women's basketball.

The cemented their ticket to St. Louis after defeating the Purdue Boilermakers, 74-68.

With this opportunity, Courtney Paris now has the chance to back up her national championship guarantee earlier in the season, leading the charge for Oklahoma with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocks.

If the Sooners don't win the title, Paris announced on her sneior night that she'd give back her scholarship.

They earned their second trip to the Final Four in school history, the only other time they reached this point was back in 2002, where they met Connecticut in the title game. They're the first Big 12 team to reach the Final Four since the Baylor Bears won the national championship in 2005.

Stay Tuned....

Sooners Men Return Home to Norman, 72-60.

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels were, in the end, too much for the Oklahoma Sooners, ending their dream season at the Elite Eight, 72-60.

Ironically, this game was not the Tyler Hansbrough vs. Blake Griffin match-up that everyone expected it to be. Hansbrough spent the majority of his time in the game on the sideline in foul trouble, and Blake Griffin struggled through double and sometimes triple-teaming from the Tar Heels, stifled.

This limited the Sooners to attempting to attain their points through perimeter shots and three-pointers, which the they could very rarely accomplish throughout the game. They were forced to try to physically power their way down the center, past the UNC defenders, and punch it in. Even then, they struggled to put up the points.

It was truly a team effort on both fronts. This game was not Hanbrough vs. Griffin, it was North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, Tar Heels vs. Sooners, and it was the players decked out in white and blue that hoisted the south regional trophy over them when the clock read zero.

But we cannot downplay Blake Griffin's performance. The sophomore scored 23 points and brought down 16 rebounds, doing everything he could to push his team onward to no avail.

So it is the Tar Heels that advance to the Final Four for the second year in a row.

Stay tuned.....

Sooners Blast Their Way Into the Elite 8.

A victory over the Syracuse Orange, 84-71, has officially propelled the Oklahoma Sooners into the Elite Eight.

The Orange never had an answer for the combined scoring efforts of OU's Blake Griffin and Tony Crocker.

Griffin had 30 points and 14 rebounds added to his extensive resume last night. He became the first player since 1969's Mike Maloy of Davidson to record 25 points and 10 rebounds in the first rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Crocker also contributed 28 points to the sooners ending score of 84, overcoming his previous slump of only scoring eight in the first two rounds.

Syracuse appeared to have come out too relaxed for their own good, missing their first 10 3-pointer attempts and ending the game 7 for 24. They also let the ball slip from their hands into the Sooners' 18 times.

There are some slight qualms in the Sooner Nation over the health of Blake Griffin, who came down favoring his noggin after banging it on the backboard during a dunk. We will see if that has any effect on the OU forward when the Sooners move on to play the University of North Carolina Tar Heels Sunday at 5:05 EST.

The Orange's Jonny Flynn led his team with 22 points despite playing in the second half with a back bruise after a block attempt gone sour against Blake Griffin.

Stay Tuned....

Sooners Feeling Sweet

The man in the picture is the talk of the town around here in Norman.

The Oklahoma Sooners will advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003 after a great weekend.

OU handily defeated the number 15-seed Morgan State Bears 82-54 and Blake Griffin still managed to get beat up after being flipped onto his back by Morgan State Player Ameer Ali. Apart from a bent-out-of-shape tailbone, though, he was still the man of the night in the Sooner's next game against number 10-seed Michigan.

The Sooners defeated the Wolverines 73-63 in a game that was only decided by one point at the half. Once again, Blake Griffin showed off his dominance with 33 points and 17 rebounds.

But credit has to be given to junior guard Tony Crocker, who played good defense against the Blue's top scorer, Manny Harris, taking three charges.

Fans and players agree that game against Michigan saw the best performance from the Sooners since Griffin returned to the team after recovering from the concussion he sustained during the reguar season.

But the work is far from over. OU now faces number 3-seed Syracuse this Friday at 6:27 P.M. CST.

Will the Sooners prove they're Elite? Or will their ride end this weekend?

Stay Tuned....

Spot News: Ambulance and Fire Engine Arriving Outside Dale Hall on the OU campus.

An ambulance as well as a fire engine arrived near the side entrance of Dale Hall on the campus of the University of Oklahoma around 10:15 this morning.

I arrived on the scene to see what the commotion was about. It didn't take me long to set the camera up on the tripod and start filming outside, getting shots of the vehicles with their sirens blazing and the looks of students passing by.

