Yearly Archives: 2010

Mullet Over #432

Neutrinos are really tiny subatomic particles. Scientists believe that they are so small that literally trillions of the minuscule units rapidly pass through the earth every second without making contact with any earth atoms.

Military personnel have been creative in naming various foods prepared by service cooks. For instance, “meatloaf” is commonly referred to as “ptomaine steak.”

In 1869, a New England cigar maker named George Hull hired a sculptor to chisel the figure of a giant man from a block of concrete. The ten foot work was buried and “discovered” some months later a short distance from the town of Cardiff, New York. The hoax was on. Thousands paid fifty cents each for a brief look at the “petrified man.” P. T. Barnum made a substantial offer for the attraction and was rejected. Matters might have continued happily were it not that Hull had never fully paid the involved sculptor who turned into a big old tattletale and ruined everything.

John Glenn was the first human to eat a meal (1962) while in “space.” He consumed applesauce from a tube. Recent information indicates that each space-shuttle launch costs between $400 million and $500 million. I surmise that the $100 million variation depends largely on the volumes of applesauce, etc. consumed during the missions.

Comedy changes with time. Punch and Judy puppet acts in England go back at least to 1662 when a viewing of a show was documented by diarist Samuel Pepys. That same year an observer commented that King Charles II thoroughly enjoyed a Punch and Judy command performance. Humor plots in presentations nearly always included Punch violently killing Judy. Ha-Ha?

On June 9, 1972 a team from the British Army arrived at Cape Horn (South America) riding in two well-worn Range Rovers. The crew had traveled the entire length of the Americas, starting from the north coast of Alaska some 188 days previous. The most difficult stretch of the journey had been from Panama through Columbia (a region known as “El Tapon”). Outlaw gangs, swamps, rivers, mosquitoes, poisonous snakes and herds (some with more than 300 animals) of vicious feral hogs combined to make traversing El Tapon exceptionally grueling.

“Lexington” was the name of George Washington’s “saddle horse.” However, “Blueskin” was his horse at Valley Forge, as was “Roger Leo.” “Nelson” was his fave in battle and the general once indicated that his most prized animal was an Arabian named “Magnolia.” Washington traded Magnolia for 5,000 acres of land, so someone else must have thought highly of the chestnut mare.

Use caution when touring El Tapon (translates as “The Stopper”) and enjoy a great week.

31-28 win over UTEP keeps TU in hunt for division championship

The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane kept hopes alive for the Conference USA West Division championship, holding on to defeat the UTEP Miners 31-28 Saturday afternoon before 16,547 fans at H.A.alt Chapman Stadium. The win improved TU to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in C-USA play, keeping them on pace with SMU (6-5, 5-2) at the top of the West Division standings. The win was their fifth straight dating back to a 52-24 win over Tulane on October 16.

Damaris Johnson became the NCAA’s all-time leader in kickoff return yardage as he finished the game with 280 all-purpose yards. His 62-yard kickoff return in the third quarter set up the Hurricane for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown run by Alex Singleton

It took Tulsa a little longer than usual to put points on the board. After UTEP found the endzone on a 28-yard run by Joe Banyard with 2:44 left in the first, Tulsa finally struck with 0:07 when G.J. Kinne found WIllie Carter on the right side of the endzone for a 19-yard score. The touchdown capped an eight play, 53-yard drive that took 2:33 of time off the clock.

UTEP answered the Hurricane score quickly when Banyard went 66-yards for his second rushing score just 46-seconds later to put the Miners on top 14-7. Tulsa responded mid-way through the second quarter to tie the game on a 6-yard touchdown run by Johnson, only to see UTEP’s Marlon McClure return the ensuing kickoff 73-yards to give the Miners a 21-14 lead. Kinne managed to square things up before half time, as he led the Hurricane offense down field 63-yards in seven plays, completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Charles Clay with just 33-seconds left in the second.

Tulsa took the lead for the first time in the third quarter when Kevin Fitzpatrick booted a 23-yard field goal to capitalize a 13-play, 69-yard drive to open the third quarter. Banyard’s five-yard touchdown run less than five minutes later gave the Miners a 28-24 lead with 5:20 remaining in the third before Singleton’s score put Tulsa ahead for good. On second and goal from the one yard-line, Singleton took the hand-off from Kinne and ran through a gap on the left side of the line and into the endzone to give Tulsa the three-point lead.

The Hurricane defense came up big when it mattered most, holding UTEP scoreless in the fourth quarter. Tulsa forced two punts in the final stanza, before turning the ball over on downs to UTEP at the Miners’ 30 yard-line. UTEP then mounted a six-play, 34-yard drive before Dexter McCoil hauled in an interception at Tulsa’s 43 yard-line with 1:40 remaining. The offense managed to gain a first down which enabled them to run out the clock and secure the win.

