Yearly Archives: 2010

Talons sign SEC lineman

Rich Lohman

TULSA, OK– In order to strengthen the line, Tulsa Talons head coach Mitch Allner reached into the SEC in the signing of former Kentucky University lineman Justin Jefferies to the 2011 squad.

Jeffries, the son of Curtis Jeffries who played for the Cincinnati Bengals was a 4-year starter at Kentucky. As a Freshman, Jeffries was named to the SEC All-Freshman team by league coaches. Over the next 3 seasons he was part of an offensive line that set a school record for points in a season and a line that ranked nationally in sacks given up in a season (13 total sacks-4th in the nation in 2008).

 In 2010, Jeffries attended the San Diego Chargers camp as an undrafted free agent and made it to the last cut.

“Justin is the type of player we have been working to get this off-season. He is a young guy with a ton of upside, who was just in a NFL camp and is without a doubt an NFL talent. Playing against the competition he faced in the SEC, I’m sure his talents are going to transfer over to the arena game really well,” said Head Coach Mitch Allner.

Arena Football Friday returns to the NFL Network

After expanding to an 18-game schedule and adding four teams, the Arena Football League is on NFL Network for the second consecutive season. NFL Network will broadcast more than 20 Arena Football League games on Friday nights at 7:00 p.m. CT starting March 11, 2011.

“The announcers and crew did a great job last season bringing the exciting arena atmosphere and game to fans all over the country,” Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz said, “and we look forward to another successful season on NFL Network.” The AFL’s “Arena Football Friday” schedule on NFL Network features 23 games including 20 regular season contests.

NFL Network will also showcase two playoff games and ArenaBowl XXIV on August 12, 2011. “Arena Football Friday games provide fans with high-scoring, fast-paced action on NFL Network,” said Lawrence Randall, director of programming, NFL Network. “We look forward to our second season of live games beginning with two new teams owned by former NFL stars and concluding with the playoffs and Arena Bowl.”

The 24th season of the AFL will kick off with in-state rivals and expansion teams, Ron Jaworski’s Philadelphia Soul at Lynn Swann’s Pittsburgh Power, on NFL Network on Friday, March 11, 2011. Due to the primetime 2011 NFL Draft, the Orlando Predators at Jacksonville Sharks game will be played on Saturday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. CT on NFL Network.

Log onto arenafootball.com for the full slate of Arena Football Friday games on the NFL Network; Cox Cable channel 252 in Tulsa. The Talons are scheduled to appears on the NFL Network on May 13th when they face the New Orleans VooDoo.

Of course, the Talons would like you to join them to experience an arena game in person at the amazing BOK Center. The first home game is on March 28th, 2011 against the Arizona Rattlers. Talons season tickets are on sale for as low as $90. Contact the Talons office at 294-1000 to see how you can get 9 games for the price of 8.

2011 Tulsa Talons Home Schedule

3/28 Arizona 7pm

4/16 San Jose 7pm

4/23 Iowa 7pm

5/7 Chicago 7pm

5/21 Kansas City 7pm

6/11 Utah 7pm

6/25 Dallas 7pm

7/9 Tampa Bay 7pm

7/16 Orlando 7pm

It’s Psychobilly Freakout time with The Rev

It’s time to roll-up the sleeves and put on your favorite pair of Levi’s and rockabilly yourself on over to the Cain’s Ballroom. The Reverend Horton Heat is making their way back to Tulsa this Friday night. You do not want to miss this show!

The Reverend Horton Heat is a psychobilly rock band from Dallas Texas; their sound has been self-described as “country-fed punkabilly”. The Rev’s music is a mixture of country, punk, big band, swing, and rockabilly.  It will be a very loud and energetic show with lots of humor thrown in. No way are you going to get bored at this show.

The Reverend Horton Heat is the stage name for Jim Heath and the name of his band. Don’t let the good-times band fool you; Heath is a master-mind on guitar. Jimbo Wallace plays a mean upright bass and Paul Simmons is a solid drummer that completes the band. The Rev has an established underground cult following that seems to get bigger each year.  

The Rev has also received quite a main-stream welcome with some of their songs being used in commercials, movies and the popular cartoon Johnny Bravo. The Reverend Horton Heat has almost a dozen studio albums out, the latest being “Laughin’ & Cryin’ with the Reverend Horton Heat”, which was released on September 1st, 2009. Band opener is Split Lip Rayfield.

There is no reason to stay home on a Friday night. Start your weekend off right rockin’ out with the Reverend Horton Heat!

WHEN:Friday November 19th

WHERE: Cain’s Ballroom 423 North Main

TIME: Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 8:00

TICKETS: in advance $19/at the door day of show $23  online  www.protix.com

Dinner recommendations: Dilly Deli, Joe Momma’s Pizza and McNellies


 

Legendary rock front man Bret Michaels is coming to Tulsa

Poison singer, reality star to play the Joint on Nov. 20

TULSA, Okla. – One of the biggest names in rock is coming to the Joint when Bret Michaels performs inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa on Nov. 20.

