It’s official March Madness for MJ. I’m jacked. My OU Sooner boys stunned the world last week with a wire to wire ten point win over No. 15 Missouri. Then went down to Austin, Texas and beat the hated Texas Longhorns for the first time in the Porter Moser era at OU.
I’m not like the talking heads at the Sports Animal. I’m a passionate, intelligent fan. Sports have been a huge part of my life. Still are. I’ve been an OU hoops fan since Johnny Mac was coaching the Sooners in the old Fieldhouse. I sit on the floor… students side. I’ve gotten to know the players and their families. I know Jalon Moore’s wife and his adorable little daughter, Makayla.
I actually talked with them after the Missouri game on Senior Night. I told Jalon’s wife how much respect I have for Jalon not only as a player, but as a leader, and a young man representing OU.
And she looked me right in the eye and said, “You’re right, sir. Jalon is an incredible young man. Makayla and I are both lucky to have him in our lives.”
I said, “And he’s lucky to have you two as well. Good luck on the journey. Please tell him how proud of him the real Sooner fans are.” The real Sooner fans, not the knuckleheads you hear on the Sports Animal call in shows.
Then I ran into Sam Godwin in the mouth of the tunnel. He was seriously injured late in the first half after having an outstanding first half which was key to the Sooners’ win.
That young man, his mother, and support family are what OU athletics are about, and should be about. Not the half of the spoiled OU fan base which think their daily existence is relative to a Sooner win every game.
On my blog…I kept my mouth shut after the horrific home loss to LSU when the Sooners blew a five point lead with thiry seconds left. That loss could very well still haunt them on Selection Sunday.
That was the most horrific thirty seconds I’ve witnessed in around sixty years of serious OU hoops fandom. I actually Bleed Crimson harder for hoops than football. I’m an outlier in that regard.
I would say last week was Porter Moser’s best week in four years as the OU basketball coach. He finally beat Texas on the road in a game his team literally had to have to stay alive.
So it’s the tough Mike White coached Georgia Bulldogs tonight in the first round of the SEC Tournament. I have no idea whatsoever where OU will fall on Selection Sunday, or if they make the Tournament. OU’s women are easily in and should at the least be a No. 4 Seed in their region. Jenni has done a great job in her four years at OU. A great job.
On my board I have Georgia tonight favored at -1.5.
So to my Sooners…compete to your utmost and where the hips fall…the chips fall. I need to go ride the terrain bike. This Van Halen classic always puts me in the right state of mind.
Let’s go Sooners!
Boomer!
Mike J
*Note: J-Dub did not make the trip to Boston with his hip pointer. Chet, Aaron, and Cason you might need to show up tonight in Boston.