Sooner Nation Has Had A Rough Few Weeks

The Oklahoma Sooners football program has had a rough couple of weeks. First starting linebacker Austin Box died from an apparent overdose. Then the brother of defensive coordinator Brent Venables passed away.Now former Sooner All-American safety, Brandon Everage has died from a reported drowning.

According to Sheriff David Greene of the Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Everage, 30, drowned in the Little River about 80 miles northeast of Austin.



Authorities received a call late Friday about a possible drowning and commenced a widespread [search] into the night. Everage’s friends told police he had been swimming, went under water, but never resurfaced.

Everage’s body was finally found by a dive team about 10:50 a.m. Saturday, and he was immediately pronounced dead. His body has been sent to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Everage was an All-American in 2001 and a member of the Sooners’ 2000 national title team. He played for the Sooners from 1999-2003.


The Sooner family has had a lot ot endure this offseason. Man alive, this has been a tough few weeks for the Sooner family. Condolences and thoughts to all the families and friends that have been impacted the past few weeks.


Let's hope the Sooners will be able to bounce back from the string of tragedy.

Terrell Owens Taken For $30,000 By An Ex-Employee

 A metro Atlanta man is accused of stealing nearly $30,000 from NFL star Terrell “T.O.” Owens.

Atlanta police helped T.O. track down Antonio Edwards, an ex employee of Owens. What kind of work Edwards did is unknown, but whatever he did, it allowed him access to Owens' bank account.

Edwards used Owens' Bank of America account to pay rent for an Atlanta apartment. The documents also stated that for more than a year, Edwards used Owens’ account to pay more than $2,000 in rent at the Post Alexander Apartment Complex. The rent payments were made through an online system, the documents stated.

On May 13, a Fulton County judge issued 13 arrest warrants for Antonio Edwards, charging him with felony theft by deception.

Message to T.O. Keep a closer eye on your money and never allow anyone access to any accounts.

Tim Brewster Sounds Kind Of Bitter

 In Florida, former Minnesota Golden Gophers football coach Tim Brewster is down there checking out some of the local talent along with fellow ex-coaches Mike Leach, Mark Mangino and Rich Rodriguez .

The Naples News got a hold of him and Brewster offered a few interesting nuggets.

“One of the worst rules NCAA has is not letting head coaches be out in the spring,” Brewster said. “The past few I wasn’t able to get out and that was disappointing because you can really learn a lot evaluating them in the spring time.”


I have to agree with that, since all states aren't holding football workouts in the spring and the ones that do you can't get any proper evaluation on them.

“I want to get back into coaching but I’m using this break to just take some time and take a deep breath,” Brewster said. “I poured my heart and soul into that situation in Minnesota and I was disappointed with how it ended. But I’m a positive guy and you’re not going to keep me down long. … It’s been a really great spring being around these high school kids and just appreciating the game again.”


Brewster may get back into college coaching on a lower level, but not at a Big Ten level. To me it sounded like ther was a little bitterness. Minnesota adminstrators should realize how hard it is to win there and attract major talent. Brewster did have a highly rated recruiting class in his first year there, but it just didn't work out.

He was 15-30 in four years and you are what your record says you are. But in his defense he is enthusiastic about football and has shown to be a good recruiter. I think he should have gotten another year, but I'm not the one making the decisions in Minnesota.




  

Pippen Calls Carlos Boozer A Liability

Scottie Pippen has a lot of time on his hands. I guess that's what happens in retirement and not having a job after being let go by the worldwide leader. In his idle time Pippen has found time to analyze the NBA from afar and have a forum to speak on his observations. He seems to still love his former team, the Chicago Bulls, but seems to take issue with the team when he thinks that certain players aren't carrying their weight.

Of course we know that the Bulls never won until Pippen matured as a player and became a solid number two behind Michael Jordan. But he never won after he left Chicago, so trying to paint himself as the ultimate winner kind of puzzles me. If he was the Portland Trailblazers and Houston Rockets would have a few more Larry O'Brien trophies.

Pippen, the king of idle time and criticism, found more time to bash Bulls forward Carlos Boozer . First during the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, Pippen called out Boozer specifically and his teammates for a lack of toughness and not standing up for star player Derrick Rose.  Now he called Boozer a liability. This after igniting a firestorm for saying that LeBron James is the greatest player of all time and Jordan was the greatest scorer. 

Pippen said that Boozer is the key reason the Bulls didn't advance to the Finals.

"When you're playing at this stage of the playoffs, the best of the best are still there and you have to have guys stepping up," Pippen told ESPNChicago.com. "And I just felt like it finally caught up with the Bulls, who didn't have consistent play from guys who needed to play big down the stretch. When those pieces are not falling into place, you're going to fall out of it.


