By Clay Horning
Transcript Sports Editor
One must keep track of what one writes.
For example.
n Sports are about the moments, I've penned.
n Sports are about the drama, I've also penned.
n Sports are about seeing something you've never seen before is another favorite.
So, for those who've taken notice of such situational shenanigans when the draw and romance of that which we cover in this section intermingle, you're not alone. I was giving myself a good talking to in the moment for such see-through inconsistency.
Suffice it to say, the games people play and that we report upon are about a whole bunch of things: moments, drama and something new among them, but all of them sort of get at the same thing.
At their best, sports are a celebration (yeah, a celebration, add it to the list). Without them, life would be quite dull. And once a year, like today, why not recall some of the good stuff.
Why not give thanks?
For voices like Ernie Harwell and Vin Scully at the ballpark, the recently departed Harry Kalas wherever he was, Dick Enberg above stadium court, even Jon Miller and Joe Morgan who so clearly get a kick out of each other Sunday nights on ESPN.
For the Wimbledon final Roger Federer and Andy Roddick played last time around, all 77 games of it, 30 in the final set.
For the Stanley Cup playoffs because, it's true, there's hockey and there's playoff hockey and it's been that way since before the keepers put on masks.
For the class and grace of Courtney Paris taking a stand she need not have taken, expressing her wish to pay back every cent to an athletic program that needs not the funds. Because it was never about the novelty of her wish, but about her so easily thinking beyond herself. There's a young woman who lived the college experience.
For a guy like Norman High's Donovan Roberts who killed himself so many times to get back to the line of scrimmage just for those few times he got beyond it and made watching the Tigers a thrilling thing.
For an ex-Tiger like Ryan Broyles who catches the ball when it's thrown to him which, as it turns out, is no small thing even when its hits you in the numbers.
For Whitney Hand, who didn't want to beat Tennessee by four points but by 30 and then went out and backed it up with the game of her season. She's still kind of embarrassed about it but the Sooner women need every bit of that attitude it can get.
For the BCS, which is better than the old system (which is kind of like being better than no system) yet remains completely undefendable and horribly unfair to the TCUs of the world, who might well be better than Cincinnati and whatever's coming out of the ACC this year. Yet, even undefendable, college football's never boring and stubborn hypocrisy is a transparent scream.
For the OSSAA's willingness, at least, to track down the facts about Jenks football. A dynasty built, in part, on arrogance and cheating is finally clear for all to see. Too bad the OSSAA couldn't follow through when it came time to punish the Trojans. Let us all hope Southmoore does the trick Saturday night at Putnam City.
For David Duval's U.S. Open run. For the Thunder looking like a playoff team. For the willingness of Blake Griffin to play hurt. For Sam Bradford's repeatedly telling us there's more to life than money. Because he's right.
The moments, drama and things you've never seen?
It's all free.
Give thanks.
Clay Horning
366-3526
cfhorning@normantranscript.com
