jenni carlson | News OK
Jenni Carlson, a sports columnist at The Oklahoman since 1999, came by her love of sports honestly. She grew up in a sports-loving family in Kansas. Her dad coached baseball and did color commentary on the radio for the high school football games. Her mom kept the scorebook during baseball games and yelled her head off no matter the sport. They passed along that passion to Carlson and her two younger brothers.
Carlson played golf in high school and planned to play in college, but when she started at the University of Kansas, she decided to focus her attention on journalism. It’s a decision that she’s never regretted.
Her first big story was a profile on Kansas basketball coach Roy Williams for the yearbook, and Carlson has enjoyed interviewing sports figures and sharing their stories every since.
Carlson is a 1997 graduate of Kansas. She and her husband, Ryan, were married in 2009 and live in Oklahoma City. They welcomed their first child, Millie, in June 2012. Carlson was the president of the Association for Women in Sports Media from 2008-10 and chair of the board from 2010-12.
Vote: Trae Young or J.T. Realmuto? George Kittle or Christopher Bell? Meet OKC metro’s ‘30 Under 30’
A couple Sundays ago, after watching the Thunder's unexpected win against the Bucks, I flipped over to the Daytona 500. The...
Carlson: Spring football in Oklahoma? It never meant more than it does for state's lone HBCU
Henry Mitchell looked around last Saturday afternoon and saw familiar sights. An emerald-green football field with...
Christopher Bell's first NASCAR Cup win set off huge celebration in Oklahoma. Here's who cheered loudest
David and Kathy Bell would’ve loved to have been at Daytona for their son’s first NASCAR Cup Series win. But being 1,267 miles...
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Why have OU football, Oklahoma State fared so much better than Texas? Here's Steve Sarkisian's challenge
Some interesting survey results came out of Texas recently. Nothing to do with power grids or blackouts, by the way. Dave...
Carlson: Thunder's Mark Daigneault isn't only up-and-coming coach in the house. Meet his wife, Ashley Kerr
Ashley Kerr took a chance leaving Florida for Oklahoma. As an aspiring coach, she had a good gig working for the Gators, and...
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Carlson: Due to COVID-19, college basketball teams should consider this detour on road to NCAA Tournament
Word out of the Pacific Northwest is, Gonzaga may opt out of its conference tournament. Seems like a no-brainer for the Zags...
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Carlson: Here's the case for Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo as NBA's most improved player
Hamidou Diallo drove toward the basket, quickly took contact from a Bucks defender, then decided to pull up for a short jumper...
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Carlson: What does Big 12 football schedule predict for OU, OSU? Here's what we read in the tea leaves
College football schedule makers double as soothsayers. Readers of tea leaves. Gazers into crystal balls. Why? Because of TV....
Carlson: Oklahoma high school basketball, wrestling fans want postseason play? They may have to stay away
If you’re a high school basketball fan, I need you to pay attention. Ditto if you’re a high school wrestling fan. I know there...
Carlson: Super Bowl was about Tom Brady, Bucs' defense & Gronk — but this Oklahoman had a part, too
Codey McElroy watched Tampa Bay transform in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. He could see it from his apartment in the...
Carlson: OU football’s Lincoln Riley promoted Dennis Simmons. Here's a title the Sooner assistant can add
Lincoln Riley and Dennis Simmons might seem an unlikely tandem. Riley is a small-town guy from the wide-open spaces of West...
Carlson: OU football fans had love-loathe relationship with Bookie Radley-Hiles. Here's why Lincoln Riley is all love.
He’s been called a lightning rod. An embarrassment. A bum. Probably a few other things we can’t print in a family newspaper,...
Carlson: Super Bowl official Sarah Thomas will make history, but keep an eye on this Oklahoma female referee
Shannon Ford was never scared of anything on the football field. She’d run into opponents. She’d run over opponents. Whatever...
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Carlson: Thunder trying to create 'normal' gameday for players, but does it work?
The lights are always on and the doors are always open at the Courtside Club when the Thunder is playing at The Peake. Even...
Carlson: Think National Signing Day has lost its luster? This defensive lineman knows otherwise
NORMAN — Pierce Hassen marveled as he sat in one of the dozen padded folding chairs reserved for the guests of honor in Norman...
Carlson: OU football recruiting approach is genius amid COVID changes. Here's what Lincoln Riley did.
Lincoln Riley is a known offensive savant. A pundit of playcalling. A guru on grass. But it’s looking more and more like his...
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Carlson: OU coach Lon Kruger is the Ned Flanders of college basketball. Here's why.
Lon Kruger gets fired up. Oh, sure, he does. Take the final seconds of OU’s nail-biter against Texas on Tuesday. After Jalen...
Carlson: Tennessee Vols got a good football coach in Josh Heupel, but what did the former Sooner get?
Tennessee has named Josh Heupel as its next football coach. Good for Tennessee. For Heupel? We’ll see. Heupel, of course, is...
Carlson: The Oklahoma State plane crash killed her dad when she was a baby. Here's how she got to know him.
Andie Hancock has always known why she didn’t have a dad. It wasn’t because her mom sat her down one day and explained it....
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Carlson: OU men's basketball gets best game from De'Vion Harmon after Sooner guard's worst week
Watching his teammates dribble out the final seconds of the game, De’Vion Harmon waved his arms, then clapped his hands and...
Carlson: Mike Stoops at Texas would've been something for OU football fans — something bizarre
A member of the Stoops family in burnt orange. Yep, a Texas Longhorn. For about 12 hours, it was happening. A report surfaced...
Carlson: Fired Mets GM reminds us Sarah Fuller, Becky Hammon aren't only women in sports to celebrate
These past couple of months have been historical for women in sports. Kim Ng became the first woman hired as a general manager...
OU football's Bob Kalsu, OSU football's Mike Gundy headline 2021 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame class
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame announced its latest class of inductees Wednesday. Headlining the 2021 class are OSU football...
Carlson: Tired of Alabama, Ohio State and Co. always in College Football Playoff? Here's a fix
A week has passed since the college football season came to a close with Alabama and Ohio State playing for the national...
Carlson: Here's the story behind Millwood High School pulling teams amid COVID 'super-spreader' worries
Cecilia Robinson-Woods walked into the gym at Community Christian School and immediately saw there was a problem. There were...
Carlson: Browns' NFL Playoff success isn't Baker Mayfield's only win. Here's how his commercials took off.
Matt Dillon marvels at Baker Mayfield’s output and efficiency. Time can be short. Direction can be minimal. Pressure can be...
Carlson: NFL Playoffs give Browns, Bills fans something to celebrate, even ones in Oklahoma
Carlos Cabrera is calm and collected by nature. Doesn’t get riled. Rarely seems worried. All of that comes in handy as an...
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How does the Thunder's 2020-21 'City Edition' uniform stack up in OKC's alternate jersey rankings?
The Thunder has worn 14 alternate jerseys since coming to Oklahoma City, and we have ranked them from best to worst.
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Carlson: Meet the Norman retiree as excited as Alabama, Ohio State about making CFP title game
David Gore couldn’t say yes fast enough when he was asked to be the clock operator for last month's Big 12 Championship Game....
Carlson: Alabama a lovable college football champion? Two Crimson Tide players make it so
A weird thing happened in the moments before the national championship game Monday night. I realized I was pulling for...
Carlson: OKC Thunder hasn't answered every question, but here are two things we do know
Kevin Durant waited on the perimeter for the little lob pass, but as it came his way, Kenrich Williams jumped, stretching high,...
Carlson: How Browns QB Baker Mayfield went from question mark to transformational player in Cleveland
The Browns needed just one more first down. Two short yards. That was the only thing standing between Cleveland and a playoff...
Carlson: OU football alum and Washington punter Tress Way enters NFL Playoffs with joy and sorrow
Tress Way heard the pause after the prayer and began to sob. In the victorious and joyous locker room last Sunday night in...
Carlson: We're getting a March Madness bubble in Indianapolis. Why not do an NCAA softball one in OKC?
The NCAA announced earlier this week that it has decided to play the entire men’s basketball tournament this year in and around...
Carlson: How Oklahoma high school basketball was changed forever by the godfather of coaches, Dub Raper
Garland Parks thinks of his high school basketball coach as his inspiration and his mentor. The person who Parks has most...
Carlson: Got questions about OKC Thunder TV broadcasts? Let's get answers together
I am not a tech expert. Not even close. I’m not the parent who asks the 8-year-old in the house to fix the gadgets, but that’s...
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Carlson: Why Sooners QB Spencer Rattler looks like a future Heisman Trophy contender
Spencer Rattler popped off the endzone turf and started high stepping. He had reason for jubilation. Not just after his...
