Are you a Thunder super fan?
We had some fun in today’s sports section profiling four Thunder super fans.
With the team preparing to unveil its new mascot, we thought it would be fitting to celebrate the fans who’ve been unofficial fill-ins during the first half of this season. These are folks who dress up, wear costumes, have props — the whole zany nine yards.
But they aren’t the only super fans, of course. There are plenty of other Thunder fans who are super but just not quite as noticeable.
Maybe they come every night and always root, root, root for the home team. Maybe they drive for hours or even from out of state to see the team. Maybe they sacrifice their tickets so others can see the team. Maybe they do the defense chant when no one else in their section is.
We would love to tell their stories, too.
If you or someone you know is a Thunder super fan, let me know. E-mail me at jcarlson@opubco.com. I’ll be gathering ideas for a future story about these dedicated fans.
More from The Q&A: Austin Meier
Bull riding might not be as big as, say, football or basketball in the sports hierarchy.
That isn’t for lack of personality in the sport’s stars.
I had a chance to chat with Austin Meier a few days before this weekend’s Professional Bull Riders tour event began at the Ford Center. The Checotah native turned Kinta resident is one bull riding’s rising talents, but despite his winnings, he was as genuine and affable as could be.
You’ll want to check out my Q&A with Meier on Saturday’s Page 2, but before you do, here’s more from my interview:
Jenni Carlson: Whenever I interview bull riders, I always ask what your wife thinks about your profession, but I know your wife is a barrel racer and has been around rodeoing. So, what does she think?
Austin Meier: She worries about it a lot. Just like at Tampa, I had a little wreck. It worries her. She’s everything I could ever ask for. There’s a lot of girls out there that it seems like when things are great, they’re all for it, but when things ain’t, they’re ready to hit the road. I think she seen real quick what bull riding could hold. The first month she was with me, I got my face stepped on and got to get plates and screws put in both sides of my jaw. That was a real test for her, and it showed her true colors to me. Never once did she bat an eye at whether she still wanted to be with me. Like I said, it worries her. She knows it’s dangerous. Since I’ve been with her, there’s been kids who’ve been killed doing it, but she knows that’s what I do for a living and that’s what allows us to have some of the nice things we do. But I know we both look forward to when I get to be home.
JC: You wear a helmet when you ride. That’s a hot-button issue — to wear or not to wear?
AM: My cousin Rusty Patrick was one of the first guys. He started, and then, me seeing him, I sort of wondered about it. I figured, “Well, when I start riding bulls, I’ll put one on.” Well, I started riding and didn’t put one on, then I had a bull run over the top of me and scuff my head up. I put a helmet on, and it’s something that has never bothered me. I played football and baseball, and I was a catcher in baseball, so having a helmet has never bothered me. It’s probably saved my life a few times.
JC: Do you wonder about guys who don’t wear one?
AM: I do. I had a buddy of mine, Ryan McConnel, got hit in the face (last) weekend. It didn’t mess him up, but it dang sure didn’t make him look too pretty. Had he had a helmet on, he wouldn’t have got a concussion, a cut, nothing. It’s times like that, I’m like, “Man, guys, if you all just put helmets on, you wouldn’t have to be getting stitches.”
JC: People will still think of you as tough guys even if you wear helmets.
AM: That’s right.
JC: You’re on a bull in the chute right before they open the gate — what is going through your mind?
AM: Most of the time when it’s go time, it’s just ride the bull. Don’t try to set any plans. Sometimes, it just seems like there’s a real peace over you. Other times, it’s like, “All right, it’s time to step up.” It’s kind of like when I had Big Bucks the first time. He’s a world champion bull. Only two guys had rode him. It’s time like that when you’re revved up and it’s time to bear down and get it done.
JC: So the emotions can really vary?
AM: That doesn’t mean you’re going to ride different or better or worse. That’s just some of the emotions you go through. And sometimes it depends on what music is playing. Or for me it does.
