John Rohde » sports http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde Insight from Oklahoman Sports Columnist John Rohde. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:16:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 This week’s AP Top 25 poll (11/16) http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/16/this-weeks-ap-top-25-poll-1116/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/16/this-weeks-ap-top-25-poll-1116/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:54:28 +0000 johnrohde http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=300 The 2009-10 college basketball season finally began last week, though it was difficult to notice with all the mismatches.

The action intensifies this week as No. 1 Kansas and Memphis play Tuesday night at the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game. In the opening game at Scottrade Center, Louisville opens its season against Arkansas. Razorbacks sophomore guard and former Vertigris standout Rotnei Clarke had 51 points last Friday against Alcorn State, converting an SEC-record 13 3-pointers in just 17 attempts and finishing 15 of 21 from the field.

Also on Tuesday night, Michigan State hosts Gonzaga, which lost four starters. On Thursday, North Carolina is at Ohio State and Syracuse is at California.

Top upset last week: Rider 88, (No. 18) Mississippi State 74
This week’s showcase: North Carolina at Ohio State (Thursday)

The first Associated Press regular-season poll comes out later this afternoon. Here is how I voted:

1. Kansas
2. Texas
3. Michigan State
4. Villanova
5. Purdue
6. North Carolina
7. Duke
8. West Virginia
9. Butler
10. Kentucky
11. Tennessee
12. Georgia Tech
13. Oklahoma
14. Ohio State
15. UConn
16. California
17. Vanderbilt
18. Maryland
19. Washington
20. Siena
21. Michigan
22. Minnesota
23. Dayton
24. Clemson
25. Louisville

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/16/this-weeks-ap-top-25-poll-1116/feed/ 0 Chat with John Rohde at 11 a.m. http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/12/chat-with-john-rohde-at-11-a-m/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/12/chat-with-john-rohde-at-11-a-m/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:17:44 +0000 sports desk http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=287

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/12/chat-with-john-rohde-at-11-a-m/feed/ 0 Video: Bob Stoops is staying put http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/11/video-bob-stoops-is-staying-put/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/11/video-bob-stoops-is-staying-put/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:06:13 +0000 sports desk http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=281

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/11/video-bob-stoops-is-staying-put/feed/ 0 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and the Lakers http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/03/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-and-the-lakers/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/03/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-and-the-lakers/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:25:21 +0000 johnrohde http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=250 Doors open 90 minutes before tipoff for Thunder games inside the Ford Center. Two-thirds of Tuesday’s early arrivals made their way to the tunnel from which the Los Angeles Lakers emerged.

For roughly 45 minutes, fans of the road team outnumbered fans of the home team.

The Lakers are one of those sports franchises that have no boundaries. Their fans are everywhere, much like the Yankees, Steelers, Cowboys, Packers, Cubs, Dodgers, Celtics and Braves. The Lakers and Yankees probably top the list.

The reigning NBA champs also draw a media crowd. Writers were bumping elbows along the sideline and baseline inside the Ford Center. Also on hand were NBA-TV and NBA.com. Several reporters normally found courtside were shipped upstairs to the hockey press box in (C)Loud City.

Newspaper writers who make road trips with their NBA teams are about to be put on the endangered species list, yet there were five LA-area beat writers on hand Tuesday. Many NBA franchises struggle to have one beat writer on the road.

During Tuesday’s game, the sellout crowd in the Ford Center easily drowned out the Lakers supporters, but the “oohs” and “ahhs” that accompany the Lakers are definitely more contagious than with other franchises.

Playing the Lakers is more than a game, it’s an event. The Lakers return to the Ford Center on March 26.

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/11/03/ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-and-the-lakers/feed/ 0 Chat Recap: Oct. 8 http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/08/chat-recap-oct-8/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/08/chat-recap-oct-8/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:31:09 +0000 Nick Tankersley http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=234

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/08/chat-recap-oct-8/feed/ 0 Chat Recap for Oct. 1 http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/01/chat-recap-for-oct-1/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/01/chat-recap-for-oct-1/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:30:17 +0000 Nick Tankersley http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=211

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/10/01/chat-recap-for-oct-1/feed/ 0 Texas-OU Masters combo http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/04/11/texas-ou-masters-combo/ http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/2009/04/11/texas-ou-masters-combo/#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:39:06 +0000 johnrohde http://blog.newsok.com/johnrohde/?p=90 Chad Campbell was born in Andrews, Texas, and he’s in the hunt for his first major title at this week’s Masters.

His caddie Judd Burkett hails from Amarillo. Equally as important to Burkett is where his wife went to school — OU.

Reader J. Taylor Currie noticed Burkett is wearing OU colors under his caddie bib at this week’s Masters. Burkett is doing a diary this week for the Amarillo Globe-News and explains his wardrobe. 

Here was Saturday’s post:

By Lance Lahnert | Amarillo Globe-News