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OU football: Sooners set Cotton Bowl records & other key numbers to 55-20 win vs. Florida
OU got out to a big lead early, and even though Florida made a little run, the Sooners were too much for the Gators. OU won in...
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Carlson: Why Oklahoma State football's Tylan Wallace should be celebrated, not criticized for the way he opted out
Spencer Sanders was asked an impartial question about Tylan Wallace on Tuesday evening. Was the OSU offense aware of the plan...
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Oklahoma State football: Cowboys receivers Brennan Presley, Tylan Wallace shine in Cheez-It Bowl win over Miami
OSU and Miami ended up in a back-and-forth battle in the second half after the Cowboys gave away an early three-touchdown lead....
Carlson: 'Weird atmosphere' for Utah Jazz in first trip to face OKC Thunder since March 11 pandemic pause
Quin Snyder walked into the visitors’ locker room Monday night and had a flashback. Not a good one either. “I won’t call it...
Carlson: Why Florida coach Dan Mullen enters Cotton Bowl against OU atop the rankings — for wackiness
Dan Mullen wore a Darth Vader costume for his postgame press conference on Halloween. That might’ve been amusing under normal...
Carlson: As Utah Jazz return to face OKC Thunder, a look back on how COVID-19 stopped sports March 11
When John Leach saw the Thunder’s team doctor sprinting toward the officials, he knew there was trouble. Leach has directed...
Chester Pittman, Oklahoma State's first Black football player, dies at 83
Chester Pittman, the first Black football player at Oklahoma State, has died. He was 83. Pittman arrived in Stillwater in the...
Carlson: Why OU, OSU football break for Christmas is good for players' mental health
Nik Bonitto had decided to stay in Norman for Christmas. Even after he found out OU coach Lincoln Riley was giving players a...
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Carlson: Night moves by the Thunder aren't always kind on deadline
If you’re a reader of the printed version of The Oklahoman, you woke up Tuesday morning to our Thunder preview section and a...
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Want to wow your friends, Thunder fans? Here's how you pronounce Aleksej Pokusevsk
Name game The new faces with the Thunder bring new names. And a few of them don’t exactly roll off the tongue. If you want to...
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Long for days of OKC Thunder past? Here's where some favorite alums are now
The Thunder is entering a new era. And it might not be fun for fans. With losses likely abundant, you may long for the days of...
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How to watch OKC Thunder games in 2020-21 NBA season
The only way to watch the Thunder play this season is on TV. No fans, of course, are allowed in the arena because of the...
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Carlson: OKC Thunder has only one Jackson now — and other things you need to know
Our Thunder coverage team met the other day to talk about our plans for the year. The transformation of the Thunder’s roster,...
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Carlson: Cheez-It Bowl is a bummer for OSU football, but Cowboys should be optimistic about defense
Oklahoma State is headed to the Cheez-It Bowl. Those words aren't exactly music to Cowboy Nation ears. This wasn’t how this...
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Carlson: Go ahead and call Sooners cornerback Tre Brown 'Mr. Big 12 Championship Game'
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tre Brown watched the ball floating high above the JerryWorld turf and realized the time had come for him to...
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Carlson: Why OU-Iowa State is unlikely matchup in Big 12 football title game
ARLINGTON, Texas — Hop into the way-back machine for a moment, and let’s go back to a time when OU was an independent in...
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Carlson: OU football said no to Charlie Kolar, and now, he wants to deny Sooners another Big 12 title
Charlie Kolar could hear the football crowd roar from his house on game days in Norman. His family lived a couple miles north...
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Carlson: How future OSU football players Blaine and Bryson Green became Cowboys' Signing Day gems
Bryson Green drops onto his knees and balances himself on the big blue exercise ball. Wearing special glasses that block...
Carlson: Sooners broadcaster Jessica Coody made OU basketball history, hopes to be 'voice for women'
NORMAN — Jessica Coody wasn’t thinking about making history. When she was asked to do play-by-play for the TV broadcast of a...
Carlson: If you knew Greg Blackwood or Mike Cutter, you were so very lucky
There's no reason to believe Greg Blackwood and Mike Cutter ever met. If they had, I suspect they would've become friends....
Carlson: Seven things to watch on Signing Day for OU, OSU and Oklahoma high school football
Signing Day is almost here. With the college football season shifted back a few weeks on the calendar because of the pandemic,...
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Carlson: OSU receiver Dillon Stoner had a day at Baylor that's 'like Christmas for him'
Dillon Stoner trotted toward the sideline keeping an eye on the jumbotron, watching a replay of his catch and dive for the goal...
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Carlson: OSU football has mind-boggling offense — but not in a good way
Rewind to a Tuesday last winter. Lunchtime. OSU Student Union. It was Jan. 21, and Cowboy football decided to have a pep rally....
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Carlson: So very 2020 — Thunder games are only on TV but carrier options are limited
There is only one way to see Thunder games this season. Since fans won’t be allowed in the arena, for now anyway, you can only...
Carlson: Oklahoma high school football title games will be COVID superspreaders without protocol enforcement
Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association executive director David Jackson said lots of planning went into how fans...
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Carlson: OU football is headed back to Big 12 title game — and is taking some fight with it
NORMAN — Isaiah Thomas ended up on the Owen Field turf just like the Baylor quarterback on the last play of the game. But when...
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Carlson: OU football vs. Baylor report card features high marks for Sooners' defense
NORMAN — The Sooners didn’t wow us Saturday night. That’s become the norm during their five-game winning streak. But after the...
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Carlson: How Darby Dean took Sooner Schooner reins, became first woman driver in OU history
NORMAN — Darby Dean turned to show the patch sewn high on the left sleeve of her crimson dress. Stitched in the middle is a...
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Carlson: OU football coach Lincoln Riley admits pandemic pigskin is tough, but here's why he believes in Sooners continuing
NORMAN — Lincoln Riley has taken to wearing a mask almost all the time. “The only time I don’t have a mask on,” he said, “is...
Carlson: College football bowl season has already been reduced by coronavirus. Expect more cancellations.
The email popped into my inbox during the lunch hour Thursday, and even though I couldn’t see the contents, the visible snippet...
Carlson: Why making Oklahoma state high school football final is extra pfun for Pfieffers
EDMOND — Scott Pfieffer was there the last time Edmond Santa Fe played for a state football championship. Doesn't remember a...
Carlson: Giving Tuesday options abound, but Fields & Futures tops the list
Brenda Hernandez remembers the big trips her soccer team would make. They went to places like Choctaw and Shawnee. Nice bedroom...
OU football: From early-morning film sessions to Orange Bowl after-party, 2000 was a special Sooner season
The Oklahoman the past few days has been celebrating the 20-year anniversary of OU’s 2000 national championship. And we cap off...
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Carlson: What happened to Oklahoma State's defense? Jim Knowles and Cowboys must find the answer
STILLWATER — Jim Knowles swears he wasn’t going to spend the hours after Saturday’s game laying in a dark room or sipping a...
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Carlson: OSU football scores high marks from Dezmon Jackson, defensive havoc against Texas Tech
On a day OSU and Texas Tech treated us to an old-school BIg 12 shootout, there were lots of crazy moments. Some good and some...
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Carlson: Why Boone Pickens statue stands testament to impact on not just Cowboys football but all of OSU
STILLWATER — Boone Pickens worried about making the largest donation in the history of college athletics. Not because it would...
Carlson: How OU football's 2000 national championship changed everything in the Sooner kingdom
Roy Williams would put a towel on the seat by his locker during his early days at OU. He didn’t do it to soak up practice...
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How Steven Adams created countless memories with OKC Thunder? Stache Bros, flip flops and a 3-point shimmy
Steven Adams was traded from the Thunder to the Pelicans on Saturday, ending his seven-year tenure in Oklahoma City. Adams and...
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Carlson: How OSU basketball coach Mike Boynton went from question mark to exclamation point among Cowboys fans
Mike Boynton has a lot on his plate over these next few months. Meld together a young but talented roster. Win a bunch of...
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Carlson: How the Sooners became college football's hottest team — and OU's most complete team in years
NORMAN — After a last-gasp, fourth-down pass sailed over heads and out of bounds, OU linebacker DaShaun White walked to the...
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Carlson: OU football report card has high marks for Ronnie Perkins, offensive variations in Bedlam rout
The Sooners dominated Bedlam, and to do that, lots must go right and lots did Saturday night. The grades reflect a mostly...
Carlson: OU football game days are different for Sooner stalwart Merv Johnson — and he's quite all right with that
NORMAN — Merv Johnson spends his Saturdays in the fall a little differently these days. For more than four decades, he went to...
