As the OKC Blazers of the Central Hockey League closed their doors, the promise of a “better brand of hockey” was on the sports horizon. When the news of the A coming to town broke, we all shouted ‘Drop That Puck!’ in unison, and when we dug deeper and learned that the team would farm for the Edmonton Oilers we all secretly wanted to erect flaming oil derricks in our living rooms. The hockey gods had smiled upon us and we were ready for the history of great hockey to continue in OKC, and for that history to now be connected to the iconic Oilers organization.

Recently, the great folks at ‘Copper & Blue’ posted an excellent article wondering what can be expected from the non-hockey market of OKC, “Mick for Mayor” interview and all! Rest assured hockey youngsters playing in the OKC metro area, there is much more to Oklahoma City than tornadoes, cowboys, and the Bible belt (although those things will NEVER go away). Here are just a few things you will soon find out and grow to admire about your NEW city.

Get Your Eat On…Steak Is Our Friend
Not too far from the downtown OKC Cox Center, formerly know as the Myriad or Incomparable Myriad, lies the smelliest part of our town. A smell that while normally would curl your toes will soon have you salivating? Why? The stockyards my friend, the stockyards. Nestled directly in front of thousands of cattle and cowpokes lies one of the best steak eateries in the south, Cattleman’s. I just slobbered on my MacBook as I wrote that. And trust me when I say this, you WILL NEVER LOOK AT A COW THE SAME WAY AGAIN. You’ll look at at his back and you’ll get giddy about a t-bone. You’ll see the hip and begin dreaming about side dishes to accompany your filet mignon. Trust me, it will happen. Steak is our friend.

Ya’ll Warsh Yer Hands. Ifinyadont…
We all try to hide it. We all try to deny it. We all don’t realize we do it. No matter which way you slice it, Oklahomans have strange sayings. It’s kind of like that old Abercrombie sweater you bought for 90% off at the beginning of summer…you’re proud and embarrassed by it all at the same time.  We like to compare things to animals, “duck on a june bug”, “dog’s hind leg”and my favorite, “poor as Job’s turkey”. We just can’t help it. With all this wide open space we just love relating things to our four-legged and sometimes two-legged friends. When you step off the plane at Will Rogers, trade in your Canadian “Eh” for a good ole’ “Howdy”.

Those Country Songs Were Sooooo Right (Kinda)
Ugh, here comes the portion of the blog post where I talk about how cool country music can be. About how Garth Brooks’ song “The Dance” meant so much to me when I was a kid. Lame, right? I agree. Country music, much like eating roasted duck, is an acquired taste. Cringe-inducing twang, silly thematic elements, and too many mentions of “hick” to count all add up to a somewhat dreadful musical ear-plosion. I’ve somewhat mellowed as the years go by and I’ve kind of begun to enjoy a country and western tune now and then. However there is no denying that country music embraces kindness and comradery like no other genre. Oklahomans band together during hard times (tornadoes, floods, ice storms, bombings), and always support community. OKC Barons fans WILL BE LOYAL TO THEIR TEAM, they WILL SUPPORT THE PLAYERS, and they WILL DESPISE YOU if you don’t love them back. Plain and simple. The great Woody Guthrie put it best when he wrote “All Work Together”, “I can paint my fence. Mow my lawn. But if we all work together, well it shouldn’t take long”.

We’ve Come A Long Way Baby
There was a time, not too long ago, that OKCers avoided downtown like it was a pair of stone-washed jeans. Old publishing companies, random worn out office spaces, some kind of strange botanical garden, the list goes on. The only trip sports fans took downtown was the occasional bull riding event and of course for the OKC Blazers. Now you can catch the Redhawks at the Bricktown Ballpark, see the Thunder battle at the For Center, catch a great show at local theaters, eat some incredible food, hear some great music, and live in apartments all in the Bricktown area. It’s a work in progress. Still small, but what a difference 10+ years makes. And the Bricktown area isn’t the only place surging, many of the surrounding areas have incredible housing options that range from affordable to Ilya Kovalchuk (too soon hockey fans?).

