What’s up, everybody?

Kyler Murray had a hell of a 2018, from smashing dingers on the diamond to dropping dimes on the gridiron. Fans of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball and football teams sure have been spoiled as of late with talent like his. Check out this superb highlight video of the year to remember, composed by OU Football Content Director Zack Hefley.

The first time I personally saw Murray in the flesh was at a baseball game last spring. Since I’ve been following the Oklahoma football program quite closely for some time now, I knew pretty much everything there was to know about the athletic outfielder when it came to his resume. Yet even then, I was in awe of his ability when I saw it with my own eyes. He just looked like a natural in whatever he was doing in a given moment, but I could also tell he had put in an insane amount of work into his game. Those two traits combined have made him what the sports world has finally recognized — a very special player.

CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson put together this great piece (above) about Murray and the win-win situation he’s worked himself into. Whether he chooses to go pro in baseball or football full-time, he’ll only gain more of a following simply because of his remarkably unique makeup. It’s not every day fans can watch a player who could legitimately flourish in another professional league. I for one can hardly wait to watch how his stardom grows.

Now on to today’s Hot Links! Ben Powers is confident in Jalen Hurts, Jon Gruden really, REALLY likes Kyler Murray, James Harden is playing four-dimensional chess against checkers and more!

OU Links

• What a group of offensive talent Oklahoma has once again this season. Starting with the back row, from left to right you see Charleston Rambo, Jadon Haselwood, Austin Stogner, Theo Wease Jr., a hulked-out CeeDee Lamb, then on the front there’s Jaqualyn Crawford, Jalen Hurts and Trejan Bridges. My goodness, the talent is off the charts, and these aren’t even all the receiving threats on the team. Remember, the Sooners are also loaded at running back. Hurts should feast like it’s Thanksgiving every Saturday.

• As far as QB classes go, the 2019 group was one of the lower-rated bunches from top to bottom. Still, Oklahoma locked down the No. 1 guy in Spencer Rattler. So what makes a quarterback five-star material, and why was he worthy of the lofty ranking?
• Former Sooner OL Ben Powers believes Jalen Hurts will have tremendous success in his one and only season at Oklahoma. Powers also expects the offensive line to reload with Creed Humphrey is the lone starter returning.
• Jon Gruden made media waves with his praising of Kyler Murray recently, but is the embattled Raiders coach just bluffing, or is he actually considering selecting the Heisman Trophy winner in the 2019 NFL Draft? Currently, Oakland holds the No. 4 pick.
• Oklahoma basketball earned a much-needed win on Wednesday night in Stillwater, crawling out of a 19-point hole to keep the season alive. Jamal Bieniemy was absolutely phenomenal, scoring 17 points on 6/6 shooting and hitting all three of his three-point attempts. He also grabbed three steals and didn’t commit a single turnover. Coming up that big in a game that meant so much justifiably has fans excited for his future.

• Now, the task is to get ready for the Big 12-SEC Challenge. The Sooners will host the Vanderbilt Commodores this Saturday. Vandy has had a rough season, but the ‘Dores gave No. 1 Tennessee all it could handle last night.

• Bieniemy has been making things happen in his first two career starts, and the freshman PG hasn’t committed a single turnover since getting the nod.

• Speaking of Bieniemy, The Oklahoman came through with a great headline. Well played!

Around the Sports World

• SB Nation takes a look back at the worst night in USMNT history. This hurts my soul.

• There really is no doubt in my mind James Harden is going to win NBA MVP by a landslide this season. He just set a new career high and a Houston Rockets franchise best with 61 points, and he did it at Madison Square Garden. Give the man his trophy now.

• Fortunately for P.J Tucker, this didn’t cost his team the win, but what the hell was he thinking? I guess we all just have our brain blunder moments, but sheesh this is perplexing.

• Victor Oladipo was stretchered off the court after suffering an apparent right knee injury. The Indiana Pacers fear the injury could keep him out for the remainder of the season.

• Virginia Tech QB Josh Jackson has announced he intends to transfer, adding to the growing list of players (and an assistant coach) who will no longer be part of the Hokies’ program in 2019.
• National odds for winning next season’s College Football Playoff are out. So who should you take a chance on? There are some interesting teams that are low risk bets with the chance of some very high rewards.

Stick to Sports!

• The Dude abides... I don’t know about you, but I take comfort in that, knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ‘er easy for all us sinners.

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