Jenni Carlson NewsOK.com Blogging Community

Wes Welker and Randy Moss have caught dozens of touchdowns together this season for New England.

They also caught a couple fish together.

Fish?

Yep. The mild-mannered Oklahoma City native and the flamboyant NFL veteran have gone fishing together.

“That’ probably the one thing they’ve got in common,” Welker’s brother, Lee, said. “That’s one thing people don’t realize about Randy. He’s straight country.”

Even though Welker and Moss might not be much alike, as Berry Tramel wrote earlier this week, they seem to have a unique bond. Welker even has a nickname for Moss.

“You know,” Moss has told him, “I’m ’Super Freak.’”

“Why are you ‘Super Freak’?” Welker asked.

“Well, Jevon Kearse is ’The Freak.’ I’m ‘Super Freak.’”  

So, Welker calls him “Supe.” (Sounds like ”soup.”)

“Everything about those two together is so funny,” Welker’s brother said. “It’s like they don’t even know how to celebrate together in the end zone. When Randy scores, Wes goes up to him and looks like a little kid going, ‘Yea!’”

He laughed.

“Wes, he just loves Randy, playing with him. It’s so cool that they play together because he’s one of the best receives in the NFL.”

You could say that of Moss or Welker.

About a week ago, we put out the all-call for Boston sports fans living among us in Oklahoma.

I profiled Dick Murphy on Saturday’s Page 2, but the Bostonian-turned-Normanite isn’t the only Boston-area sports fan who calls our fair state home. I heard from several others who are relishing one of the best sports runs a city has ever had from afar.

The Red Sox won the World Series earlier this year. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA. And, of course, the Patriots can cap a 19-0 season with a victory Sunday in the Super Bowl.

Here’s what a few more of those Boston sports fans had to say about their teams:

We are a transplanted New England family. Born in Cape Cod, Mass., raised in Worcester, Mass., lived 9 years in Bangor, Maine, and now call Edmond home. We have been here for four years and enjoyed all of it, even the crazy weather changes.

As a child, my husband lived in Metuen, Mass., and went to Red Sox games all the time. I have been to a few, and we have both been to Patriots games. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing our “home teams” do so well. We have stayed up many late nights watching playoff games. 

Luckily, friends and family in Massachusetts send us hats, tees, pins and pillows. In return, I send my nieces and nephews OU and OSU items. It makes it alot of fun and keeps the New England spirit alive in us and has introduces those “back east” to the Oklahoma spirit.
 
I had to email and let you know we are here, but our hearts are with New England and their fantastic sports teams.  Go New England… WE LUV YA!!!

Jan Graro, Edmond

*****

Add my name to the list of Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox lovers in Oklahoma.

I am a native Californian who grew up in the shadow of Chavez Ravine (home of the current L.A. Dodgers) and developed a strong loyalty for the L.A. Rams, the Lakers, USC (football), UCLA (basketball), and the Southern California Racing Association. After college and graduate school in Southern Cal, I moved my family to Bethany in 1966 to teach at Bethany Nazarene College (now SNU).

In the summer of 1982, I accepted a college administrative position in the Boston area, where we lived for the next 19 years. It is virtually impossible to live in Boston without attaching loyalties to Boston’s professional sports teams. While I didn’t connect well with the Bruins (never saw a hockey game while growing up in So. Cal), I eventually switched loyalties from California teams to Boston teams. I lived in Boston during all of the Larry Bird years and embraced both the Red Sox teams (saw Bill Buckner’s flub that ended the Sox’ dream of winning the World Series in ‘86) and the Patriots teams prior to the emergence of Robert Kraft and Bill “B.”

In 2001, I retired and moved back to Oklahoma City, the city my wife and I always considered “home” even during our stay in Boston. I still read the Boston Globe sports section daily via the internet.

Tom Barnard

*****

I was born and raised in Lowell, Mass., during pre-historic times. (Actually prior to WWII.) I left there in 1954 to join the Air Force. Came to OKC in 1955, left in 1957 and returned in 1973 to stay. 

I became a fan of the Red Sox during the Ted Williams era and the 1946 World Series won by the Cardinals. I was about 10 years old at the time. I waited 58 years as a fan before the Red Sox won a World Series in 2004. I remained a hardened fan throughout those years regardless of what part of the country or the world I was stationed in. I did have an opportunity to see the Red Sox play a few times during the Williams, Booby Doerr, Johnny Pesky and Mel Parnel years. Even with all the disappointments through the years, they were always my team.

I was also a fan of the old Boston Braves during the Warren Spahn years. Was able to see him pitch in person during the 50’s as well as see Jackie Robinson play at old Braves Field. However, I was never a die hard fan of the Braves like I was of the Red Sox.

