Comments on: An interesting night of Bedlam http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/ Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel | NewsOK.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:18:14 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6637 Robert Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:37:55 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6637 Thanks Christy. I've always wondered how that word is spelled. Maybe you're right. He probably is a good kid but he still rubs me the wrong way. He could be the nicest person in the world to those who know him but still appear to be an ego when you only see him on the court. I played sports my whole life and I'm not saying it is right, but people don't usually cheap shot for no reason. And when you see it at that level of sports it's usually because someone is mouthing off(FYI since you probably never played a sport in your life). Thanks Christy. I’ve always wondered how that word is spelled. Maybe you’re right. He probably is a good kid but he still rubs me the wrong way. He could be the nicest person in the world to those who know him but still appear to be an ego when you only see him on the court. I played sports my whole life and I’m not saying it is right, but people don’t usually cheap shot for no reason. And when you see it at that level of sports it’s usually because someone is mouthing off(FYI since you probably never played a sport in your life).

]]> By: Christy http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6634 Christy Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:52:15 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6634 Blake Griffin has handled cheap shots all season long with patience and dignity. Not once has he retaliated. If sending someone a look is now considered an attitude problem then I think the game is on the right track. Interesting that anyone would assume Blake has any attitude problems when all we hear is how hard he works, how easy he is to coach and what a great personality he has. I think fans of losing intstitutions often like to ease the pain of losing by making unfounded, ridiculous (that's how it's spelled) statements about the opposing teams best player. When you can show me one single story about any thug like behavior or attitude on Blake's partm, and not just an opinion from an OSU fan, then I will reconsider my position. The world of sports is filled with players that don't respect the gifts that have been given them. Don't hate on players that do the right thing because they are really good. Blake Griffin has handled cheap shots all season long with patience and dignity. Not once has he retaliated. If sending someone a look is now considered an attitude problem then I think the game is on the right track. Interesting that anyone would assume Blake has any attitude problems when all we hear is how hard he works, how easy he is to coach and what a great personality he has. I think fans of losing intstitutions often like to ease the pain of losing by making unfounded, ridiculous (that’s how it’s spelled) statements about the opposing teams best player.
When you can show me one single story about any thug like behavior or attitude on Blake’s partm, and not just an opinion from an OSU fan, then I will reconsider my position. The world of sports is filled with players that don’t respect the gifts that have been given them. Don’t hate on players that do the right thing because they are really good.

]]> By: Robert http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6624 Robert Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:06:17 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6624 Hmmm...Mr. Brett- I'm not sure what game you were watching but it looked like to me that Kirkland was getting in position for the inbounds pass and happened to run into Griffin who, yes, "flopped" if you will in over exaggeration. To say that he "blatantly sought out the contact" is a rediculous statement. Why would he do that after having to sit out the whole game due to the first infraction. I don't think that Kirkland did anything intentional. I just think it was another way of everyone, including the officiating, the protect the beloved "best player in America". And I'll be honest to your follow-up comment. If we DID have that kind of a sophomore on our team, I would WISH for him not to be a walking ego. I would much rather have a less talented player who plays hard than a player who is so good that his attitude sucks. Hmmm…Mr. Brett- I’m not sure what game you were watching but it looked like to me that Kirkland was getting in position for the inbounds pass and happened to run into Griffin who, yes, “flopped” if you will in over exaggeration. To say that he “blatantly sought out the contact” is a rediculous statement. Why would he do that after having to sit out the whole game due to the first infraction. I don’t think that Kirkland did anything intentional. I just think it was another way of everyone, including the officiating, the protect the beloved “best player in America”. And I’ll be honest to your follow-up comment. If we DID have that kind of a sophomore on our team, I would WISH for him not to be a walking ego. I would much rather have a less talented player who plays hard than a player who is so good that his attitude sucks.

