So, word on the street (and by street, I mean message board) is that college football will be upon us in a mere 99 days. Now, I don't dare wish summer away- it's definitely my favorite season. But we've hit the century mark, so that season of smash-mouth, sweaty goodness seems almost tangibly near. In the spirit of this excitement, I will dole out 99 things I love about OU football. Just kiiiiding. But I will present 9 random musings about anything and everything.
1. Did anybody catch the Billboard Music Award? Yeah, me neither. But I did look at some pictures and vids in the aftermath. Beibs and Selena Gomez just looked like about the most ridiculous thing ever. If they are the new golden couple that holds the key to world peace, I worry for our future. He looked like one of the Temptations, and she looked liked a thirtysomething wannabe. A little desperate to look grown up there, kiddies? Just be young and carefree for heaven's sake! You'll have at least 2-5 more years before you either outgrow your marketing viability or go the way of B. Spears' bald head.
2. Speaking of B. Spears, her and Rihanna's performance was SKANKALICIOUS. There was no display of talent to speak of... just one heck of a lot of raunch (sidebar: raunch is not a word but I'm totally making it one) and skankitude. There's boundary-pushing, and then there's a straight up men's club show. This was the latter. Have I mentioned how offensive I find RiRi? She is literally one of the worst role model's for young women. She clearly has no self-respect, which is pretty sad. Also, Ke$ha cannoned glitter and confetti into the audience. Jealous.
3. Why do I pull for the Thunder? This is a question that has become a recurring theme due to a certain basketball series. How can someone, native to Dallas, cheer for a team in that other state. Even my own family seems ready to convict me of high treason. First of all, I am a biproduct of OU/TX rivalry. And I am a Sooner Texan. I catch flack on both sides of the border. To say i'm used to the haters would be an understatement. I don't believe I owe anything to either side; I like the Thunder- they are a fun, young team, and Kevin Durant is incredibly likeable. And they started up while I was living in Oklahoma. So Thunder Up!
4. Also, I think the Thunder has one of the best fan bases in the country. I don't think I've ever seen a professional team so intimately tied into its fans, and vice-versa. It's pretty awesome. And another thing: I've heard a lot of Mavs fans go on about "blah blah blah the Thunder suck, the state of Oklahoma is so sucky, blah blah." Oh yeah, a team that is in the Western Conference Finals and has been competitive in every game thus far sucks soooo badly. All I've seen from Thunder fans regarding the Mavs is respect for their very good team. True, the Mavs will likely take this series at this point. But show a little respect for the Thunder's talent. I love being Texan, but the we-are-so-much-better-than-you-just-because mentality bugs the craaaap outta me. So Thunder Up!
5. It wouldn't be proper BelleoftheBallgame form if I didn't talk about either Miley or TSwift in some form or fashion. And since Miles has been uncharacteristically (probably for the better) quiet lately, I am forced to talk about Taylor. I am actually feeling kind of *gasp* sorry for her. Her InStyle cover barely even looks like her. She is a beautiful girl who seems very true to who she is, so it's frustrating and disappointing to see a magazine so blatantly distort and manipulate her photo. Not to say the picture isn't beautiful, too- it just doesn't look a thing like her. This is followed up by another photo with a bland glitter gown at the Billboard Music Awards. Who knew it was even possible to make glitter look staid and almost sad. I think it was also the semi-straight hair. She ditched her signature curls, and yet clung needlessly to her routine sparkle ensemble. Puzzling.
6. Since it is the cfb offseason, most of the fun comes in speculation. As we all know, a college football can be absolutely wild. You never quite know who will be the headliners and who will become absolute busts. Cam Newton, and Texas, anyone? We also know that ESPN likes to ride their prized ponies the whole season- so whomever they decide they love... we will hear about them all season. So who will it be in 2011? I think Andrew Luck will be this season's golden child. And probably rightfully so. He is a smart, talented, clean-cut quarterback who decided to forgo a chance to enter the NFL (did I mention smart?). And he was heaped with media love during bowl season. He is the ESPN love-child prototype. I expect we hear plenty about him. Good, bad, or mediocre, I believe Will Muschamp will also be garnering some serious airtime. Especially with 'ole Urban at the ESPN desk now- shout out to the coaching alma mater. Muschamp is just so obnoxious, the media will totally eat it up. He will fit quite nicely into a program which has in recent years made a habit of harboring people I cannot stand *coughTEBOWcough.*
7. Who else is nervous about how the new excessive celebration unsportsmanlike rules are going to impact the college football season. The previous incarnation of this rule has impacted the outcome of games, so how much moreso will the ability to take away points affect things!? All I'm saying is, if I see Broyles highstep or Stills spike a ball, I will go completely ballistic.
8. Also, lots of coaching turnover this last year. It will be interesting to see how programs like Michigan respond. Also also will be interesting to see how coaches who have had a year or two now (Brian Kelly, I'm lookin at you) do to improve their teams as the attention span and patience level of AD's everywhere seems to wane every year. "What have you done for me lately?" is the name of the game. Well, except for Joe Paterno- nobody touches Paterno.
9. On a somber note, the Sooners will take the field on September 3rd with a massive absence- the passing of #12 Austin Box. It is not a matter of depth chart holes or filling a position- we lost a person, a Sooner- one of our own. We lost a young man with talent to spare and a team who respected and cared about him. I know this team will honor their loss, and will not let Sooner Nation forget the life of Austin Box. Boomer Sooner.