"You can't have two of your top high-paid players sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter," Pippen said. "And that isn't just last night's game. We have seen this the whole season. So for us to think the Bulls are going to go farther when your high-priced players are not going to carry you and finish games for you ... you're not talking about a championship team.



"You can't hide at this stage of the season. At this point, you have to be able to play through everything because if you're trying to hide a guy or a guy is not performing for you, it's going to show offensively in the playoffs and it's going to be magnified ... We all know Carlos did not play at the level the team needed him to and that that hurt them more than anything because they couldn't rely on him.


"The flagrant foul, the pushing calls, the inability to finish strong around the basket. Now you're a liability. We can't hide you and now we have to take you out of the game."

Here some things I bet you didn't know about the so-called great Scottie Pippen.


Game 6, at home against the Pistons in 1989: Scottie leaves the game after a run in with Bill Laimbeer. He did not return. Bulls lost. Pistons swept the Lakers for the championship.

Game 7 against the Pistons in 1990: Scottie claims to have a migraine. He goes 1-10. Bulls lose. Pistons go on to annihilate Portland for the championship.

1992- Knicks get into Pippen's head for the entire series. MJ comes to his rescue against Oakley, Starks and Xavier McDaniel.

1994- MJ is playing baseball (well, trying to). The Bulls are down 0-2 to the Knicks. In Game 3: 1.8 seconds left, Bulls losing by 2. Pippen refuses to go back into the game after Phil Jackson calls Toni Kukoc's number to take the last shot. Kukoc made the shot and went on to win in OT, keeping the Bulls from going down 0-3. Yet it is Pippen who gets credit for taking the Knicks to 7 games.

Pippen shot 34% in the 1996 Finals

Pippen shot 38% in the 1997 Finals

Pippen shot 36% in the 1998 Finals.

Some sidekick. I could argue that the Bulls won those championships in spite of Pippen rather than because of him. Did Pippen help MJ win. Of course. Because no player wins without help.

Although Pippen was one of the greatest sidekicks of all time, he had moments where he went into "hiding".

From a personal opinion I think Pippen should keep his mouth shut with the rap sheet I just listed above.

The Bulls need another creator on the perimeter ( O.J. Mayo?) to team with Derrick Rose and I think they would be able to keep pace with Miami's big three.

Dolphins' Davone Bess Spending Time Digging Ditches

Out of all the things that some NFL players have done to kill time during the lockout, Miami Dolphins receiver Davone Bess may have picked the most physically grueling assignment although it is for a cause.

Bess has spent the last two weeks in Costa Rica chopping trees with a machete, digging 200 yards of drainage ditches, and laying tile for the people of Canitas as part of a Global Volunteers crusade.

Bess and others have been helping prepare the town of Canitas for the rainy season.

"I had an epiphany one night. With all I've been through on and off the field God has put me in a position to be a difference maker and to change lives," said Bess, who signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension midway through last season.



"If I can help someone make a difference and impact someone's life I want to do that to the best of my ability."

Davone Bess in Costa Rica

From what I've read, Bess does a lot of charity work so it really comes as no surprise. Just when you hear of someone going to Costa Rica you don't think of them going to dig ditches or knock down some trees.

"We've all been doing an incredible amount of physical labor, and Davone and the guys have been leading the way," said Cathy Cunningham, a Arizona native who befriended Bess on the missionary trip. "They've been chopping down trees, digging the drainage ditches and all kinds of stuff. Davone hasn't been a celebrity. He's not on vacation. He's been one of the hardest workers."

Bess also brought down soccer and football supplies for the children of Canitas through his sponsorship with Adidas.

Kudos to Bess and hopefully he can have more success on the football field.
 
  

Shawn Marion Trying To Land A Reality TV Show

Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion is the latest athlete to try to get a reality tv show. According to a report from TMZ.com, Marion will be shooting a pilot for his show which will be called "The Ladies in My Life".

It will not be how Marion is a playa off the court. It'll be based on his mother, sisters and publicist. The most important women in his life.

I would like to say that Marion should concentrate on basketball, but with a possible lockout looming, he may want to expand his horizons as far as getting paid. Like trying to get after that tv money. 

Charlie Manuel Loves Him Some Bernard Hopkins

Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel isn't one to watch boxing or talk about it. But if you ask him about Philadelphia boxing champion Bernard Hopkins, he may never stop talking about him.

He's crossed paths with Hopkins once before, but was so impressed by him that he would like him to make a stop by Citizens Bank Park and have a conversation with him.

"I absolutely love listening to him," Manuel said. "That's one tough guy who wants to be a champion. I know in baseball, that's what separates the average guy from the real good one."   

If you've ever listened to a Hopkins interview the guy can talk for days. He'll also let you know he has the same drive and determination he had when he got out of prison. That's what Manuel likes about him. It seems like an odd pairing, but Manuel likes hard nosed players.

"It's about being a champion," Manuel said.

And in my eyes Hopkins is what being a champion is all about.