What’s up, everyone?

There is perhaps no other quarterback more polarizing in the NFL today than Baker Mayfield, and after resurrecting the Cleveland Browns to respectability during his rookie season, his popularity has since multiplied beyond measure.

Well, there is at least one way it can kind of, sort of be measured. You see, from 2017 to 2018, his very name — Baker — saw the third biggest increase in a recent baby boy names study. While he’s been putting in work on the field, his fans are thanking him on their children’s birth certificate.

Here’s a list of the top rising names from ‘17 to ‘18. There’s Baker third from the top, along with anything that has a ‘y’ or a ‘k’ where you normally wouldn’t find them. C’mon, people, really?

I’ve even heard of parents naming their daughters after the Oklahoma Sooners’ sixth Heisman Trophy winner. I imagine it’d be quite an honor for anybody to know they appreciate what you do so much that they’d name a whole person after you. It’s a feeling only few will ever know, relatively speaking. Around OU circles, he’s known as the G.O.A.T. Judging by his continued ascension at the next level, he’s adding even more names to his long list of feats.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Trae Young passes on the good stuff, OU Baseball is headed to Houston in 2020, the Greek Freak wins MVP and more!

OU Links

• Trae Young was present for the NBA Season Awards ceremony on Monday night. Check out the 20-year-old picking up a glass of ... chardonnay?... apple juice, then putting it back down as he turns to face the camera. Smooth move, young fella.

• The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson recently attended the AP Sports Editor convention, and while there she spoke with Georgia AD Greg McGarity about the very real possibility of playoff expansion in college football. Like Oklahoma, UGA and other top-tier programs have stepped up their non-conference scheduling practices to boost their playoff resumes. Still, someone has to lose in these marquee games, but expanding the field could help reward teams for sticking their neck out even in defeat.
• Oklahoma Baseball is headed to the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park for the first time since 2008, where they’ll be joined by fellow Big 12 members Baylor and Texas and pitted against the SEC’s Arkansas, LSU and Missouri.

• In case you missed it, make sure you check out Allen’s write-up on how Alex Grinch’s defense can fulfill its goal of creating more turnovers. There’s a lot that goes into becoming a defense that can make the turnover game a key component to their strategy, especially considering certain types of plays are more susceptible to takeaways than others.
• Don’t forget to check out episode No. 22 of the Oklahoma Breakdown Podcast with Jack and Kamiar! This week, the guys talked about the future of the QB position at OU, Baker Mayfield news, summer recruiting and more! As a usual reminder, there is some NSFW language.

Around the Sports World

• The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo took home the 2018-19 NBA MVP Award on Monday night, and naturally, he became quite emotional during his acceptance speech. Much respect for this young man.

• Megan Rapinoe scored two penalty kicks against Spain to secure the 2-1 victory for the USWNT and advance to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals. Next up, the host country — France.

• It’s always fun to think about which all-time teams from past eras of football could compete in today’s game, but what about the individual players from back in the day? Which players who dominated the NFL in their heyday would have similar success if they played right now in their prime?
• Woj alert. ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Portland Trailblazers have agreed to trade Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks for Kent Bazemore.

Stick to Sports!

• Amazon Prime Day is less than three weeks away, and if you’re not familiar with what it’s all about, prepare your mind for a mind explosion (that’s for all my fellow Human Giant fans). It’s actually two days, not one, beginning on July 15th, and the deals on the billion dollar cyber mall are definitely worth checking out.

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