Off topic: Women's softball

Big Old Booger said:
I read somewhere today the Tennessee coach was recognized last night as a veteran of the Vietnam War. That's pretty cool.
Click to expand...

Booger, FYI: I watched Tennessee's postgame presser on the Web this morning and that guy (Ralph Weekly) truly is a class act. He was highly complimentary of the OU players and the Sooner team in general. In fact, I've noticed that many of the coaches in women's softball are very gracious when talking about their opponents – especially the coaches that have to play against OU.
 
scrybe said:
Booger, FYI: I watched Tennessee's postgame presser on the Web this morning and that guy (Ralph Weekly) truly is a class act. He was highly complimentary of the OU players and the Sooner team in general. In fact, I've noticed that many of the coaches in women's softball are very gracious when talking about their opponents – especially the coaches that have to play against OU.
Click to expand...

We sat along the 3rd base line in Section 3. After the game, while all Sooner fans were enjoying the moment, myself and my daughter got swept in by the emotion of the Tennessee Family Circle formed down the left field line in the shallow part of the outfield. Many of the players were obviously distraught and emotional, as our players were last yr. watching Bama celebrate on the field.

I was captivated by the speech the coach gave his players and their families. He really had some great life advice for his Sr. players. Even at the height of our excitement, it was hard watching the Vols players with their parents and other family and friends. The 2nd baseman who really had a great tourney(especially defensively), was very emotional and upset. The coach brought her, her parents, and I guess her boyfriend to the center of the circle so the other players and family members could comfort her some. The Tennessee fans were very cordial and easy to mix with. Overall softball fans are a lot less confrontational than typical football fans.

I attend numerous games with my daughter, and we always try to take in the WWCS, especially when we are playing. I have met many good people from all over the country. There was a gentleman from New York who came to town with about 30 retired friends. They all were rooting for Florida, so once the Gators were eliminated, the man and his wife hung around, while their friends all left. They had a flight out of OKC last night, so he came to the stadium, walked over to the Will Call ticket line, and proceeded to give away sets of tickets to any parent/child combinations he saw in line.

We had no tickets to the game last night, and we were trying to get a pair from the Will Call window. We arrived late, and were pretty sure we would have to spend about 40 per ticket to get in. That man not only gave us 2 very good tickets, he gave us tickets in the same seats for tonight, had the 3rd game been needed. I saw him give at least 9 groups of people tickets for last night, and tonight, and he wouldn't take one dime from anyone. I tried in vain every way possible to give him at least 40 bucks for the tickets, and he asked me to either spend it on my beautiful daughter, or donate it to someone in Moore........

That is the type of fans who I meet at the WCWS. The Bama fans were a little arrogant last yr., and of course many of the visiting fans complain OU gets all of the calls in OKC, but overall the fans are AWESOME about cheering feverishly, honoring everyone presented, like the vets last night, and they seem to enjoy the entire experience. I saw so many fans from both sides last night, who had made friends during the tournament, exchanging numbers, etc....

There was a Tennessee fan who had her 87 yr. old mother with her. Her mother has been deadly sick for over 3 yrs, so she couldn't attend the last few WCWS. She felt well enough to be here this yr, and it was awesome watching her enjoying the event. She danced during take me out to the ballgame. :-) I saw at least 4 different Sooner fans stop by and ask her daughter if they needed anything on their way to concession. It was obvious everyone in the section had gotten to know them, and knew the lady loved concession snacks. LOL. At least 3 Sooner fans, and a Vols Family asked us if we needed anything as they went to the concession stand.

My 15 yr old daughter commented: Dad these people are always nicer than OU football fans are, and we are Sooners!!!!! Hahahaha...... Very fun event I have enjoyed the last few years...... The last point I would make is you hear so much about college star athletes who play football and basketball, being arrogant, rude, or selfish. The softball girls all seem to be just the opposite. They always seem like they are in awe, or overwhelmed by the fact fans and kids treat them like stars.