I became a fan of the Celtics in 1950 or so which was during the Bob Cousy era. He was then joined by Tom Heinson and Bill Russell during the 50’s and the titles began to pile up for the Celtics. Again I followed them through the years but from a distance for the same reasons I stated above.

As for the Patriots, I was no longer living there when they came about but have followed them, especially since Brady became QB. The reasons are very obvious. But, I have also been a very ardent fan of the Dallas Cowboys because they both came into pro football the same year. Therefore, my allegiance was split to some extent. But I am lucky, both my teams have won a tremendous amount of Super Bowls.Roland Millette

A couple of Oklahoma icons made headlines Monday.

ESPN.com profiled Oklahoma City native Wes Welker. Elizabeth Merrill traveled to Oklahoma City to talk to the former Heritage Hall standout’s family. Welker and his New England Patriots teammates will play New York in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Eddie Sutton was the subject of an in-depth story in USA Today. I read the story about the former Oklahoma State coach in the paper’s print edition, but there’s an added treat online. An online photo gallery has 10 photos of Sutton, including a few behind-the-scene frames before a recent San Francisco game.

An Oklahoma native is making major waves in the sports world.

Wes Welker?

Think again.

Watch my latest video commentary or read below:

He was a local sports standout, born and raised in the Oklahoma City area.

He was expected to be a decent college player but emerged as a team leader.

Now, he is playing for one of the best teams in the land.

Yep, Darnell Jackson is having one heck of a season.

Oh, you thought we were going to talk more about New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker? We’re not ruling it out, since the Super Bowl is this week, but for now, let’s talk about Jackson.

The power forward played high school ball at Northwest Classen, then at Midwest City. He was a solid player, averaging 12.6 points and landing third-team Big All-City honors as a senior. Really, though, that isn’t the resume most players take to Kansas. The Jayhawks usually build around guys who are All-Americans, not all-city third-teamers.

Jackson had three decent years at Kansas, but this season, he has blossomed. He is second on the team averaging 12.8 points a game. That’s more than Brandon Rush, who considered leaving school early for the NBA. It’s more than Mario Chalmers or Russell Robinson, the talented guards who make the team go. Only Darrell Arthur is averaging more points than Jackson.

What’s more, Jackson is shooting 65.8 percent from the field.

He has become the Jayhawks’ most consistent player and just made their best player. Kansas has a star-studded bunch. You don’t make it to the final week of January with an undefeated record without some serious talent.

Thing is, Jackson’s play might be the difference between the really good Kansas teams of the past few years and this year’s team, arguably the best in the country.

No doubt Wes Welker is getting lots of love these days, but Darnell Jackson is every bit as important to his team and its championship hopes.

Another Oklahoma athlete doing well. Doing us proud, too.

Wes Welker has become one of the best receivers in the NFL.

He’s long been one of the best people in the league.

Ever since coming into the NFL, the Heritage Hall product has been involved in community service projects. Now, his charitable organization, “The 83 Foundation,” is working to help youngsters in his hometown of Oklahoma City through athletics. Since my column appeared in Wednesday’s paper about the foundation’s efforts, I’ve received questions from several people about how to get in touch with the foundation.

As of yet, the foundation doesn’t have its website up and running. In the next month or so, Welker’s brother, Lee, hopes to have a link to the site on www.weswelker.com.

If you want to contact the foundation before then, contact Lee Welker at Heritage Hall, where he coaches the girls’ soccer team.

All you Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox lovers in Oklahoma, listen up.

(Bruins fans, you can chime in, too, provided there are any of you out there.)

I’m looking for fans of Boston-area sports teams living in the Sooner State. Perhaps you grew up there and are an Oklahoma transplant. Perhaps you grew to love the Boston teams because of your father or mother, aunt or uncle.

Whatever the case, I want to hear from you. Shoot me an e-mail — jcarlson@oklahoman.com — and tell me your story. Why are you a fan of those teams? And what has this past year or so been like for you?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

 It’s MLK Day. There’s much to celebrate, but there’s also much to do.

 Watch my video commentary or read below:

Happy birthday, Dr. King.

Had he not been cut down by a sniper’s bullet 40 years ago this spring, Martin Luther King Jr. would be 79 years young. Today is the day we celebrate the life of the civil rights leader. Nowhere is the change that he helped initiate more evident than in sports. Yet, nowhere is the work that remains more evident.

Sports is one of those places where the color of an athlete’s skin is less important than the color of his jersey. Oklahoma fans cheer Sam Bradford the same as DeMarco Murray. Oklahoma State fans love Brandon Pettigrew as much as Zac Robinson.

Sadly, though, racism remains in sports.

A couple weeks ago, a Golf Channel anchor joked that the only way to stop Tiger Woods might be to “lynch him in a back alley.” Then, in its coverage of that incident, Golfweek used a picture of a hangman’s noose on its cover.

