Happy Friday, friends and fans!

As we wind down towards the end of Black History Month, one of the greatest Oklahoma Sooners in history lives on through the transcendent legacy he left behind almost 10 years ago. Wayman Tisdale — a phenom on the basketball court, a masterful musician, and a true example of how to live life each day to the fullest.

Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player in Sooner history, the 6’9” Tisdale was a three-time first-team All-American. Off the court, his passion was in the studio as a jazz bassist. No matter what he did, where he went, or who he met, his exceptionally positive energy enveloped those who were fortunate enough to be around him.

There aren’t many people that have made the same kind of impact on the world around them in such a short amount of time, but Tisdale’s story certainly fits that description.

Today, his name and the memory of him vibrantly lives on in his hometown of Tulsa. The Wayman Tisdale Fine Arts Academy was named in his honor for the influence he had on his community and the strive for excellence he embodied in all facets of his life. It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t be here to see how his legacy has transformed, but nevertheless, it is a legacy that is indeed worth celebrating.

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Dru Samia continues to rise on a lot of draft boards, Sooner Baseball and Softball are in California this weekend, James Harden calls out an NBA referee by name and more!

OU Links

• This time next week, eight Sooners will be in Indianapolis for the 2019 NFL Combine. Aside from the obvious Kyler Murray intrigue, I’m especially interested to see Rodney Anderson and how he’s progressed since he was sidelined for the season back in September.

• One of those Sooners at the combine will be OL Dru Samia. I highly recommend you check out this interview he recently did with Draft Wire. There are some great questions and even better answers from one of Oklahoma’s hardest working draft prospects.

• Beyond the physical drills at the combine in Indy, a particularly bright spotlight will be on Kyler Murray during the interview process. He’ll have to be prepared for all types of questions, because some league executives place just as much importance in a player’s answers as they do in their on-field abilities.
• Patty Gasso and the Sooners are in Palm Springs, California to partake in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. First up today is a bout against BYU, quickly followed by a matchup vs. the No. 2 UCLA Bruins. Heads up — each part of the double-header has been pushed back an hour later.

• Oklahoma baseball is also in the Golden State this weekend, as Skip Johnson and the team are in San Diego for games against San Diego, San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.

Around the Sports World

• The Texas Longhorns will be without scoring leader Kerwin Roach this Saturday against Oklahoma after he reportedly violated team rules, according to a release from the school. This was first reported by Chip Brown of 247.

• New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a warrant out for his arrest in the state of Florida following his involvement in a sex trafficking sting operation.
• The Houston Rockets lost a 19-point lead and were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. After the game, MVP candidate James Harden put NBA referee Scott Foster on blast for how he conducts himself on the court. I’m sure a fine from the league office is coming The Beard’s way, but does he have a point?

• It’s official. Space Jam 2 is now set for theatrical release in July 2021. In this sequel to the popular 90s flick, LeBron James will join up with the Toon Squad, but further plot details have yet to be revealed. I hope Michael Jordan is brought back, even if it’s just a cameo.

• WWE superstar Roman Reigns (former Georgia Tech football player Joe Anoa’i) has been away from the ring for several months following his announcement that he is battling leukemia, but it’s been announced that he will return to Monday night Raw next week to update fans on the latest news of his treatment process.
• The NBA has reportedly filed a proposal to lower the minimum draft eligible age from 19 to 18. The timetable for when the proposal will either be accepted or denied is indefinite.
• Charles Barkley opined on the Zion Williamson debate on whether or not he should continue to play through the rest of the college basketball season. Personally, I think Chuck makes a decent point, but this all comes down to what Zion wants to do. His judgement on the matter is far more important than anyone else’s.

Stick to Sports!

• Godzilla: King of the Monsters wasn’t supposed to be released in the U.S. until the end of May, but the third film starring this latest rendition of the Japanese folk hero has been moved up by two months. Now, you can expect to watch the overgrown, atomic lizard battle it out with the great ape from Skull Island in March 2020. Lately, I’ve been in a real monster mood, so for me this is pretty some shweet shtuff.

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