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Boston Strangler, Pulling Weeds and Bedlam
Published: 10/31/2008 9:46 AM
Last Modified: 10/31/2008 9:46 AM

A half dozen things to consider heading into the weekend:
1, I'm buying that Mike Gundy is a new Mike Gundy this season. I attended one of his press luncheons for the first time this season Monday and, unlike a Sunday OSU teleconference that I listened to last season, there didn't seem to be an element of combat.
Good for Gundy. For as much as people wanted to believe that the media was out to get him after the rant, I know a lot of media folks who just wanted Gundy to help himself. He has done that and it is a task made easier when you have a great season minus distractions (quarterback controversy, Chris Collins, etc.).
2, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes issued the following statement after being suspended a game for a marijuana-related incident:
"I would like to apologize to my teammates, the Steelers organization, my family and the fans for my actions that caused me to miss Sunday's game. I recognize that I made a mistake and understand the significance of my actions, and will not make any excuse for my behavior. I look forward to putting this behind me and being accepted by my teammates and the fans as part of this team."
Here's what you didn't see in that statement: "Marijuana is illegal and the only time you will ever see me around weed again is if I am doing yard work."
It's an interesting situation because the family-run franchise has a history of not putting up with off-the-field garbage.
Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News wrote about a dozen years ago that the Steelers might have cut Michael Irvin if he had pulled the same shenanigans in Pittsburgh that he did in Dallas. Steeler players who violated the league's substance abuse policy -- Bam Morris, Eric Green, Carlton Haselrig -- were quickly shown the door out of town.
So you wonder if Holmes knows how close he is to looking for a new employer.
3, The Phillies gave Philadelphia its first title in 25 years, when the 76ers won the 1983 NBA Championship.
Just my opinion, but that 76er group was the best one-year wonder squad in NBA history, losing only one playoff game and beating both Larry Bird's Celtics and Magic Johnson's Lakers en route to the trophy. A Shaq-Kobe Lakers team actually produced a better playoff winning percentage a few years back, but they didn't have to go through Bird and Magic to do it.
Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Moses Malone, Andrew (Boston Strangler) Toney, Kurt Rambis impersonator Marc Iavaroni and All-Star sixth man Bobby Jones were the stars of a near-perfect storm. Of course, the storm was downgraded to a tropical depression the next season when the Sixers lost in the first round to the New Jersey Nets.
4, Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman and Texas receiver Jordan Shipley elevated themselves at the expense of state squads last week. Freeman's 501 yards of total offense against OU was the third-highest total for any player in college football this season. Shipley's 15 catches against OSU were the second-most by any player in college football this season.
5, Arkansas had an emotional game against former coach Houston Nutt last week (an athletic staffer was arrested for getting into it with someone wearing Ole Miss colors), so maybe Tulsa is catching the Hogs at a good time. But consider that TU catches the Razorbacks at a good time about once every decade or two.
6, OU fans balk at the suggestion that OSU should be ranked ahead of the Sooners in Big 12 power rankings or national polls. Cowboy fans are miffed that OSU is ranked below OU despite playing Texas closer. Calm down. There's a little thing called Bedlam at season's end and the teams get to decide who is better on a playing field instead of in opinion forums.




Reader Comments 2 Total
Arthur (4 years ago)
Hey it's a rarity that OSU actually outperforms OU against opponents. Let us savor it a little, especially since craziness has been the theme for bedlam in Stillwater. I mean honestly, how often does we have a legitimate argument to be ranked ahead of OU. We aren't a football school. I know OU is better in football. That doesn't effect my degree hanging on the wall, but honestly when was the last time OSU really was in this position? 20 years ago? 60 years ago? I don't know how long it will last though, I think OSU beating Tech in Lubbock is going to be much harder than OU beating them in Norman. So, this argument could fade quickly in about three weeks, but let OSU fans have their fun for now.
Arthur (4 years ago)
WOW, I just saw my typo. "does we" what the heck was I thinking. I really represented my school in that one. Next time I need to make sure that when deleting OSU and inserting "we" that I actually re-conjugate my verbs properly.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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