It took several minutes before any sort of lead developed. I finally saw paramedics and officers leaving the hall with a stretcher in tow.

But the stretcher was carrying no injured person, only the equipmen they had gone in with.

I approached one of the men, Capt. Frank Crawley, to determine what had exactly happened that had called for their arrival. As it turns out, a girl within Dale Hall had suffered a slight panic attack most likely induced by stress.

Crawley told me it was a pretty routine call, that she was perfectly alright and not in need of medical attention, in fact her husband was en route to pick her up.

So this didn't turn out to be the hot lead I thought it would be, but better to have gotten film of nothing than to hasve missed a major campus scoop.

Stay Tuned....

Big 12 Tourney Blog #15: There's Confetti On My Camera

The Cinderella Story of the Baylor Bears has come to an end. Four games in four days finally took its toll on the Bears.

On the other hand, the Missouri Tiger proved their mettle on the court, surrounding and suffocating the Baylor offense with the defense that Mizzou Coach Mike Anderson says they hang their hats on.

Missouri defeated Baylor 73-60 to become the Big 12 Champions.

And let me tell you, they certainly know how to party.

Check out how at my final report for the Big 12 Tournament. It's been one heck of a fun journey and I thank Palestra.net for the opportunity.

Stay Tuned....

Big 12 Tourney Blog #14: The 2nd Half of the Championship Game

The second half begins to thunderous applause. Let the fur fly...from tigers and bears, that is,

....

They have ice cream in the media room, this is awesome.

....

Missouri's defense has really showed up here in the beginning of the second half, keeping even great Baylor scorers like Curtis Jerrells and LaceDarius Dunn from making a basket, much less a rebound.

We've hit the sixteen-and-a-half minute mark, the Tigers lead it 46-35.

....

It'a hard to enjoy an orange Dreamsickle when you're typing one-handed like a madman.

....

This is the joke on my ice cream stick. What do you find in the middle of nowhere?

The letter H.

Lame. I can't believe I ate my way to a joke like that.

....

There's only fifteen minutes left in the game, and Mizzou is stedily making it worse for Cinderella, leading Baylor by eleven points, 48-37.

But a three-pointer made by LaceDarius Dunn re-ignites the fire in the Baylor Bears.

Not sure if I hear a fat lady singing or not.

....

11-and-a-half minutes left, and rhe Bears are clawing back, but aren't quite there yet. Mizzou still leads them 51-46. The Bears must learn the secret to guarding the Tigers better if they hope to complete this Cinderella staory.

The Tigers, it appears, have heard enough talk about destiny and are ready to show who is the best in the Big 12.

....

10 minutes are left and the Bears still trail the Tigers by six, 52-46. Things are looking great for the Tigers and not so great for the Bears. But there's still plenty of basketball left to be played. Now we'll see if the Bears will fold under the pressure or come out to shine.

....

Baylor's shooting has been off ever since they arrived back on the court for the second half. Could the pressure from Mizzou's defense be the case? Or are they starting to lose their upset bug? Who knows, but there's only eight minutes left and they trail the Tigers by 11 again.

If the Tigers keep this up, they could very well be looking at a 2009 championship, unless the Bears have some bite in them yet.

....

M-I-Z!!!! Z-O-U!!!! The cry from the Tiger faithful goes up again during a timeout on the floor with 6;45 left in the championship game. The Tigers are still holding a formidable lead, 61-48.

....

A few free-throws and key rebounds and one three-pointer could spell a possible comeback for the Bears, at least according to the Baylor band, who has started another round of "The Imperial March".

....

Under five minutes left, and the Tigers aren't letting up. Missouri: 65, Baylor: 54.

....

LaceDarius Dunn of Baylor went down hard after a failed jump-shot, but has gotten up just fine. No injury scares yet for the Bears, and the Tigers all look healthy as...well...Tigers.

....

The Mizzou strikes up with "Eye of the Tiger", which they certainly have shown in this half, still leading by 11 with three-and-a-half minutes left, 67-56.

....

One minute left, and the score reads Missouri: 70, Baylor: 58. It seems the clock has fiinally struck midnight on this Cinderella Story, as the M-I-Z, Z-O-U chant fills the center again, the Tiger fans whooping in delight at what they have accomplished throughout the season.