JC: Music? Really?
AM: Generally, I’m pretty calm. You’ll see some guys jumping around, slapping themselves. Most of the time, I’m pretty laid back and calm. Shoot, you might even see me yawn. My grandpa, he asked my dad one of the first big events he had seen me at, he says, “Rex, is he OK? He sure don’t act too revved up.” Dad said, “Yeah, that’s just him.” And I went out there and rode my bull … and he said, “Man, I guess so.”
JC: When you had the U.S. Army as one of your sponsors, didn’t you do some basic training with them?
AM: I never got to do the basic training, but now that I’ve got U.S. Border Patrol as my sponsor, we did get to go down to El Paso and see what it’s all about. They took us and we got to shoot some really cool guns, do some repelling and just really see what they’re every day life is all about. It was an awesome experience. I can’t wait to go down and do it again.
JC: Some really cool guns, heh?
AM: Oh, yeah. It was awesome. They’re guns that I can’t afford, though.
JC: You can’t afford them or justify having them probably.
AM: Exactly.
JC: Did you come to Oklahoma City to watch the bull riding event when you were younger?
AM: Before I actually got into the sport, we were bringing bulls to these events with Dillon & H.D. Page, which are there in Ardmore. I got to see when I was 15 … when really that’s a big growth time for a bull rider, got to see what this life was like and what the big show was. It was neat being able to say we helped to train and maintain one of the premier bulls. And it allowed me to meet a lot of guys. Adriano (Moraes) was one of my good friends and Paulo Crimber.
JC: So, you’re back in the back meeting guys?
AM: For sure. Ross Coleman asked me one time — he was doing an autograph signing — he said, “Austin, you want my autograph?” I said, “No, you’re my buddy. I don’t need your autograph.” And at that time, they were my friends. I’ve known a bunch of them from when I was young. I grew up watching them, grew up with them being my friends, and now I’m here riding them them, now and then taking their money. And they’re taking mine sometimes.
JC: You went from Challengers Tour to Built Ford Tough Series in a couple months. Isn’t that like going from Class A ball to the big leagues?
AM: You know, I would say what it would probably be the equivalent of is a kid straight out of college signs into the minor leagues and as soon as he gets his bat stuck in the minor leagues, he ends up having to take it back out and go to the big leagues. It was sure a blessing and a neat experience, and it was an experience that I was ready for at the time. It’s took me a few years to be healthy enough and mature enough. At this level, my buddy Ryan Dirteater is about the only kid that I’ve seen come in this early and be able to dominate and it not bother him.
JC: Is there a better bull rider name than Ryan Dirteater?
AM: Well, you know, I think it’s like calling a fat man “Tiny.” We used to have a big kid in our school, and we always called him Tiny. So I think they call Dirteater Dirteater because he don’t get to each much dirt. He always lands on his feet and rides good.
JC: People in the bull riding world talk about you as one of the rising young stars. Do you look at yourself that way?
AM: You know, I let that kind of talk go in one ear and out the other. I appreciate that, and I hope that I can be a role model to a lot of little kids and be that rising super star that everybody thinks I am. But I think for the most part, I’m going to keep riding my bulls and keeping my faith up and let the rest take care of itself.
Ford, OSU end honeymoon early
Travis Ford had the perfect set-up — he was handed the keys to the head coach’s office and granted a honeymoon period.
Rare are the opportunities in college basketball where a coach is hired and given a grace period of a year or so. That’s what happened, though, when Oklahoma State hired Ford last spring.
Sure, folks in Stillwater wanted to see the men’s basketball program moving forward. But because things were in such disarray and because Ford was bringing in an entirely different system, no one had grand expectations. Show signs of improvement. Build for the future. That’s about all the orange bloods wanted out of Ford.
If he won 20 games and got to the NCAA Tournament, all the better, but those weren’t going to be the measuring sticks used this season.
