What am I thinking? He will light this defense up all day long. Remember how wide open people were last year? Dear Lord. We will have to score 50 to win. Against their defense……no chance.

Jackson Holliday hit a grand slam yesterday.

Bibi sure knows how to cozy up to Israel’s best and brightest.

Wouldn’t harm a soul, am I right?

🤣

A: Willie Brown.

🤣 😆 😂

@my__2cents

4 yrs ago she was run out of the race early. Because she's an idiot. Now she's a savior? Good gracious. Amazing who people will get into bed with. I would say the same for Trump. At least I like some of his ideas and platform.

I've yet to find a teacher who is excited about a "black" Kamala. Fort Collins is our Nation's 5th whitest city. Surely this racist bunch of teachers will never get excited about an ultra liberal.

Kansas highways quite smooth. Colorado not so.

I visited the four AM antennas in Fort Collins that send signals to my 3 atomic clocks. This radio site keeps my clocks adjusted to 1 millionth of a second.

I leave Saturday morning for my visit with the Kiowa brothers in the Nations.

Per President Trump, 8/1/24 on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.

...among other reason to elect this man as our next president...

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Can we please please keep the Olympics thread about sports - I’m tired of reading all the posts on that thread about politics and religion - there is so much to talk about in regards to the sporting events

Maybe Coach Hoyt ought to look at some of their prep players. They played the US tough.

Anyone have a recommendation for an independent insurance broker in the OKC area?

What are Oklahoma State football's pressing questions as Cowboys open 2024 preseason camp?​

Scott Wright
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER — The Sherman Smith Training Center will be buzzing Wednesday afternoon with Oklahoma State taking the field for the first football practice of the 2024 season.

With a wealth of returning players coming back from a 10-win season, excitement is high in the Cowboy locker room, with thoughts of unfinished business after last year’s loss in the Big 12 Championship Game.

With the season opener against South Dakota State a month away, the Cowboys will embark on a preseason camp that will be mostly about polishing the details that can elevate last year’s team into a legit contender for the 12-team playoff.

Here’s a look at five key questions for the Cowboys as they open preseason camp:

Are there any position battles of note?​

Very few. Depending on how you measure a returning starter, the Cowboys have somewhere between 18 and 20 of them, between regular starters, those who were lost to injury in the middle of last season or their replacements.

That doesn’t mean nothing is on the line.

The defensive line has a starting hole to fill, but also needs to build its depth and flesh out the rotation.

The receiver group is much the same. It doesn’t really have any starting vacancies with the return of Brennan Presley, De’Zhaun Stribling and Rashod Owens, but perhaps a new face could emerge as the fourth receiver. Developing the second string is the most important task there, considering the backups are inexperienced or new to the program, like transfers Da’Wain Lofton and Gavin Freeman.

The safety positions are unique in that they have returning starters, but also might have the most notable battles for primary jobs. Several players return with starting experience, from veterans like Trey Rucker and Kendal Daniels to the guys who got thrown into the fire as freshmen last year, Cameron Epps and Dylan Smith.

Plus, Lyrik Rawls is coming back from an ACL injury and Kobe Hylton has joined the mix as a transfer.

On top of that, Daniels is going to get some time working at linebacker, so that creates more playing time for another safety.

What is the most important area of development in camp?​

The biggest need is improved pass rush. That was a key area of focus in spring ball, and will continue to be a focal point until the group proves itself.

As part of the emphasis, Collin Oliver will be aligned more frequently on the line of scrimmage, rather than a few steps off as a traditional linebacker. Oliver is the team’s most dangerous pass rusher, so defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo knows he needs Oliver in pursuit.


Obi Ezeigbo, the transfer from Division II Gannon University, will get his shot to enter the rotation with veterans like Kody Walterscheid and Xavier Ross on the edges.

And with the increased use of four-man fronts, nose tackles Justin Kirkland and Collin Clay will see more snaps where they’re not directly aligned over the center.

On the offensive side, getting tight end Tyler Foster comfortable with the transition from Ohio is a priority, along with the aforementioned development of receiver depth.

Additionally, getting the backup running backs comfortable will be crucial, considering A.J. Green got limited work before suffering a lower leg injury in spring, and Trent Howland only arrived from Indiana in June.

Sesi Vailahi got enough experience while redshirting last year to handle some of the workload, but the Cowboys will need the newcomers to contribute.