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Carlson: Do these Bedlam football numbers — 89-18-7 — mean anything to OU or OSU players?
NORMAN — Notable numbers abound in Bedlam. 16-13: the score of OSU’s shocking come-from-behind win at OU in 2001. 55 and 261:...
Carlson: As COVID numbers soar and hospitals struggle, should Oklahoma high school football continue?
Exactly a month has passed since Oklahoma changed its high school football playoff format to allow more teams more chances to...
Carlson: How Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins went from small-school Oklahoma football to big-time NFL Draft hopeful
To understand how Zaven Collins has gone from a little-recruited, small-school football player into one of the biggest breakout...
Carlson: Why no player not named Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant had a bigger impact on OKC than Chris Paul
When they start putting up statues to honor Oklahoma City’s basketball legends, Chris Paul won’t be at the top of the list....
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OSU football: Cowboys uniform guru Justin Williams gives nod to throwback look as his favorite combination
They say the clothes make the man, but where Oklahoma State football is concerned, Justin Williams is the man who makes the...
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OSU football: You've got favorite uniform combinations for the Cowboys and so do we
Anybody who's watched Oklahoma State football since the Cowboys debuted their revamped mix-and-match uniforms 10 years ago has...
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Carlson: How OSU football's uniforms became a hallmark of the Cowboys, not a footnote
STILLWATER — Coming off a historic season and bringing back a bevy of superstars, there was lots of excitement inside the...
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Oklahoma City Public Schools suspends all winter sports due to COVID numbers in Oklahoma County
Oklahoma City Public Schools is suspending all winter sports indefinitely. The district announced the decision Friday morning,...
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Big 12 football roundtable: Who plays in the title game? Wins player of the year? Is the biggest surprise?
Back when the Big 12 remade its football schedule, this November bye week was built in for more than half of the league's teams...
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Carlson: Where did new OKC Thunder coach Mark Daigneault come from? He may explain with Bruce Springsteen lyrics
The Thunder’s new boss had a song for his big day. It was by The Boss. Mark Daigneault is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen....
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OKC Memorial Marathon postpones 2021 race due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns
Next year's Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon has been postponed. While the original date is still more than five months away,...
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Carlson: Alabama-Auburn? Ohio State-Michigan? Army-Navy? Great rivalries all, but college football's most relevant is Bedlam
It’s not Bedlam week. It’s Bedlam hype week. The Big 12 gifted us with a double-bye week before the in-state brouhaha....
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Carlson: Injuries made for tough grading curve for OSU football, but Spencer Sanders, adjustments scored high marks
Winning in Manhattan is never easy, but beating Kansas State on its home turf becomes all the more difficult when you have all...
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Carlson: No Tylan Wallace, Chuba Hubbard? The OSU defense made sure it was no problem for Cowboys
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Tyler Lacy wanted to have a little more fun before leaving the field. Taking off his helmet and sitting it...
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Carlson: Wonder how OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders is working through Texas turnovers? J'Mar Smith has a good idea
J’Mar Smith understands what Spencer Sanders has gone through this past week. He once had a three-turnover game like Sanders...
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Carlson: Why college football 'can't run every scenario' when COVID and coaches collide
Les Miles wasn’t a fan of missing a game after testing positive for the coronavirus. Miserable, he called it. But he felt way...
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OKC boxer Alex Saucedo retires after suffering two brain bleeds during loss to Arnold Barboza: 'I'm glad to be alive'
Alex Saucedo's boxing career is over. The Oklahoma City boxer is retiring after sustaining two brain bleeds during his fight...
Carlson: OU football gets high marks from Spencer Rattler, defensive front against Texas Tech
OU's 62-28 domination of Texas Tech on Saturday had plenty to like. Way more treats than tricks. Lots fewer scares than some...
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Carlson: What OU football did at Texas Tech should concern every other team in the Big 12
Spencer Rattler delivered a succinct message to his Sooner teammates Friday night. “It’s time for us to go out and embarrass...
Carlson: How OU football provides respite from pancreatic cancer for member of Sooner radio crew
Wednesday and Thursday are Greg Blackwood’s worst days. He gets chemo on Tuesdays at the Stephenson Cancer Center, and the next...
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Carlson: How Sooner defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas became OU football's most improved player and 'MVP of the defense'
Isaiah Thomas knew he could transfer to another school. A better situation was out there, that seemed certain. But he stayed,...
Carlson: Why an OKC man believes running the streets could be the road to recovery for at-risk youth
Steve Buck remembers all the purple shirts. They were impossible to miss, of course. When he went to Bartlesville a few years...
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Carlson: Why Texas football continues to lag behind OU, OSU even in Tom Herman's fourth season
Tom Herman sat and thought about the question. How many difference makers did Texas have? Nothing wrong with giving an answer...
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Carlson: Why OSU football can thank a first-quarter blitz for changing game against Iowa State
STILLWATER — Brock Purdy took the snap with the goal line in view and a couple of his favorite targets, Iowa State’s big tight...
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Carlson: OSU football gets high marks for tackling, targeting tight ends in win over Iowa State
OSU’s 24-21 victory over Iowa State put the Cowboys in the Big 12 driver’s seat. But they took control of the conference race...
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Carlson: Why OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders' growth has been stunted (Spoiler: it's no one's fault)
STILLWATER — The math is weird on Spencer Sanders. It feels like he’s been part of OSU football for a long time. Long before he...
Carlson: Why former OU quarterback Kyler Murray has the NFL buzzing — and comparing his stats to Russell Wilson and Lamar Jackson
Everyone knew Kyler Murray was going to be a big-time player, an all-world talent. As long as he picked the right sport....
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Carlson: Why the relationship between Becky Hammon and OKC Thunder leadership could spur NBA history
Nancy Lieberman is a basketball barrier breaker. She was the first woman to try out for an NBA team. The first to play in a...
Carlson: Oklahoma high school football playoff changes from OSSAA aren't perfect, but they are right
Mike Whaley kept thinking the numbers would change. When the high school football season kicked off, he was surprised to see...
Carlson: Kevin Cash got the TV. Josh Holliday took the microwave. How minor-league roommates started their World Series dreams.
Josh Holliday and his roommate bought a couch from the thrift store and an inflatable chair from who knows where. They had a...
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Carlson: Playoffs? A Big 12 team in the College Football Playoff isn't impossible, but it sure seems difficult
Frank Beamer recently sent a note of empathy. The recipient: College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock....
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Carlson: Drake Stoops was always 'gonna find a way on the field' for OU football. Here's why.
When Colin Roberts had his football players toe the line for 45-yard shuttles, he had a pretty good idea how the race was going...
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Carlson: Why Alex Saucedo and Arnold Barboza were so nice to each other ahead of bout on Lomachenko-Lopez card
Alex Saucedo and Arnold Barboza came together for a pre-fight presser earlier this week. Like everything during the pandemic,...
Carlson: Why OKC landing the NCAA men's basketball tournament sparked a huge celebration
Sue Hollenbeck nearly wore out the refresh button on her computer. When the clock struck noon Wednesday, she knew the NCAA was...
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Carlson: Why OSU football has a clearer path to a Big 12 title now
Mike Gundy and his Cowboys had no game Saturday. No practice. No meetings. But it was still eventful — the road to a Big 12...
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Carlson: On a wild day for OU football, Sooner quarterback Spencer Rattler had the wackiest of them all
DALLAS — Spencer Rattler sprinted across the Cotton Bowl turf. His objective? Catching Tre Brown. Not many people can run down...
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OU-Texas football: Numbers are big in Red River Showdown, several records set
4:43: Time of game, a record for the Red River Rivalry. 4: Overtimes on Saturday, the most in OU history. The previous record...
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Carlson: Why OU football needs Spencer Rattler to get through his fourth-quarter growth spurt
Spencer Rattler studied the scoreboard during OU’s final timeout last Saturday night. “Third and five,” he said to no one in...
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Carlson: Why the gory is every bit as likely as the glory for Sooners, Longhorns in Red River Showdown
The Red River Rivalry can cement a legacy. Joe Washington’s halfback-pass for a touchdown Adrian Peterson's galloping...
Carlson: Even though this high school cheerleader had a hole in her back, her spirit remained intact
PIEDMONT — Sutton Lindley blended in with her teammates on senior night. Same blue and gold uniform with CATS across the front....
Carlson: Sooners tennis star Sasha Korashvili needs your help to survive rare disease
Sasha Korashvili glances at her cell phone and marvels. The screen is covered in message notifications. Some are texts. Others...
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Carlson: Why 'The Day After' version of OU-Texas may be even more apocalyptic than feared
Lincoln Riley admits Saturday will be different. An OU-Texas game like no other. Driving into the fairgrounds, there will be...