What’s Good For The Kevin Is Good For The Colin
That’s hilarious, the NBA in Oklahoma City. You’re kidding. Are the players going to live in teepee’s and ride horses to the games? No way you’ll ever get guys to stay here. As the Beatles once said, “ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bra”. Life went on and brought the painfully dreadful Supersonics to town and a Thunderous team was born. I know, I know, it’s still early to judge this Thunder team, but after Durantula finished his entry contract he goes out and signs a nice contract TO STAY IN OKC. Surely all those zeroes played a part in that decision, but don’t think he couldn’t make more elsewhere (just not in Miami). Big time players and small time players alike can, have and will make it in OKC. Fan support is a huge part of that. Corporate sponsorship as well. So, Colin McDonald, I’ll see you at the Disney on Ice come September because you’ll be fine in OKC.

In the end, I challenge all current and future OKC Barons/Edmonton Oilers players that head down south to the great state of Oklahoma to treat your visit as if you were Dr. Livingstone (relation? why, yes!) traveling the Nile River. Have an open mind, enjoy the moment, and you’ll want to come back for more. BONUS: We don’t have giant man-eating bugs to deal with as did Dr. Livingstone. At least not during the winter months

This month my beautiful wife turned thirty (as do I in a couple of weeks). Her gracefulness, kindness, love, commitment, and joy grows with each passing year, yet there is much trepidation for the big 3-0. So to ease her tenseness I’ve devised a plan of action. I present to you, my lovely wife, great moments involving the number thirty. Here goes. Wish me luck!

Rachel Turns 30

Remember when Rachel Green turned 30? Surely if you are turning 30 this year you remember the episode of ‘Friends’ where Rachel turns 30? The big blowout finished with a strange moment in which Rachel realizes that her life is not quite where it needs to be. But her “friends” are quick to point out that life is meant to be enjoyed and not planned. One of my favorite episodes from the later years.  Check it out!

30 Rocks

Leave it to the Sesame Street folks to poke fun at one of the funniest shows on television, talking lemon included. Even if you’re not a fan of the show ’30 Rock’ you’ll appreciate the love for the number 30 and those rocks. Apparently I’m not the only one that thinks 30 ROCKS! Check it out!

My Next Thirty Years

Tim McGraw had his musical moment in the 90′s, stumbled through the early and mid 00′s, and may not reclaim his swagger into the next decade, but he sure reminded us to think long and hard about the next thirty years. In the song with the same title, McGraw vows to eat more salads, go to bed early, and always love a little more. Who doesn’t love the sound of that forward thinking?! Check it out!

The Quotes

The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits. – Hervey Allen (American author)

At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgement. – Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father)

Everything I know I learned after I was thirty. – Georges Clemenceau (French journalist, physician, and Prime Minister)

Late Bloomers

Martha Stewart, the beloved home-stylist and prison alumni, was actually a stockbroker until the age 30 when she and her husband purchased a home, gave it a face-lift, and began a home decorating business that blossomed into the Martha Stewart empire we’ve come to love (hate). Even old Harrison Ford who was a successful carpenter left the nails and glue world to participate in a little movie called American Graffiti. However, even after his 30th birthday he wasn’t convinced that acting was his gig. So he gave up and went back to carpentry. It wasn’t until he read for Han Solo that he began acting again. That was nearly 4 years after the Graffiti role.

Game Face

Pitcher Nolan Ryan, running back Terrell Davis, and goaltender Martin Brodeur sported #30 for their teams. The NBA, NHL, and MLB all consist of 30 teams (sorry NFL, we’ll get to you in a few years). Michael Jordon holds the record in the NBA for the most 30 point games. Elgin Baylor logged 11 straight 30 point games. Over 40 guys in Major League Baseball have had a hit streak over 30 games. And last but certainly not least, Jaromir Jagr has the most consecutive 30 or more goal seasons. Why is this “not least”? Just ask my wife (wink, wink).  As you can see even the sports world can’t shy away from 30.

Get A Job

In 2009, US NEWS put out a list of the 30 best careers.  Making the list were politician, school psychologist, landscape architect, firefighter, librarian, and urban planner just to name a few. Absent from the list were elephant trainer, parachute testing, shark tank custodian, and Britney Spears publicist.

