Boone the owner
Some OSU fans are upset this morning that I referred to Boone Pickens as the OSU “owner.” I don’t know why. I’ve done it before. And it is an accurate analogy.
OSU’s athletic department is modeled, by accident or design I don’t know, after a major-league franchise. The Cowboys have an owner who funds the operation. They have a general manager (athletic director) Mike Holder who runs the department and answers to the owner. Then they have all kinds of other employees, from marketing to linebacking, who do their jobs.
OSU fans want to know how that’s different from the Gaylords, who own the Oklahoman, giving money to OU athletics, which they have over the years in significant totals, though not as much as Pickens. Here’s the difference, and it applies to almost every other major benefactor I know of, although there could be exceptions.
No one else has immersed themselves in the decision-making like Pickens has at OSU. Pickens has his hand-picked man, Holder, in place as athletic director. He sits in on discussions about a variety of issues, from where to play games to how to deal with player discipline issues. That doesn’t happen with most big boosters, not that anyone else qualifies as booster in Pickens’ class. Not even Phil Knight, much less the Gaylords or Texas’ Tom Hicks or any other big donor, has drawn the national attention that Pickens has, because of his donations (over $200 million headed toward $300 million) and his involvement.
Pickens himself told this story in September. He said he was talking to Florida coach Urban Meyer and asked Meyer what Pickens personally could do, in addition to finances, to help the OSU football program. Meyer told Pickens to be at every game and let the team see him.
Interesting, I thought. I don’t know why Russell Okung and Dez Bryant would get a charge from seeing Pickens, but Urban Meyer thought so, and Pickens agreed with him. That’s why Pickens said he has made it a point to be at every game, home and road, and not be incognito.
That’s the prime example of the owner/team relationship in major-league sports. That’s why I call Pickens the OSU owner. And I’ve never said it’s a bad thing. I’ve always said that Pickens’ money is absolutely essential to OSU athletics, that without his donations, the Cowboys would be hard-pressed to compete with the schools they are asked to compete against.
Is that a little unseemly? No doubt. But this isn’t a perfect world. In a perfect world, Texas’ athletic budget wouldn’t be $70 million more than Iowa State’s. OU’s athletic budget wouldn’t be $30 million more than OSU’s. But the world’s not perfect. Big donations help to make for the uneven playing field, and Pickens’ donations help to level it back.
This is nothing new in academia. Some big donors want a say in how things are run on college campuses. The difference in Pickens is twofold: 1. It’s athletics, so the magnification is much brighter; and 2. His involvement is more comprehensive. To his credit, Pickens doesn’t hide his status.
He’s the owner. He’s proud of it. You might not like it, you might not like people pointing it out, but OSU really doesn’t have a better option.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Behway,
Did any one ever tell you that you look like the stutterding doofus attorney in my cousin vinny. I know he is an actor, but your articles reminded me of the character.
It is amazing you have a job.
Let us get one thing straight, NOBODY owns OSU. Do you think that we don’t see through your gaylord OU bias? You should really stop working so hard to bash OSU, it just re-inforces the bias.
Are the people at the newspaper JEALOUS? could it be that the Gaylords are jealous and that is the reason for this stupid stupid article? Perhaps, Barry, you should do a bit more research and you will find that Mr. Pickens also donates more than to sports. He also funds scholarships at OSU but I guess that would provide a more balanced article about OSU and Mr. Pickens which this newspaper would never do.
This article is absolutely hilarious. I am surprised that Mr. Tramel has such a great relationship with Oklahoma State. Being close to the university I find many of your analogies idioic.
Are you really that jealous that you and your tabloid have to write articles such as this? Tell the Gaylords to donate more if they want to be on tv. Otherwise, don’t hate that OSU has just as wealthy of people donating to them than UO. Seriously, tell the Gaylord that if they want on tv, donate more.
Otherwise, you look childish and incompetent. I shouldn’t expect anything better out of your slanted, biased paper but sometimes the crap you write is even stupider than the last crap you wrote.
Besides that, do something with your hair and appearance. You look like a drunk that has no friends.
Before Boone Pickens gave his $165 million donation OSU football was on its way up. Les had taken us to 3 straight bowl games and we had been OU 2 times in the last 4 years. So OSU was doing fine before Mr. Boone Pickens came into the picture.
I have no problem with you saying Boone is like an owner, if that is the criticism we get so be it but in 5 years when we have the best facilities in the in the state and one of the best in the country more colleges will be looking for “Owners”. The one thing I have a problem with is you saying that OSU has no choice but to have Boone donate the money last I checked OSU is in the top 10 in national championships among universities.
