http://www.tulsaworld.comThe latest news and information from the Tulsa World.5Copyright 2013, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved.It hasn't always been classic, but it has been a very interesting NBA Finals. San Antonio has two chances to win the title, starting with Game 6 tonight. I enjoy watching the Spurs play and ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Spurs_vs_Heat_Who_do_you_have/20831?subj=50Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:33:35 CDTI attended the Iba Awards last week, then went straight to vacation, so I haven't had the chance to praise the efforts of the Rotary Club of Tulsa. As usual, the 20th Iba Awards was a first-class ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Best_lesson_from_Iba_Awards_Coach_Cal_is_right_about/20785?subj=50Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:41:34 CDTIt was a good news, bad news kind of home opener for the Tulsa Shock on Monday. The good news: There was a buzz around the building I haven’t seen for a sporting event since the Bassmaster Classic ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Shock_needs_better_game_management_but_most_importantly/20551?subj=50Wed, 29 May 2013 12:55:25 CDTFormer University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has partnered with the city of St. Louis to collect supplies for victims of this week’s Oklahoma tornadoes. Bradford, the Rams quarterback, ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Bradford_talks_tornado_relief_Updated_list_of_local/20507?subj=50Fri, 24 May 2013 15:17:22 CDTSports figures and teams from near and far are pitching in to help those impacted by the tornadoes in Oklahoma on Sunday and Monday. We were alerted to one of the most interesting efforts by ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Sports_figures_from_near_and_far_pitch_in_to_help_tornado/20476?subj=50Wed, 22 May 2013 19:28:49 CDTSports teams throughout the Tulsa area are finding ways big and small to help the Moore tornado relief effort. John Hoover is writing about many of the sports-related relief efforts in Wednesday's ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Local_teams_pitching_in_to_help_Moore/20448?subj=50Tue, 21 May 2013 18:20:00 CDTOklahoma City made its last stand Monday night. But as is often the case with last stands, this one proved futile. What more could the Thunder ask? * It built a 17-point ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/A_year_later_Thunder_in_need_of_upgrades_to_stay_NBA/20357?subj=50Tue, 14 May 2013 18:26:00 CDTThis time last year, we were planning a trip to Illinois to write a story about new Oklahoma State starting quarterback Wes Lunt’s high school graduation. A year later, Lunt is returning home ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Lunts_transfer_from_OSU_may_be_best_thing_to_happen/20280?subj=50Thu, 09 May 2013 18:24:20 CDTOur friends at USA Today are really good with databases. They released their latest today, listing 228 Division I schools in order of 2012 total athletic department revenue. Both ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/OU_OSU_rank_in_top_25_for_2012_athletic_department/20244?subj=50Wed, 08 May 2013 10:46:24 CDTAs uninspiring as the NBA regular season can be, the league’s playoffs usually make up for it. How good were the NBA playoffs Monday night? The defending champion and presumptive 2013 winner ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/OKC_vs_Memphis_Game_2_Who_do_you_have/20233?subj=50Tue, 07 May 2013 15:36:37 CDTAfter a quick turnaround and with fragile confidence, Oklahoma City got just what it needed in Game 1 against Memphis -- a come-from-behind win despite a variety of errors early and late. The ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Thunder_thrives_playing_a_slower_pace_against_Memphis/20191?subj=50Sun, 05 May 2013 15:47:40 CDTIt’s officially OK to panic if you’re an Oklahoma City Thunder fan. It would be hard for the Thunder to have looked more lost than it did in Wednesday’s Game 5 home defeat to Houston. ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/OKC_Thunder_Desperation_is_a_poor_strategy/20165?subj=50Thu, 02 May 2013 17:18:52 CDTTwo games in to life after Russell Westbrook, and I’m still not sure what to make of the new Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC shot 48.6 percent from the field in Game 4, got 38 points from Kevin Durant ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Be_careful_what_you_wish_for_Life_after_Russell_Westbrook/20121?subj=50Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:59:40 CDTGame 1 of the post-Russell Westbrook era for Oklahoma City was at least exciting. The Thunder made an early statement, then blew a 26-point lead before hanging on for a Game 3 victory. ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Thunder_survives_without_Westbrook_but_there_is_work/20066?subj=50Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:58:06 CDTI received an email a couple of weeks ago from Sarah Ritchie. Ritchie performs weddings in New York City, but she is a native Oklahoman and a big college basketball fan. This year's ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Oklahoma_transplant_in_New_York_City_shares_memories/20059?subj=50Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:15:07 CDTFriday’s news that Russell Westbrook will soon undergo surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee again teaches us about the fine line between winning and losing in professional sports....http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Russell_Westbrooks_injury_again_shows_fine_line_between/20044?subj=50Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:53:33 CDTI gave you guys a day to catch your breath. So Thunder fans, how do you feel about your team after Wednesday’s near-epic fourth-quarter collapse against the Houston Rockets? You had ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/How_do_you_feel_now_Thunder_fans/20039?subj=50Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:34:55 CDTIf Oklahoma State basketball player Marcus Smart wanted a cautionary tale about staying in school for an extra season, he could look no farther than Norman. