One for the Ages

Football season is revving up. The Olympics are heading down the final stretch. We'll have plenty of time to crush the gridiron in the coming weeks and months. Never fear my Tulsafied brethren; I'm working on forecasting the Sooners upcoming campaign.

In the mean time, let's chill out with some hockey chatter. It feels like ages since the frozen pucks were flying around the Convention Center. Ah, the old Convention Center. Good times.

The Tulsa Oilers season opener is two months away. They are speeding down the ice preparing to hip check the Oklahoma City Blazers on October 25th. The Oilers are likely to set the Central Hockey League all-time attendance record opening night at the BOK Center. Celine who?

It's easy to overlook the illustrious history of the Oilers in Tulsa. Forget for a second the period of time between 1985-1992 when the CHL went on hiatus.

The organization has been a model of consistency not only in T-Town but also in the CHL. Players and coaches have come and gone but the passionate fans have remained.

Our city is eager to break in the BOK Center with the team this season. The Oilers are rewarding long-time fans (and possible new ones) this Saturday with an alumni game featuring past and present Oilers. It should be tremendous. The puck drops at 7pm.

Former favorites such as Doug Lawrence, Larry Hopkins, Mike Berger, Luc Beausoleil and many others will lace up the skates at the Oilers Ice Center, 6413 South Mingo. No word whether "Dougie" will drop the gloves for old times sake. Just don't call these guys old timers.

Games, even of the "friendly" variety, require more than four players on ice. Mix in current general manager Taylor Hall and current Oilers head coach Dan Hodge and voila.

A few current players such as recent acquisitions Brendon Hodge and Michel Beausoleil will enjoy ice time with their predecessors. A great barometer to compare and contrast yesterday's stars and today's grinders.

Taylor Hall, the GM, envisions this as a celebration of Oilers history. He also hopes to create awareness for the team as they skate into the Center this season. "The BOK Center is nicer than most NHL buildings," he said with confidence.

He swears Tulsa is the best stop of his 12-years in professional hockey. He's eager to bring a CHL title back to Tulsa as his teammates and he did back in 1992-93.

The Saturday spectacular has limited seating at the Ice Center. The tickets are 10 bucks for season ticketholders and 15 for non-season ticketholders. You can buy Oilers Alumni Game tickets by calling the Oilers at 632-7825.

A huge tent will be set up in front of the Center with a players meet-and-greet adding to the celebration. Grab merchandise, purchase season tickets and rub elbows with some of the toughest SOBs in town.

Also being celebrated are sponsorship partners. Imagine the shock when Hall advised me chiropractors and dentists are prominently involved with the sport. Who knew?

Olympic Feats

The Beijing Olympics are unfolding superior to any of my wildest dreams. The drama has been off the charts. Gold medals decided by 0.01 seconds are the norm.

According to TV ratings, I'm not alone in my devouring of Olympics' excess. Seeing is believing unless digital fireworks, cute kids singing or half-empty venues are involved.

I feel the need to talk Olympics. I realize you have read and watched enough to quench your summer games thirst until Great Britain in 2012. So here is a different approach. Let's see if we can add these new terms to our lexicon.

Phelpsington. Adjectives to describe him have run dry. So we'll just create a new one. The pizza delivery guy arrived only 10 minutes after ordering my pie. It was a Phelpsington performance.

WalshMay. I consider myself a beach volleyball connoisseur. Yes, Misti's last name is May-Treanor but WalshMay-Treanor doesn't have the same oomph. Also, why does May always come before Walsh on the team name? Did she lose a coin flip? Anyway, here goes: A serious case of WalshMay can be unbearably itchy at the beach. Look for a shower to relieve the sand from down there.

Chinfant. Once every four years a guy can admit to enjoying gymnastics without losing his man card. There's something adorable about the US gymnastics squad. Even the one who kept falling down. Hell, they may even sellout the upcoming BOK Center event. Too bad the Chinese team fielded underage competitors.

A fifteen year old with fake ID: "Yes, my name is McLovin. Now can I buy the beer?"

Store clerk: "You look Chinfant to me. I'm going to need to see a form of ID not issued by the Chinese government."

Bolt. We better use the term "bolt" judiciously starting 9.69 seconds ago. The 6'5'' Usain Bolt delivered an effortless dash to claim gold in the 100-meter race.

Erroneous use of bolt: Teenage drivers bolt up and down streets wasting their parent's gas money.

Correct usage: I am bolting back to my TV for more Olympic coverage.

A final word. How does the USA equestrian team get their horses to the Olympics?

On a slow-boat to China. Thank you, thank you very much.