In the end, 30 is a great number. Much like a bean bag chair, you wiggle around long enough and it feels just right. So for all those turning 30 this year (my wife and I included), let’s make it the new 20!

As the album begins you realize that the Beach Boys have begun to be pulled in two extreme directions, a surf & turf if you please. There is the “surf” portions that you’ve come to love. Songs like “Fun, Fun, Fun” with its jangly guitar riff, and the piano heavy “This Car of Mine” are good, but are what you come to expect from a S. California band. Then there is the “turf”, those down-to-earth songs about longing, love, and sadness. It’s no surprise that these tunes are written and performed mostly by Brian Wilson who has begun to separate himself as a distinct and honest lyricist. “Don’t Worry Baby”, “The Warmth of the Sun”, and “Keep An Eye on Summer” are great examples of a writer struggling to hold on to that sunny sound, yet striving for more maturity. Also note that “Warmth of the Sun” was written hours after JFK was assassinated, which the Beach Boys of three albums ago would probably not have ventured to tackle given the heavy subject matter.

As a whole, this album has some filler with two covers (“Louie, Louie”, “Why Do Fools Fall In Love”) and some strange, staged sound bites (“”Cassius” Love Vs. “Sonny” Wilson”, “Denny’s Drums”). This record had such high hopes after the response from Little Deuce Coupe, but it never quite met the heights of anticipation. As we enter the mid-60′s the Boys are clearly searching to find their niche outside of “that surf band”.

My Grade: B-
My Favorite Tracks: Don’t Worry Baby, Warmth of the Sun, Keep An Eye on Summer

1. The Edmonton Oilers

   The Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 and quickly became a powerhouse in the league winning five Stanley Cups in only 7 years. Dubbed the “Dynasty Years”, the Oilers saw many future Hall of Famers glide across their rink. The likes of Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jacques Plante firmly nestled the Edmonton team into the upper echelons of NHL play. And although they struggled through most of the 90′s, the team surprised everyone by making it to the Cup Finals in 2006. What a historic team! Take pride in being affiliated with one of the most successful NON-original six teams.

2. Up & Coming Players

   Picking first in the NHL entry draft is a great thing only if you pick carefully. Ironically, the crop of young up and comers in this years entry draft all could find a nice home in Edmonton. But let’s look beyond the BIG team and focus on the up and comers in the AHL. Have you ever heard of Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux? The two combined have 85 goals, 124 assists, and 209 points all accumulated for the Hershey Bears during the 09-10 season. Or how about Cedrick Desjardins who racked up 29 wins and only 9 losses in net for the Hamilton Bulldogs? All of these guys have future NHL written all over them. The OKC Barons haven’t named a coaching staff or listed any rosters, but believe me when I say this, you will see the NHL future from your cozy seat in the Cox Center.

3. OKC Hockey History

   You may not have realized this, but Oklahoma City has celebrated hockey for well over 70 years. The Oklahoma City Warriors of the AHA formed in 1933 where their home rink was at the Stockyard Coliseum (two words that strangely don’t go together). The team moved to Minneapolis after two seasons, but saw the beginnings of what would be a great hockey fan base. Believe it or not, players for the Warriors included Helge Bostrom and Bobby Burns who had lengthy stints with the Chicago Blackhawks. One OKC Warrior player, Frank Ingram, played two and a half seasons for the Hawks and later retired in Edmond, Oklahoma where he died in 1985. Fast forward to 1965 and the birth of the Blazers. Between 1965-1977 the OKC Blazers “farmed” for the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team would later become the OKC Stars for a brief time before returning to the OKC Blazers once the Central League was re-established. Needless to say, Oklahoma City has hockey roots that are firmly planted. Along comes the AHL OKC Barons and the roots go a little deeper.

4. More Bang For Your Buck

   Cheap ticket prices. Great hockey. Mid-week and weekend games. Competitive play. The “close to the action” feel of small buildings. All of these make for a great night on the town. If you’re a casual fan of the game and maybe caught a few Blazers games over the years, be prepared for a better brand of hockey. I, for one, was a huge Blazer fan. I’ll miss those players and teams, but with great talent developing before our eyes in the AHL you can’t help but get more bang for your buck.