Big 12 Tourney Blog #13: The 1st Half of the Championship Game

I have arrived by the court inside the Ford Center, and the stands are filled with green and yellow and then yellow and black. The teams are out on the court shooting their practice shots. The cheerleaders, bands, and mascots are rocking the air.

It's that time of the year again. Championship season. It's the Missouri Tigers against the Baylor Bears. Who will win? I have no clue, but we're surely in for quite a game.

....

The Baylor fans carry prophetic signs cheering their prodigal Bears on to victory. The phrases "We Believe" and "Yes We Can" (really, who didn't see that coming?) fill the stands opposite me.

Bear fans know that a miracle could linger in the air and that their underdogs could have their day. I'm starting to think I'm in a movie. Hope they get my good side.

....

The Mizzou fans are no less enthusiastic. They know they have fought hard to get where they are now, just downing a very persevering Oklahoma State team, even when the Ford Center was covered in orange and black and it might as well have been a home game for the Cowboys.

The Mizzou fans shout back at the Baylor fans, not willing to be stung by a Cinderella Story. Can they make the clock strike midnight? We'll find out soon enough.

....

The Bear Band plays their trademark upset song, "The Imperial March", indicating that they are ready to serve the upset special to the Tigers.

Mizzou is not amused as the black Tiger flag flies across the court and the Tigers storm the court, followed swiftly by the Bears clad in their green and gold.

...

M-I-Z!!!! Z-O-U!!!!

The Tiger Chant stretches from both sides of the stands.

The starting line-ups are announced for both teams, it's just about game time.

....

The Bears capture the tip-off and try to go for the first strike, unsuccessfully.

....

Kevin Rogers of Baylor casts the first stone with a two-point shot, the Bear faithful explodes.

But Zaire Taylor of Missouri quickly ties it up with one of his own. Crud, this game's gonna go both ways, isn't it?

....

A three-pointer puts Mizzou in the lead for the first time with 15:30 left in the first half, 5-4.

....

We've reached the 10-minute mark here in the first half and we have witnessed what can only be described as a grudge match. Despite two tiring games with Kansas and Texas, the Bears appear as fresh as they've ever been, leading the Mizzou Tigers by 7, 19-12.

....

Eight minutes left. Mizzou just hit a three-pointer to take the lead, 20-19.

Another three-pointer by Kim English now increases the lead for the Tigers, 23-19. Mizzou is showing they are in no way, shape, or form going to lie down to the Bears.

This is going to be one heck of a night.

....

The tables have turned. Six-and-a-half minutes left and the Tigers take control, leading the Bears 27-20.

....

On a side note, I've never been this close to the action before. I live in constant fear of having to dodge a ball or a sweaty, soaring player. I should probably start thinking up a maneuver to save my equipment and take the hit if that happens.

....

Four minutes to halftime, and Mizzou still has a four-point lead on Baylor, 29-25, cut down to 29-28 thanks to a three-pointer by Baylor's Henry Dugat with one second left on the shot clock!

Something tells me this excitement isn't going to abate.

....

The Baylor Bear is taking a nap in the middle of the court during a timeout. I don't know how anyone could feel like sleeping right now with a game like this.

....

The first half is over and we head into halftime. It looked like the Baylor Bears would have this one in the bags with the way they initially showed up to the game, quickly going up by 6+ point lead in the first few minutes of the game. The MIzzou Tugers finally decided they had had enough of being pushed around, and they put together a strong rally, putting up points and doing their best to keep the hot Bears out of scoring range.

Mizzou Coach Mike Anderson said defense is the area of play that his Tigers hang their hats on, and it didn't appear that he exaggerated.

The score after the half: Missouri: 37, Baylor: 33.

Still too close to call, but what more could you want from a first half?

Stay tuned....

Big 12 Tourney Blog #12: It's...The...Eye of the Tiger

It truly is, now that the Missouri Tigers have routed the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 67-59 to advance to the finale of the Big 12 Tournament to take on the Baylor Bears.

What else could we expect from the championship game but a classic Big12 North vs. Big 12 South match-up?

Not only that, but the fact that the underdog Baylor Bears have suddenly risen to the top and Mizzou having been the last high seed standing in the tourney.

This is the stuff that movies are made of.

Who knows? If the game proves to be that titanic, we may see a movie made out of this: how the little Bears that could battled it out with the ever-pervasive Tigers.