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing college football or hoops players, and of course I recognize the huge difference in a college football star and a softball player, but the point remains.....
 
jmizzy4ou said:
We sat along the 3rd base line in Section 3. After the game, while all Sooner fans were enjoying the moment, myself and my daughter got swept in by the emotion of the Tennessee Family Circle formed down the left field line in the shallow part of the outfield. Many of the players were obviously distraught and emotional, as our players were last yr. watching Bama celebrate on the field.

I was captivated by the speech the coach gave his players and their families. He really had some great life advice for his Sr. players. Even at the height of our excitement, it was hard watching the Vols players with their parents and other family and friends. The 2nd baseman who really had a great tourney(especially defensively), was very emotional and upset. The coach brought her, her parents, and I guess her boyfriend to the center of the circle so the other players and family members could comfort her some. The Tennessee fans were very cordial and easy to mix with. Overall softball fans are a lot less confrontational than typical football fans.

I attend numerous games with my daughter, and we always try to take in the WWCS, especially when we are playing. I have met many good people from all over the country. There was a gentleman from New York who came to town with about 30 retired friends. They all were rooting for Florida, so once the Gators were eliminated, the man and his wife hung around, while their friends all left. They had a flight out of OKC last night, so he came to the stadium, walked over to the Will Call ticket line, and proceeded to give away sets of tickets to any parent/child combinations he saw in line.

We had no tickets to the game last night, and we were trying to get a pair from the Will Call window. We arrived late, and were pretty sure we would have to spend about 40 per ticket to get in. That man not only gave us 2 very good tickets, he gave us tickets in the same seats for tonight, had the 3rd game been needed. I saw him give at least 9 groups of people tickets for last night, and tonight, and he wouldn't take one dime from anyone. I tried in vain every way possible to give him at least 40 bucks for the tickets, and he asked me to either spend it on my beautiful daughter, or donate it to someone in Moore........

That is the type of fans who I meet at the WCWS. The Bama fans were a little arrogant last yr., and of course many of the visiting fans complain OU gets all of the calls in OKC, but overall the fans are AWESOME about cheering feverishly, honoring everyone presented, like the vets last night, and they seem to enjoy the entire experience. I saw so many fans from both sides last night, who had made friends during the tournament, exchanging numbers, etc....

There was a Tennessee fan who had her 87 yr. old mother with her. Her mother has been deadly sick for over 3 yrs, so she couldn't attend the last few WCWS. She felt well enough to be here this yr, and it was awesome watching her enjoying the event. She danced during take me out to the ballgame. :-) I saw at least 4 different Sooner fans stop by and ask her daughter if they needed anything on their way to concession. It was obvious everyone in the section had gotten to know them, and knew the lady loved concession snacks. LOL. At least 3 Sooner fans, and a Vols Family asked us if we needed anything as they went to the concession stand.

My 15 yr old daughter commented: Dad these people are always nicer than OU football fans are, and we are Sooners!!!!! Hahahaha...... Very fun event I have enjoyed the last few years...... The last point I would make is you hear so much about college star athletes who play football and basketball, being arrogant, rude, or selfish. The softball girls all seem to be just the opposite. They always seem like they are in awe, or overwhelmed by the fact fans and kids treat them like stars.

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing college football or hoops players, and of course I recognize the huge difference in a college football star and a softball player, but the point remains.....
Click to expand...

That's good stuff!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!

:clap
 
scrybe said:
Booger, FYI: I watched Tennessee's postgame presser on the Web this morning and that guy (Ralph Weekly) truly is a class act. He was highly complimentary of the OU players and the Sooner team in general. In fact, I've noticed that many of the coaches in women's softball are very gracious when talking about their opponents – especially the coaches that have to play against OU.
Click to expand...

I read a bunch of his comments from the post-game presser and he was very classy in defeat. They ran up against a superior ballclub. When that happens and you lose, all you can do is tip your hat to the winners and he did that.
 
Great post, jmizzy! I noticed that family-type atmosphere and the sportsmanship throughout the WCWS just by watching the games on TV.

