January 6, 2021 Issue, Page 3 of 8

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January 6, 2021 Berry Tramel: Parity is a problem ERICK RAMBLINGS in college football’s regular season, By Gail Pritchard then stays a problem in the playoff Happy New Year! I am pretty sure everyone is just happy to leave 2020 behind. What a year it was too. I think most Berry Tramel, The Oklaho- mismatches are unwatchable. to New Year's Six bowls as teams. The former would of us are just looking forward to getting back into work and man ‘Then add in the repetitive league champion during the make for more competi- results — OU and Clemson playoff era. tive games; the latter would school routines and find some normalcy in this strange time in Alabama beat Notre Dame each have won six straight ‘That might be bearable if increase the number of games 31-14 and Ohio State beat conference championships, the playoff produced rivet- that matter. the world that we are experiencing now. Clemson 49-28, and we came for example — and the plot ing football come New Year's. away from college football's thins, quite quickly. Sort of how March Madness But an expanded play- Sadly, the holidays have also been bittersweet for manyas New Year's semifinals think- ‘The playoff, instead of never fails to entertain, no off would only exacerbate ing, hey, not bad theater. adding to intrigue, seems to matter how mundane college the postseason problem. If they have endured the loss of family members this past week ‘That’s the low standards have snuffed it out, basketball's regular season Alabama is going to rout the to which the College Football According to research, becomes. here in Erick. No. 4 seed, going to dominate Playoff has sunk. Drama is some supplied by statistician But football's four-team graded on the curve. Cody Kellner, the first seven playoff has been a dud. Notre Dame or OU or Michi- Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Donna Both games were over years of the Bowl Champion- "The playoff now has staged gan State, what would the by the start of the fourth ship Series (1998-04) and the 14 semifinals. Seven of the Crimson Tide do to the No. Kindsfather. Donna was a member of the EHS Class of 1969. quarter. The only twists were last seven years of the BCS 14 were literal blowouts. 8 seed? Alabama-Cincinnati Services were pending at the time of this column. that Notre Dame sort of hung (2007-13) had much more Finals with at least 20-point seems like a good idea until in there against the Crimson parity than the first seven margins. Four of the seven the game kicks off. Deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Billy “Bill” Tide in the Rose-turned- years of the playoff. blowouts were by margins Maybe quarterfinals Bluebonnet Bowl, and we —Eighteen schools fin- of at least 31 points — Or- matching seeds 4-5 or 3-6 Ray Beck. Billy was member of the EHS Class of 1961. Grave- figured Clemson would sock ished in the top four of the egon 59-20 over Florida the Buckeyes, not the other final BCS rankings in the first State (2014), Alabama 38-0 would be fascinating games. side services were held on Monday at Shamrock Cemetery. way around. seven years of that format, over Michigan State (2015), But the price apparently And once again, what and 16 finished in the top Clemson 31-0 over Ohio State would be a couple of unwatch- Prayers for comfort are sent out to the family of Archola should be college football's four of the final BCS rank- (2016) and LSU 63-28 over able games. A week before grandest day served only to ings in the final seven years. OU (2019). what history tells us will be Bruner. She was an EHS Class of 1944 graduate. Services were remind us that this sport is Eleven schools have finished Only three of the 14 semi- more disinteresting football. plagued. This sport is ailing. in the top four of the final finals could be considered So I don’t know the held on Monday at the Martin Duggar Funeral Home in Elk ‘This sport has problems that playoff rankings. competitive games for four no one knows how to solve or —Thirty-six schools quarters — Ohio State 42-35 answer. I just know college City. even knows to solve. finished in the top 10 of the over Alabama (2014), Georgia football has a problem, and The lack of parity already final BCS rankings in the first 54-48 over OU in double what should be its best day Our sincere condolences go out also to the family of Doug was apparent in the selection seven years of that format, overtime (2017) and Clemson often is a sad presentation of process. Mostly the same and 33 finished in the top 10 29-23 over Ohio State (2019). what the sport should be. Holley. Services were held this past Saturday at the Erick teams, year after year. Ala- the final seven years. Thirty- In fairness, three of the Berry Tramel: Berry can bama and Clemson in six of two schools have finished in six championship games have Cemetery. the seven playoffs. Ohio State the top 10 of the final playoff been classics — Alabama be reached at 405-760-8080 and OU in four of the seven. rankings. 