]]> By: Brett http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6620 Brett Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:04:45 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6620 Oh, and you might want to check the Cowboys' starting lineup on Monday. Two seniors, two sophomores, and a junior. OU's starting lineup included two seniors, a junior, a sophomore, and a true freshman. Yes, OU's sophomore will likely be leaving after this season, but osu fans just WISH they had that kind of sophomore on their team. And osu's upper classmen haven't enjoyed great success against the Sooners. Eaton and Harris are currently each 1-6 against OU, and Obi "Big Talk" Muonelo is 1-4 (and all three players will likely be saddled with another loss in Norman, come March 7). Blake Griffin played in exactly two of those games, and he was hobbled by an injury in one of them. So any Cowboy fan who hangs his hopes on Griffin's departure leading to a steep decline in the Sooners' basketball fortunes is asking for disappointment. Oh, and you might want to check the Cowboys’ starting lineup on Monday. Two seniors, two sophomores, and a junior.

OU’s starting lineup included two seniors, a junior, a sophomore, and a true freshman.

Yes, OU’s sophomore will likely be leaving after this season, but osu fans just WISH they had that kind of sophomore on their team.

And osu’s upper classmen haven’t enjoyed great success against the Sooners. Eaton and Harris are currently each 1-6 against OU, and Obi “Big Talk” Muonelo is 1-4 (and all three players will likely be saddled with another loss in Norman, come March 7).

Blake Griffin played in exactly two of those games, and he was hobbled by an injury in one of them. So any Cowboy fan who hangs his hopes on Griffin’s departure leading to a steep decline in the Sooners’ basketball fortunes is asking for disappointment.

]]> By: Brett http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6619 Brett Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:48:03 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6619 I like Fran Fraschilla, but he has some kind of obsession with the idea of players "flopping" on fouls, so the fact that he suggested Blake might have acted a bit on that late foul means nothing. He mentions "flopping", and usually more than once, in every single game he covers. Fran floated the notion that BG might have flopped in the first half, too, but then he went on to admit that Griffin had taken a hard foul and that it was a good call, just like the late one was. On the late foul, Kirkland blatantly sought out the contact, going out of his way to lower his shoulder and plow into Griffin. There was no strategical purpose for it -- the game was out of hand, and the foul occurred well away from the action. Even if Griffin did exaggerate his reaction to the contact, there was no excuse for Kirkland's actions. Deep down, osu fans know that several of their players resorted to dirty play on Monday, so now they're rushing to blame the victim. It'd be funny if it weren't so typical. As for OU falling off next season, Coach Capel has a great recruiting class coming in next year, with two possible McDonald All-Americans in it, and Tony Crocker, Willie Warren, Cade Davis, and Juan Patillo all return, along with some talented bench players who will be ready to contribute, too. The Sooners will be just fine. I like Fran Fraschilla, but he has some kind of obsession with the idea of players “flopping” on fouls, so the fact that he suggested Blake might have acted a bit on that late foul means nothing. He mentions “flopping”, and usually more than once, in every single game he covers.

Fran floated the notion that BG might have flopped in the first half, too, but then he went on to admit that Griffin had taken a hard foul and that it was a good call, just like the late one was.

On the late foul, Kirkland blatantly sought out the contact, going out of his way to lower his shoulder and plow into Griffin. There was no strategical purpose for it — the game was out of hand, and the foul occurred well away from the action. Even if Griffin did exaggerate his reaction to the contact, there was no excuse for Kirkland’s actions.

Deep down, osu fans know that several of their players resorted to dirty play on Monday, so now they’re rushing to blame the victim. It’d be funny if it weren’t so typical.

As for OU falling off next season, Coach Capel has a great recruiting class coming in next year, with two possible McDonald All-Americans in it, and Tony Crocker, Willie Warren, Cade Davis, and Juan Patillo all return, along with some talented bench players who will be ready to contribute, too.

The Sooners will be just fine.

