Berry Tramel, Sports columnist

Read more columns by Berry Tramel. Or visit Berry's blog

Contact Berry -- E-mail: btramel@opubco.com. Phone: (405) 475-3313.

OKC pro players should steer clear of college hangouts
Stay away from campus, NBA
OKC pro players should steer clear of college hangouts

By Berry Tramel
Published: September 3, 2008

Sooner Jenna Plumley helps herself to some Wal-Mart makeup. Cowgirl Andrea Riley gets suspended for slapping an opponent.

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Sooner Blake Griffin is cited for urinating in public. Cowboy Terrel Harris spends the summer in purgatory for unspecified infractions. Sooner Ray Willis gets stabbed in a 2 a.m. melee that involves guns, knives and tire irons.

Oh my. That's a very unfortunate list of unfortunate activity.

I certainly hope the behavior of our uncouth college basketball players in this state doesn't rub off on the splendid young men who play NBA basketball for us here in Oklahoma City.

These clean-cut lads haven't been exposed to such conduct. Haven't been privy to such a culture of wantonness.

These crew-cut, pimply-faced boys, fresh off the farm, might be vulnerable to such outside influences. I would hate to see their innocence dashed because of exposure to the college crowd.

The NBA ballplayers, we are told, are fine, upstanding gentlemen. And who are we to disagree?

The Hornets who bunked with us for two years were exemplary citizens. The Birdman was a clown; he also was tossed from the league while in OKC. The NBA doesn't put up with that. The NBA has an image to uphold.

Only a smattering of NBA ballplayers spent any discernible time on a college campus. They instead came straight from high school, or from Europe, or did a campus drive-through on their way to the pros.

They weren't there long enough to be coddled and sheltered and treated like royal sovereigns.

Not so in big-time college sports. Big-time college sports have turned the process upside down. College once was where kids went to mature. Now, if college ballplayers mature, it's in spite of their environment, not because of it.

If I'm Clay Bennett or Sam Presti or P.J. Carlesimo, I'm putting down only two rules.

1. Don't go to Norman.

2. Don't go to Stillwater.

Hang out at Bricktown all you want. Frequent Bobo's in the witching hour. Heck, visit the Habana Inn if you want.

Just stay away from the ivory towers.

There's trouble in numbers. College athletes are cursed by masses. There's so danged many of them.

Meanwhile, the NBA guys are going to get to town and be an exclusive club. OKC is doing all right, but that doesn't mean we've got a glut of 22-year-old millionaires roaming the streets.

We've got to protect these striplings. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and the like. They're unsullied in the sanctuary of pro basketball.

Let's keep them pure.