45-40 over Clemson (2015), or at btramel@oklahoman. Birthdays to celebrate for this issue will be: 1/6-Joyce Aus- Four programs accounting for —Twenty-three schools Clemson 35-31 over Alabama com. He can be heard Monday 20 of the 28 playoff avail- from Power 5 conferences (2016) and Alabama 26-23 through Friday from 4:40- tin, Kynna McIntyre, Kem Hill & Linda Smith; 1/7-N/A; 1/8- able slots since the four-team were assigned to BCS bowls as. over Georgia in overtime 5:20 p.m. on The Sports Ani- Cass McGuire, Sidney Bilbo Smith & Taylor Smith; 1/9-Linda playoff began in 2014. league champion from 1998- (2017). mal radio network, including College football long has 04 (not counting the Big ‘The fixes for the regular- FM-98.1. Support his work Reimer, Jennifer Beard, Keith Smith, Terri Strickland Streeter touted its regular season as East), and 20 were assigned in season malaise are obvious. and that of other Oklahoman the best in sport. But that’s no longer true, if it ever was. the final seven years. But only 14 schools from Power 5 con- Get rid of mismatches against outmanned opponents. journalists by purchasing a & Sherri Stridand; 1/10-Tara Nobles, Dally Mayfield, Charla ‘Those incessant September ferences have been assigned Expand the playoff to eight digital subscription today. Holland, Rhonda Sites & Jason Lucero; 1/11-Kemper Woolsey, Dylan Stall & Tres Benevides; and on 1/12-Chelsie Pritchard, Why OKC Thunder welcomed back hall Kayla Allen, Gayla Cantrell & Amanda Hubanks. I don't show any anniversaries for this week. If you have of famer Nancy Lieberman to studio any you would like mentioned, please let me know. ‘The deadline for news is noon on Friday. You can call me show: ‘You jump at that chance’ at 580-243-8923, or mail your news to me at P.O. Box 773, Erick, OK 73645. You can also email your items to me at Joe Mussatto, The Oklaho- tant coach. Lieberman works held as part of the games. as coach. [email protected]. Thanks to all of you who do contribute man alongside host John Rhadigan Lieberman played college "The G League is no joke,” as I really appreciate it so very much! on Thunder Live, which airs basketball at Old Dominion Lieberman said. "I know this. Nancy Lieberman had on Fox Sports Oklahoma from 1976-80. She led the It's demanding, and you learn a house divided this week every game night. Monarchs to back-to-back with a pair of Thunder-Magic Fox Sports recently ap- national championships in exponentially. You learn what games on Tuesday and Sat- proached the Thunder about 1979 and 1980. Lieberman you do well. You learn what urday. bringing Lieberman back to was named national player of you have to do better. But ‘Oklahoma City and Or- the broadcast. the year in both champion- it's all about improvement — lando are far from NBA rivals, "Absolutely," said Dan ship seasons. from players, to coaches, to MISDEMEANORS but things can get heated Mahoney, the Thunder's vice Mahoney was a high when your two dogs are president of broadcasting and schooler in Richmond, front office to broadcasters." State of Okla vs Cody Y Vignal —_Protective order violation named Thunder and Magic. corporate communications. Virginia, when Lieberman Lieberman returned “They're just the sweetest "If you can have a hall was a college star 100 miles to broadcasting after leav- State of Okla vs Charlie H Waggoner Concealing stolen little guys,” Lieberman said of of famer be part of your TV southeast in Norfolk. ing the Kings staff in 2017. property her two Havanese. “That's my broadcast you jump at that "She was one of our bas- She's been an analyst on the team tonight. Thunder and chance," Mahoney said. "She ketball heroes in Virginia, Pelicans’ studio shows, and FELONIES Magic." did a great job for us before. Mahoney said. "To now work State of Okla vs Derek B Carr Bogus check Both dogs were bred in Obviously she knows the with her at this level, it's a she'll continue to work with Oklahoma City, and that's game, she's played the game, thrill." the Pelicans on days when State of Oklavs Cody Maddox Burglary, Concealing where Lieberman has re- she's coached the game. She Lieberman went on to play she doesn't have Thunder turned to in a sense. She lives has a real feel for the players, professionally, and in 1998 duties. If there's a conflict, stolen property. Possession of paraphernalia & firearm in and works out of Dallas, for the coaches and for the she was named head coach of State of Okla vs Michael R Smith Possession of a Lieberman will stick with the but Lieberman is back in the fans, too." the WNBA's Detroit Shock. homes of Thunder fans as Lieberman