Are there any lingering injury issues for Cowboys?​

Green is the most notable injury from spring, though the specifics of his injury have not been made public. He posted a photo of his leg in a cast late last spring.

The Arkansas transfer was viewed as an ideal complement to Ollie Gordon II because of Green’s versatility and experience in handling any situation.
The Cowboys added Howland in the summer, and the 6-foot-3, 240-pound bruiser brings a different element to the group.

As for other injuries, Rawls and offensive lineman Jason Brooks Jr. are coming off ACL injuries, so they might be brought along slowly during the early part of camp.

How much work will Ollie Gordon II really get in camp?​

The reigning Doak Walker Award winner is the source of a never-ending football conundrum, finding the right balance of physical preparation and bodily protection.

Coach Mike Gundy is always working to find the appropriate method, and it’s highly important with Gordon. He avoided major injury last year, but dealt with some nagging ankle issues at times later in the season.

So Gundy might opt to protect Gordon in the early portion of camp, then ramp up his contact level in the latter half of August, so he’s prepared for game contact by the time the season opener arrives.

Where does quarterback recruiting stand with the decommitment by Adam Schobel?​

Adam Schobel seemed beyond content with his situation as OSU’s quarterback commitment in the 2025 class, but the Columbus, Texas, product flipped to TCU on Monday.

That leaves OSU in a tough situation for finding a quarterback in the class, considering many have already decided on their futures. Virtually every quarterback with an OSU offer has committed somewhere already.

While Gundy likes to have a quarterback in every recruiting class, this is a situation where it isn’t imperative.

The Pokes go into this season with a trio of young quarterbacks — a redshirt sophomore, redshirt freshman and true freshman. Each of the three maintain strong promise for the future after seventh-year senior Alan Bowman exhausts his eligibility this year.

Gundy has said in the past that it is difficult to keep more than three quarterbacks on scholarship at one time because of the opportunities of the transfer portal. And that thought has mostly proven true in recent years.

So perhaps Gundy and quarterbacks coach Tim Rattay keep their focus on the guys in the locker room and start working more on quarterback recruiting for the 2026 class — while also keeping an eye on the 2025 group as the landscape changes.

The media has gotten the Dims all whipped up into a frenzy over Comm-allah, and expecting her to win. So much so that when Trump wins and she loses, the Dims are going to make what happened on Jan. 6 seem like minor event in comparison.

Put your politics aside, this should cause huge concerns for all.

Tickets for the Vince Gill concert on Friday night (11/22) before the TTech game, went on sale to McKnight subscribers at Noon today. They go on sale to Public Monday. If you are interested and know a McKnight subscriber, I would suggest trying to get them to buy tickets for you. I walked up to the box office at 11:45 today and there were several people in line ahead of me. So, not sure there will be any tickets left for sale on Monday.

I believe they have set some aside for OSU Students though.

I picked up 3 excellent seats row L (17) in front of the stage, so there were good seats still available.

To just reward this fat cheeseburger eating lump with a lifetime supply of big macs.

How did Oklahoma State football look in first fall practice? Four observations of Cowboys​

Scott Wright
The Oklahoman

STILLWATER — Nothing signals the start of preseason camp at Oklahoma State more than Kasey Dunn and a Jugs machine.

With the blistering sun shining outside Wednesday afternoon, the OSU offensive coordinator pumped footballs into the passing machine under the protection of the Sherman Smith Training Center roof, beginning the day with deep balls to receivers and running backs.

“C’mon, man, I do this,” OSU star running back Ollie Gordon II shared with the world after making a basket catch on a pass that dropped in directly over his head.

Dunn had a long line of receivers going through the line catching passes off the Jugs machine Wednesday as he works to develop depth behind his front line of Brennan Presley, De’Zhaun Stribling and Rashod Owens.

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Multi-year Cowboys like Talyn Shettron, who has battled injuries the early part of his career, and former walk-on Cale Cabbiness will have chances to emerge as key backups, and some newcomers like Da’Wain Lofton and Gavin Freeman will try to learn quickly on the run after arriving in June.

And one intriguing name to know is that of Snow College transfer Ayo Shotomide-King, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound walk-on who joined the team in June. He had 483 yards and two touchdowns on 37 catches last season and was receiving some low-level scholarship offers before deciding on OSU.

He has to prove himself in August first, but he has a big frame that few on the roster can match, which could help him carve out a role for himself in the receiver depth chart.