5. Hockey Makes You Cool

   No matter how you slice it, AHL, CHL, or NHL, hockey is cool. It’s rough and graceful. Passionate and sincere. No sports fan can deny the fact that hockey is a sport of determination and grit. What better place for such a sport than in Oklahoma City where people understand the pioneer spirit best. We work and play hard. We value community. We stand up for what’s right. We stick with our friends. I’m not one to wax poetic, but the correlation between hockey and the city of OKC is so perfect. And what about those jerseys? Sorry OKC Thunder, the AHL Barons got the cooler logo. Can’t wait to get my swag! Join me and you’ll be cool too.

What do you think? Why do you love hockey in OKC? Any other reasons why people should jump on the OKC Barons bandwagon? Let me hear from you people. Post your comments below.

Bob Marley “One Love”
This is just one of the MANY great summer songs by Mr. Bob Marley. Kick back, relax, grab a cold soda & drift away to a beautiful sandy shore all from the confines of your daughters 3 foot in diameter pool. But always remember, NO DIVING!!

Third Eye Blind “Semi Charmed Life”
Quick lyrics, an insane hook, and somewhat happy/dark lyrics make for a great poolside ear explosion of fun. (Ear explosion? That’s weird) And although this song seems to come on every time I’m at the grocery store (Hello, Crest!), it reminds me of lazy summer months around the pool.

Herbie Hancock & John Mayer “Stitched Up”
A somewhat obscure track that doesn’t feature John Mayer whining about a relationship (although that doesn’t bother me). Jazz legend Herbie Hancock provides some punch piano action while John’s husky voice provides some great wordsmith. Trust me, you’ll want to dance!

Escape Club “Wild, Wild, West”
Oh how this song has been used. Dance routines, movie soundtracks, western themed parties, and the list goes on. But with that crazy good vocal performance (some in Spanish), sinister hook, and a horn section breakout you can’t help but hum (and headbang) along.

Beach Boys “Sloop John B”
Every mixtape needs a good sing-along. Look no further than the Beach Boys eternal ode to sailing. Let’s face it, we all long to be a captain of a ship & the Sloop John B sounds like the best ship around. BONUS. The real life John B was indeed a party ship that sank in the Bahamas in 1900. Cool!

The Cars “Magic”
Uh Oh! It’s Magic. Need we say more? The song that will be stuck in your head all day long is actually a song that you secretly sing in the shower. Oops! Guess I’m the only one. Check out the video for some of the strangest pool footage ever (http://bit.ly/aaJ19H)

The Drifters “Under the Boardwalk”
An oldie, but a goodie! I’ve never been to an actual boardwalk, but man the Drifters make it sound like an awesome summer outing. Hot sand, good friends, awesome food…what more could you ask for? This lighthearted track will have you humming along all afternoon.

Weezer “Island in the Sun”
These dudes will always be one of my favorite rock bands. Why? Because of songs like “Island in the Sun”. Strange, fluffy, and so memorable. Wanna enhance the coolness of the song? Break out the Ray Ban’s find a comfy chair and soak up some sun.

Gwen Stefani & Akon “The Sweet Escape”
WooHoo! That Akon knows how to sing a hook. And with Gwen’s sweet tart voice you too can have a sweet escape. I always thought the video for this song should have been people standing in line for a water slide while indulging in bags of skittles. Okay that’s strange, but that certainly would be a sweet escape I’d like to take.

New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle”
C’mon, I’d be doing this list an injustice if I didn’t have a synth-pop tune. Although a little strange and somewhat clanky (thank you mid 80′s), New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” has a chorus that melts any heart. Rhyming lyrics only lend to the confusion about what is really said in this song, but who cares, this track has sizzle!

Michael Jackson “The Way You Make Me Feel”
Before doing a cannonball off the high dive, flip on the King of Pop’s most danceable song. I think somewhere Guinness Book of World Records is still attempting to tally the “Hee Hee’s” in this song.

5. Betty Draper

The quintessential 50′s/60′s mom who loves her kids, supports her husband, and always has a meal ready at the right time. However, what makes Betty Draper one of my faves is her dark side. There is no doubt that she has affection for her kiddos, but she has a knack for ignoring them completely. For every dark and scary turn her husband takes, Betty seems to be able to one up him. She shoots things in the backyard, buys furniture because her love interest told her too, and she’s every bit as business savvy as her husband (maybe even more). She accomplishes all of this with perfect hair and a perfect smile.