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/It_will_be_an_interesting_three_days_for_OUs_Landry/20013?subj=50Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:53:27 CDTIt remains to be seen how well new Tulsa Shock guard Skylar Diggins performs on the basketball court. But by taking the former Notre Dame star, Tulsa has, at the very least, added a full-time ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Shock_drafts_a_new_point_guard_and_a_one_person_marketing/19894?subj=50Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:49:39 CDTI'm not sure why, but there's something about Bob Stoops' crusty personality I find charming. Stoops is direct, brusk and unapproachable. He says what he thinks, unapologetic for his views and ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/What_I_love_about_Bob_Stoops_He_doesnt_care_if_you/19836?subj=50Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:21:34 CDTAfter a long wait, Tulsa finally received word Wednesday it would be handed no sanctions from the NCAA due to the gambling allegations against former athletic director Ross Parmley. ( ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Not_even_a_slap_on_the_wrist_NCAA_does_TU_a_favor/19823?subj=50Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:33:47 CDTSomehow it's fitting the Liz Cambage era in Tulsa ended with a text message. According to team officials, Cambage's agent texted the team Tuesday to say she wouldn't be joining the Shock for ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/A_worse_decision_for_the_Shock_Hiring_Nolan_Richardson/19805?subj=50Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:45:48 CDTNow that college basketball season is winding down, it's time to focus full time on the NBA. I like the NBA just fine, but I'm one of those guys who likes the playoff version of the NBA a lot ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/New_Thunder_looks_suspiciously_like_old_Thunder/19767?subj=50Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:41:00 CDTI have to admit. I'm a sucker for NCAA Tournament success stories like the one this year at Wichita State. The Shockers were leaking oil something fierce down the stretch against Ohio State ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Will_Wichita_States_Gregg_Marshall_continue_trend_of/19714?subj=50Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:19:59 CDTThere are plenty of disadvantages to playing neutral site college football games. But there are some advantages. One of them: marketing your program to a new audience. Oklahoma State ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Houston_Texans_help_market_Oklahoma_State_Mississippi/19645?subj=50Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:20:41 CDTTuesday was an extremely interesting day on the realignment front, as a couple of items bubbling under the surface were thrust into the news. Tulsa's long-reported move to the Big East became ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Latest_conference_realignment_news_could_alter_competitive/19633?subj=50Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:25:15 CDTEven if my bracket often does, the opening weekend of the NCAA men's basketball tournament rarely disappoints. Here are a few observations from the first weekend: 1. Welcome to ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Opening_weekend_of_the_NCAA_Tournament_never_disappoints/19589?subj=50Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:51:58 CDTAs usual, it was a fun first day of the NCAA Tournament -- that is, of course, if you didn't have a stake in any of the outcomes. Here are a few quick observations from Thursday: * ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/NCAA_Tournament_Day_1_Thursdays_only_upset_is_a_bracket/19561?subj=50Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:29:32 CDTI'll admit: I don't watch as wide a variety of college basketball as I used to. That becomes a distinct disadvantage this time of year. I still enjoy filling out a bracket as much ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Bracket_analysis_101_Why_I_have_Louisville_to_win_it/19545?subj=50Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:18:36 CDTIt's a good time to be a women's college basketball fan in Oklahoma. For the first time in state history, all four Division I schools in Oklahoma are headed to the NCAA Tournament. ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Tulsa_womens_basketball_rewarded_for_C_USA_run/19523?subj=50Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:11:25 CDTThe wide-open nature of the men's college basketball season may not manifest itself during the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but it did seem to create one significant change in Sunday's Selection Show. ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Breaking_down_the_NCAA_Tournament_bracket/19494?subj=50Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:55:01 CDTIf you had Oklahoma State as one of the last two state schools playing conference tournament basketball, raise your hand. Now keep it raised if you had Tulsa as the other. That probably ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/A_fun_day_of_college_basketball_leaves_Oklahoma_State/19470?subj=50Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:16:00 CDTYou'll hear a lot of talk about the bubble this week in the run up to the NCAA Tournament. Who needs a big week to climb off the bubble, you ask? Oklahoma State basketball coach Travis Ford ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Travis_Ford_has_a_chance_to_shake_his_reputation/19450?subj=50Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:27:15 CDTFor my money, there is no stretch on the sports calendar better than NCAA basketball in the month of March. There's the non-stop week-plus of conference