"Good teams, even when they don’t play well, find a way to win," said TU Head Coach Todd Graham. "It was one of those days for us."

Tulsa now looks ahead to Friday’s home finale against Southern Miss while they look to get a little help from a familiar foe. SMU, who handed the Hurricane their most recent loss, holds the tie breaker in the division title race, so in order for the Hurricane to move into the C-USA title game they must win Friday and see East Carolina defeat SMU in Greenville, North Carolina. East Carolina defeated Tulsa in the season opener on a hail-Mary pass with no time remaining, but on Friday the Hurricane faithful will be cheering for the purple-clad Pirates to give them a helping hand.

SMU and East Carolina will kick-off at 1 p.m. on CBS College Sports, while the Hurricane and Golden Eagles contest will follow on the same network at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are still available for Friday’s game and may be purchased at tulsahurricane.com or by calling 918-631-GOTU (4688).

SCORING SUMMARY

2:44  1st UTEP Banyard 28 run (Warren kick)

0:07  1st TU   Kinne 19 pass to Carter (Fitzpatrick kick)

14:21 2nd UTEP Banyard 66 run (Warren kick)

6:12  2nd TU   D. Johnson 6 run (Fitzpatrick kick)

6:01  2nd UTEP McClure 73 kickoff return (Warren kick)

0:33  2nd TU   Kinne 12 pass to Clay (Fitzpatrick kick)

10:01 3rd TU   Fitzpatrick 23 Field Goal

5:20  3rd UTEP Banyard 5 run (Warren kick)

4:00  3rd TU   Singleton 1 run (Fitzpatrick kick)

 

C-USA SCOREBOARD

UCF 61, Tulane 14

SMU 31, Marshall 17

Rice 62, East Carolina 38

Southern Miss 59, Houston 41

UAB 31, Memphis 15

 

C-USA STANDINGS (Conference record listed second)

WEST DIVISION: 1. SMU 6-5, 5-2; 2. Tulsa 8-3, 5-2; 3. Houston 5-6, 4-4; 4. UTEP 6-6, 3-5; 5. Tulane 4-7, 2-5; 6. Rice 3-8, 2-5.

EAST DIVISION: 1. UCF 8-3, 6-1; 2. East Carolina 6-5, 5-2; 3. Southern Miss 8-3, 5-2; 4. Marshall 4-7, 3-4; 5. UAB 4-7, 3-4; 6. Memphis 1-10, 0-7.

Oilers drop 4th straight in Missouri 4-2.

altINDEPENDENCE, MO.– It’s the same old story. The Tulsa Oilers come out of the locker room and keep up with their opponent, then something ruins it for them in the end.

The Oilers traveled to Independence, Missouri on Saturday night to complete the home-and-home series with the Missouri Mavericks that began on Friday night in the amazing BOK Center with a 5-2 loss.

Derek Eastman got the only goals in Friday nights game, and he would get one of the pair scored in Independence as the Oilers pulled as close as a tie, but never led in the contest. Chad Costello, Tulsa’s leader in goals scored, got the other one. It was tied 2-2 as the third period started, but goals by the Mavericks Toby Lafrance and an empty net goal by Simon Watson ended any hopes of a rally by the Oilers.

The loss capped off a three-loss week for the Oilers, the pair of losses to the Mavericks and a 5-3 loss to the league leading Allen Americans on Thursday night. The loss puts the team’s record at 3-11-1 with 7 points, two points behind the Laredo Bucks who are at 4-8-2 , and the Bucks have played two fewer games than the Oilers have.

 

New week brings new teams and a big help.

It will be a week of firsts for the Tulsa Oilers, who will be busy with four games in five nights this week. The Oilers will host the Quad City Mallards in the first visit ever by a former International Hockey League team to the BOK Center on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. The Oilers host Mississippi on Thanksgiving Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and will
have the TD Williamson “Pink in the Rink” game Friday against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at the Bok Center at 7:35 p.m.

The busy week concludes with the Oilers making their first ever visit to Evansville,
Indiana to take on the IceMen at 7:35 p.m. All games can accessed via the internet at www.tulsaoilers.com and CHL TV.

Tickets for all Oiler games are available a the BOK Box Office, Tickets.com, Tulsa area Reasor’s stores, and by calling 1-866-7BOK-CTR (866-725-5287). More information is available by calling the Oilers office at 918-632-PUCK (7825).