Claw of the Bear.

Eye of the Tiger.

One Big 12 Championship Prize.

Count on me to bring you coverage.

The final game approaches, stay tuned.....

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22387)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #11: The Cinderella Bears Are Goin' to the Ball

The first semi-final game in underway. Will it be the Texas Longhorns or the Baylor Bears advancing to the championship game? I've got my grapes, popcorn and orange soda to keep me alive during this coverage.

....

Almost ten minutes into the game, and the Bears are in trouble, sinking into a 10-point deficit, largely thanks to the 3-point profficiency of Texas' A.J. Abrams and the suffocating play of the Texas defense and Dexter Pittman.

Still, the Bears seem like they're only regrouping. The Baylor Bear just came over and tried to get at some of my popcorn, feigned vomiting into the band and is now running from side to side across the Baylor endzone. It's a good day.

....

A member of the Texas Longhorns just jumped towards a Baylor player, made no contact and landed on his stomach, and foul was called on the Bears. The band boos.

....

We've reached the five-minute mark in the first half and it's not looking good for the Cinderella Bears, still down by nine.

....

One of the things I love most about being down here on the floor is seeing all the fan's reactions to activity on the field. It's quite entertaining. Just remember, when you're in the stands reacting to a call, you are being watched by someone. Food for thought.

....

Now we're at half-time. The Bears have calwed their way to up to a 6-point deficit now, but only time in the second half will tell if they will go to the ball. Stay tuned.

....

The players have arrived back on the court for the start of the second half. The score remains: Texas-39, Baylor- 33

....

With 15 minutes left in the game, we have a tie. 45-45. The whole stadium just exploded.

....

We've reached the 10-minute mark 'till the end of the game and we are still tied, 55-55. Could this be anymore suspenseful? We're only playing for the title game here.

....

Texas' Dexter Pittman seems to have suffered a stinger to his knee, he fell on the court and didn't get up for a few seconds. He continues to play, but seemingly favoring the other leg. Twice he's been fouled and he hasn't made a single free throw since the sting. That could be a huge offensive disadvantage for this Texas team, who rely heavily on his physical play.

....

Five and a hald minutes left, Baylor takes the lead 59-57, all hope for the Bears is not lost.

....

Three players are down. Texas' Dexter Pittman is not getting up, and Baylor's Kevin Rogers and Tweety Carter need assistance rising to their feet. No telling how this will affect either team's offensive game. Three and a half minutes left, still tied at 61-61. Crunch time.

....

Baylor's Kevin Rogers and Tweety Carter returned to the court on the next drive. Texas' Dexter Pittman is on the bench.

....

1.:08 left, 67-65 Baylor. Let the nails be bitten.

....

27.2. seconds left, 69-67 Baylor. My heart just skipped every other beat for a couple seconds, I think I need to lie down.

....

The Bears have officially clawed and torn their way into the Big 12 Tournament Title Game. The final score: Baylor-76, Texas-70.

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22379)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #10: Mizzou Garners Special Honor

Of simply being the only high-seed team placed in the quarterfinals to actually win their game.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders looked like they may have had a promising run after upsetting the Texas A&M Aggies, but the Missouri Tigers quickly moved in to settle that, trouncing them 81-60.

So now it'll be the Tigers vs. the Okie State Cowboys, arguably the hottest team in the tourney.

Find out Mizzou's reaction to their special honor in my next report.

Stay tuned...

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22283)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #9: The Time Of The Cowboy Has Come

As a Sooners fan, my stomach's dropped out of my torso.

As a journalist, that was one heck of a game, with Oklahoma losing to their in-state rival, Oklahoma State 71-70.

The atmosphere was supercharged on the final play.

Picture it. Two seconds left in the game, OU in possession and down by one, they went for it.

Unfortunately, Blake Griffin's desperation attempt was a failure, but that's not what had coaches and players up in arms near the end. The clock was stuck on 2.3 seconds and then 0.8 seconds after Blake Griffin's miss.

Still, the officials ruled the game won by the Cowboys. They will advance to th semi-finals for a shot at the title game.

Tune into my report for the post-game and the Big 12's official released statement concerning the time issue.

The championship game draws nearer....

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22266)

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22267)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #8:1st Semifinal Decided, Baylor vs. Texas

You heard me right.