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Carlson: OSU football showing why it's the Big 12's top team with rout at Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Tre Sterling walked to the bench and snatched a towel in disgust. Kansas had finally scored a touchdown,...
Carlson: These OKC Memorial Marathon leaders have no race to lead this year, but here's how they found 'something good ... out of something bad'
Samantha Bentson and Paula Kirkpatrick haven’t been regular participants in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Still, race...
Carlson: Why Cowboy defense, Shane Illingworth get high marks in OSU football domination of Kansas
OSU has traveled to Kansas some seasons and messed around, letting the Jayhawks make things more interesting than they need to...
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Carlson: Why OSU football is getting comfortable winning with defense — and why you should, too
Look at the scoreboard during OSU’s game these past couple weeks, and you’re sure to have seen something different. Low...
Carlson: Why tears turned from disappointment to joy for some Oklahoma high school athletes
Cici Fraticelli happened to glance at her phone and see a text from her coach during her seventh-hour class last Friday...
Carlson: Think your team's coach should be fired? Why it won't happen in college football this year
Even in this pandemic-altered college football season, some things remain the same. The “FIRE MY TEAM’S COACH!” crowd still...
Carlson: OSU football grades high in QB pressure, low in ball security against West Virginia
OSU’s Big 12 opener wasn’t perfect. Too many fumbles that could’ve been costly. Too many missed tackles early. But on a day...
OKC Memorial Marathon: Frequently asked questions for 2020 virtual race
Virtual OKC Memorial Marathon When: Oct. 4-18 What: Marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 5K, kids marathon, 26.2-mile bike...
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Carlson: Why OSU football went with a throwback offense on the day it wore throwback jerseys for Thurman Thomas
STILLWATER — OSU rolled out some throwback jerseys in honor of Thurman Thomas going into its Ring of Honor. Then, the Cowboys...
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Carlson: Why Thurman Thomas deserves the first spot in OSU football's Ring of Honor
STILLWATER — Thurman Thomas isn’t the most famous OSU football player. He might not be the best Cowboy either. Or he might be....
Millwood, Oklahoma City Public Schools hitting pause on athletics starting Monday due to COVID-19 concerns
Oklahoma City Public Schools is hitting pause on sports. The district announced Friday that because Oklahoma County's COVID...
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Carlson: Why OSU quarterback Shane Illingworth's family didn't expect him to suit up vs. Tulsa, let alone save the day
STILLWATER — Tiffany McDonald wanted to be inside Boone Pickens Stadium last weekend for her son’s first college football game....
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OSU football: Shane Illingworth wouldn’t have been available had Tulsa game not be delayed
Shane Illingworth's heroics almost didn't happen because of COVID-19.
Carlson: How a sports trailblazer became a casualty in OU coronavirus cutbacks
NORMAN — Debbie Copp remembers her dad always having a copy of the serenity prayer in his billfold. He was a recovering...
Carlson: How Spencer Tillman's injured hamstring turned Rich Leitka into an OU football behind-the-scenes pillar
Sitting inside his nice, big house the other day, Spencer Tillman thought about the nice, big houses his daughters have been...
Carlson: How OSU reduced football season-ticket capacity this season without causing many hurt feelings
Janis Hutson Reeser went to her first OSU football game when she was 5. Among her fondest childhood memories are being in...
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Carlson: Why OU, OSU football should be aware home field isn't the advantage it used to be
The public address announcer didn’t need to say much. “It’s thiiiiiird down!” he bellowed. The purple-clad crowd at Kansas...
Carlson: How an OU football fan with a couple extra seats made a special day for couple denied season tickets
The email arrived while I was still working on my first cup of coffee Saturday morning. It was from Dow Dozier, an OU fan and...
Carlson: Why high school football player's death feels like an amputation to his father one year later
Jim Webb learned about the stages of grief in a college psychology class. The whole thing seemed logical at the time — the idea...
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Carlson: Why OU quarterback Spencer Rattler went into airplane mode and helped the Sooners take flight
NORMAN — Watching the ball spiral through the Oklahoma haze toward his intended receiver, Spencer Rattler suddenly realized how...
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Carlson: OU football report card all As after season-opening shutout of Missouri State
OU will face much tougher opponents than Missouri State the rest of the season, but in a 48-0 victory, the Sooners played with...
Carlson: Why high school football players from Capitol Hill celebrated an opponent's touchdown — and gave the world a ray of light
Walking across the end zone toward the celebration, Ja’Qulis Walter raised his hands above his head and clapped them together....
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Carlson: Why 5,000 OU football season-ticket holders didn't get seats — and why it's a total bummer
James and Linda Love punctuated some of the biggest moments of their lives with OU football games. First date? OU-Texas in...
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Carlson: Why OKC Thunder's track record with Billy Donovan, Scott Brooks could help Sam Presti in coaching search
The Thunder has been in Oklahoma City for 4,452 days. Twelve years and change. During that time, the franchise has had only...
Carlson: Longing for a taste of normalcy? Sure, college football is back, but how about a Fletcher's corny dog?
I’ve never had a Fletcher’s corny dog at the State Fair of Texas. There. I admit it. Over the past couple decades, I have...
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Carlson: Why the defenses will determine if OU, OSU football take the next steps
Offense is sexy. Of course it is. We love the thrill of seeing touchdowns scored. Short runs. Long passes. No matter how the...
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Carlson: Why Thunder coach Billy Donovan has a big question to answer before new contract
The Thunder seems interested in keeping Billy Donovan as its coach. After a season in which he led a team given almost no...
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Carlson: Chris Paul and OKC Thunder 'fought hard all year' but suffer cruel fate in Game 7 loss to Rockets
Chris Paul held it together for one question. But then came a question about this Thunder team and what it accomplished this...
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Carlson: Why OU quarterback Spencer Rattler is now ready for the spotlight and the job
Being in the spotlight is part of being the starting quarterback at OU. Spencer Rattler will soon find that out. But the...
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Carlson: How the Rockets' Russell Westbrook helped the Thunder force a Game 7, just like old times
Russell Westbrook barreled toward the lane like we saw him do so many during his days as a Thunder, accelerating and charging...
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Carlson: Why OU's journey to finding answers about Sherri Coale, women's basketball has only begun
Sherri Coale issued an apology and Joe Castiglione vowed to listen in a pair of written statements released over the weekend....
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Carlson: Why OKC Thunder's biggest key against the Rockets is the three — point guards, that is
Houston has the three ball. OKC has the three guards. The biggest strengths of these two teams are well established. Houston...
Carlson: Why R4RYK inspires runners at Moore High School ever as they inspire us
MOORE — Some had the letters written in black marker on their shoulders. Others had them on forearms or wrists. R4RYK. Run for...
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Carlson: OU football coach Lincoln Riley listened and learned, and we can, too
NORMAN — Lincoln Riley, clad in a black shirt and pants just like his players and assistants, stepped out from the group to say...
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Carlson: How Oklahoma State used its leverage in renegotiating Mike Gundy's contract
Mike Gundy isn’t the only college football coach with a force majeure clause in his contract. Truth be told, as time goes on,...
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Carlson: NBA boycott raises same questions Colin Kaepernick did four years ago — why isn't America listening?
Four years ago, on a beautiful August evening in San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick sat down on the 49ers bench. The national...
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Carlson: How OU football walked a tight rope that all of college football may soon face due to COVID-19
To understand the high-wire act that is college football, listen to what Lincoln Riley had to deal with last week. The OU coach...
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Carlson: Dennis Schröder is the ice man as OKC Thunder evens up NBA Playoff series vs. Rockets
Dennis Schröder sat inside an interview cubbie doing a postgame interview Monday afternoon when a familiar voice started...
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Carlson: OKC Thunder 'just wanted to fight' in wild OT win vs. Rockets
The Thunder knew Saturday was a must win. Knew it as soon the final buzzer sounded Thursday. Knew it as soon as the Rockets...
Carlson: Meet the man who helped mold J.T. Realmuto, Talor Gooch and countless Carl Albert athletes
Jeff Mays had a look. It usually came after a loud clap of his hands, and once that got his kids’ attention during a tennis...
Carlson: Why college football isn't the only fall sport dealing with drama, difficulties
That first preseason practice has been described lots of ways. Grueling. Difficult. Exhausting. But none of that fit this year...
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Carlson: OKC Thunder report card still lacking top marks for Chris Paul, reserves
The Thunder vowed adjustments after Game 1, and Oklahoma City delivered change in Game 2 — but it still wasn't enough. The...