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Barry you should be ashamed. Go work for the enquirer or some other rag that likes your shock yellow journalism.
Hiffdas, fdassfas - Sep 3, 2008 7:21 PM
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Hey Nitwits, FOX sports is reporting that 2 players that transitioned from Kansas U. were just dismissed from the NBA rookie transition program for having chicks and pot in their room, and they were from the national championship team. Look what college does for you.
Jack, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 4:50 PM
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Berry, I appreciate the satire. You slammed the Sooners, Cowboys, a hornet reject, those of 'alternative lifestyles', those old folks who still think that college people are still 'kids', and Wal-mart shoppers. It never ceases to amaze me how many primates we still have running loose in this world, and yes, most of them on the college campuses. But also the people below me that are all upset about what you said. Thanks for the humor. Shakespeare would have enjoyed it also.
Jack, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 4:30 PM
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Philip, that used to be the highlight of my annual fair trip! When Bobo went away, my interest in the fair waned and now I go every 3 or 4 years. I noticed a couple of years ago, they had a "new Bobo", but he was a mere shadow of the original. He was politically correct and only made very mild remarks toward the fair attendees. In other words, he stunk and did not gather the typical crowds of yesteryear. tu, stop breathing, you're wasting air.
Harry, Peaness - Sep 3, 2008 3:32 PM
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tu, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 2:29 PM
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hey K(KK) you're an idiot and a vile okie subhuman racist cretin. i hope you get cancer
tu, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 2:29 PM
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K - thanks for the Bobo reference.....I miss those days....use to stand there for hours and watch him goad people into spending their rent money....lol
Philip, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 2:23 PM
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Guys, guys, guys, all this bickering is exactly what Tramel and newsok wants. The article was obviously tongue-in-cheek and pretty well done. Most of you posters sound like the same morons who used to get really pissed off and start yelling back at Bobo (the fair clown) back in the good 'ole days before he became too politically incorrect. Nevertheless, lighten up. And tu, you're still the king of all idiots.
Harry, Peaness - Sep 3, 2008 2:16 PM
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Berry, you do get 10 extra credit points for turning in the most extra articles. You do however need to improve your subjects and content however. Mrs. McGillicuty
Rick, Yakima - Sep 3, 2008 2:08 PM
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If this isn't further confirmation that OKC is small time and will always be small time, I don't know what is. The team isn't even here yet and we've got the largest and most respected (insert snicker here) telling them how to act......what a bunch of small time wannabes.
Philip, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 1:42 PM
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UMMM...last time I checked...nightlife in Bricktown is for 21 and up. So I don't think it would be smart for Durant to hang out in Bricktown....then again it's his life and he should be able to go and hang out wherever he pleases! Norman or Stillwater everybody likes to have fun it was unfortunate about the OU athletes but it was not their fault for trying to defend themselves. 6 people get shot outside of Bobo chicken stand and you recommend going there over college party towns??? This article sucks
Brandon, edmond - Sep 3, 2008 1:35 PM
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Blah...rry tremel is an idiot!
j3lly, Boon Dock - Sep 3, 2008 12:56 PM
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You are are beginning to see the light on Trammel and the lot. OKC should be great at supporting an NBA team...maybe you should relocate another towns paper as well...good luck this year...get your news from other sources however
Rick, Yakima - Sep 3, 2008 12:48 PM
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Danial- is that you, Birdman?? Trams- funny, I liked it!
Matt, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 12:32 PM
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this is really sloppy and pompous. birdman was not a clown; he's a great person. steroids are more accepted than recreational drugs in the NBA. they have it very backwards.
like Ali G says, "they should be givin' a head start if the mate is high, not penalize him."
Quit policing and judging people tramel.
Danial, Portland - Sep 3, 2008 12:25 PM
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The story was okay but one line made me double over laughing. I assume it is an inside joke to many but for those that know, it is a hoot. "Heck, visit the Habana Inn if you want." Classic, Thanks.
Greg, Panama City, Panama - Sep 3, 2008 12:06 PM
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Kind of a weird story. But it fills up space. I'd kind of like to know how the sports teams in Locust Grove are doing. Are any of the players sick? All the violence in our society is sickening, but it's everywhere. We need to all calm down and learn to respect each other. But will that happen? I don't know as long as young people like to party, and they feel territorial and such.
Mike, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 11:29 AM
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what a pathetic piece of journalism.
Chris, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 11:13 AM
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Tramel wasn't jokin you retard! This is a terrible aerticle. I usually like Tramel's articles but this was a waste of space.
Joe, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 11:05 AM
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this article is retarded!!!!! ahahhaahhaa. seriously??? is there nothing better to write about??? what a joke!!
justin, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 10:43 AM
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This article sounds like a 90-year man's rant. I'm surprised he didn't refer to them as rascals or hooligans.
OSU fan, Tulsa - Sep 3, 2008 10:35 AM
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You people need to loosen up. It's obvious that Berry is just kidding around. I thought it was pretty funny.
paul, yukon - Sep 3, 2008 10:33 AM
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Jery has a good point. What were these two doing out that late? And what type establishment was this? Far as Barry's article, well, it's just Barry.
Lawrence, Guthrie - Sep 3, 2008 10:30 AM
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Just don't compare taking a leak with stealing. Now that was a stupid deal.
The Plainsman, Oklahoma - Sep 3, 2008 10:29 AM
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I gree with everyone else, this is the stupidest thing I have read from Tram in a long time. Clubs get out at 1:45 and because I am an athlete at OU or OSU I cant go or hang out or try to meet girls because I am an athlete at OU or OSU. This article is ridiculous and stupid. NFL players come back to Norman and hang. What does this have to do with a girl fighting in a basketball game or someone stealing from Wal Mart or someone peeing on the lawn?

Stupid just Stupid!
De-Angelo, Edmond - Sep 3, 2008 10:27 AM
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this is a dumb article... don't go to norman?... yet Berry says its ok to go to Bobo's, which correct me if I'm wrong, but were there not 6 people who were shot there recently? Do me a favor Berry, don't YOU ever come back to Norman.
Geoff, Norman - Sep 3, 2008 10:02 AM
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Oh no! Kids go out at night. I guess Pond Creek didn't have an active nightlife.
J, Oklahoma city - Sep 3, 2008 9:49 AM
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Migrating Waterfowl - Hey, how come nobody ever suggested THAT for the team name? Mary, can you please get on this bandwagon? Paul, it would fit you well (since you are only here temporarily, of course).
doug, mustang - Sep 3, 2008 9:39 AM
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Without a doubt the dumbest article Berry has ever written. I consider Berry a good writer, but this is trash. Wasn't it Bricktown a few summers ago that had all of the shootings? Nothing good happens after midnight. It does not matter if it is in Bricktown, Norman, Stillwater, wherever. How about a midnight curfew. This article is ridiculous.
Micah, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 9:38 AM
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Dumb article.
Chris, Jones - Sep 3, 2008 9:14 AM
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My thoughts are that they will spend very little time out on the town. Once the season is over they will be gone like migrating waterfowl.
TDawg, Seattle - Sep 3, 2008 9:04 AM
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Tramel forgot number 3. Don't go to Edmond.
Brett, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 8:55 AM
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Do you really think they can get in any less trouble in norman or stillwater then they do in Bricktown? Wow, Berry you are so out of touch with todays youth, it is not even funny. Stick to sport reporting.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Sep 3, 2008 8:38 AM
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i am curious how being a victim and getting stabbed is correlated to being uncouth. but coming from tramel, i dont expect too much. all in a days work to get people to read his articles.
bob, oklahoma city - Sep 3, 2008 8:20 AM
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Good article!!! I had similar thoughts yesterday after hearing about the violence in Norman. What are these athletes doing at these places after 2 AM? As Berry says, it's not only in Norman, but certainly in Stillwater as well.
Jerry, Pond Creek - Sep 3, 2008 8:19 AM
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What on earth is this?????
Wade, New Haven - Sep 3, 2008 7:18 AM
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