Please!!!! The Gaylords don’t get into running the University of Oklahoma on a regular basis, much less even on an occasional basis.
Boone Pickens has a HUGE say in what happens at OSU. Does Harry Birdwell becoming the former Athletics Director ring a bell? Does Mike Holder becoming the Athletics Director ring a bell? Does Burns Hargis becoming president of OSU ring a bell? Does Sean Sutton probably being out as coach this year ring a bell?
Please OSU fans, open your eyes. While Boone’s gifts to OSU have been extremely generous, they do obviously come with strings attached. To deny such just makes you look extremely foolish.
Assuming they are really OSU fans and perhaps even graduates, comments like those from Thetruth and Chase make OSU and its fan base look REALLY good. Great going guys (or ladies)….
As an OSU alum, I’m embarassed by the idiocy of the comments by alleged OSU fans. To disagree with a column by making fun of the writer’s appearance clearly demonstrates that the complaint is meritless or the complaintant is just to moronic to construct a worthwhile argument..
I, for one, was humored by Trammel’s reference. Since Pickens’ lavish “generosity” topped the $200 million mark, I wondered when Oklahoma State University was going to be renamed T. Boone Pickens University.
Trammel’s point hit a raw nerve… the nerve that hates it when someone tells it like it is.
Assuming “Tom” is yet another informed member of the OSU fan base, it’s spelled Tramel, Tom. It’s not too hard since it’s posted at the top of this website. And just FYI, Berry has written his share of columns and articles critical of OU, so I really doubt that OU owns him.
And BTW, for all those OSU fans that rant and rave and post tripe all the time about the “Daily Oklahoman” (and the “DOK “) and its “persecution” of OSU on OSU sports message boards, it hasn’t been called the Daily Oklahoman (or the DOK) for a number of years now - the paper is called the Oklahoman.
Good job Berry, everyone who is honest knows the former OSU is now one of T. Boone’s holdings. And Marcus, you are dreaming if you think in 5 years that your facilities are going to be the best in the state. At best you will draw even with some in the Big 12, but OUis not one of them.
Look at me! I have an opinion! Read it, losers! I can type because I have a keyboard and a computer! DOK suck, OSU rule!
–an idiot
Here’s a quick little lesson on Tramel’s objectivity:
1) When the Bricktown Ballpark was built. Tramel campaigned for the name “The Brick” in his articles.
2) When Pickens donated the money for the stadium he hopped on the nickname “The Boone” as fast as a jack rabbit.
3) When the Gaylords donated money to the UO stadium i.e. “The Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, you did not see him jumping allover calling it “The Gaylord”. In fact, the full name is still published in the paper. He knows not to touch sacred cows.
The UO journalism school/ Daily Ok writers are all too qick to defend themselves from any claim of bias writing to stop and ponder for a moment whether there is any ring of truth to the claim. Their standard response is to kill the messenger as just another emotional fan.
For gosh sakes, it’s not the Daily Ok anymore. Are you one of those OSU fans that starts or posts to the many threads found on OSU message boards complaining about how the “DOK” is really mean to OSU?
I like how OSU spends a FORTUNE in adverstising dollars with the Oklahoman, touting “The STATE’s University” in the half page ads OSU runs every Tuesday of the year in the Oklahoman. If the Oklahoman really does have an agenda against OSU, it is laughing all the way to the bank carrying OSU’s dollars!
LOL………
Tramel, stop trying to justify the use of “owner”. You used as a cheap dig and you probably had a grin on your face when you wrote it. Mr. Pickens also donated millions of dollars to the University of Texas. Does that mean he owns M.D. Anderson?
T. Boone Pickens is a billionaire and he love his alma mater. Anyone that donates that kind of money is going to have influence but he is also going to want what is best for the university. Tramel, you are a substandard columnist with an agenda we OSU fans should expect nothing but your worst in the future. Save your cheapshots for your beanbag articles.
Oh yeah, one of the OSU message boards had a REALLY long thread accusing Berry Tramel of being “Beanbag,” a sometimes poster on the ouinsider.com message board that often makes fun of OSU. That one made those OSU fans that posted look very intelligent…(wink-wink)
LOL
Where are your sources? I want to know what level you guys are on with the Oklahoma State University?
Again, if the Oklahoman really does have an agenda against OSU, it is laughing all the way to the bank carrying OSU’s dollars!
curtis, i hope this helps you get that raise you are after at the “oklahoman”…i may be wrong but i thought one of the gaylord family members sat on the board of regents at ou..?
I’m an OU graduate and fan. I don’t work for the Oklahoman but subscribe to it. I usually find Berry’s columns interesting, even those that are critical of OU (and yes, Poke fans, there have been plenty of them). Christy Gaylord Everest was on the OU Board of Regents but went off the Board several years ago. No member of the Gaylord family currently sits on the seven member board.