Here are a few other observations from the open period of OSU’s first preseason practice:

Trent Howland’s size isn’t exaggerated​

When you hear of a 240-pound running back, many will visualize a Jerome Bettis-type bowling ball, but OSU’s new 240-pounder is hardly that.

Listed at 6-foot-3 — which looks like a legit measurement — Indiana transfer Trent Howland has a muscly but long frame on which he carries his weight.

With the arrival of Howland and freshman Jaden Allen-Hendrix, listed at 6-2, 230, the running back line has a unique look.

Headed by Ollie Gordon II, the group has three backs who stand at least 6-2. And they were joined Wednesday by Sesi Vailahi, Rodney Fields Jr. and walk-on Hudson Devins, all of whom are 5-10 and below.

Arkansas transfer A.J. Green remains absent from practice after suffering a significant injury late in spring ball. His availability for the early part of the season remains in question, though the Tulsa native has a redshirt year available if needed.

Paul Randolph’s excitement shows in first OSU preseason​

New OSU defensive line coach Paul Randolph has made several stops in his long and successful career, so he’s used to being the new guy.

But he quickly adapted and built bonds with the Cowboys during spring ball. And one quality all of his players pointed to was his enthusiasm.

Wearing an orange hat and white long-sleeve shirt, Randolph was quickly to work after the players finished stretching. He hollered at his players as he quickly jogged to the location where they’d do their first position drills of the day.

Randolph was brought in to replace Greg Richmond, who was not retained after last season. And the development of the Cowboys’ pass rush remains one of the primary areas of need in the preseason.

Walk-on QB Garret Wilson looks the part​

OSU added a walk-on quarterback over the offseason, bringing in Garret Wilson from Oklahoma Christian School in Edmond.

With thick biceps sticking out of his black No. 15 jersey, Wilson looks college-ready, even though his freshman season will likely consist primarily of scout-team work.

Listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Wilson threw for 3,004 yards with 35 touchdowns and two interceptions last season at OCS.

Walk-on quarterbacks bring a lot of value to a team, even if they never see the field on game days. Over the last few years, OSU relied heavily on Tulsa Union product Peyton Thompson, who was highly respected as a scout-team quarterback.

A town’s anguish over children killed in a soccer field​

The killing of 12 youngsters by Hezbollah could mark a watershed event in the Golan Druze's relationship with the Jewish state.​

Etgar Lefkovits

(August 1, 2024 / JNS)
MAJDAL SHAMS, Israel — The pictures of 12 smiling children line the shattered gate of a soccer field, above wreaths of flowers. The blackened remains of bicycles lie next to the bomb shelter the boys and girls were rushing to after a siren went off during their weekend game in this windswept Druze village in the Golan Heights.




“Donated with love for the safety of the People of Israel,” reads a sign on the shelter, pockmarked by the shrapnel from the Iranian-made Hezbollah rocket that struck here on Saturday evening. With a warhead containing over 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of explosives, the blast marked the most lethal attack on northern Israel since the outbreak of the nearly 10-month-old war.

“They heard the sirens and ran towards the shelter, but didn’t make it in time,” said the town’s mayor, Dolan Abu Saleh, on Tuesday. “This is a disaster not just for Majdal Shams but for the whole State of Israel. We will carry this pain for years.”

At the mass funeral for the children in the town on Sunday, some residents pressed Israel to take action against Hezbollah, noting that after the Houthis struck Tel Aviv with a drone earlier this month, Israel hit back as far as Yemen.

On Tuesday evening, Israel killed a top Hezbollah leader in Beirut responsible for the group’s missile, rocket and drone program, in the first such strike against the Iranian-backed Shi’ite terror group in the Lebanese capital since the war broke out.

A town in shock

This generally quiet community, adjacent to Mount Hermon on the strategic plateau, is in a state of collective shock and reflection.

“We are broken and bleeding, but are determined that national resilience will come back,” said Abu Saleh, standing in the stricken soccer pitch.

Black flags fly everywhere in the village. The square adjacent to the soccer field now features a dozen chairs, a soccer ball on each, as well as a white T-shirt with the first name of each of the young victims. Above the chairs is a photomontage of the 12.



Druze in the spotlight
A religious sect that began about a thousand years ago in Egypt as an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam, the Druze, who number about one million worldwide, primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, as well as in smaller communities in Western cities around the globe.

