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Kansas vs Oklahoma Men’s Basketball Highlights – YouTube

I actually called this one with Chris Jackson in Denver the other night on the phone. I said, “Be sure and watch OU on Saturday..they’re going to beat Kansas.” I pretty much Jimmy the Greek-ed it. No points…outright winner.

Here’s the deal…OU after a Covid delay to their season is game by game becoming a dangerous basketball team as each game passes.

I’ll even go a step further… this Lon Kruger team has more depth and more talent 1 thru 11 than the Final Four-Buddy Hield did several years back.

The season started slow for Coach Kruger’s team because of their first two games being canceled. Then there was the rough road loss at Xavier. But since that loss this Sooner team game by game has become a legit Sweet 16 type of team if they can stay away from anymore Covid issues.

This is a deep athletic team which can defend and get out in transition. Coach Kruger has multiple guys who can score and he has three guys in my view who can lockdown defend against anybody in the country… Harmon, Harkless, and Gibson. Plus, Kuath Kur has blossed as an athletic rim protector with a bit of an offensive game as well.

I’d say Devion Harman and Austin Reeves are the two most dependable scorers on the team, but there are seven to eight guys behind them who can play all aspects of the game within the prism of being role players.

Let me put it this way… Brady Manek is about to replace my second favorite Sooner hoopster of all-time Mookie Blalock as the tenth all-time scorer in the program’s history…and quite frankly if Brady doesn’t pick it up his minutes should be cut.

My favorite Sooner of all-time is of course Waymon Tisdale. My third favorite Sooner of all-time was a realtively unknown 6’6″ center Billy had on those those Skeeter Henry teams by the name of William Davis. I to this day love the toughness William Davis brought to the game… as did Billy.

These Lon Kruger guys have bought in on the defensive end and two new additions in Moj Gibson and EJ Harkless give this team a look OU hasn’t had since the Buddy Hield group. You put Buddy on this team and I’d be floating some Elite 8 talk on here.

The thing is though in the rugged Big 12 there’s not much time to celebrate a win over Bill Self’s Jayhawks as a road game at Texas awaits on Tuesday evening.

Texas is now second in the Big 12 standings and very much a national surprise. OU is now third in the Big 12 and this game on Tuesday will be another test to see how much OU’s team defense can travel in a road hoops version of the Red River Rivalry. I would guess Texas at -5.5 or so.

Since the Thunder now appear to understand they are in full tank mode on this West coast road trip…the Sooners and Cade Cunningham should take front and center stage basketball-wise in Oklahoma. I will definitely be in Norman for the Baylor, Texas, and O State games since I won’t be paying for any Thunder playoff tickets this season.

I’ll do my NFC and AFC picks tomorrow before our family gets together in Seminole for a Green Bay watch party.

LET’S GO PACKERS!

I was all set to do my first Smeconish Saturday in the Joe Biden era when I heard Larry King passed at the age of 87 the day after Hank Aaron passed at the age of 86. What a tough two day span for America.

Larry King in his prime was the best interviewer of his time. His stinct at CNN in a way shaped me in the manner in which I would consume the biggest news stories whether it be sports, politics, entertainment, or even foreign affairs.

I just read Larry’s Wiki profile and it doesn’t surprise he never graduated from college because there was a street smart saavy to Larry’s style which never would have been taught in broadcast circles.

Larry King had an insatiable quest to acquire new knowledge on a myriad of topics. This curisoity of his transmiited to his viewer like me who wanted to see the most recent bestseller author or sports phenom or politician on the air with Larry one on one. I would say Larry King to an extent shaped me a bit as did Tim Russert and Howard Cosell as well.

Unlike Tim Roussert or Howard who asked tough questions like a prosecutor…Larry would simply ask… “How” “Why” “When” and then listen intently and let the person being interviewed be the center of the interview and not vice versa.

Larry King was a complete natutal at the art of the human interview. He was the one person who did interviews my father would actually watch from time to time. My father being the criminal trial lawyer he was couldn’t turn Larry off during the O.J. Simpson trial.

