Friday, October 18, 2013

Kathy Taylor Dings Our 'Facebooking' Mayor

The AltTulsa gang has been lying low in recent months, holding our tongue on most Tulsa and Sooner state matters.

But we were roused from our slumber this week by a campaign mailer from mayoral candidate Kathy Taylor. According to the flyer, "crime has spiked [in Tulsa] this year" and Mayor Bartlett has been neglecting the issue.

Instead of fighting crime, Taylor's mailer claims, Bartlett has been "Facebooking."

Yes, Sooner fans, "Facebooking" is now a verb—and, in this case, not one that flatters the incumbent mayor.

According to Taylor's material, the mayor's been "Facebooking" about playing the harmonica, tailgate parties and (really!) Shark Week.

We've got nothing against the harmonica, but we do take exception to Bartlett's endorsement of Shark Week. It's silly.

Speaking of silly, we also think "Facebooking" should not be turned into a verb. Facebook is the brand name for a social media company. It's not a verb.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Epic Sports Fail in the Tulsa World: Columnist Hoover's OU Prediction Blows Up—Way, Way Up

We've been AWOL in recent months, holding our tongue on all manner of political nonsense and many other controversies and issues. (The Tea Party, anyone?)

But we can't resist a little snarkiness in the wake of sports columnist John Hoover's bold predictions about the Red River Rivalry.

Writing in Saturday's Tulsa World, Hoover was unequivocal: OU would win—no doubt, no question.

Here's the lead sentence of his column, written hours before the kickoff: "This year's Red River Rivalry is already over."

Hoover went on: "And the Sooners won. Again." 

The Sooners are better prepared, Hoover wrote. OU has a better quarterback, a better offensive line, and a better defense, he said. And this: OU "owns every mental edge and emotional advantage."

With OU a 14-point favorite, the final score should be, in Hoover's words, "a mere formality." Mac Brown's Texas Longhorns were desperate, Hoover concluded. Bob Stoops has Brown's number.

Bold words from a columnist who knows his football. Then they played the game.

In case you missed it, Texas dominated. The final score was 36-20—a Texas "blowout," as Hoover admitted in Sunday's column. Curiously, he didn't mention his bold Saturday predictions. 

How do you like your crow, Mr. Hoover? You might try it with a little Texas hot sauce. Enjoy.