 

 

 

66ers split season-opening series

The NBA D-League season is officially underway, and the Tulsa 66ers are now 1-1 on the young season after splitting a pair of games on the road against the Bakersfield Jam over the weekend. alt

The Jam claimed a 104-101 win over the 66ers on Friday, despite Tulsa having six players score in double-digit figures.  Marcus Lewis led Tulsa with 23 points while Robert Vaden, Zabian Dowdell and Tweety Carter each added 16. Larry Owens recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Elijah Millsap rounded out the double-digit scoring with 14 points.

The game was tied 99-99 with just over a minute remaining before Bakersfield reeled off four unanswered points to take a 103-99 lead. Carter sank a pair of free-throws with 12 seconds remaining to pull Tulsa back within two points. Down three points with 2.8 seconds left, Vaden missed on a three-point attempt and Bakersfield escaped with the win.

The 66ers turned the tables on Saturday, as they jumped on top early and never looked back, en route to a 108-93 win. Five 66ers scored in double-digits as defensively Tulsa forced 19 Bakersfield turnovers. Dowdell led Tulsa with 21 points and eight assists while the 66ers connected on eight-of-18 attempts from behind the arc.

Lewis was the second 66er in as many games to record a double-double as he netted 14 points and 11 rebounds. Millsap and Carter each had 18 points while Owens added 17. 

Tulsa’s defense held Bakersfield to a .333 field goal percentage as the 66ers took a 49-41 lead into the half-time locker room. 

The Jam pulled within three points with 8:33 remaining in the third quarter before the 66ers went on an 11-2 run mid-way through the quarter to widen the gap. Bakersfield got back within 11 points twice in the fourth quarter, Tulsa’s defense proved to be too stout for the Jam to overcome.

The 66ers open the home portion of their 2010-11 season this Friday when they tip-off at the Tulsa Convention Center at 7 p.m. against the Iowa Energy (2-0). The two teams will play again at the same time on Saturday night. Fans can take advantage of an opening weekend package including a lower level ticket, hot dog and soda for $10 by calling the 66ers office at 918-585-8444. Tickets are also available on-line at tickets.com.

Bret Michaels at The Joint was ‘nothing but a good time’

You could tell that excitement and anticipation was in the air from the moment you set foot in the Hard Rock on Saturday night.  As everyone made their way across the casino floor towards The Joint, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s newest venue, you could tell everyone was counting down the minutes for Bret Michaels to take the stage.  The Joint is really a spectacular place to be intimate with the artist you are seeing because all 2,700 people feel like they are a part of the show whether you are stage side or the last row.

Michaels has overcome a lot through this past year with being hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage and finding out that he will be under the knife again in January to repair a hole in his heart.  After visiting the hospital again for a stroke just a few weeks later, Bret rebounded to win “Celebrity Apprentice 3” where he won $390,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

Before taking the stage, local KMOD radio personalities were getting everyone amped up for the show that was about to take place.  T-shirts were given out and local DJ’s talked up the band and let us know that Bret would be taking the stage momentarily.  Just as soon as the last DJ disappeared the house lights were taken down to pitch black and the deep, thunderous notes of Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” emanated through the auditorium and band members started running to their places to prepare for Bret’s arrival and the crowd took to their feet.

As the final bassy notes were played, Michaels stormed onto the stage taking his place where he was greeted with a sold-out crowd on their feet and screaming his name.  Michaels opened with “Talk Dirty to Me” running from left to right engaging his fans with high fives and adoration.  Immediately he rolled into his next hit “Look What the Cat Dragged In” after letting everyone know that VH1 was filming for his new reality show “Life as I know it”.

As the night progressed Michaels went on to covering hits such as Lynard Skynyrd’s  “Sweet Home Alabama” and Sublime’s “What I got”.  However, he didn’t forget to play all of the hits that made him famous while being Poison’s frontman.  Before tearing into “Something To Believe In” he explained that this was one was his favorite of all the songs he was to play that night.  

As the show was coming to a near close, Bret paused before switching guitars to explain that he had collaborated with rock group Three Doors Down and Country Stars Rascal Flatts to revamp his popular song “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” with a country style twang.  As his acoustic guitar strummed quietly to a stop, he instantly struck the beginning chords of “Fallen Angel” and thanked everyone for coming out and that he appreciated each every one of his fans for making him the person he is today.

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Photos by: Casey Hanson

As the lights came up, the audience knew it wasn’t over and started chanting his name in unison.  After what was a short break, Michaels took the stage for the final time and made sure the entire room was on it’s feet and waving their arms from side to side as he everyone sang along to “Nothing But A Good Time.” Bret left the stage after thanking the audience and promised that he would make this an annual Tulsa tradition.

If you weren’t a part of the crowd, you really did miss a great show.  If you haven’t been to The Joint yet, you really should visit as it is quickly becoming a place where you can find some of rock’s legends stopping by to play a few songs.