The Texas Longhorns just broke the losing streak against the Kansas State Wildcats, sneaking by 61-58.

Which means only one thing: the first semifinal of the Big 12 Tournament has been decided.

The Baylor Bears against the Texas Longhorns for a shot at the title game.

UT played a great defensive game, holding even K-State's Denis Clemente. That guys is usually a three-pointer machine, but not today.

But there's got to be pressure knowing you'll battle it out with the team that took down the number one seed, right?

Well, find out what the Longhorns said in my next report.

Stay tuned.....

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22257)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #7: The Bears that Could.

................................................................................................................................................................ .

That's all anyone has to say.

The Kansas Jayhwaks, favored to take the Big 12 Tournament, have just fallen to the counted-out Baylor Bears, 71-64.

They are now the Bears that could.

The Jayhwaks just looked downright tired throughout the entire game. Can you blame them, though? They went from having a "re-building year" to pushing themselves, once again, to the front of the conference prior to the tourney.

Baylor came out on the court fresh off a victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers and took no prisoners.

They will now advance to the semi-finals to take on the winner of Texas vs. K-Satate.

I certainly never saw this coming from BU, but then again I didn't see Texas Tech winning last night, either.

I've got a feeling we're in for a wild ride.

Stay Tuned....

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22236

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22239

Big 12 Tourney Blog #6: Upset City, Population Texas A&M.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been fairly inconsistent with their last few games.

We've seen a Red Raider team that cound pull of an upset over the current No. 1 seed in the Big 12, the Kansas Jayhawks.

But then again, we've also seen a Red Raider team that falls to Iowa State.

The first half of their game with Texas A&M was showing off the second team, but on the shoulders of Mike Singletary, the first Tech team arrived to bounce back from a 20+ point deficit to clinch the victory at the final buzzer, 88-85.

Here's what they had to say afterward.

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22215)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #5: Bedlam Come To The Big 12 Tournament

These teams really want me to lose my objective cool, don't they?

Well, yet another Bedlam Rivalry Showdown will, and this one could be for all the marbles.

After smoking the Iowa State Cyclones 91-67, the Okie State Cowboys will go on to the quarterfinals and get in a third scrabble with the Oklahoma Sooners.

You would think that the Ford Center here in OKC would be a neutral site for the rivalry, right?

Well, check out what Okie State coaches and players had to say in my next report.

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22210)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #4: The Eyes of Texas are Spotting the Quarterfinals.

Now, my arch-rivals, the Texas Longhorns have advanced to Round Two of the Big 12 Tournament, and I couldn't be more thrilled. **Gagging noises**

But in all seriousness, after a season where the trademark is inconsistent play, the Longhorns grabbed onto a sense of stability and hugged it tight, defeating the Colorado Buffalos 67-56.

So far, the Southern Divsion of the Big 12 seems to be the kings of Round 1, but will it last?

Now the Longhorns have an entirely different trial up ahead, the Kansas State Wildcats. The Wildcats have long been a thorn in UT's side, winning not only the last two meetings between their football teams, but also the last tme these two met on the court, 85-81 in OT.

Can the Longhorns snap the streak?

Stay tuned.....

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22200)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #3: Baylor Bears Move On.

They Baylor Bears capped off an impressive performance on the court with the honor of being the first Big 12 team to win in the tournament.

The final score was Baylor- 65, Nebraska- 49.

But now it's out of the frying pan and into the fire for da Bears, who will advance to the quarterfinals and duke it out with the current No. 1 seed in the Big 12, the Kansas Jayhawks. But they are confident after this performance that they are focused and can keep their eyes on the prize.

As for the Cornhuskers, they are knocked out, but they are still satisfied with how their team never gave up and played 'till the very end.

As for the possible termination of the Huskers' NCAA tournament bid, Coach Doc Sadler thinks there's no reason that they shouldn't have a shot, or "someone's gonna have to take a look at themselves".

Stay for continued Big 12 tournament coverage. Now the burnt orange has arrived....i think I'm gonna be sick.

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22190)

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22192)

Big 12 Tourney Blog #2: 30-27

Well, the Baylor Bears have certainly proved to be quite the scrappy team. I myself didn't have too many high hopes for them, but they are really proving themselves out on the field.

Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew had talked about this tournament being a "clean slate" and Guard Curtis Jerrells said how every team is no 0-0 and he looks forward to playing.