left the Thun- She ran a basketball camp in ‘Thunder. stolen vehicle an analyst on the Thunder der broadcast in 2015 when Detroit, and one of her camp- "Tlove the game and I feel Live pregame and postgame she was hired by the Kings ers was Thunder center Al likeI know Oklahoma City," shows. It's the same role Li- as an assistant coach. Lieber- Horford. Lieberman said. "As long as MARRIAGES 6. DIVORCES eberman held from 2012-15. man, elected to the Basketball In 2008, at the age of 50, I'm doing my homework, and "When somebody says, Hall of Fame in 1996, fol- Lieberman signed a seven- watching film and trying to ‘Hey, we're happy you're back,’ lowed Spurs assistant Becky day contract to play with the that's a good thing,” Lieber- Hammon in becoming the Shock. She appeared in one make sure that I deliver the man said. "It beats the alter- second woman to join an NBA game, becoming the oldest right amount of information native, I'm really proud to be coaching staff. player in league history. that's pleasing to Thunder a part of this group." Lieberman's basketball ‘Lieberman again made fans and to the organization, MARRIAGE LICENSES Now in her second stint, career has been filled with history in 2009 when she was I don't look at it as hard. Hunter Lara, Mangum - Gabrielle Monroe, Mangum Lieberman has replaced historic milestones. named head coach of the D former analyst Greg Buckner, She was an Olympian in League (now G League) Texas “Actually, I look at it as a DIVORCES who was hired by the Cava- 1976, the first year a women's Legends. She moved to the blessing. I have a lot of grati- Aileen McMillian vs Daniel McMillian liers in November as an assis- basketball tournament was front office after one season tude to be around this game." Assange gets reprieve as UKjudge blocks extradition to US Ellen Milligan and and Jona- ‘Assange could potentially prison. She cited Jeffrey Lawyers for the U.S. imme- suit and tie in the court, with Embassy in 2012 rather than than Browning, Bloomberg News be released from the high- Epstein’s 2019 death as an diately said they would appeal a dark gray mask covering face questioning in a Swedish security Belmarsh prison as example of when preventive the decision, a process that his mouth but not his nose. sexual assault case, which was ALondon judge blocked soon as Wednesday, when his measures weren't able to pro- could take years. ‘Throughout the judge’s hour- later dropped. Last year, when Julian Assange’s extradition lawyers will return to court tect inmates from suicide. ‘American prosecutors will long ruling, his hands were he was expelled from the to the U.S. on health grounds, to make what they say are the “In these harsh conditions, likely “do their utmost” to dasped on his left knee. embassy, he faced American a victory for the WikiLeaks “strongest grounds to grant- Mr. Assange’s mental health offer assurances to the court ‘The decision will bea charges related to WikiLeaks founder after close to a decade ing bail” in light of Monday's would deteriorate causing him that Assange would be given surprise to the Australian’s disclosures. of imprisonment or self-im- ruling. to commit suicide with the specialist care, said Daniel supporters, who have openly Assange is accused of posed exile. Baraitser spent the first ‘single-minded determination’ Sternberg, an extradition been pinning their hopes on working with U.S. Army Judge Vanessa Baraitser part of her ruling dismissing of his autism-spectrum disor- lawyer. a pardon from U.S. President intelligence analyst Chelsea ruled Monday that his extradi- Assange’s arguments that der,” Baraitser said. “If the U.S. is determined Donald Trump. Assange's fi- tion to face espionage charges prosecutors faced political ‘The ruling is “going to be to pursue him, they will throw ancée, Stella Moris, has spent Manning to get classified would be oppressive because pressure to send him to the difficult to appeal because it’s everything at it to try to deal the last few months making documents from databases of the 49-year-old’s mental U.S. and that he couldn’t a factual decision on his men- with the judge’s concerns,” direct pleas for clemency to containing about 90,000 Af- health, saying he was clearly “a receive a fair trial there. She tal health,” said Ben Keith, an said Sternberg, who isn’ Trump via Twitter and appear- ghanistan war-related activity depressed and sometimes de- said, however, that Assange extradition lawyer in London involved in the case. “It’s very ances on Fox News. reports, 400,000 Iraq War- spairing man genuinely fearful would face “conditions of who doesn’t represent anyone far from the end.” Assange initially sought related reports and 250,000 about his future.” significant isolation” in U.S. in the case. Assange wore a dark navy refuge in the Ecuadorian State Department cables.