4. Jill Taylor

When ‘Home Improvement’ began you wondered how such a strong lead like Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor wouldn’t eclipse the rest of the cast. Jill Taylor was Tim’s center and often his voice of reason. She was sassy, yet kind-hearted. Warm at times, and honestly direct at others. Only she could put up with demolished cars, home install nightmares, and grill disasters. Deep down their relationship had passion, and you always knew they loved each other.

3. Estelle Costanza

She’s annoying, obnoxious, over-bearing, and loud, but boy does she love her Georgie boy! Estele Costanza, one of the most memorable Seinfeld characters, always had a way of simultaneously loving her son and annoying him to death. Instantly a scene stealer, you always expected Estelle to yell at someone or offend another, but she always had a place in her heart for her son (maybe even more so than her husband). Deep down you knew George couldn’t resist his mom’s affection. Remember the doll that looked like his mom? Or what about the fear in his eyes when he thought his parents were parting ways? Poor Jerry, his mom was great too, but George’s Estelle stole the show.

2. Clair Huxtable

We all knew who was in charge on ‘The Cosby Show’. It wasn’t Mr. Huxtable or the kids, but none other than Clair Huxtable. The always elegant, lawyer/housewife took class to a new level. Business suits aplenty, Clair graced through the Huxtable home like no other. She could be silly, funny, and motherly, but she always did it with painstaking eloquence. Cliff was powerless to her ways and the kids respected her presence. She really defined a new era of working moms and won our hearts along the way.

1. Lorelai Gilmore

Dubbed a “chick” show by most, one of my favorite TV moms will always be Miss Lorelai Gilmore. Snarky and quick-witted with impecable timing, Lorelai exuded a confidence that we came to expect. But beneath that confident shell was a woman still growing up herself. The shortcomings she found in her own mother caused her to do a complete 180 with her own offspring. She attempted to always balance the line of mom vs. friend, but somehow it worked. Although we often questioned whether Rory had better parenting skills than her mom one thing was for sure, a pop culture reference was going to be made. When she named her dog Paul Anka you knew she was a keeper.

Up your cuteness factor this summer & enjoy the ‘Babies!

I’ll watch any animal voiced by Owen Wilson! You will too.

There are almost 6 different trailers for this movie (all are hilarious). This is my favorite!

Loved the first movie, and the second one looks equally as awesome!

Should have been titled ‘Sense & Sensibility: Hawaiian Style’!

Once again, the albums strength comes from Brian Wilson who has become the principal songwriter. The Boys knew a thing or two about cars, but Brian’s love of vehicular mechanics allowed him to really connect with the tunes in ways only the mechanic can understand. Ironically, all the Beach Boys were car lovers (except Dennis, our lone surfer bum). The title track “Little Deuce Coupe” is one giant brag about how cool my car looks and sounds. “Ballad of ‘Ole Betsy” begins and you think it’s about an old flame, but really turns out to be a love affair with an aging car. “409″, “Our Car Club”, and “Custom Machine” remind us of how “important” that car is to American young men. “Car Crazy Cutie” is a rare uptempo song with lead vocals by Brian Wilson (and virtually no falsetto) and it’s a great spin.

Little Deuce Coupe would go on to be one of the best selling Beach Boys records in their catalog. The early 60′s were a great time for American made machines and boy did the Beach Boys capitalize. Although I prefer their “surf” songs, you can’t help but find several classics on this record. And with the coming British Explosion it’s nice to hear Americana in its earliest form. I can’t help but think that BIG changes are in store for the Beach Boys.

A strange note? The car featured on Little Deuce Coupe album cover is not even mentioned anywhere in the album, yet travels to car shows around the world as ‘The Little Deuce Coupe’.

Another strange note? “A Young Man Is Gone” is an incredible a capella track that was recorded in memory of James Dean.

My Grade : B+
My Favorite Tracks: Little Deuce Coupe, Be True To Your School, Car Crazy Cutie, A Young Man Is Gone