Talk about a plum deal. How often does a young coach get a crack at one of the college basketball’s quality programs but not have to produce titles or even wins right away? It’s a rare and golden opportunity that Ford was granted.
Then, he went and screwed it up.
This isn’t just about what Ford called Obi Muonelo either. Granted, any coach calling a player an f***ing idiot on national television would be a black mark on their record. But a college coach saying that to a 20-year-old youngster — it’s inexcusable.
Thing is, it’s not the only thing Ford has done to end to the honeymoon early. His foul language has drawn the ire of fans and the attention of the nation. Ditto for the way he has treated officials.
Cowboy fans probably would’ve embraced Ford if he had just been fiery. Among their big complaints about Sean Sutton, after all, was that he didn’t show enough emotion on the bench. But there’s a difference between fiery and down-right unhinged, and that’s what Travis Ford has been more often than not.
If he’d have just kept his nose clean, avoiding controversy and re-building the Cowboy program, he’d still be enjoying the honeymoon. Instead, Ford finds himself facing the harsh reality of a marriage that is anything but rosy right now.
Day named to honor local standout
Who wouldn’t mind having a day named in their honor?
That’s what Kansas State has decided to do for Danielle Zanotti. The former multi-sport standout from Mustang is a senior on the Wildcat women’s basketball, and Sunday when Oklahoma State plays in Manhattan, K-State will be celebrating “Danielle Zanotti Day.”
It couldn’t have happened to a better person.
Four years ago, Zanotti was selected as one of The Oklahoman/Jim Thorpe Scholar-Athletes of the Year. She was not only bright but also giving and caring and just genuinely nice. None of that has changed. Zanotti, a role player for the Wildcats, has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll every year she’s been at K-State. Ditto for being Academic All-Big 12.
No wonder K-State has designated Sunday as her day.
By the way, the school is encouraging residents of the Mustang and Yukon area to attend Sunday’s game. Sure, it would be a bit of a drive, but Zanotti has done her hometown and home state proud.
We should all be glad Zanotti calls herself an Oklahoman.
Bull riders and baseball-sized hail
Sometimes you go out to interview a bull rider and you get to see baseball-sized hail.
That’s what happened to me today.
The Professional Bull Riders tour is rolling through Oklahoma City this weekend, and a few of the riders are in town already promoting the event which will kick off Friday night at the Ford Center. I went to the Express Personnel Barns north of Yukon early Tuesday afternoon to chat with Austin Meier, an up-and-coming star who will be the focus of my Page 2 Q&A on Saturday.
(You won’t want to miss that.)
Right after we started talking, it began raining. We were inside one of the metal barns, so it sounded worse than it was. Even when the pea-sized hail started to fall, we still knew the metal roof made it sound worse than it really was.
But as the hail got bigger and the noise got louder, we knew things actually were bad.
Sure enough.
Put it this way — my car has seen better days.
Every vehicle there received serious hail damage, including big dents in the hoods and on the roofs. Most even had busted windshields; it looks like someone reared back from close range and fired a baseball at the windshields a couple times.
And that’s pretty much what happened.
Needless to say, I’ve already scheduled an appointment with the body shop.
Valentines Day comes early
The chatter at the nearby table could be heard above the lunchtime din.
“I want my picture taken with you,” one woman said to another.
Robbie Collison smiled.
The wife of Thunder forward Nick Collison is one of the leaders of Home Court Support, a group consisting of spouses and significant others of players, coaches and front office personnel with the NBA franchise. The women do community service projects throughout the season.
Monday, Home Court Support went to the YWCA on N.W. 39th Street to do a day of pampering before Valentines Day. The women who were treated to make-up and haircuts are domestic abuse victims currently living in the YWCA’s shelter for abused women and their children.
“The faces when they were in there … ,” Robbie Collison said, pointing to the room where all the pampering took place, “it’s been amazing.”