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Carlson: Why OKC Thunder needs way more from Chris Paul against Rockets
Watching his free throw pinball around the rim and out, Chris Paul bent at the waist and put his hands on his knees. He stayed...
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Carlson: Why these Thunder playoffs will be unlike anything OKC has ever seen
They put up the playoff banner across the street from The Peake last week. Just like always. They brought out the cherry...
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OKC Thunder: Russell Westbrook's availability for Rocket playoff series still unknown
OKC Thunder: Russell Westbrook's availability for Rocket playoff series still unknown
Carlson: OKC Thunder-Rockets playoff series will be great — even from the couch
A couple times over the past few years, we’ve gone about the business of ranking the Thunder’s rivals. We've called them the...
Carlson: Why Big 12 believes playing is safer option for athletes' health
Bob Bowlsby knows the coronavirus is dangerous. Lest you believe the Big 12 commissioner has failed to grasp the severity of...
Carlson: Why Big Ten, Pac-12 postponements made the saddest of days
Tuesday evening, as the shock of the afternoon’s news started to settle in and the darkness of the future’s reality began to...
Carlson: Why Thunder's Chris Paul is NBA's most valuable even without MVP trophy
Chris Paul isn't going to win the NBA's MVP award. The league announced the finalists for its major individual awards last...
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Carlson: Why Thunder rookie Darius Bazley is having a breakout in the bubble
Chris Paul sat on the Thunder bench late in Monday’s game talking with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. No surprise; the point guards...
Carlson: Former OU football great Rickey Dixon had a bite much worse than his bark
Rickey Dixon was the antithesis of a Barry Switzer era player. Dixon wasn’t brash. He didn’t have that swagger. He didn’t flash...
College football may not be able to plan its way through a pandemic. Here's why.
College football is doing its darnedest to have a season. Some folks think such a thing would be foolish or dangerous or both,...
Carlson: NBA players kneeling on day John Lewis was laid to rest a powerful reminder of fight for racial justice
I missed the first hour or so of the NBA restart on Thursday. Sometimes mom duty gets in the way of TV watching. I didn’t...
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Carlson: OKC Thunder and the NBA restart — 22 things you need to know
The 2019-20 NBA Season 2.0 is ready for launch. I'll be honest: there's no way this version will be better than the original...
Carlson: Why OU football shouldn't be the only one moving openers to Week Zero
Wednesday marks a significant date — one month until the start of college football. Maybe. All of college football is up in...
Carlson: Why former OU football player Josh Norman had a 40th birthday to remember
This might make a few of you feel old — players who were on OU’s 2000 national championship football team are turning 40....
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Carlson: Why OKC Thunder's Andre Roberson is the feel-good story we need right now
Andre Roberson caught the ball in the left corner, and immediately, Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson started hollering. The...
Opinion: Play ball! Major League Baseball's return signals the long-awaited return of big-time, big-league sports
This is the week we’ve been waiting for since mid-March, sports fans. I know the calendar says that was only four months ago,...
Opinion: Pandemic impacting finances, spending at OU, OSU, but both have one big thing in their favor — no allotments
Budget cuts have been made at Oklahoma State. Nothing has been formally announced, but deputy director of athletics Chad...
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OKC Thunder: Back to practice, Andre Roberson update and shooting more 3-pointers?
OKC Thunder: Back to practice, Andre Roberson update and shooting more 3-pointers?
Opinion: Thunder guard Andre Roberson's return is once again a possibility. If it happens, it will be unprecedented.
Devon Hall has spent a lot of time over the past week practicing alongside Andre Roberson. Hall, signed as a substitute player...
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OKC Thunder: One week in the bubble, very little drama
OKC Thunder: One week in the bubble, very little drama
Jim Thorpe petition drive starts to restore his status as sole winner of 1912 Olympic gold medals
Jim Thorpe petition drive starts to restore his status as sole winner of 1912 Olympic gold medals
Opinion: College football's wait-and-see crowd are waiting to see what you — yes, you — do to stop spread of coronavirus
The Southeastern Conference isn’t ready to make a decision about football. Here’s guessing the Big 12 won’t be either. When the...
Future of Big 12 football season? Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says 'it's too early' to decide
Future of Big 12 football season? Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says 'it's too early' to decide
Opinion: Taft Stadium memories are strong and wonderful
Opinion: Taft Stadium memories are strong and wonderful
Opinion: It's time for Oklahoma to lose offensive mascots, too
Washington’s NFL team is looking for a new nickname. Which begs a question. Why are there still schools in Oklahoma using the...
Opinion: How Taft Stadium, 86 years young, still is making history, memories with Energy FC's return
There was a wall under the west-side bleachers at Taft Stadium that became something of a brick-and-mortar autograph book. Over...
Opinion: What's an NBA halftime performer do when there's no halftime? Red Panda cleans her house — a lot
Rong Niu is excited about the return of the NBA. She has cleaned her house more times than she can count. She has watched her...
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Opinion: OKC Thunder fans, consider yourself warned — these tip times aren't normal
A few years back, I sat down one Sunday evening to watch a Thunder game. It was right about 6 o’clock when I flipped on the TV....
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Opinion: OSU basketball phenom Cade Cunningham is a Mike Boynton fan — and he isn't alone
Cade Cunningham has taken lots of phone calls from Mike Boynton over the past few years. The one that came the morning of June...
Opinion: OU-Texas football without the State Fair would be weird. I've seen it — sort of
Opinion: OU-Texas football without the State Fair would be weird. I've seen it -- sort of
Opinion: Recruiting OU football coach Lincoln Riley to take a $640,000 pay cut? Easy sell for Joe Castiglione.
Lincoln Riley had an in-home visit last week. He wasn’t the one visiting a recruit, though. Instead, Joe Castiglione paid a...
Opinion: Fourth of July 2020 feels different for new U.S. citizen Franco Sui Yuan
Franco Sui Yuan moved from Los Angeles to Chicago to Oklahoma City, then back to Los Angeles, then back to Oklahoma City for...
Opinion: Asterisk on this year's NBA champ? Only if you want to signify how tough this will be
The NBA restart has given us a whole new vernacular. We're talking about "the bubble" and "seeding games" and "substitute...
Opinion: Eddie Sutton documentary begs question — doesn't former Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton deserve another head coaching job?
Opinion: Eddie Sutton documentary begs question -- doesn't former Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton deserve another head...
Pandemic shutdown didn't stop OKC boxer Alex Saucedo — but it left him working out in a storage unit
Not long ago, Alex Saucedo was training in a storage unit in Oklahoma City. Next week, he’ll be fighting at the MGM Grand in...
Opinion: 'Athlete A' Netflix documentary reminds us of OU gymnast Maggie Nichols' greatness on and off the mat
Maggie Nichols felt the love during her OU career. We lauded her. We praised her. We cheered her. It wasn’t enough. It can...
Coronavirus healing, racial justice central to former Oklahoma State football player's Statewide Prayer Walk
Jamie Thompson built a career around anticipation. It is a needed skill as a defensive back. Where is the receiver going? Where...
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Opinion: Cade Cunningham's re-commitment is ray of light for Oklahoma State athletics
The loyal and true from Oklahoma State have had a rough few weeks. It started June 5 when the NCAA handed down crippling...
Opinion: Cade Cunningham's decision a 6-foot-7 ray of light for Oklahoma State fans
Opinion: Cade Cunningham's decision a 6-foot-7 ray of light for Oklahoma State fans
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Opinion: Oklahoma State football had a program-changing week — but will it be for better or worse?
Oklahoma State football had quite the week. The head coach photographed in a controversial shirt. The star tailback outraged...
Opinion: Christopher Bell has 'turned a corner since the break' in NASCAR Cup rookie season
When NASCAR restarted its season, Christopher Bell had a word to describe how his rookie season had gone. Horrible. A month...
OKC boxer Alex Saucedo's postponed fight back on schedule
OKC boxer Alex Saucedo's postponed fight back on schedule
Opinion: Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard didn't have to apologize to Mike Gundy, but it helped push change forward
Chuba Hubbard apologized for the way he called out his head coach. He didn’t have to do that. Hubbard appeared with Oklahoma...
'The best softball facility bar none': USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, home of the WCWS, goes from gem to crown jewel with recent renovations
Full disclosure: Craig Cress has a vested interest in Hall of Fame Stadium. He’s the executive director of USA Softball, which...
Opinion: Two Oklahoma high school football teams came together to discuss race. What happened is reason for hope.
Desmond Green thinks about his mother whenever he leaves the house. “Every time I go out,” he said, “she’s terrified I’m not...
Opinion: OSU football's Chuba Hubbard demands change. Mike Gundy vows it. Let's hope those aren't hollow words.
