Berry Tramel NewsOK.com Blogging Community

The emails are in, and this week, the talk is about Josh Jarboe, the Olympics, NBA ticket prices and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Craig wrote, “I don’t think the $250 tickets will sell very well. I was shocked when I saw those prices. I am a business owner with expendable income and I will not pay $10K for each season ticket when I need six. The Hornets offered us a suite with 12 tickets for $35K. If I cannot get the seats I want, which is what I had with the Hornets, I am NOT going to purchase more expensive seats. Maybe other companies bigger than mine will snatch up all the $250 season tickets. Too rich for my blood.”

Hey, too rich for almost any blood that’s not very, very blue.

Jim questioned my use of the term “affordable prices” for the NBA team. “We sat in the suite level (with the Hornets) in the corner. Seats were approximately $50 per game. This year they are $75. That’s, what, a 50 percent increase? Multiply $25 times 41 games and that’s $1,000 and change per ticket more than last year. My mother in-law is having second thoughts about season tickets this year. And no, she won’t consider the upper deck. I pointed out that the end zone of the suite level is $45 each, but she wants back in the same spot.”

Well, I want to pay 30 cents an ear for corn. But Saturday at the farmer’s market, it was 50 cents an ear. So I either pay the 50 cents or eat potatoes. Supply and demand will determine whether the Not-the-Sonics have to cut prices.

It wouldn’t be a week of emails without some name-the-team correspondence. Don wrote, “My family and I have decided if Thunder is the name chosen for the OKC team, then we plan to open a new eatery … in the

Bricktown area. Beantown was the choice. The ad should get us

some business. “All you Thunder fans stop by Beantown on

your way to the game, and join us for a bowl of beans. Then,

throughout the game, we can all create some THUNDER!”

I would recommend a new advertising agency.

Sam wrote about Beijing. “Earlier this week I was surprised to find that I was NOT watching the Olympics on television. At first, I thought it was because I prefer the Winter Olympics. But last night, when it was announced that Michael Phelps had already won 11 gold medals, I laughed — then I realized: the Olympics have gone the way of major league baseball. I remember during the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Olympics, the official line was that if the U.S. won the majority of medals it was a vindication for our system - the Soviet athletes were paid by the government to train, their living expenses were also paid for. Our athletes, on the other hand, were private individuals, with no government financing or organizational patrons; they were like you and me, and most trained in their spare time. So our modern athletes are not like the American athletes of 50 years ago, they are like the Soviet athletes of 50 years ago. Pampered, wholly-subsidized freaks who will (after they appear as pitchmen for some commodity or another, then retire) teach a generation of pampered, wholly-subsidized freaks. They are a separate social class, not at all like you and me.

If I was guessing, I would say great athletes always have been unlike you and me.

Jim wrote that “I think it is silly, shameful (I really can’t think of the proper word) for the Olympics to use professional athletes. Baseball (some AAA players), basketball, tennis as examples. So why not use all professionals, like boxers, etc. I have no doubt that some amateur(?) athletes are being paid. A shame that in the past, some athletes lost their medals because they were amateur/professionals.”

Why is everyone worked up about this amateur/pro thing? Let everybody in, else you’re restricting many sports to the rich.

Jo wrote about Josh Jarboe transferring to Troy. “Was anything said as to why Jarboe went to Troy and why major school(s) didn’t go after him. You know he was a great kid with a fine reputation, according to Stoops and his high school coach. Wonder why?”

You’re trying to start something, but the answer is easy. The big boys didn’t touch him for the same reason OU dismissed him. Not worth the risk.

Others chimed in on my column about Bob Stoops’ web site containing video with violent lyrics. Sean wrote, “I highly doubt Stoops would get fired for bringing a gun to work. He’d be smart to, with all the insane OU fans that threaten firing or worse on the rare occasions that he loses.”

I still wouldn’t recommend it.

Larry wrote, “Most folks will probably think that you overreacted, but you highlighted a really important problem that most people simply aren’t aware of. Gangs are here in Oklahoma City, and they are having an increasing influence in our schools. The gangster rap lyrics you mention is one part of the gang culture.”

I’m not trying to play social cop. I just think what goes for a player should go for a coach.

Tyson wrote, “It’s encouraging to see media with morals. Please don’t take offense to that. I’m only 31, but I often feel like I’m at the tale end of the last generation with morals and work ethic.”

Again, I really wasn’t trying to get on a soapbox writing about the lyrics, I just thought it was interesting.

Scotty wrote, “Do you honestly believe Bob Stoops put that web site up? How long did you have to search to dig this up? It is obvious this is all about selling papers and getting your buddies at the Sports Animal to talk about it. It appears to be a weak attempt at keeping your name out there.”

Not only do I not believe that, I didn’t write that. I wrote that Stoops didn’t post the lyrics, didn’t OK them and no doubt wouldn’t understand them on first listen. Your letter, Scotty, was a weak attempt to defend an indefensible position.

Mike wrote about my Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame candidate list. “Hard to quibble, but I’d submit one name I think will deserve consideration. You had Jamal Williams on a list as a future possible inductee but no mention of Kelly Gregg. While Jamal has received a little more notoriety in the NFL, the stats comparison would suggest Kelly Gregg has been every bit the player. For his career, he’s averaged quite a few more tackles and has more sacks since both started being productive in the NFL in 2001. Add to that, Kelly Gregg is certainly one of, if not the, best heavyweight high school wrestlers in state history — and a model citizen. Just my two cents from a homer OU fan who continues to be amazed at the lack of respect Kelly Gregg gets in this state.”

Mike is right. Kelly Gregg is absolutely deserving of Hall of Fame status. I should have had him on the list. Mike is wrong about Gregg being the equal of Jamal Williams, but that doesn’t lessen Gregg’s candidacy.

Another Mike wrote, “Why is there never a discussion about Lester Lane? He was on the 1960 Olympic team. Was a star at OU and an excellent coach.”

Lane is a solid candidate. Jerry Shipp made the Hall of Fame last year for his AAU and Olympic basketball exploits; I don’t know why Lane would be any different.