tournaments, mid-major teams living their ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/C_USA_Tournament_gives_Tulsa_fans_a_chance_to_embrace/19438?subj=50Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:57:36 CDTIf you didn't see ESPN SportsCenter on Tuesday, you may have missed the latest musical stylings of the Golf Boys. The Golf Boys are the YouTube alter egos of PGA stars Ben Crane, Bubba Watson, ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/In_case_you_missed_it_the_Golf_Boys_are_back/19350?subj=50Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:56:20 CDTRealignment never seems to end and never lacks intrigue. The latest news came late Thursday night when multiple outlets reported the seven Catholic basketball schools who are splitting from ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Whats_in_a_name_The_new_Big_East_football_teams_are/19299?subj=50Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:50:55 CDTAs Oklahoma fan and WWE personality Jim Ross might say, business is about to pick up inside the Tulsa athletic department. Sometimes you could go months or even years without having anything ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Business_is_about_to_pick_up_in_the_Tulsa_athletic/19254?subj=50Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:25:10 CDTWouldn't you know it? After weeks of mild winter temperatures, we get the most snow we've had in two years two days before the Bassmaster Classic. Fishing in February in Northeast ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/The_Bassmaster_Classic_is_here_Are_you_ready/19140?subj=50Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:12:18 CDTAssistant editor Adam Daigle passed on this gem from the website StadiumJourney.com . It seems the crew at the website toured all ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Survey_says_University_of_Tulsa_has_worst_football/19110?subj=50Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:32:00 CDTSo how much fun was that? The latest installment of Bedlam men's basketball was everything we'd hoped it would be and everything we've been waiting for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to deliver ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Latest_installment_of_Bedlam_mens_basketball_provides/19093?subj=50Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:41:53 CDTOur friends at The Oklahoman had a very enlightening Q&A with Oklahoma State super booster Boone Pickens on Thursday when the oilman was honored with the unveiling of his portrait at the Oklahoma State ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Boone_Pickens_to_Mike_Gundy_You_got_what_you_wanted/19085?subj=50Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:34:28 CDTMaybe now it can be stylish again to get excited about Bedlam basketball. Really, if you're a fan of college basketball or Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, there's no excuse not to be in Gallagher-Iba ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/At_least_this_year_Bedlam_basketball_is_back/19071?subj=50Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:55:30 CDTI've never been in favor of paying college athletes. But what's happened in the Oklahoma football program the last few days gives me a change of heart. As you've probably heard by ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/OU_coaching_changes_show_seedy_side_of_college_football/19036?subj=50Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:57:46 CDTHere's all you need to know about the obscurity of Oklahoma State's new offensive coordinator, Mike Yurcich. The initial email sent out by Oklahoma State to confirm Yurcich's hiring referred ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/What_does_todays_OSU_offensive_coordinator_hire_mean/18945?subj=50Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:17:46 CDTAnother National Signing Day has come and gone, and I'm struck by how different it is today compared to 10 years ago. Back then -- which seems like the old days because of the advances in technology ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/National_Signing_Day_If_you_believe_the_rankings_OU/18915?subj=50Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:04:00 CDTArkansas is making news on Signing Day, but not exactly for the reasons new head coach Brett Bielema would like. In another episode of National Signing Day craziness, ESPN.com is reporting that ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/National_Signing_Day_Reports_say_Arkansas_commits_mom/18904?subj=50Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:01:00 CDTI hope you're enjoying our National Signing Day coverage. If you haven't already, log on to TulsaWorld.com/signingday to ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/National_Signing_Day_Follow_the_coverage_now_comeback/18900?subj=50Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:03:40 CDTYou remember the old joke, 'Football isn't life and death. It's much more important than that.' Well, we've come across another example. The CBS station in Houston recently did a ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Cancer_survivors_latest_crusade_Firing_Mack_Brown/18886?subj=50Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:12:42 CDTNow, we've seen just about everything -- a Super Bowl stopped by a power outage. If not for that, this game might have fallen meekly into the Super Bowl's previous history of blowouts. ...http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Gameday_Instant_Analysis_Super_Bowl_edition/18847?subj=50Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:15:34 CDTThe older I've gotten, the less attention I pay to all the Super Bowl buildup. As I type this, nearly six hours before kickoff, CBS has already started its Super Bowl pre-game activity. That's ......http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/Super_Bowl_Sunday_Who_do_you_have/18845?subj=50Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:25:31 CDT