Selection Sports

Please forgive my tone this week. For the first time in six or seven years, my fantasy football team stink, stank, stunk up the joint.

Just be glad we're not married. My wife took the brunt of my displeasure on Sunday. On the bright side, I now have more time to watch bowl games. All of them!

Aloha! The University of Tulsa reeled off six strong wins in a row to wrap up the season at 9-3. The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl officials were impressed enough to invite the Golden Hurricane to play in their bowl.

Of course Coach Todd Graham's squad faces an old foe in the Hawaii Warriors. The student-athletes should be pumped up.

Not every college program can earn a BCS bowl berth. Why not visit Hawaii?

You will hear self-proclaimed football fans complain ad nauseam during the upcoming weeks. Too many bowl games! Argh! They are missing the big picture.

The Tulsa squad will enjoy all the festivities that accompany a bowl game, and they will do so in Hawaii: A beach party barbeque, a barefoot pep rally on Waikiki Beach and a visit to a charity hospital. All in Hawaii!

For the grumbling media and fans that dislike the number of bowls, here is a novel idea. Do not watch. Click.

Tulsa takes the field on Friday, Dec. 24 at 7pm. A proper preview is due, but we'll tackle the ins and outs a little closer to kickoff.

Sooner Fiesta

The University of Oklahoma entered their Big 12 matchup with the weight of the conference on their pads. It showed at the start. Nebraska jumped on top big before the Sooners corralled their longtime foe.

Good luck Nebraska with your new "natural" rivalries. OU provided a proper adios.

Now the Sooners return to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Déjà vu all over again. I wonder if Coach Stoops has a lifetime supply of tortilla chips. Maybe he can become the company's spokesperson like Mike Krzyzewski for American Express.

The Big East automatic bid went to the University of Connecticut. The traditional spot on Jan. 1 awaits Sooner Nation. Expect a big point spread for this one.

Remember the Alamo

"We're very excited to represent the Big 12 Conference against a quality Pac-10 Conference opponent," said head coach Mike Gundy. "It will be a great bowl week in San Antonio for our student-athletes and fans."

The Pokes face Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The Wildcats slipped to a 7-5 record after a promising start. This marks another chance for OSU to showcase their squad on the national stage.

San Antonio is a nice destination. Maybe catch a Spurs game while in town before Tim Duncan's legs fall off.

Shock Shake-Up

The Tulsa Shock (our WNBA team) hired a Director of Player Personnel. Head coach Nolan Richardson traded players like a drunkard playing cards in an old western saloon. Perhaps now the team will have stability.

Even more impressive is the caliber of the hire. Teresa Edwards ruled the courts for decades. She is USA Basketball's first and only American basketball player of any gender to compete in five Olympics. She has won four golds and one bronze medal. She earned the distinct honor of being the youngest recipient of a women's Olympic gold medal in 1984 and the oldest gold medalist in 2001.

She was named the USA Basketball Player of the Year in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 2000 and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. She currently serves on the USA Basketball Board of Directors and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board.

Now she faces her toughest task. Bringing her winning pedigree to a Tulsa franchise that got off to a tumultuous start last year.

"I think it's an opportunity to be a part of greatness," Edwards said about coming to Tulsa. "It's great to have an opportunity to work with Coach Richardson. I am learning more and more about his history, what he means to this area and it is incredible."

She served as a WNBA assistant coach immediately following her playing career. The fit was not good. However, her time as a broadcaster should serve her well.

"I think I'm a person that's going to engulf the process first," Edwards said about joining the Shock. "I'm going to allow myself to truly understand what we have and what we are working with so we can truly build a strong franchise here."

Here's hoping Edwards can work her magic off the court as well.

Not everything is perfect in the world of the Shock. Actually, it is the WNBA and its fan who should be taking note.

One of the main reasons Tulsa has a franchise is because of at-the-time commissioner Donna Orender. She pushed for the Tulsa relocation. She sang praises of the validity the team would bring. She sold a bill of goods stating the league was strong even when numbers told otherwise.

She jumped ship. Orender announced she is stepping down as president of the WNBA after six seasons. She will continue to work for the league as a consultant as she begins a marketing and strategy company.

How many CEO leave a company when all is good?

How many sports commissioners walk out of the door on their accord?

Either she was forced out or she did not like the direction the league was heading. Time will tell.

Go Shock? Yes, Go Shock.