Mike Gundy is the CEO of Cowboy football. With that comes certain responsibilities — and responsibilities that never stop. Not...
OKC Thunder: Detroit GM search includes Thunder VP Troy Weaver
OKC Thunder: Detroit GM search includes Thunder VP Troy Weaver
Susie Maxwell Berning's golf legend started in Oklahoma, literally putting her in Tiger Woods' class
To understand how Susie Maxwell Berning made a career in golf at a time few women did, you need only have been at Lincoln Park...
OKC Thunder: NBA return means Chris Paul and Co. must recapture synergy
When last we saw the Thunder, players and coaches were heading off the hardwood at The Peake. That tends to happens after a...
NBA returns: Thunder delayed rebuild is huge relief in light of return-to-play plan
Sitting in front of a screen dotted with Thunder logos, Sam Presti looked around the small room jammed with reporters and...
OSU basketball: Lamont Evans case's resolution has Mike Holder ready to fight for Cowboys
Mike Holder isn’t known for his combat skills. Golf? Sure. He’s even known to be a pretty good shot when quail are being...
NBA returns: 22 teams, hundreds of games, millions of happy fans
Rejoice, sports fans. Again, I say, rejoice! The NBA is back. The return became official Thursday with a nearly unanimous vote...
Protests today give former OSU soccer star Yolanda Thomas hope for tomorrow
Yolanda Thomas has always told her players that her door is open. Need to talk? Come on in. As a soccer coach — now the girls...
OU softball: Sooners' 2000 WCWS title provided blueprint, belief that changed sport forever
Tim Walton believes OU softball did more than win a national title in 2000. He thinks the Sooners kicked down a wall, too....
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Opinion: Enes Kanter shows that justice and equality are on 'right side of history'
Picking a side? Justice and equality are on 'right side of history'
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'Times might be changing': OU softball's first Women's College World Series title was a crown with lots of gems
Lisa Carey looked high into a clear blue Oklahoma sky. Everyone did. Twenty years ago to the day, the Sooner slugger launched...
College softball: Why Women's College World Series talent in 2021 will be better than ever
We’re missing the Women’s College World Series. No two ways around it. When late May arrives in Oklahoma City, we have an...
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Eddie Sutton: Legendary Oklahoma State coach waited out hall of fame, won that battle, too
You might think it an injustice that Eddie Sutton won't be able to go to his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of...
'Well, we’re watching grass grow': WCWS absence leaves a hole in OKC hearts
Drive across the parking lot to Hall of Fame Stadium, and you can’t stop looking up. If you’ve been to softball’s field of...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Why youth sports' return brings wistfulness and worry
The baseball bounded across the dirt toward the second baseman. At least, I think it was the second baseman; positions are...
College softball: NCAA will re-air classic WCWS games
College softball: NCAA will re-air classic WCWS games
NBA, Disney talks aren't only hopeful sign for league's return
NBA, Disney talks aren't only hopeful sign for league's return
Thunder's Chris Paul says of NBA's return 'We workin' on it'
Chris Paul appeared on The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah on Wednesday.
'Last Dance' to 'Blackballed': New documentary details Donald Sterling controversy, transformative time in NBA
“The Last Dance” documentary has captivated the sports world during the coronavirus pandemic. And it’s not just because we...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OU cut her team, but sports eventually won her back and changed her life. She wants the same for kids living through the pandemic
Editor's note: This is the latest in an occasional series about former athletes who find themselves on the front lines of the...
NCAA college softball regional, super-regional games will be re-aired on Facebook
NCAA college softball regional, super-regional games will be re-aired on Facebook
2020 Olympics: USA Softball weathering a different kind of storm this spring
Craig Cress is used to spending time in the spring gauging which way the wind is blowing. When your career is softball and your...
Why Moore track seniors don't want your pity — but deserve your respect
MOORE — Carlos Soto knows there are people who feel sorry for him. Feel sorry, actually, for the entire track team at Moore...
Amhaud Arbery's killing isn't just sad — it is infuriating
Ahmaud Arbery went out for a run and was killed because he was running. A black man running shouldn't fear for his life -- but...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: How a college softball player went from OSU to NYC to become a front-line fighter
Editor's note: This is the first in an occasional series about former athletes who have become front-line workers in the...
OKC Thunder: How Chris Paul remade his image, left behind bad-teammate label
Chris Paul thumped his chest, flexed his arms, then jabbed his finger in the air. That celebration on Boston hardwood back in...
Don Shula, NFL's winningest coach, had intensity that made him legendary
Uwe von Schamann used to sit in on the offense's meetings during his playing days with the Miami Dolphins. He didn't have to be...
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Nursing-home lockdowns made more difficult when loved one inside has memory issues
EDMOND — Terri Ritterhouse has tried to explain to her dad why she isn’t coming inside his assisted-living center, why she is...
Missing Oklahoma City mom, runner found safe, friend says
Leslie Driskill, the Oklahoma City runner reported missing last week, has been found safe and is in the care of loved ones,...
NFL Draft: Dallas Cowboys pick OU's CeeDee Lamb, follow trend of powerful offenses adding even more punch
When it came time for the Dallas Cowboys to make their first draft pick the other night, owner Jerry Jones appeared on our TVs...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Why sports world will keep an eye on Guthrie and PBR event
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Why sports world will keep an eye on Guthrie and PBR event
'We can’t dwell on the past': Why Choctaw High's Avery Clark is still fighting even after a pandemic canceled her senior season
CHOCTAW — Avery Clark wore camo pants the night she shaved off her hair before chemo could take it. There were tears that...
OSU basketball: How work brought together stellar signing class — and why even harder work remains
STILLWATER — Back during his first season as Oklahoma State’s head coach, Mike Boynton started talking one night after a...
NFL Draft: Why OU receiver CeeDee Lamb is making this process look easy
NORMAN — CeeDee Lamb sprinted toward a sideline packed with spectators during OU Pro Day, turned to locate the football, looked...
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OKC Bombing Anniversary: How a daughter shares love of sports with father she never met
Nicole Flick doesn’t quite understand her daughter's love of sports. Flick was never a sports person. She absolutely watches...
Profiles of Hope: Mother's selfless spirit lives on in daughter
Hilary Johnson carries her mother’s memory everywhere every day. She has a tattoo on her back extending from her shoulder...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Norman runners turn no-Boston-Marathon lemons into virtual Lemonade Marathon
NORMAN — Christie Thomas and Carlee Daub regularly rise before the sun. Distance runners tend to do that. But they were...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Norman runners make lemonade out of no-Boston-Marathon lemons
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Norman runners make lemonade out of no-Boston-Marathon lemons
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: How the Trombone Man is bringing joy to an Oklahoma City neighborhood
Christian Pearson strolled down Indiana Avenue barefoot the other day. Hardly anyone noticed. Then again, it’s easy to...
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Ending Hunger OKC receives major gift from OG&E, will partner with local restaurants
Bob Long has heard all sorts of heartwarming stories of people helping older neighbors during the coronavirus pandemic....
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Ending Hunger OKC receives $250,000 grant from OG&E, will partner with local restaurants
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Ending Hunger OKC receives $250,000 grant from OG&E, will partner with local restaurants
'One very strong family that will last forever': Why Billy Gillispie's kidney donor says she got more than she gave
Ericka Downey heard the warnings in the months leading up to her kidney donation. Don’t expect a relationship. She was about...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Let's go blue for all our essential workers
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Let's go blue for all our essential workers
OU football: Why the Sooners aren't locking onto any one plan for 2020 season — and why that's a good thing
Joe Castiglione doesn’t have a plan for restarting college football — he has many of them. Truth is, college football is flush...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Rescheduled Memorial Marathon teams with Tulsa race to award special medal
The Memorial Marathon and Route 66 Marathon have teamed up to create an Oklahoma Standard medal.
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OSU's Mike Gundy just the latest leader to leave us wanting better
We expect greatness out of college football coaches. Recruit superb players. Devise unbeatable schemes. Win lots of ball...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: What does the science say about sports' return? We asked
Linda Thompson has heard the dire predictions about sports in the coronavirus era. She knows some have said the NBA season will...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Maggie Nichols' plea for another year is right — but that doesn't mean it will happen
Maggie Nichols wants another senior year. Hard to blame her. She's one of the thousands of college athletes who had seasons...
Outlook 2020: 'I was able to see firsthand the disparity in representation,' Vicki Behenna says
Vicki Behenna sought justice for her son Michael for more than a decade. Along the way, she realized seeking justice for the...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Why a senior season cut short is only the third-hardest thing this college golfer endured
Sam Humphreys could’ve sold out to fury or distress or even fear. Of course, he dabbled in those emotions last month when he...