Larry would interview various lawyers on the case from both the prosecutorial and defense teams and Bob would give his oral takes aloud as Larry interviewed say Marsha Clark, Chris Darden, F. Lee Baily, Robert Shapiro, and Johnnie Cochran. This was part of the Bob Jackson School of Law degree I attained. Trust me. In the last week of my father’s life the book he was reading was Jeffery Toobin’s best selling book on the O.J. Simpson case.

Larry King would have been a natural trial lawyer in that he would have easily perfected the knack of making the jury love him with that voice and infectious smile of his.

I’ve missed Larry King being on the air in his latter years. He wasn’t blue, he wasn’t red…he was an old school broadcaster who had the best people from around the world clamoring to be on his show for one hour.

There is no one even close to Larry on any of the three cable news or network news who can interview like Larry did in his gravy days.

So sad to hear Larry passed, but what a tremedous life he truly lived and that’s how I’ll remember Larry King…that being, as a person who took each day as a new challenge and tried to learn something a new and share it with some one else in the process.

God bless you Larry King and the very best wishes on your new journey.

Vin Scully calls Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run – YouTube

Hank Aaron passed earlier today. Truly one of baseball’s greats both as a player and a human.

To me, Hank Aaron not only passed Babe Ruth’s immortal record of 714 home runs, but his historical significance paralleled that of Jackie Robinson.

There was always a dignified grace in the manner in which Hank Aaron carried himself not only as a ballplayer, but as a man as well. Not just a black man, but a man. Truly a significant man in the history of baseball, but just as much as an American as well.

Here’s a link to an ESPN mini-documentary on Hank Aaron hosted by a then very young Chris Fowler. Please take the time if you don’t know the Hank Aaron story.

Hank Aaron – Sports Century – YouTube

The country lost a great man in Hank Aaron.

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Below is an additional footnote which might interest NBA fans. If you look at the clip above with the Vin Scully call you’ll observe a young Craig Sager trying to get to Hank Aaron in the aftermath trying to get some words following the historic 715th home run. Look at that hair Sager was wearing at the time…OMG.

Below is Craig Sager’s entire bio if you’ve never read it.

Craig Sager – Wikipedia

If you hate LEBRON JAMES watch this – It will change your mind – YouTube

I have Lebron and Michael pretty much in their own basketball universe. I’ve always liked LeBron. The only negative with Lebron for me was the goofy televison show when he left Cleveland the first time to join DWade.

But otherwise … how as a passionate fan of the game can you not love LeBron James?

If you didn’t love him before you saw this video…I’m pretty sure you’ll love him now.

Due to Covid protocol Oklahoma State has had its last two games versus Oklahoma and West Virginia postponed. O State stands 9-3 with a big home date scheduled this Saturday against top-ranked Baylor. This should be a great measuring barometer for Cade as the Bears feature one of the best players in the Big 12 in guard Jared Butler. Baylor is loaded…period. The most athletic team I’ve seen so far this season.

Cade is currently the No. 1 ranked player on the ESPN Big Board for this summer’s draft. He’d clearly be the player I’d take because of his NBA ready made frame, his BBIQ smarts, his skill set in that he does everything relatively well… plus his 6’8″ body allows him great defensive flexibiity to effectively guard multiple positions.

If I were Presti and I was fortunate enough to land Cade I’d team him with Shai and Dort and create a three headed guard tandem with Cade being what Chris Paul was last season. Then maybe what Coach D could do is move Bazely to the Sixth Man coming off the bench like some sort of Lamar Odom type. I could see Bazely developing more game to game consistency in this role. Maybe move Roby to the starting four at some point with a physical rim protector at the five. It’s fun to visualize a team as the process evolves.

With the Houston pick if it stays outside of (1-4) I’d look for a mobile rim protector. I actually like some of what I’m seeing from Isiah Roby, but with another young big it would give the Thunder some much needed punch defensively. I’m looking with that pick to make my team much better defensively down the road.

Cade is currently the leading scorer in the uber rugged Big 12. His stats so far read… 17.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1 bpg, 1.2 spg. I’m not worried about his assist numbers because O State is an extremely young team and his teammates have been streaky shooting the ball at times.

Cade’s shooting efficency so far this season goes…45% fg, 39% 3pt, 81.7% ft. His balanced shooting numbers are a microcosm of the overall balance to his game. He does everything well and is an excellent rebounder. He’s too unselfish or else his rebounding numbers would be higher. He is clearly not a Russell Westbrook stat padder. A great kid. Excellent family. Super teammate.