More than 3,400 lynchings of black folks were documented from the late 19th century through 1968. Most of them were killed by mobs of whites who used a noose as their murder weapon.

Martin Luther King Jr. marched in the streets of the South so that the lynchings and the hangings would stop.

Four decades later, the images remain.

What would Dr. King think?

This weekend came more disturbing news. Former West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin Magee has alleged that a school administrator told him he wouldn’t be a candidate to replace Rich Rodriguez, who jumped ship for Michigan. Why? Magee says the administrator pointed to Magee’s black skin as explanation.

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered hundreds of speeches so that the dreams of men and women would not be limited by their skin color.

Four decades later, the limitations remain.

What would Dr. King think?

Another weekend in January. Another game for Paul Smith.

This has been a busy month for the Tulsa quarterback. After leading the Golden Hurricane to a GMAC Bowl victory, Smith jetted out about two hours after the game, bound for Hawaii and the Hula Bowl. He returned to Tulsa after that senior-showcase game, and a few hours later, he was off again, this time for Houston. Smith will play there in the East-West Shrine game on Saturday.

College football could have no better ambassador.

Sure, Smith is now focused on NFL aspirations and dreams. But the truth is, Smith embodies what’s good about college football. He genuinely seems to have enjoyed the experience, the camaraderie, the campus lifestyle. Frankly, he’s a throwback.

I had a chance to talk to him last week before the Hula Bowl, and here are a few of his comments from our conversation:

About the GMAC Bowl: “Couldn’t draw it up much better. To end it the way we did, you couldn’t have really planned it any better or written it any better in a book. I did as much as I could to soak it in.”

About his emotions playing his final college game: “It was bittersweet for sure. My situation’s been so perfect. I’d love to come back and play some more.”

No matter what happens with Smith in the NFL Draft and beyond, his college legacy will remain. He enjoyed the game, relished the experience and soaked in the life. College football could stand a few more players like Paul Smith.

It’s not every day you get to opine about sports figures and their enviable hair.

Today, I have.

Watch my latest video commentary or read below:

I am in awe of Kurt Budke’s hair.

Really. I am.

I came to this conclusion Wednesday night at his post-game press conference. His Oklahoma State women’s basketball team had just defeated Missouri and pushed its record to 15-1, the best start ever in program history, and yet, I found myself mesmerized by Budke’s hair.

Part down the middle. Feathered back from there. The comb marks above his ears visible.

It makes Budke look a little bit like a televangelist, but in a good way. If that’s possible. It is Budke’s signature look.

All of this got me thinking about other sports types in our fair state with distinctive hair. Let me tell you, it’s amazing what you find yourself thinking about on a late-night drive back from Stillwater. And heck, it’s never bad to pull occasionally from the off-the-wall file for a video commentary.

So, without further ado:

Sherri Coale. Could you imagine her with anything other than her curly blond hair? What if she dyed her hair black or straightened it out? That’d just be weird.

Mr. Spiky Hair. Mike Gundy could fund a small country with what he spends on hair product.

Doug Sauter. It’s not the hair on his head, but rather the hair on his face. The Blazers coach has a beard that Rip Van Winkle would’ve died for.

Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson. The dreaded duo was more than a nuisance to opposing defense. The Oklahoma offensive linemen have some of the coolest dreadlocks around.

Larry Fedora. I know, I know. He is no longer in our fair state, having left OSU for Southern Miss, but his hair was a regular topic of conversation in our office. I chalk it up to jealously. Who wouldn’t want Fedora’s abundant locks?

At the end of the day, all those looks are good and fine, but the one that still gets me is Budke’s. I’m almost hoping that his team wins the conference or something so someone will muss up his hair like Arizona’s players did to Lute Olsen at the Final Four.

Talk about a hair-raising experience.

Perhaps it’s too late to make a new year’s resolution.

Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett doesn’t think so.

Cornett launched the “This City is Going on a Diet” campaign several weeks ago, and Dave Garrett and I had a chance Tuesday to talk to him about it on my radio show, “The Home Stretch.” He came on the show to talk about the March 4 vote to improve the Ford Center, but we had to ask him about the big diet plan, too.

Mick’s going on “Ellen” to talk about it, after all. We figured we’d better get him first!

Cornett is urging Oklahoma City residents to lose a combined one million pounds this year.

That’s a lot of Oreos.

Cornett wants folks to go to the campaign’s website, www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com, sign up and get involved. I know we don’t talk a lot in sports about individual health, but really, this is something that’s important to all of us. It’s even more important than — gasp! – Oklahoma and Oklahoma State sports. A healthier city is not only good for the collective but also good for individuals. We’d all feel better if we lost a couple pounds or spent a little more time on the elliptical. We’d all feel better if our significant other/sister/brother/mother/father/son/daughter/friend were in better health, too.

So, go to the website and sign up.

Everybody’s doing it.