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Eddie Sutton's coaching tree had plenty of branches even before his Oklahoma State days
Here's a look at Eddie Sutton's coaching tree, based around his head coaching tenures: COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO, 1966-69 Fred...
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Jenni Carlson: Why Eddie Sutton's Hall of Fame inclusion is about more than his wins
Chris Beard didn’t just bring his basketball team to Oklahoma State back in February. He brought the Eddie Sutton hype train,...
Eddie Griffin announces retirement as UCO athletic director
Eddie Griffin announces retirement as UCO athletic director
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Jenni Carlson: Thunder's last game is a reminder to be grateful for fun we had before coronavirus pandemic
The other night, I was scrolling through the TV listings trying to find something to watch.
Why Kaitlin Milligan is enjoying walking the dog instead of walking Augusta National this week
NORMAN — Kaitlin Milligan went on a walk around the neighborhood with her mom and sister the other afternoon. The sun was out....
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: NCAA eligibility decision is right, but road ahead is rough
The NCAA Division I Council was set to vote Monday afternoon on whether spring-sport athletes who had their seasons cut short...
OU football: Why the NFL Draft could give a huge boost to the Sooner defense
NORMAN — Kenneth Murray knows his early departure for the NFL leaves OU with one less playmaker on defense and one more hole at...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Mike Nunley is shut out of his wife's assisted-living facility, but it hasn't stopped his visits
BETHANY — Mike Nunley walked up to the glass doors but did not reach for the handle. He knew he wasn't allowed inside, and a...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Words of wisdom come from U.S. Grant athlete
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Words of wisdom come from U.S. Grant athlete
Former football coach Denton Fox missing; his family is asking for help
His son Jake Fielder told The Oklahoman that Fox left the family's home in Jones sometime Friday, then communicated via text...
Jenni Carlson: Olympic dreams on hold — as they should be — due to coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Olympic dreams are on hold -- just as they should be
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: How a small, white shoebox provides a window to the past
The shoebox looked quite plain. Small. White. The only marking was a simple but old-timey label indicating the container had...
Jenni Carlson: Missing the Sweet 16? Here's the Sweetest 16 memories of March Madness
Late last weekend, Colorado State shared a video featuring assistant men's basketball coach Ali Farokhmanesh. Maybe that name...
Jenni Carlson: We miss sports for lots of reasons, and we want to know why you do
The golf balls would soar majestically into the Kansas sky, then while they were still falling back to earth, they would...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Here's a story we all need — friendships built around basketball enduring despite distance
Ryan Rust knows the whole what-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas motto. But really, that catchphrase is meant to give cover to...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Movie featuring OU women's gymnastics has debut, release moved to Monday online
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Movie featuring OU women's gymnastics has debut, release moved to Monday online
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: U.S. Olympic whitewater trials in Oklahoma City postponed
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: U.S. Olympic whitewater trials in Oklahoma City postponed
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: What's a gymnast to do when your Olympic dream's a go but your gym is closed?
NORMAN — Yul Moldauer spun his legs around the pommel horse, Allan Bower swung from the high bar and Genki Suzuki held tight to...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Alex Saucedo bout postponed as Top Rank Boxing puts all March, April events on hold
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Alex Saucedo bout postponed as Top Rank Boxing puts all March, April events on hold
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Take heart, sports fans — America's leader in this pandemic fight misses the games, too
His voice is hoarse, scratchy and gravelly like he’s spent hours trying to communicate with this players and be heard above the...
Why Bo Overton stepped out and stepped up in move to Oklahoma Baptist
Bo Overton has coached on just about every level of women’s basketball. Now, he can add NCAA Division II to the list. Overton...
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Carlson: Yes, Jazz star Rudy Gobert was a goob about COVID, but he's also become an accidental hero
That video of Rudy Gobert has played everywhere. No doubt you've seen it because, well, the sports networks don’t have any...
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC Memorial Marathon postponed until October
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC Memorial Marathon postponed until October
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: How will history remember legendary college athletes whose careers have been cut short?
Maggie Nichols wrote only one word on her Twitter account Thursday afternoon. Heartbroken. It was a sentiment shared by...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC Memorial Marathon 'monitoring the developments' of coronavirius pandemic
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: OKC Memorial Marathon 'monitoring the developments' of coronavirius pandemic
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: How Oklahoma City changed the way America thinks about this pandemic
Cecilia Robinson-Woods watched the situation unfold Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena with dread. After the game...
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: NCAA cancels spring championships, including WCWS in OKC, tennis in Stillwater
The NCAA announced the cancellation of its winter and spring championships in light of the coronavirus pandemic — and that...
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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: NCAA cancels WCWS, sends shock waves through OKC
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: NCAA cancels WCWS, sends shock waves through OKC
Why playing NCAA games without fans is unfortunate but necessary move
Our sports world shuddered Wednesday afternoon. It happened at 3:31 p.m. Oklahoma time. Did you feel it? That's when the NCAA...
OK Preps: Why The Big House doesn't have to change even when the arena does
Praises. Problems. Compliments. Complaints. They’ve all come to the attention of the man who has overseen basketball for the...
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OSU football: How Kasey Dunn followed his own coaching and landed a dream job
STILLWATER — Kasey Dunn knelt on the artificial turf, flipping footballs underhanded to his wide receivers. “Stay fluid!” he...
How the power of sport reached all the way from Oklahoma to Kuwait
How the power of sport reached all the way from Oklahoma to Kuwait
Why International Women's Day is a great day to drop 'Lady' mascots
Why International Women's Day is a great day to drop 'Lady' mascots
Why OKC native Bob Peoples is going into track hall of fame — and why he's largely forgotten in Oklahoma
The story sounds like a tall tale, something that's surely been exaggerated over the years. But the more you learn about Bob...
Oklahoma high school basketball: Deployment to Kuwait couldn't keep a proud uncle from watching his alma mater or his nieces at state
BETHANY — Raegan Klaassen splashed a three, then snagged a steal and got fouled. It sent the purple-clad masses cheering for...
Oklahoma high school basketball: Why Mickey Thorpe calls himself a flunky but others call him indispensable
Mickey Thorpe eyed his boss Wednesday morning. "We don't have any basketballs," he said. Sitting courtside in an empty State...
Why OU high jumper Vernon Turner's absence created a buzz — and how he hopes to keep people talking
NORMAN — Vernon Turner has heard all the rumors that floated around about him. “He went to Florida.” “He turned pro.” “He’s...
Why Oklahoma high school wrestlers in the mixed zone at state are wrestling with emotion
Jackson Oplotnik staggered off the wrestling mat at State Fair Arena. He was only a few steps off the competition floor when...
OU gymnastics: K.J. Kindler has loads of success, four national titles and one big unmet goal
NORMAN — K.J. Kindler came to Oklahoma with lots of goals. Needless to say, she's achieved tons of them. The OU women’s...
Jenni Carlson: Why girls wrestling may be answer to wrestling's struggles with Title IX
Why contentious relationship between wrestling and Title IX may be eased by girls wrestling
Olympic trials: Why these Oklahoma marathoners are a team in a highly individualized sport
Catherine Lisle couldn’t always see Kristen Radcliff. But they never lost touch. Back in December, the women went to California...
How girls wrestling is taking another step toward inclusion in Oklahoma
That first time competing at the state wrestling tournament, Joey Miller walked onto the mats at State Fair Arena, looked...
Retired coach warns of parents who have 'pie-in-the-sky dreams' continuing to change the face of high school basketball.
Retired coach warns of parents who have 'pie-in-the-sky dreams' continuing to change the face of high school basketball.
How Crooked Oak is turning 'disgusting' comment by announcer into something beautiful
First, the boys’ district championship plaque went up. Then, the girls’. There were cheers and smiles and someone even...
Long a hoops hotbed, Oklahoma City Public Schools is losing good players — will its grip on dominance be next?
A few years back, there was a basketball team in Oklahoma City turning heads. The eighth-grade boys at Taft Middle School. Now,...
Class 3A basketball: Newkirk apologizes to Crooked Oak for 'botched' player introductions
The players immediately looked around and seemed confused. Crooked Oak High School’s basketball teams had traveled to Newkirk...
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Why former OU football star Landry Jones having fun in his XFL debut was fun to watch
Landry Jones heard the question about running the football and got a little twinkle in his eye. Thing was, the query wasn’t for...
How small Christian college in OKC has become a David in NAIA men's basketball
Right by Marcus Moeller’s office hangs a huge picture of Mid-America Christian’s men’s basketball team from 2016. That was the...