But how 'bout those Huskers? They were falling apart, seemingly, trailing by ten near the end of the first half, but pulled off a surprising comeback, and now this game is not over by any means.

Plenty has happened in one half. The Baylor Band has already sounded off with the Imperial March and Eye of the Tiger (which I think sort of belongs to Missouri). The cheerleaders have strutted their stuff. The Baylor Bear taunted the Husker Band from across the court, and the Nebraska mascot turned around, stuck his butt out and told them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

More to come, there's still another half to be played. Stay tuned for more of my coverage of the Big 12 tournament.

Big Tourey Blog 1: The Aggies Are Ready to Go.

When you think of Big 12 South teams, what do you think of?

"Oh yeah, you got yer Texas Longhorns, yer Oklahoma Sooners....and....who's that team in the middle?"

That's right, the Texas A&M Aggies, the team that usually gets overlooked when you have other star programs in the South.

But all of that might change tomorrow. The Aggies are on a hot streak of 6 wins and counting, their last one being over the current #3 seed in the Big 12, the Missouri Tigers (Sorry, Will.)

Check out my first report on Palestra.net from the Ford Center in OKC of the Big 12 Tournament about it, and don't forget to catch the rest of reports coming soon!

http://palestra.net/videos/play/22174)

March 2nd Designated Sam Bradford Day in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Senate heard two resolutions on Monday in recognition of the achievements of the OU football team and sophomore quarterback, Sam Bradford.

In honor of Bradford being awarded the Heisman Trophy and in gratitude for his decision to return to the Sooners next season, the resolution designates March 2nd as Sam Bradford Day.

You know you've hit the big-time when you get your own holiday, right?

Darfur Genocide Podcast #1

Don't Say No to the Girls.

Believe it or not, the little girls with the green sashes are suffering in this economy as well.

So far this year, Girl Scout cookie sales are thinning. USA Today reported that the national numbers are not yet in, but that regional Girl Scout councils across the country are feeling the impact of the recession.

To be specific, they have seen declines of at least 19% in pre-order sales taken place since the start of January through early February.

The unfortunate concept is that pre-order sales, as in door-to-door and workplace sales, constitute around 70% of overall cookie sales.

It is now the Girl Scout Council's hope that the lack of pre-order sales will be made up with spring sales in shopping booths.

Girl Scouts typically sell cookies from January to March, and all the proceeds go to the many troops and councils spread out nationwide for trips, community projects, and scholarships.

In fact, each box of Girl Scout cookies has been reduced about one ounce this year because of amped up ingredient and transportation costs.

But it's not that hard to support them in their time of need. There were Girl Scouts selling cookies at the bottom of Gaylord College today after I got done with the Wednesday OU Nightly boradcast. It only cost me seven dollars for my essential Thin Mints and Tagalongs, each box only costing $3.50, which has been the standard price per box for the past five years now.

So don't turn your backs on the girls. Besides, you know you want a box.

Sooners Proved A Great Deal Last Night

A loss at home always hurts. These last couple of days have been like a blur for the Sooner nation. We went from being undeafeated in the Big 12 to having four days go by and now suffering our second consecutive loss.

Everyone is hoping to see #23, Blake Griffin, back on the court next time when the Sooners travel to Lubbock to take on Big 12 rival Texas Tech.

For the Kansas game, Griffin was still recovering from the concussion that was dealt to him by the hands of Texas' Dexter Pittman in Austin. We could all tell in the beginning by the way he held his face in his hands and rubbed his temples as the crowd cheered, it was clear that the lighs and sounds were bugging him. We all knew it was for the best that he sit this one out.

Still, the potential Player of the Year got into the game in the second half. When the Sooners cut a 20-point deficit down to three halfway through the second half, Griffin was up and jumping and cheering his team on.

Unfortunately, cheering was the only thing Griffin could do in this game, though he did look like he desperately wanted to suit up and get in.

The Oklahoma Sooners did lose, 87-78, and have now been knocked down to second place in the Big 12 conference, but they did take away something that they could be proud of. They rallied together and put up a great performance even with one of their leaders benched. They just were not ready to face a fresh and vengeful Jayhawk team.

Hopefully OU can come together after this game under this new sense of confidence, and when Griffin does return (God be willing), they will grow together even more and be ready for March.

We will see....