Berry Tramel

Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel

Oklahoma State football: A guide to Purdue football history December 27, 2012 | Comment on this article

OSU plays Purdue on Tuesday in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, and man, do we know very little about the Boilermakers. Purdue and OSU have played only once, in the 1997 Alamo Bowl, won 33-20 by Purdue. Purdue never has played OU, Kansas, Colorado or Texas Tech, . The Boilermakers have played Baylor once (winning... Read More

Oklahoma State football: Stopping third downs December 26, 2012 Mike Gundy says OSU’s defensive collapses in the second half of the season can be contributed to failing to defend the pass on third down, primarily 3rd-and-4 to 3rd-and-8. Medium-range yardage. “We couldn’t stop OU’s two inside receivers, couldn’t put pressure on Landry Jones, so we got gashed,”... Read More

Oklahoma City Thunder: Scotty Brooks’ fatal mistake December 26, 2012 Kevin Durant drove to a dunk that drew the Thunder within 96-95 with 44 seconds left in the game, and you thought maybe the Boomers’ all-game climb might end in glory. Thought the Thunder might knock off the Heat in front of the biggest crowd in Miami indoor history and a snowed-in, nationwide audience watching... Read More

College football predictions: Pre-New Year’s bowls December 26, 2012 Time to predict the 16 bowl games played between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Of course, some of us can remember when there were less than 16 bowl games total. Little Caesars Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan. Chippewas 41-30. My vote for the worst bowl. A 7-5 Sun Belt team against a 6-6 MAC... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2004 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2004 version: A Christmas story, 1981: A festive spirit and decorations filled the town square. Christmas trinkets hung from the magnolias around the courthouse and in front of the stores and churches.... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2006 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2006 version: A Christmas story, 1910s: Henry was an only child. His German immigrant parents lost three children, one at birth and two before reaching age 2. They lived in New York City tenements.... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2005 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2005 version: A Christmas story, circa 1971: His parents did a heck of a job. The kid was 10 years old, maybe 11, and still he believed in Santa Claus. Still believed, even in sunny California, that old... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2003 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2003 version: A Christmas story, 1998 and 1999: The little apartment in the Dominican Republic was sparse. But the four American missionary roommates dressed its front room with yuletide. One mother had... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2002 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2002 version: A Christmas story: Dec. 25, 2001. Playing with wrapping paper was 11-month-old Hallie’s joy. But watching her play with that paper was the best Christmas her dad ever had. Hallie was the... Read More

Merry Christmas, 1996 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 1996 version: A Christmas story: December 1950. A couple walks to the movie house in Ottawa County. “Oh, aren’t those rings pretty,” the girl says as they pass a jewelry store. “Can we go inside... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2010 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2010 version: A Christmas story, every year: The crusty old coach gathers his players each December. He’s usually barking instructions about the zone blitz, the defense he virtually invented, or how to... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2011 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2011 version: A Christmas story, 1999: Phyllis and her son had a tradition. They would color together. Color in a coloring book, date the page and keep it. Starting when her boy was small and continuing... Read More

Merry Christmas, 1997 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 1997 version: A Christmas story: Dec. 24, 1987. The Christmas Eve service at Simpson United Methodist Church was dragging. The minister was reading from a book not nearly as exciting as “The Night... Read More

Merry Christmas, 1998 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 1998 version: A Christmas story: December 1962. The University of Buffalo football coach traveled often, so his wife went home to southern Oklahoma to have her babies. The twins arrived five weeks early,... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2001 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2001 version: A Christmas story, 1979: He left home late on Dec. 23, flying to Sweden to join his team for the World Junior Championships. But he missed his connecting flight in London. So Christmas Eve... Read More

Merry Christmas, 1999 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 1999 version: A Christmas story, December 1994: A steep hill stood near his aunt’s house in Sioux City, Iowa, where the family gathered every year for Christmas. So anytime it snowed, a big bunch went... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2007 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2007 version: A Christmas story, mid-1990s: The little boy got in trouble. He doesn’t even remember what he did, when he was 8 or 9. But he must have been bad. Must have been real bad. As punishment,... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2000 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2000 version: A Christmas story, 1990s: The football coach invited over a colleague’s family for Christmas dinner. The coach’s wife brought in a pumpkin pie, and the coach stood up, reached for the... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2008 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2008 version: A Christmas story, 1964: Billy’s grandparents gave him a regulation basketball goal. Which is not the greatest toy for a kid two days shy of his second birthday. You don’t want... Read More

Merry Christmas, 2009 December 25, 2012 To celebrate Christmas, I am sharing my Christmas Day columns, a tradition that started in 1996. Here is the 2009 version: A Christmas story, 2008: For the fifth year in a row, Joe Lester, once the OU police chief but now the Cleveland County sheriff, came barreling through the door. Dressed as Santa Claus.... Read More