Rough and Tough

It's surprisingly springy outside isn't it? When is the last time we enjoyed a comfy stretch of weather like this? It is time to venture outdoors. If nothing else, to shed the winter "coat".

There are several surefire ways to battle the bulge. Tulsa, we need to get tough. Americans have become squishy around the midsection, and Tulsa has been noted as having one of the largest waistlines among major cities. Fast food and 800 channels of television have left their marks on our rear ends.

Does this sound preachy? Of course it does. It also rings true. Tulsa Tough is a three-day cycling festival. The title sponsor is The Children's Hospital at Saint Francis.

Notice the hospital is not sponsoring a doughnut shop or eating contest. Hospitals understand the concept of wellbeing.

The event promotes a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness. June 1-3 sets up as a fantastic tour de force in Tulsa.

Their web site provides extensive details for spectators and participants. It will be an overwhelming success once again if the event comes off half as cleverly as their promo video. This is the sequel to last year's inaugural race/ride in T-Town.

The course setup transforms daily. Bike riders negotiate downtown one day. The Brady Arts district provides challenges the next day. The Sunday backdrop is brought to you courtesy of Riverside Drive and the Arkansas River.

Day and night races test avid and novice cyclists alike.

The Tulsa Tough Youth races challenge kids to pedal their way to fun and fitness. These motorized scooter kids in my neighborhood need to renounce laziness. Enough slacking, get tough.

The family oriented event makes viewing easy. The races of Tulsa Tough are criterium style, closed course circuits of less than 1 mile. Kid zones provide the little ones a break from the action.

Food, drinks and live music. What else do you need? Admiral Twin brings the house (or street in this case) down on Sunday evening. For more information and registration details visit TulsaTough.com

Tough Sell. This is what we call segueing in the 'biz'. The Tulsa Sports Commission actively assists with sporting events in Tulsa such as Tulsa Tough. Their bid to host the 2009 Big 12 basketball championship is a 'tough' one.

The competition is equally as . . . you know where I'm going right? Tulsa, Dallas, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Omaha all submitted bids. Tulsa and Omaha are hoping for their virgin experiences on the national stage.

Tulsa's problem is complex. The TSC was forced to bid for the '09 event due to the timing of the Big 12 meetings in Colorado Springs this week.

Although no one would admit as much, this was more or less a feeler bid. How on earth could they expect to land the event with an unfinished arena?

The video link on tulsasports.org contains drawings of what downtown could look like. No actual buildings or people bustling about to showcase.

One of the commissioners on the video states "We will not only be able to compete with our competitive set of cities but we will actually beat them, a lot." What does this mean? I realize it is a short video but it sounds like rigmarole.

The TCS went on to say the BOK Center would host more than 100 events annually. The web site currently lists two for the remainder of the calendar year. No mention of the PGA Championship as an upcoming event. Maybe the web site is just lagging.

I'm not trying to douse anyone's party. I voted for the arena. I didn't necessarily vote for the location but what's done is done. When driving by the locale, you don't get the warm and fuzzies normally associated with such a building.

Our good friend Bates recently covered the operating or non-operating expense for the upcoming FY. Unless the 100 annual events are fortuitous and not hyperbole, we may have lingering issues for years to come.

It's hard to blame the TSC for bidding on the Big 12 basketball championships. The best we can hope for is delayed decision on 2010 and beyond.

Tough, Tougher and Toughest. Biking and bidding on events requires a certain level of toughness. However, trading punches in the middle of the Octagon trumps all.

Anyone who knows me or has read between the lines in the past realizes one thing. I have a somewhat unhealthy affliction for Mixed Martial Arts. Matt Wiman fights out of the Tulsa Top Team camp in T-Town.

He is a featured combatant on "The Ultimate Fighter: Season 5" reality show on Spike TV. Wiman fights in the always exciting lightweight division.

He holds a 6-3 professional record. Two of his losses came at the hands of elite competition. "Handsome" Matt obliterated his opponent on last week's episode. Just to clarify, the nickname "Handsome" comes from his mother not me. NTTAWWT (Not that there's anything wrong with that)

The Broken Arrow graduate said under no uncertain circumstances that he is on the show to prove he is one of the best fighters in the world at 155 pounds.

The motives of other fighters have been called into question. TV fame? Business promotion? Not Wiman. He proved as much by submitting his opposition with a RNC (rear naked choke). Watch Matt in an upcoming episode which airs Thursday nights on Spike TV.

Ok -- I just spent an hour watching videos on spiketv.com I may need to get checked out. Helllp?

Finally we're going racing. Our busy friends over at the TSC are overseeing the IHRA Skull Shine Sooner Nationals this weekend May 25-27.

I'm no gearhead. However, drag racing excites for numerous reasons. The sounds, sights and shear speed are unequivocally breathtaking. Tulsa Raceway Park, 3101 N Garnett Rd, will host the thunderous racing.

Visit tulsaracewaypark.com for more details. Vroom Vroom.