]]> By: Rip http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6618 Rip Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:10:23 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6618 I have noticed the sort of what I will refer to as "stoic" behavior by Griffin. It probably is the number one reason why he gets targeted a lot. There are plenty of players that are difficult to defend so saying what wkb said is just ridiculous. Anyone who has played the game knows that this kind of stuff is part of the game. The ones who have the thicker skin can compete and the rest resort to "equalizers". While some call him arrogant and punk and claim they will not cheer for him if he plays for the Thunder - "Boomers"( There count that as some one else using Boomer),I would expect the vast majority to get over a tough loss at home and check back into the reality of the whole thing - The Sooners have an extremely good team this year. I have noticed the sort of what I will refer to as “stoic” behavior by Griffin. It probably is the number one reason why he gets targeted a lot. There are plenty of players that are difficult to defend so saying what wkb said is just ridiculous. Anyone who has played the game knows that this kind of stuff is part of the game. The ones who have the thicker skin can compete and the rest resort to “equalizers”. While some call him arrogant and punk and claim they will not cheer for him if he plays for the Thunder – “Boomers”( There count that as some one else using Boomer),I would expect the vast majority to get over a tough loss at home and check back into the reality of the whole thing – The Sooners have an extremely good team this year.

]]> By: Mary http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6617 Mary Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:06:47 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6617 Yeah! Alls I can say is that Ginger must have found a friend on the island, and I don't think it was Gilligan, the Professor, the Skipper or Mr. Howell!!! Yeah! Alls I can say is that Ginger must have found a friend on the island, and I don’t think it was Gilligan, the Professor, the Skipper or Mr. Howell!!!

]]> By: Mary http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6616 Mary Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:59:27 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6616 Well Berry you point out the obvious once more! No one denies that OU has a good team this year, final four is a stretch of the imaginatiion but a good shot at sweet sixteen. Certainly Travis Ford is going to be a very good coach at OSU but let's give him at least his "first" recruiting class before we give too much credit to a junior and senior laden OU team which will fall off dramatically come next year, if Capel even sticks around that long. No one denies OSU has it's woes in the middle. The only center we had left and he wasn't even a true center, more of a small forward. Today, OU can enjoy the Griffin brothers, the Paris twins; tomorrow, it's back to reality for OU! Well Berry you point out the obvious once more! No one denies that OU has a good team this year, final four is a stretch of the imaginatiion but a good shot at sweet sixteen. Certainly Travis Ford is going to be a very good coach at OSU but let’s give him at least his “first” recruiting class before we give too much credit to a junior and senior laden OU team which will fall off dramatically come next year, if Capel even sticks around that long. No one denies OSU has it’s woes in the middle. The only center we had left and he wasn’t even a true center, more of a small forward. Today, OU can enjoy the Griffin brothers, the Paris twins; tomorrow, it’s back to reality for OU!

]]> By: Wgill http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6613 Wgill Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:57:44 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6613 did anyone notice the turnovers blake griffin had at bedlam i think he played lousy at first and took breaks on defense did anyone notice the turnovers blake griffin had at bedlam
i think he played lousy at first and took breaks on defense

]]> By: willy b. kirk http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/comment-page-1/#comment-6612 willy b. kirk Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:00:34 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2009/01/27/an-interesting-night-of-bedlam/#comment-6612 Have you aggies ever noticed that Blake gets "cheap shots" all the time? it's called, "we can't defend him, so let's cheap shot him". Blake is a man against boys and that's what boys do when they're getting whipped up on. Ford has a long road to ho after ticking off the refs by submitting tape after one week of coaching in the big 12. Not a bright move. The refs called the fouls because the ags came out playing intense defense, however, there are rules and playing intense is one thing. Hacking the crap out of your opponent is against the rules.... Have you aggies ever noticed that Blake gets “cheap shots” all the time? it’s called, “we can’t defend him, so let’s cheap shot him”. Blake is a man against boys and that’s what boys do when they’re getting whipped up on. Ford has a long road to ho after ticking off the refs by submitting tape after one week of coaching in the big 12. Not a bright move. The refs called the fouls because the ags came out playing intense defense, however, there are rules and playing intense is one thing. Hacking the crap out of your opponent is against the rules….

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