Happy Hump Day, friends and fans!
The grand opening of the new Sooner Shop is coming this Friday, April 5, and by the looks of it, it should be one of the more unique features found on any college campus as far as apparel is concerned.
Earlier today I had a chance to walk-through the new “Sooner Shop”. Wow! Thanks to our partnership with @Fanatics we developed an innovative shopping experience for Sooner fans....unlike any other on a college campus today. Grand Opening is Friday April 5th, 9am (Asp Garage) pic.twitter.com/pohNndcX2f
— Joe Castiglione (@soonerad) April 3, 2019
I can already tell that it’ll be one of the hottest attractions during next weekend’s Spring Game, and here’s where you can find it:
1185 Asp Ave. (under the parking garage just west of the football stadium)
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) April 3, 2019
So if you’re a fan of any sport within the Oklahoma Sooners athletics department, you’d be doing yourself a favor by checking this place out.
Now for today’s Hot Links! SI projects Kyler Murray to Oakland with the first pick, Blake Bell signs with the Kansas City Chiefs, Russell Westbrook recorded triple-twenties for Nipsey Hussle, and more!
OU Links
- On Tuesday night, Lincoln Riley and the rest of Oklahoma’s coaching staff were in Oklahoma City to watch the Thunder and Russell Westbrook’s historic performance (more on that later). It’s cool to see the players bond, but it’s also cool to see the coaches go out and do things together like this. However, I’m not seeing Ruffin McNeill in this picture. Maybe he went to the bathroom, or maybe it was past his bedtime.
#BoomerSooner &#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/l5gsodOxMv
— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) April 3, 2019
- Speaking of which... recruiting never takes a night off.
Russ just went #20Deep
— Lincoln Riley (@LincolnRiley) April 3, 2019
Who’s next???
- In Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft, Kyler Murray is projected to go No. 1 overall later this month, but not to the team currently holding the top pick. No, instead of Arizona, SI’s Robert Klemko predicts Oakland to trade up for the first selection. That would kind of be like sand in the Athletics’ eyes after failing to lure K1 to baseball, and it would also be quite the middle finger from the Raiders to the city of Oakland.
- Speaking of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Sooners could hear as many as eight names called. Murray is obviously the odds-on favorite to go before any of the others, but how do the others stack up as far as where they are projected?
- We’re just 10 days away from Oklahoma’s Spring Game, so with that in mind, here are 10 reasons why you should make plans to attend the annual event this time around if you haven’t already committed to it. Now I can only speak for myself, but I’m sure many would agree with me when I say the No. 1 reason why I’m going is the same No. 1 reason that’s on this list — to watch OU football!
days from the Spring Game, reasons to be there:
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) April 3, 2019
Spring Sale
9️⃣ Fan Fest & Kids Combine
8️⃣ Pose with the Heisman
7️⃣ @LincolnRiley✍️ Footballs
6️⃣ Help Call a Play
5️⃣ Kick for Tuition
4️⃣ Catch Punts
3️⃣ ✌️vs @_CeeDeeThree
2️⃣ @leebrice
1️⃣ ⭕️ https://t.co/AxyvrWh0vQ pic.twitter.com/C57vUOeWMs
- After a couple notable defensive decommitments, it appears DC Alex Grinch is establishing his vision for the kind of players he wants to recruit. Eric Bailey from the Tulsa World has more on the topic.
- Former Sooner QB Blake Bell turned NFL tight end has reportedly signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Belldozer was last in Jacksonville with the Jaguars for the latter majority of the 2018 season. Between he and his new quarterback Patrick Mahomes, that’s a lot of past Big 12 awesomeness.
BREAKING: Source tells us the Chiefs have just signed Wichita native, and former Bishop Carroll star Blake Bell. #KWCH12
— Jacob Albracht (@KWCHJacob) April 2, 2019
- Speaking of Sooners/Chiefs, HBD to Damien Williams!
Do your dance, D-Will.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 3, 2019
It's your birthday! pic.twitter.com/1TEacHhnXB
Around the Sports World
- Russell Westbrook joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to have at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and 20 assists in an NBA game. The man is today’s triple-double king for a reason, and on Tuesday night he added to his legend.
20 PTS | 20 REB | 21 AST@russwest44 joined Wilt Chamberlain (22p/25r/21a on 2/2/1968) as the only players in @NBAHistory to record a 20/20/20 game! #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/TSxhBbezif
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2019
- Westbrook dedicated his 20-20-20 (or 21) performance to recently murdered rap artist and close friend Nipsey Hussle. Both are from the L.A. area and had worked together in community service through Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation.
"That's for Nipsey!"
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 3, 2019
Russ finishes with 20 PTS, 21 AST & 20 REB in @okcthunder's win over LA. pic.twitter.com/Klp6IFuYF4
I don’t think folks understand...
— L E F T, PhD (@LeftSentThis) April 3, 2019
The fact that Russell Westbrook went out, in honor of Nipsey Hussle, and put up 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 20 assists, from a hood perspective, this goes down as one of the greatest sports feats of all time. pic.twitter.com/dxHxymZ1mM
- After 16 (mostly disappointing) seasons, the Washington Wizards finally decided it was time to fire GM Ernie Grunfeld.
- This Bryce Harper bat flip in his return to D.C. was just incredible and entirely too perfect.
MY GOODNESS THIS BRYCE HARPER BAT FLIP
— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 3, 2019
@MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/LixATqftl1
- Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams is heading to the Lone Star State to become Texas A&M’s next head coach.
- SB Nation’s Morgan Moriarty compared and contrasted the Final Four men’s basketball teams to their football counterparts. While the parallels are striking, the differences are just as stark.
- Back in November, a bettor placed a $1,500 wager on Texas Tech to win the NCAA Tournament, and that bet has him in play of winning $300K, especially now that the Red Raiders are in the Final Four. If I were this person, I’d be more than a little bit nervous.
One bettor has a $1,500 wager at 200-1 on Texas Tech to win the title. Ticket would win $300,000.
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkesESPN) April 3, 2019
He's looking for $65K on @PropSwap. What would you do?https://t.co/d28bqw4kup
- Houston Texans safety Andre Hal is calling it a career after temporarily leaving the game of football to battle cancer, defeating said disease and returning to the field in 2018. Way to go out on a high note, Andre!
Stick to Sports!
- Warner Bros. Pictures released a teaser trailer for its upcoming film, Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix. It’s an origin story chronicling one of the most infamous super villains in comic book history. What I find particularly interesting is that this teaser of how the Joker began comes out the day before the late Heath Ledger’s would-be birthday. If you recall, Ledger’s portrayal of the twisted DC character is still widely regarded as the gold standard. Is the timing a calculated maneuver or simply creepy coincidence? Either way, I know I’ll be there when this movie hits theaters on Oct. 4.
Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!