The Giving Sports

Isolated as defined by dictionary.com means separated from other persons or things; alone; solitary. Isolated defined by me means missing the NFL Draft, NBA playoff action and the LPGA tourney in T-Town.

I didn't "miss" the NFL Draft. Once I initiated contact with reality (came home from vacation), a quick check online revealed in minutes what took hours and days to unfold.

The basketball playoffs are ongoing. I am probably one of five people in Tulsa who give a rotating day old hotdog from QT about the NBA.

However, I sorely missed my girls banging balls around Cedar Ridge. Old news? I know but it cannot be overstated how much joy the LPGA stop in Tulsa brought me.

I managed to catch the final few holes and subsequent playoff/sudden death between Paula Creamer and Julie Inkster. Riveting action on the tube. I can't imagine how intense it would have been live.

As I laid on a plank of plywood (my bed) at Pop Century, I had one of two arguments with my wife while on vacation. More of a disagreement but you get the idea. She is apparently not a fan of Paula Creamer's infatuation with the color pink. I think it's cute. "Matching pink hats, pink clothes, pink clubs and... OMG... is that a pink ball?" said the wife.

Yeah, try defending a 21-year-old female golfer to an exhausted, pregnant and sick-of-Mickey Mouse wife. Fantastic times I tell you. Ok, on to the here and now.

Last week I wrote about Sports Fan-Attic Bar and Grill. While chatting up Jeff Jackson, I overheard some TSC (Tulsa Sports Charities) game planning.

The non-profit charitable organization is headed by Tommy Thompson. Due to my general malaise of being injected back into society, I didn't contact Thompson in time for a few words.

But here is the basic rundown. According to their Web site, www.tulsasportscharities.org, "The Mission Statement of Tulsa Sports Charities, Inc. is to raise money for charities and scholarships, give it all away, have fun doing it."

It has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for charities and scholarships during the past three years. A few of the recipients have been The Tulsa Urban League (not to be confused with UTW), The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, The Hutcherson YMCA, Special Olympics and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

A couple of big time events are planned for this week. On Sunday, May 18, TSC bring us "The Budweiser Celebrity Poker Classic at Cherokee Casino."

Thirty or so celebrity types will be in the field. It's sponsored by Budweiser so beer will be flowing. What's not engaging about gambling, drinking and shooting the breeze with friends?

The registration fee is 120 bucks. Warning: There will be poker pros in the field. And the sniper of the group? David Beauregard. Yes, the leading scorer and captain of your Tulsa Oilers. Don't let his French-Canadian accent and pleasant demeanor fool you.

Monday revolves around Tulsa's sport. No, not college or high school football. We're talking golf.

"Tulsa Sports Charities Heisman Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament" takes place at the LPGA's favorite stop, Cedar Ridge CC.

The list of celebs teeing it up for a good cause is mind-boggling. Heisman trophies winners, former local collegiate players and coaches and of course several of the more recognizable sports personalities in town.

As much as I'd love the opportunity to embarrass myself in front of Heisman Trophy winners, I can't muster up the onions. For reasons unbeknownst to me, the public associates the sports media with good golf and free food. Ok, I understand the free food. However, I am a major disappointment on the links.

This item may only interest me. I'm fascinated with premature bookulations for the yet-to-be-finished BOk Center.

According to bokcenter.com, the opening act is Kenny Chesney with LeAnn Rimes. I only know of Rimes because she belted a tune for the movie Coyote Ugly (an underrated, rewatchable movie).

Some of the other acts? American Karaoke, Rascal Flatts, the corpse of Neil Diamond and sneaky Celine Dion.

The sports bookings look like this. A preseason game featuring D-League talent from the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic. TU versus OU in a little basketball action. The mighty Celtics visit town as well. Huh? Celtic Thunder isn't the team from Boston? Anyone care to elaborate on what exactly Celtic Thunder is?

Here are a few humbled suggestions for our friends at SMG, the guys in charge of booking events for our soon to be beloved Center.

Contact Dana White, the president of the UFC. He'll listen. You'll fill the building and, most importantly, I can scratch that off my 'things-to-do list' and can quit writing about it.

Don't bring a women's tournament to Tulsa just for the sake of booking the venue. No offense but the BOk Center needs to aim high. We don't want the stigma of "a good location for women's sports" to stick on the building.

I know at least one person, scratch that, two people who would enjoy a preseason NHL contest. Wouldn't the NHL jump at the opportunity to gain a few fans in Oklahoma?

Until next week, stay Tulsafied.