Tickets start at $35 and go on sale on Sept. 23.

As the front man for Poison, Michaels led the band to the top of the music charts with more than 25 million records sold and 15 singles peaking in the top 40, including “Talk Dirty to Me,” Nothing But a Good Time,” “Something to Believe In” and the No. 1 smash hit “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”

In the last seven years Michaels has released three solo albums, starred in three seasons of his VH1 reality show “Rock of Love,” won “Celebrity Apprentice 3” and, in August, hosted the Miss Universe Pageant. A lifelong type 1 diabetic, Michaels earned $390,000 for the American Diabetes Association for winning “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Not only is Michaels touring the country this fall, but he will also release his autobiography “Roses and Thorns” and will star this fall in his VH1 new reality series, “Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It.”

In April, Michaels generated news when he was hospitalized for a massive brain hemorrhage. For days, the 47-year-old singer was in critical condition before stabilizing and eventually being released from the hospital on May 5 after making a full recovery. In July, Michaels was readmitted to the hospital and doctors discovered a patent foramen ovale, which is also known as a hole in the heart. The condition was treated as Michaels finished “Celebrity Apprentice.”
 
Michaels is currently touring in support of his July release, “Custom Built,” which features “Riding Against the Wind,” the theme song for his new reality show. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Top Independent Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts as well as No. 4 on the Top Rock Albums chart.  

The Joint holds 2,700 guests and features three levels of elevated, fixed seating, nine private suites and cutting-edge technology in sound, lighting and video.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is located off of Interstate 44 at exit 240A. Ticket prices and information on upcoming shows are available online in the Joint section of www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com or by calling (918) 384-ROCK. The Joint box office is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. All guests must be 21 years of age or older.

(Photo courtesy of Carrie Reiser)

Shock’s Jones returns to Tulsa for book signing

Tulsa Shock guard Marion Jones will be returning to Tulsa on Thursday for a book signing. Jones, who finished the Shock’s inaugural season strong with 32 points in the final three games, will be on handalt Thursday evening at Borders to sign copies of her autobiography titled On the Right Track. The book was released on October 26.

According to publisher Simon and Schuster, On the Right Track is "the candidly told story of how Marion came to grips with her lies and the consequences of her actions, and how she found meaning in all of it."

Jones won five medals during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. In September, 2000 after admitting she lied to federal investigators about the use of a performance-enhancing drug, she voluntarily returned all her Olympic medals.

Jones got a chance at redemption after signing with the Shock prior to the beginning of the 2010 WNBA season. Jones was also a standout basketball player at the University of North Carolina where she was a member of the 1994 national championship team. She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2003 WNBA draft, but never played for that team.

At the age of 30, she became the only WNBA rookie over the age of 30. Jones saw limited playing time early in the season, but Head Coach Nolan Richardson was encouraged with the improvement she displayed throughout the year. He rewarded her with a starting position in the final game of the season, and she posted the best results of her WNBA career with a 14-point night.

"She’s been proving herself every time she hits the floor, she’s been a delight for me," Richardson said after the Shock’s 84-71 season-ending win over the Chicago Sky on August 21 at the BOK Center.

Shock season ticket holders will receive an exclusive 20-percent discount on Jones’ book during the event that is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday.

WHAT: Marion Jones book signing

WHERE: Borders Book Store, 2740 East 21st Street

WHEN: Thursday, November 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Photo by Kevin Pyle

 

Talons sign Big 10 Quarterback.

altTULSA, OK– The Tulsa Talons have signed a former Big 10 Quarterback to the 2011 squad.

Kellen Lewis was a three-year starter for the Indiana Hoosiers (2006-2008). As a Freshman, he was named team MVP and named a Freshman All-American by the Sporting News and Rivals.com. During the 2007 season, Lewis set an IU single season record for touchdown passes with 28 on his way to being named 1st Team All-Big Ten. Lewis finished his career at IU holding records for most career touchdown passes, most 300-plus yard games and most pass completions.

“We’re very excited about signing Kellen for the 2011 season. He put up great numbers in 3 years at Indiana and brings the element of a very mobile quarterback as well as an accurate passer to our team. The competition at quarterback is going to be extremely competitive in camp and I look forward to seeing him compete for the starting spot,” said Head Coach Mitch Allner.

The Talons will once again play all home games at one of the best arenas in the country, the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. Since the opening in September of 2008, the BOK Center has garnered national and worldwide recognition. Talons season tickets are on sale for as low as $90. Contact the Talons office at 294-1000 to see how you can get 9 games for the price of 8.