Berry Tramel

Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel

A plug for Pendarvis May 01, 2008 | Comment on this article

Rarely do I plug one of my future columns. But I’m going to do it today. In the Friday Oklahoman, I’m writing about U.S. Grant girls tennis coach Billy Pendarvis and the remarkable things he’s done with that program. Oklahoma City Public Schools are a little bit of a cause of mine. I write about them when I... Read More

Dallas or Arlington? April 30, 2008 Here’s why Texas Tech can’t decide where between Duncanville and Lewisville it wants to play Oklahoma State in 2009: roots. Let me explain. OSU says it will play Texas Tech somewhere in the D-FW Metroplex starting in 2009, it just doesn’t know where. Either Dallas’ Cotton Bowl or Arlington’s new Jerry... Read More

Look East for NBA intrigue April 29, 2008 We’ve spent all season talking about the NBA’s Western Conference and how great would be the Western playoffs. And indeed the West does have the vast majority of the power teams. But the Western playoffs have been a drag; the Eastern Conference has been much more interesting. Of eight first-round series, only... Read More

Chicago adventures April 27, 2008 I’m back in the saddle after a week’s vacation, spent mostly in Chicago. My wife had a business conference, so my daughter, granddaughter and I went along, too. Planes, trains, taxis, boats, buses, carriages, we took them all on our adventure to one of my favorite towns. I generally use these... Read More

Vacation time April 21, 2008 I’m on vacation this week and won’t be blogging regularly. But I will check in from time to time and will pipe up if anything major happens. I’m going to spend some time with my granddaughter, take a little trip and get some stuff read that has me way behind. Talk to you soon. Read More

Emails from Seattle April 20, 2008 This week’s email bag comes courtesy of Seattle. The citizens of Washington state have plenty to say about uprooting the Sonics from their home of 41 years. Ted from Seattle wrote: “u know, u should really do some research. seattle spent more to refurbush key arena than your spending now on ford center, the... Read More

Oklahoma or OKC? April 19, 2008 NBA commish David Stern guessed that Clay Bennett’s ownership group would be under some “significant incentive and pressure” to make the Sonics an “Oklahoma” franchise” rather than Oklahoma City. Then less than an hour later, Bennett said he was committed to calling the franchise “Oklahoma... Read More

No trip to Gotham April 18, 2008 Big, big couple of days in Oklahoma. OSU hires a new basketball coach in Travis Ford on Thursday, then today the NBA votes on relocation to OKC for the Seattle SuperSonics. I wanted to be in New York City for the big vote, but it’s a good thing I didn’t go. I didn’t want to miss the Ford celebration —... Read More

Point guards rule April 17, 2008 Played point guard at a tradition-rich power. Made the Final Four. Son of a fairly prominent basketball man, at least regionally. Grew up in a basketball-crazy state. Got a college head coaching job in his 20s. Did a decent job — not spectacular — at a solid mid-major and it earned him a ticket to... Read More

OSU search takes bad turn April 16, 2008 Uh-oh. The OSU basketball search appears in trouble. The Cowboys apparently have been turned down by Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowery, who announced Tuesday he was staying at SIU. When a guy pulls out of a job, it means one of two things: he pulled out or the suitor school is ready to hire another. And it sure... Read More

Seattle’s best case April 15, 2008 I’ve sat around wondering how Seattle possibly could keep the Sonics, came up with no ideas, and then Mister Coffee provided me an answer. Starbucks czar Howard Schultz, who sold the Sonics to Clay Bennett’s ownership group two years ago, says he is filing a lawsuit to rescind the sale of the Sonics. He wants... Read More

The new emails are here! April 13, 2008 Another round of emails, covering everything from the Sonics to Bill Self. John weighs in on OSU’s search: “I won’t say Mike Holder isn’t smart, but he certainly made Pickens U’s bid for a replacement basketball coach more difficult. While speculation about Bill Self or any other coach... Read More

Quite a week in Oklahoma April 13, 2008 This is shaping up to be quite the historic week in Oklahoma. On Friday, the NBA board of governors is expected to vote — and approve — the Sonics’ relocation request to Oklahoma City. Also this week, OSU is expected to hire a basketball coach, which could prove to be a major event on the sports landscape.... Read More

Reid no Gundy fan April 12, 2008 Perhaps you’ve read the story in ESPN the Magazine in which Bobby Reid voices his displeasure with OSU coach Mike Gundy. It’s very interesting. I recommend it. Gundy, of course, came to Reid’s defense last September with his infamous rant, after Jenni Carlson’s Oklahoman column questioned Reid’s... Read More

Now who for OSU? April 11, 2008 Now that Bill Self has rejected OSU, where do the Cowboys turn? I say Mike Holder starts going down the list, and the top of that list will be impressive. OSU will not aim low. Will not try to find a hidden diamond, unless it comes to that. Here’s what the list might look like: 1. John Calipari: Memphis is a... Read More

Not what the NFL needs April 10, 2008 The NFL needs a few things. Fewer penalty flags on defensive backs. More professionalism in the end zone by touchdown-makers. A team in Los Angeles would be nice. The NFL does NOT need one more knuckleheaded wide receiver. For some reason, pro football prima donnas have migrated to the flanker position.... Read More

We’ll know soon on Self April 09, 2008 I don’t know when OSU will have a basketball coach, but I think we’ll know soon on Bill Self. The hourglass has been turned upside down. I would guess that Self and Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins will talk today. Depending on what is said, Self and OSU might talk tonight or Thursday, and by Thursday... Read More

No Headline April 08, 2008 Kansas’ victory over Memphis was momentous for Big 12 basketball. The league finally has an NCAA champion. Hopefully, it won’t stop there. The Big Eight had just one NCAA champ (Kansas in 1988); the league teams’ only other national title came in the Big Seven days (KU 1952). Until Monday night, the Big 12... Read More

Bracketing the field of 64 April 06, 2008 Be sure and grab an Oklahoman on Monday morning. We are producing a 64-coach bracket to help Mike Holder select an Oklahoma State basketball coach. This is a lot of fun and something we did when the OU job was open two years ago. Of course, we can be thrown a curveball. Two years ago, Jeff Capel’s name somehow... Read More

Self to OSU? NCAA title might help April 06, 2008 I still don’t buy that Bill Self would be a serious candidate at OSU. But the most likely scenario that gets Self to Stillwater would be a Kansas victory over Memphis on Monday night. With an NCAA championship, Self has one fewer professional goal to reach. Most coaches crave two things. Championships and... Read More