Home Court Support sought support for the project. Loc Salon not only sent a stylist who cut and styled hair but also provided the women with products for their new style. Lancome provided two make-up artists and gift bags for all the women. Cheever’s even catered the lunch.
“People are really willing to help out,” Robbie Collison said. “When they hear it’s for a good cause, they get involved.”
The women also received a tube of lip gloss and a dozen roses.
Home Court Support did similar Valentines Day projects in Seattle before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. The women involved in the group don’t just ask their husbands and boyfriends for funding — “That’s too easy,” Robbie Collison said — and instead, they raise funds through bake sales and other endeavors.
The group focuses its efforts on helping women and children, having already done a Thanksgiving event at Tinker Air Force Base and planning an event in March with the Ronald McDonald House. That number of events is actually down for Home Court Support, mainly because of the franchise’s relocation last summer. The group plans to do even more activities next year.
If the laughter and the chatter from about a dozen women is any indication, Monday’s day of pampering was a success.
“Everybody wants to feel pretty and taken care of,” Robbie Collison said.
More from The Q&A: Andrea Riley
Andrea Riley is a basketball star despite being only 5-foot-5.
Or is she a basketball star because of that?
Check out some more Qs and As from The Q&A with the Oklahoma State point guard:
Jenni Carlson: Being 5-foot-5 — you and I are the same height, by the way — what’s the best thing about being that height?
Andrea Riley: I like when everybody tells me, “You’re short, and because you’re short, you can’t do anything.” I love when somebody tells me that. It’s so motivating. That has happened since I was a young girl.
JC: You like the doubters.
AR: I love it. It’s so motivating.
JC: So, the worst thing about being 5-5?
AR: Everybody saying, “You’re so cute because you’re little.” I just hate that. Talking to you like you’re a little kid, I really do not like that.
JC: Now, are you like most college students — do you have all the electronic gadgets and stuff?
AR: I’m not a big game person. They only games I know how to play are “Sonic” and “Mario.” I really don’t spend my money on those. What I really want is a keyboard. I really like playing the piano. I really like learning new songs. I used to have a keyboard, but it broke. That’s my next purchase.
JC: Maybe a concert soon?
AR: Yeah. (Laughs.)
JC: Now, what about cell phones and all that?
AR: Oh, I love to text. I would rather you text me than call me. Sometimes, I really don’t’ feel like talking on the phone, but then I’ll text. My family will be like, “Why did you text? Why didn’t you just answer the phone?” I don’t mean to be rude, but I like texting.
JC: Do you text as fast as you talk?
AR: Oh. (Laughs.) Yeah. My brother’s like that, too. He really talks fast. I think he says gibberish sometimes because you can’t understand what he’s saying.
Signing Day: Christmas in February?
Signing day is like Christmas.
Wait a minute. Before we go any further with this analogy, I have to give credit where it is due. Our lead high school sportswriter Ryan Aber came up with this one, and I swear, it might be the best description for signing day ever.
OK, back to the analogy.
On signing day, your team gets to open all its gifts and see what it got. A four-star defensive back. An unheralded offensive lineman. The list goes on and on. These are things you intend to play with, but on signing day, all you get to do is open the box and peek in. You can ooh and aah over what’s inside. You can dream about what’s to be.
But then, you have to shut the box and put it away for a year, maybe even two. Only then will you be able to take out what’s inside and see what’s it’s like. Does it work? Is it broke? Is it everything you thought it would be?
That’d be a crazy Christmas, of course, but that’s exactly what signing day is like. It’s full of hype and potential, but really, it’s potential that’s usually a long time in being fulfilled. Sometimes, it never is.
Listen, I understand the importance of signing day. It is how college football teams everywhere build for the future. Championships may not be won on signing day, but they can sure be tough to come by if a team doesn’t go out and get guys that can help them win someday.