While she was on the board (and as she does now), Mrs. Everest didn’t exert the influence into OU matters as Boone Pickens does at OSU - that’s just the simple fact of the matter. She let President Boren direct the day to day operations of the University.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it is at OSU. Mr. Pickens wanted Harry Birdwell out as AD and Mike Holder in as AD, and guess what? It happened. Mr. Pickens wanted Burns Hargis hired as OSU’s new president (and BTW, he’ll probably make a fine one, just like David Boren has done at OU), and guess what? It happened.
Wow, Curtis, your are a clairvoyant. It is amazing that you can determine the interworkings of the board of regents for both UO and OSU to determine the amount of influence Ms. Gaylord and Mr. Pickens have over their respective Universities. LOL
When are you going to write an article about how the Sooners and Jeff Capel cannot fill Lloyd Nobel and how their owner, the Gaylord Family, feels about it. Oh wait! You can’t do that because they own you too.
Thanks for validating my decision to cancel my subsciption from your rag paper. You’ve done this a couple of times over the last couple of months. Your new radio gig also pushed me over the edge and now I’ve quit listening to them too. And that’s FREE. I do wish you would tell the telemarketers to quit calling me about a renewal. I wouldn’t subscribe to your rag @ no cost. It’s too bad you & your co-workers can only concentrate on the negative. You’re garbage!
Why would OSU fans feel slighted by Boone being refered to as the program’s owner? The analogy fits and they should be proud to have the bucks, even with the strings that are obviously attached with them.
As for Boone, he would be a lot better off sticking to energy and water, thus far his ROI is deep in the red with the program slowly regressing.
Cancel the paper all you want Poke fans, for as long as OSU keeps spending hundreds of thousands of dollars per year buying ads in the “DOK” so the half page “The STATE’s University” ad can run every single Tuesday of the year, we OU graduates and fans appreciate it. It’s not coincidental that there’s a new $20 million addition being constructed onto Gaylord Hall on the Norman campus as we speak.
Hell, I wish OSU would run more ads in the “DOK” touting The STATE’s University. Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium needs new latte and cappucinno machines in the concessions, and OSU’s advertising dollars with the “DOK” are just the thing to fund them.
Hate on, Poke brethren, hate on……
LOL
It is nice to see the positive influence of Mike Gundy represented by Wade. After the “garbage” comment I was just waiting for him to say “I’M 40, I’M A MAN!”…
It was also nice to see that even though he has turned off the radio and barred the paperboy from his street that he still does not mind adding to the advertising numbers for the Oklahoman’s website!
Aggie fans never cease to amaze me!
Curtis-
Why dont you quit following your writers and credit someone with this information your getting.
Hey, Curtis I’m glad “aggies” amaze you! But then most UO alums are amazed at college educated people. Amazing!
Did you ever stop to think that in spite of its shortcomings OSU needs to advertise in the only statewide newspaper. Amazing!
What might be more amazing would be an in-depth article from Tramel on the only football program in Oklahoma to have a major NCAA probation every decade since 1950. Amazing!
Hey, George. Please reread my posts about OSU spending BIG BUCKS advertising with the Oklahoman touting “The STATE’s University.”
All those OSU dollars work their way to Norman in the form of donations from the Gaylords to their favorite university, man. We REALLY need those cappucinno and latte machines in the concessions at the GFOMS, being the uppercrust, blue-blood fans that we are….
Berry, I can’t see why all the Cowboy fans are fired up on this blog. It seems to be a case of ’shoot the messenger’ syndrome. I find your articles and blogs good reporting, analysis of facts, and exactly what you are paid for ; Your opinion. Keep it up.
Hey, unbelieveable, no one writes for me. I pen my own stuff man…(now if I only had a cafe latte on this cold January morning)
As a BIG OU fan I am happy for OSU that Boone has chosen to spend his money in Stillwater. When I have visited OSU for games w/OU I have honestly been embarrased by their rusty old “high school” stadium. After all, they are part of this state and it reflected negatively on the entire state. The fact is, Pickens has too much influence on everything that goes on up there and admits it. Just hope it doesn’t wind up in a real disaster down the line when things don’t go exactly as he wishes. Mr Birdwell and the past president know how the “sting” feels if you don’t fit into one man’s plan.
You Pukes need to shut up and get a life! Who cares what you do anyway? We don’t! Why not ask T Bone to give more money for wrasslin? That’s the only thing aggies care about anyway.
Thanks for the laugh, you’re all so ridiculous.