:clap :clap :clap
 
Big Old Booger said:
I read a bunch of his comments from the post-game presser and he was very classy in defeat. They ran up against a superior ballclub. When that happens and you lose, all you can do is tip your hat to the winners and he did that.
Click to expand...

I think Tennessee has co-head coaches, and it was the same scenario when they interviewed the other coach. I'll never forget the last part of what she said: "This was the best team we've had since I've been here. We just happened to go up against the '27 Yankees."
 
WaymanFan said:
I think Tennessee has co-head coaches, and it was the same scenario when they interviewed the other coach. I'll never forget the last part of what she said: "This was the best team we've had since I've been here. We just happened to go up against the '27 Yankees."
Click to expand...

Well, we as OU fans know that feeling too well. 2008, the most prolific offense in college football history and we face the Florida Gators in Florida.

It's about time we get a chance to play a meaningful game in a sport in our home state, I just wish we also get that chance in football and basketball some day.
 
It really has nothing to do with home state. The OU softball team spent the entire pre-conference schedule going on the road against the top teams in the nation. We beat them on the road. Indeed, our first two losses were at home---not on the road. We lost to Texas and Kansas on the road. But, we lost to Louisville and Nebraska in Norman.

The reason this team was compared to the Yankees is that OU went to the west coast and run-ruled the #3 team in the nation. OU run-ruled top twenty-five teams throughout the west coast swing. OU didn't lose one single game on those west coast weekends against the best that the nation had to offer.

Florida and Tennessee, in contrast, hardly played anyone of note. Florida played two top twenty-five teams in pre-conference play---in Florida. Tennessee played one---UCLA, and lost. Between them, they were 2-1 against the top twenty-five teams. OU played more top twenty-five teams than that every weekend.

OU would have beaten any team in the nation if they played in Miami, on the campus in Knoxville, or in Never-Never-Land. That's the reason that some in the sport think that this was the top team in history. That's what good teams do---they beat you in your house.
 
sybarite said:
It really has nothing to do with home state. The OU softball team spent the entire pre-conference schedule going on the road against the top teams in the nation. We beat them on the road. Indeed, our first two losses were at home---not on the road. We lost to Texas and Kansas on the road. But, we lost to Louisville and Nebraska in Norman.

The reason this team was compared to the Yankees is that OU went to the west coast and run-ruled the #3 team in the nation. OU run-ruled top twenty-five teams throughout the west coast swing. OU didn't lose one single game on those west coast weekends against the best that the nation had to offer.

Florida and Tennessee, in contrast, hardly played anyone of note. Florida played two top twenty-five teams in pre-conference play---in Florida. Tennessee played one---UCLA, and lost. Between them, they were 2-1 against the top twenty-five teams. OU played more top twenty-five teams than that every weekend.

OU would have beaten any team in the nation if they played in Miami, on the campus in Knoxville, or in Never-Never-Land. That's the reason that some in the sport think that this was the top team in history. That's what good teams do---they beat you in your house.
Click to expand...

Great point..
 
That was a really good article by Carlson, but that headline was one of the worst ever. Looks like NewsOk needs to find itself a new headline writer.

"Sooners rank among one of the best teams in softball history."

Read that closely and you'll realize that head makes no sense. The Sooners rank among one of the best? It should have simply stated "Sooners rank among the best teams in softball history."
 
scrybe said:
That was a really good article by Carlson, but that headline was one of the worst ever. Looks like NewsOk needs to find itself a new headline writer.

"Sooners rank among one of the best teams in softball history."

Read that closely and you'll realize that head makes no sense. The Sooners rank among one of the best? It should have simply stated "Sooners rank among the best teams in softball history."
Click to expand...

I never thought about that when I read the article, but you make an excellent point.

Oh, well. At least the headline writer's heart was in the right place. :)
 
Regarding headline writers, it could be much worse:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/babymantis/25-stupid-newspaper-headlines-1opu

Then there are these:

http://www.flashq.de/headlines.htm

HEADLINES From 2002:
Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
That's good stuff, Trav. Betcha there were some red-faced headline writers after some of these gems. :ez-roll:
 
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