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OSU basketball: Eddie Sutton will get into hall once voters get off their high horses
STILLWATER — Asked to make a sales pitch for Eddie Sutton to be voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Randy...
Why OKC landing even one event in 2022-26 NCAA bid cycle is crucial
Sue Hollenbeck remembers the moment she realized her nose was almost touching her computer screen. Her mother’s long-ago...
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OU football: Why Saturday night might be more than all right for the Red-White Game
NORMAN — Standing behind the microphone, Lincoln Riley had trouble keeping still. Mind you, he isn’t the skittish type....
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OU football: Jamar Cain isn't a splash hire, but new assistant's importance is huge
NORMAN — Every day for the past couple weeks, Jamar Cain has driven Lindsey Street to his new job, and each time, he has found...
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Mother of Moore High School runner Rachel Freeman tells teammates to 'run for Rachel'
MOORE — Stefen Seifried remembers when Rachel Freeman got her letter jacket. The jacket was like all the others at Moore High...
OKC Thunder: Kevin Durant thinks we're fixated on him, but it might be the other way around
Kevin Durant is still talking about Oklahoma City. No surprise there. Last week, he went on the “All The Smoke” podcast hosted...
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Jenni Carlson: Why Moore will carry on after latest tragedy
MOORE — Chad Mashburn was talking to his secretary in his office at Moore High School on Monday afternoon when he heard the...
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Jenni Carlson: Call Kansas City the Super Bowl champs — but not its American Indian nickname
Kansas City gets to call itself Super Bowl champions, which is great. But Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson explains why she...
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Moore High School runner Yuridia Martinez was always playing sports and helping others
Growing up, Yuridia Martinez always had her long brown hair pulled back in a braided ponytail. And that braid was always...
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Moore High School runner Rachel Freeman left an impact on coach, team for which she never got to run
Steve Guymon will be at the office early Wednesday, waiting on letters of intent to arrive. He is women’s cross country and...
OSU's Boone Pickens Stadium was part of a Super Bowl commercial. You didn't see it? We have details.
OSU's Boone Pickens Stadium was part of a Super Bowl commercial. You didn't see it? We have details.
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National Signing Day: Hype doesn't always determine success — for better and for worse
Hundreds of students packed into the Casady School gym fell silent as Josh Wariboko-Alali listened to the studio-host voices...
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Why former OU Sooner had bumpy road to Super Bowl and how Damien Williams got there anyway
Some roads to the Super Bowl have twists and turns, ups and downs, even slowdowns and detours. Damien Williams’ road had...
'There’s a lot of magic about Maggie': Why OU gymnast Maggie Nichols' greatness goes beyond records
NORMAN — Kelly Garrison-Funderburk remembers clearly the first time she met Maggie Nichols. Garrison-Funderburk was at OU’s...
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OKC Thunder: Those bruises on Steven Adams' shoulder? It's cupping therapy — and it's not as painful as it looks
Steven Adams has lots of distinctive traits. The long hair. The bushy beard. The intricate tattoos. Still, my eye is always...
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'He changed basketball': Kobe Bryant was this generation's Michael Jordan to Thunder, NBA
Chesapeake Energy Arena fell dark a few minutes before tipoff, and when that familiar face appeared on the big screens, the...
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Jenni Carlson: Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's class, care evident in penultimate trip to OKC
Jenni Carlson: Lakers legend Kobe Bryant's class, care evident in penultimate trip to OKC
Jalen Hurts 'can make your team and culture better,' but the former Sooner's NFL fit is a mystery
Jalen Hurts entered the Senior Bowl to a huge ovation. Clearly, lots of folks made the trek to Mobile, Alabama, to see him....
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Jenni Carlson: KU-K-State brawl forever a memory — and stain — at storied Allen Fieldhouse
Brawl between Kansas and Kansas State will forever be a stain -- that's why the punishments had to be severe.
'We had a dream': Meet the 68-year-old who launched an Oklahoma high school dynasty with Tuttle wrestling
TUTTLE — Holding down his regular spot a couple rows up on the east side of Tuttle High School’s gym, Mike London blends in...
Why OSU football alum Darnell Smith took his first athletic director job at a school with no facilities, no coaches and no athletes
Darnell Smith always wanted to be a college athletic director. Over the past decade or so, he had opportunities to fulfill that...
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Why Mike Leach to SEC, Mississippi State is this year's most interesting coaching move
Driving through the Flint Hills of Kansas, the news came across the car radio. Tennessee had fired its football coach. It was a...
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Top Daug: Why OU mascot's return prompted some detective work
Top Daug's return prompted questions about the OU mascot's retirement in the mid-2000s. Some dauggie detective work ensued
OU basketball: Why Top Daug's return feels like getting back 'a piece of ourselves' for one Oklahoma City woman
Editor's note: This column has been updated to reflect that Top Daug was retired after the 2004-05 basketball season. Prior to...
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OSU football: Why Chuba Hubbard's return a big win for Cowboys — and not just because of his talent
OSU football: Why Chuba Hubbard's return a big win for Cowboys -- and not just because of his talent
The Athletic reports the Houston Astros manager was part of illegally stealing signs during the team's 2017 World Championship season.
The Houston Astros have had their manager and general manager suspended for a year by Major League Baseball.
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NFL Playoffs: George Kittle is football's best tight end and biggest character, and neither surprise his high school buddies from Norman
George Kittle moved to Norman the spring of his sophomore year of high school. Didn’t take him long to start living like a...
OKC Energy FC: 2020 schedule highlighted by nationally televised game against Tulsa
A nationally televised game against an in-state rival highlights Energy FC's 2020 schedule. Released Thursday, the schedule...
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Thunder: Why interview shenanigans, post-game handshakes have replaced arguing calls, walking on eggshells
With sweat still beading on his brow, Chris Paul was talking about what most pleased him in a hard-fought, New-Year’s-Eve...
'I just get a little chill thinking about it': Thunder uniforms honor bombing victims, educate new generation
Ryan Whicher is ecstatic the Thunder-Rockets game will be nationally televised Thursday night. It’s not because he lives in...
OU football: Sooner alum Cody Ford has gone from draft disappointment to playoff prominence with Bills
Leah Ford called to check on her son one day this fall, but he didn't answer. Soon after, he sent a text. "Hey, I'll call you...
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'You’ve got to go get it': How the Thunder has become big-time crunch-time closer
A few nights back, halftime of the Thunder game came at dinnertime in my house. I decided to watch the second half later, doing...
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OU football: Sooners didn't have a rebuilding year, but this was very much a gap year
Inside an emptied hotel ballroom Sunday morning, Lincoln Riley sat at a round table reflecting on his team's just-completed...
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OSU football: Mike Gundy faces offseason uncertainties that have nothing to do with Chuba Hubbard or Tylan Wallace
HOUSTON — Mike Gundy strode off the NRG Stadium turf and into the darkness of the tunnel. The uncertainty of the offseason,...
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OU football: Sooners' blowout loss by the numbers
4: First-half touchdown catches by LSU receiver Justin Jefferson, who ended with that tally. It tied the record for the most...
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'The future is bright': OSU optimistic about 2020 vision even awaiting decisions by Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace
HOUSTON — Chuba Hubbard walked past Amen Ogbongbemiga in the hallway outside the Oklahoma State locker room. “Go to the first...
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OSU report card: Trouble with special teams leads to Cowboys' downfall in Texas Bowl loss to A&M
Oklahoma State got out to an early two-score lead in the Texas Bowl, but when Texas A&M got on track, the Cowboys didn’t...
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OSU football: Why now is the time to enjoy Cowboy star Chuba Hubbard
HOUSTON — Chuba Hubbard does lots of things quickly. Run. Juke. Spin. Cut. Just about everything the Oklahoma State running...
OSU football: How Sean Gleeson's granddad helped prepare him for this season
STILLWATER — Bill Gleeson looked down at the projectile that landed in his lap. A piece of toast. Gleeson was sitting in the...
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OU football: Sooners as endearing darlings of the playoffs? Believe it
On the morning the College Football Playoff field was announced, Fox College Football tweeted a short video with the four teams...
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OSU football: Cowboy super fan Olivia Hamilton is grown up, cancer free and still a big fan
Ask Olivia Hamilton about her memories of Oklahoma State's magical football season in 2011, and she goes silent. Where to...
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National Signing Day: Sooners land rare two-sport star — unless pro baseball lures him away
NORMAN — Posing for pictures with family and friends, Cade Horton stationed himself behind a table covered with crimson and...
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OU football: Why Lincoln Riley faces a quarterback quandary on National Signing Day
NORMAN — Oklahoma has a quarterback quandary. Seems odd to think that, much less write it. The Sooners’ last three starting...