(Curtis)
I really was just wondering if you were on the board of regents at Oklahoma State. I didn’t know where you were getting this information from?
Where would I get the following information?:
That Boone Pickens was displeased with Harry Birdwell and wanted him gone? That Mr. Pickens wanted Mike Holder to be named the new AD? That Mr. Pickens wanted Burns Hargis to be named OSU’s new president?
Well, unbelievable, under what rock have you been sleeping for the past 3 to 4 years?
So, Barry, does the Green donation to ORU mean that he now “owns” that University?
Just think we are arguing over someting as relatively unimportant as sports. I wonder what danger ORU is in now that someone “owns” them academically as well?
Unbelieveable, forgive Curtis; he is a “playa” at all those regent meetings. He probably hangs around the bathrooms to get the real interworkings. Do you tap your foot in the stall, Curtis?
Sorry, Curtis, I’m not Craig and I don’t know him, but I know ya momma.
How ’bout it Tramel, does Green own ORU?
“but I know ya momma.” Nice comment…that’s why you OSU fans have the reputation that you have…and very deserved.
Man, looks like you really hit a nerve Berry. I got a real kick out Chase’s comments that are intended to besmurch your intelligence, then in the same breath he uses the word “stupider” - that’s priceless. At any rate, why the sensitivity by OSU fans? I mean let’s face it, Pickens is the “owner” and at the end of the day - why is that a bad thing? Like you said, he provides their program with what it needs - money, and in any capitalist society - that puts him in charge. What most OSU fans should be concerned about - all that money and not many wins to show for it. That’s the real problem.
Curtis, your fixation with OSU and it’s fans is rather humorous. get a life man, worry about something else rather than what OSU fans think about a berry tramel article or whether you get your latte at gaylord stadium.. i am glad pickens has taken an interest in OSU but I think the “owner” tag by tramel added nothing to the story, detracted from tramel’s credibility and is likely was a bone to ou fans to let them know that no matter who he is writing about he will always make sure we (OSU) knows our place in the ou fans perceived hierarchy. read the above replies and you will see the litany of stereotypical comments by ou fans about OSU….surely someone will mention our stadium running East and West…..
Curtis, like nearly all uo fans, has to obsess about OSU because of their self-contrived, moral superority brought about by the won-loss record of their successful but probation-riddled football team.
Without it they really have no other place in the world.
Wow, you Okie Lite fans need to get in touch with reality. It’s not a bad thing to have T-Boone as your owner. It may be the best thing that ever happened to you. I hate OU as much as any of you, but we don’t blame them for Mack’s problems. In fact, I can’t think of any coach I would rather have my son play for than Mack. You guys just want to make a bunch of insults at OU, and not accept that the nation perceives that T-Boone is your owner. It’s what you needed. We are fortunate to have many really big money boosters at Texas (please buy Dell computers by the way), but they don’t run the University. They do have some influence in matters like sacking coaches who are less than steller, like Coach Makemesick (Makovic), but Deloss Dodds runs the Athletic Department. You may have probems with T-Boone thowing his influence around in the short run, but he will be dead soon enough, and maybe you can get some qualified leadership then to really expand on his gift. It will take some time, but you will never get to the level of money support Texas has. That’s a pipe dream for Okie Lite. Heck, aggy has big money support and look how mediocre their athletic teams are across the board. You will always be number two up there, just like aggy is down here. You guys are alot alike, only aggy has more resources and does less with it. You know, Arkansas has had big money (Waltons, Tyson etc) behind them for years, and unlike Okie Lite they are the only game in town. They have better tradition than Okie Lite, but with all that money and support over the years they are still wanna-bes. Think about that.
Picken’s money and OSU ownership has destroyed the OSU spirit. No more will fans go to games (even often losing) because they love the cowboys. The expensive tickets and (future, maybe) success will make it an “in thing” to do. I will take the old days - prior to this “let’s be like OU” effort. We have one OU, but now we are losing our OSU.
Take your money back, Mr. Pickens.
Anyone who doesnt have the common sense to understand the influence and money the Gaylords have put into OU must have blinders on. Your right the big difference is they want to act like they dont have the influence . Until recencently they sat on the OU board ? Am I to understand the board has no influence, you dont even need to graduate college, to read between the lines folks. Ps I didnt go to or graduate from OSU, just tired of the bias. Why dont they just rename the paper Ouklahoman, please take off “the States paper”.
Way to go Berry, tell it like it is, people should understand
this. I wish it were not so, that Pickens has so much input, but not much the common folk can do about it. Maybe some people do not go to games because of his ownership, just their way to protest against the rich and famous, I don’t know. However, without his money OSU would be left in the dust for sure.