Majdal Shams is one of four Druze communities in the Golan Heights, with a total population of some 20,000 people. About 40% of the Golan Druze, who came under Israeli control in the 1967 Six Day War, have accepted Israeli citizenship, while the remainder are permanent residents. The Syrian civil war, which left half a million people dead, brought them closer to Israel in recent years as they watched the human rights disaster unfold across the border.

At the same time, the Druze who live in the Galilee—home to the vast majority of Israel’s over 150,000-strong Druze population—are strongly patriotic. Their men serve in the Israel Defense Forces, a whopping 85% enlisting in combat units.

‘Shooting to kill’

The attack on Majdal Shams was an embarrassment to Hezbollah, and could mark a watershed event in the Golan Druze’s relationship with the Jewish state.

According to IDF Lt. Col. (res.) Gidi Harari, a former intelligence officer, the attack was tragic, but not unexpected given Hezbollah’s constant attacks on northern Israel since Oct. 8.

“It could have happened six months ago, and it could happen again,” he said, rattling off Hezbollah attacks nearby over the past 10 months, including an anti-tank missile that hit a kindergarten and a rocket that landed in a high school. The Lebanese terrorist group has rained down thousands of missiles, rockets and drones on northern Israel since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre.

“They’re shooting at civilians because they want to kill and for no other reason,” said Harari.

On Tuesday afternoon, an Israeli man in his 30s was killed by a Hezbollah rocket in Kibbutz HaGoshrim in the Galilee panhandle.

Later the same day, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for additional attacks on northern Israel, including a volley of Katyusha rockets on the town of Beit Hillel, located just southwest of HaGoshrim.

Forty-three people, soldiers and civilians, have been killed by the Lebanese terror group in northern Israel since Oct. 7.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced as a result of the ongoing attacks, with towns near the Israel-Lebanon border standing empty.

A ‘partnership and a covenant’

While the Majdal Shams community is still reeling from the tragedy, the mayor, a distant relation to four of the children killed, speaks of it as their sacrifice toward a better future, one not marred by war and sorrow, for all the people in the region, as well as a bond with Israel.

“We sense it is a partnership and a covenant,” the mayor said.

LFG!

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The time is now​

Jerusalem may be in the best possible strategic position to seriously degrade Hezbollah's terror army while neutralizing Tehran's malign influence.​

Alex Traiman
Alex Traiman is the CEO and Jerusalem Bureau Chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

With the assassinations of Hamas’s Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Mohammed Deif in Gaza, along with Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr in Lebanon, coupled with a major strike on the Houthis’ oil refineries in Yemen, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly decided to escalate towards actually winning the war against Iran and its terror proxies.

The timing is important.

First, Israel has largely completed its intensive operations in Gaza, severely diminishing Hamas’s capacities and punishing the Palestinians living there for supporting a terror organization.

Second, there is no strong U.S. president right now. Joe Biden is counting the days until his term ends. Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris is in the political battle for her life campaigning.

Former President Donald Trump is on the trail as well.

Netanyahu knows from his recent meetings in Washington that if Harris becomes president, she is likely to be much tougher on Israel than Biden, who continually refers to himself as a Zionist—irrespective of whether his policies have been supportive of Israel or not.

By contrast, Harris would put major pressure on Netanyahu to abort military offensives.

While Trump is liable to give stronger backing, as he did during his previous term, he is not seeking to start or expand wars. On the contrary, he wants to restore order and end conflicts. There is thus no guarantee that he would give a green light to Israel to launch a major offensive against Hezbollah or Iran.

That said, if a major conflict does emerge, Trump stands to do whatever he can to support Jerusalem, both militarily and diplomatically, to help end the conflict as quickly as possible in an Israeli victory.

Trump thoroughly understands that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. He sees that Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis are all Iranian offshoots, that not only threaten Israel but also Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Emirates.


The latter two nations have already normalized relations with Israel—with Trump as the broker—and others are likely to do so in the future.

On the flip side, Iran has destabilized Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza.

Netanyahu is coming off of a display of force with his speech to Congress, where he called for the formation of a NATO-style defense alliance to counter Iran.

The recent assassinations further strengthen Israel’s image and position in the region.

The Jewish state may now be in the best possible strategic position to seriously degrade Hezbollah’s terror army while neutralizing Tehran’s malign influence across the Middle East.