Sam Presti…that’s who I’d take.

Great inaugural show on CNN. Fireworks were spectacular. I may take this into the wee hours tonight celebrating.

I can’t believe the Bidens didn’t play this song at some point.

Pharrell Williams and Miley Cyrus – Happy (One Love Manchester) – YouTube

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter – the best version ever. – YouTube

Pearl Jam with Neil Young – Rockin in the free world Toronto 2011 COMPLETE – YouTube

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car [Wembley 1988] – YouTube

Eminem & Rihanna The Monster – Live – Bing video

Neil Young – Southern Man – Carnegie Hall – 2014/01/09 – Bing video

Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – YouTube

I’ve got to start winding this down. I”m wearing out. Feels like I’ve done a concert myself. One more song.

This is dedicated to Amanda Gorman who became an American hero today. Dream big, young lady.

Aerosmith – Dream On (with Southern California Children’s Chorus) – Boston Marathon Bombing Tribute – YouTube

Robert F. Kennedy’s Funeral Train – Bing video

No surprise Joe Biden has a Bobby Kennedy pic in his White House office. Joe Biden is an empath, while Donald Trump is a sociopath—and beyond the dogma of political ideology that is what most profoundly separates these two men.

Joe Biden actually cares about people while Donald Trump could care less about any living human beyond himself.

That’s precisely what was on the ballot in my mind in this presidential election.

It wasn’t a party line vote of any type. Ideology wasn’t on the ballot per se because Donald Trump has no ideology or doctrines being he’s an empty vessel.

The choice was simple. Do you want an empath or sociopath to be the leader of the greatest democratic country in the world?

Do you want a president who wants to empower the American Dream for many or the president who caters to only the very top of the economic ladder?

And, yes, much of this is symbolic.

The fervent hope the American Dream is there to be had by everyone if they work hard and dream big, modest or small.

I couldn’t help but think of Bobby Kennedy today who was loved equally by poor whites and poor blacks alike.

Hopefully…Joe Biden cannot only re-stoke the American Dream, but he can ignite human commonality in all of us which should transcend race or economic standing or political affiliation.

Joe Biden is an empath. Donald Trump is a sociopath. To be clear, that’s what was on the recent ballot.

Poet Amanda Gorman reads ‘The Hill We Climb’ – YouTube

It’s hard to imagine a mere two weeks ago today Donald Trump’s lawless collection of punks, losers, and thugs were rioting in the very spot where Amanda read her poem to the world today.

It is a stunning contrast not only to two weeks ago…but to four years ago when Donald Trump read from Steve Bannon scripture his take on American Carnage.

Amanda stopped me in my tracks with her beautiful poem which gives me some hope we’re moving away from the historically pathetic four years of Donald Trump.

To think during Trump’s time we witnessed Rush Limbaugh and Jim Jordan be awarded Congressional Medal of Freedom recognition…then in the very first hour of Joe Biden’s presidency went from that bullshit to Amanda Gorman’s poem which will go down in the footnotes of history.

Amanda, thank you for giving someone old enough to be your father… that a ray of hope is on the horizon even if only in symbolism.

Thank you. You wouldn’t last a day in Oklahoma, kid…but thank you nonetheless.

(2) WATCH: Garth Brooks sings ‘Amazing Grace’ for Biden inauguration – YouTube

It was refreshing to witness someone from Oklahoma not talking like a blathering idiot in relation to Trump. Hopefully, James Lankford will take some inspiration from Garth and for the first in four years show personal integrity and vote to impeach when we get to the Senate trial.

Amanda Gorman was just incredible. I’ll save her for later in the evening.

God bless, America.

(2) Donald Trump’s Farewell Speech – YouTube

I know I got a lump in my throat as Donald Trump made his farewell speech earlier. How fitting the photo from the Shawshank warden was placed on the desk of Trump in the video.

Good luck, President Trump. Job well done, sir. Your four year stay in the White House will forever be remembered. The path of destruction in your presidential wake is historically unprecedented.

Can’t wait for the memoir as you’ll go down as the first ever POTUS who can’t read his own book. Job well done, Mr. President.

Maybe the guy with the horns will be your cellmate.