But still, it’s a weird day. I went back and looked at the sport section that chronicled last year’s signing day. On the cover: Kye Staley, Jameel Owens and Stacy McGee. There were pictures of all three in-state stars, all of whom stayed in state, Staley signing with OSU, Owens and McGee with OU.
They were a big deal that day and in many of the days leading up to it.
They’ve hardly been heard from since.
That’s what makes that Christmas analogy so perfect. You’d never get that excited about something you weren’t even going to be able to use for a year or more, but that’s what happens on signing day.
It’s goofy, and yet, even though the ink hasn’t dried on Signing Day 2009, teams have already started shopping for next year’s haul.
Pressure off Paris?
When the whistle blew with less than a minute left Monday night, the official turned toward the scorer’s table and flashed three fingers.
So ended Courtney Paris’s double-double streak.
The Sooner superstar fouled out with only seconds remaining against Tennessee, finishing with nine points and 12 rebounds. She just missed extending her string of 112 consecutive games with double-digit points and rebounds by only one point.
Paris raised her arms and waved her hands to the Ford Center crowd as she left the floor, trying to be strong, trying to act as though it was no big thing. By the time she got to the bench, though, she had a couple tears rolling down her cheeks. Mind you, Paris fully understood that the Sooners were in the midst of scoring a big win, and really, that’s what’s important. That’s what truly matters.
Still, you could see that this double-double thing has been on her mind and in her heart.
And why not? It’s an amazing streak that will never be matched. Heck, we probably can’t even fully appreciate just how impressive it is.
But perhaps, in some weird way, having the streak come to an end now takes some pressure off Paris. Her place in the program’s history and in women’s college basketball will not be diminished because of this. She is still one of the greatest, but now, she gets to play the rest of her senior season without the will-she-won’t-she question hanging over her head.
Who knows what that might mean?
Paris talked after the game about feeling free now that the streak has ended. If a player as talented as Paris now feels less pressure, now feels as though she can just play the game she plays so well, that could portend big things.
Things that are even bigger than what Paris has already done.
Super Super Bowl
I fully expected to be napping by the middle of the second half Sunday night.
It’s not that I lacked faith in the Steelers and the Cardinals. I just figured there was no way we could have another great Super Bowl.
Look back at the past decade of Super Bowls, and you’ll see few back-to-back barn-burners. The Rams and the Titans locked in that epic last-second, goal-line battle in 2000, only to be followed by the Ravens’ blowout of the Giants. Then came the Patriots’ last-second field goal to beat the Rams in 2002, only to be followed by the Bucs’ throttling of the Raiders.
You get the idea.
And after last season, it was difficult to see the pattern changing. After all, the Giants and the Patriots gave us a game for the ages. There was the drama of the undefeated season, the Giants taking the lead in the fourth only to be answered by the Patriots, the huge top-of-the-helmet catch by David Tyree and finally the game-winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress with less than a minute remaining.
Surely, we couldn’t expect an epic repeat.
Heck, this is nothing against the Steelers or the Cardinals. It was more just a Super Bowl karma thing, a the-gridiron-stars-can’t-align-like-that-again thing.
Oh, but they did.
What happened Sunday night in Tampa was another game for the ages. Was it better than last year’s game? No, but few games will be. How often, after all, do you have a team going for undefeated glory.
But that doesn’t diminish how great a game the Steelers and the Cardinals provided. Just when you thought James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return at the end of the first half would be the play of the night, the fourth quarter started. Trailing 20-7, the Cardinals scored 16 points in less than five minutes. Then came the drive of the night. The Steelers marched the length of the field in less than two minutes, getting big play after big play. The drive was capped by a diving, toe-dragging catch by Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone.
Fittingly, Holmes scored with :35 seconds remaining in the game, the same amount of time that was left on the clock when Burress made his big catch last year.
Super Bowl XLIV is more than a year away. We have no idea who will make the playoffs much less who might be in the Super Bowl. But surely, we’re due a dud. Surely, we shouldn’t expect another great game.
Or should we?
