Ridiculous Football Fanaticism at the University of Oklahoma

[MichaelPhillipWright]

BYU 14, Oklahoma 13

Bob Stoops already has a reputation for losing BCS bowl games. Now he is known for losing season openers unless they are with cupcake teams. Does anyone remember TCU in 2005? Jason White's knees were so bad after his OU experience that the pros wouldn't touch him. What's in store for Bradford? Will Bandit Bob put him out on the field as soon as he can throw the ball again, or will he actually care enough about the kid to let his shoulder heal properly?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

NEWS: A former OU football player from 1999 and 2000 has been arrested for child molestation. Make you proud, Sooner fans?

See the link to the news article in my text box.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

FORMER OU FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE

In early July 2009, Former OU offensive lineman Brandon Walker was arrested and accused of committing domestic abuse in the presence of a minor. His last season at OU was 2007.

See my text box for a link to the news article.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

George Cross was president of OU in the days when the school was being established as a football powerhouse. In a 1989 interview with the New York Times, Cross said that he did not think that having a good football team "was very good for the university.'' See the link in my text box.

[Tovish1988]

I am a current OU student, and I too find the statues to be excessive and silly. I also scoff at the attention given to football by a certain student and staff demographic. I have not however found this to give any pervasive overtones to the school. I could easily condemn the institution for "polluting" the academic environment with foolish hero worship of athletes, but I have thus far been able to sidestep that culture without any effort. So honestly, I don't see a problem.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Do you have a problem with university presidents being chronic liars? For just one example, see my video confirming that Boren added a bronze plaque on the fountain near the stadium with the LIE that the stadium was "made possible" through the "generosity of Eddie Gaylord." That is pure bunk. The Gaylord family are the publishers of The Oklahoman (formerly Daily Oklahoman). These tycoons have been Boren's puppet-masters all his life.

[krm6886]

Are all of your videos just you crying about anything that says OU on it? Jesus man, I hate to resort to ad hominem, you've got to get a grip. You say you've got two degrees from Oklahoma... did you just not have any fun or something?? By the way, instead of cherry-picking data, why don't you look at what the national rankings that matter have to say about my school.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

National rankings that "matter"? Anyone who knows anything about prestige in higher education knows that a school which is not a member of the Association of American Universities has no bragging rights. OU does not measure up to AAU standards and never will. OU is tied with four others for #108 in the U.S. News ranking. Its Forbes magazine rank is 380. Go watch some old re-runs of football games. That will make you feel good. Since my videos are so painful for you, you should ignore them.

[oujake]

Although I agree that David Boren is a tool, the whole system is not broken. But, we we are simply Oklahomans who take alot of pride in our state and university. So we have statues of Heisman winners, big deal! Many fans and visitors like it because we get to show younger people a part of history. My Dad's face still lights up when he tells me about Owens and Simms. At OU we always hear about excellence and u know what? it is not a perfect school but I could not be more proud of it as a grad.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Are you proud of the fact that OU football players have the lowest graduation rate in the Big 12? Are you proud of all the players who have been caught breaking NCAA rules or getting arrested and convicted of crimes? Just for recent years, here is the roll of dishoner: Dusty Dvoracek, Rhett Bomar, JD Quinn, Ryan Broyles, DeMarcus Granger, Josh Jarboe, and now Justin Chaisson. And then there were the 1989 team members who were arrested in January for rape, gunfire, and drug-dealing.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

March 29, 2009

BULLETIN -- SOONER FOOTBALL RECRUIT ARRESTED AND ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING A TEEN GIRL WITH A SCREWDRIVER

Bob Stoops has followed in the footsteps of Barry Switzer by recruitng thugs, cheaters, and thieves to the football program. To name a few from the Stoops years: Dusty Dvoracek, Rhett Bomar, JD Quinn, Ryan Broyles, DeMarcus Granger, Josh Jarboe, and now Justin Chaisson. See the news link in the text box. Are you proud, Sooner fans?

[LuCyR06]

Do you honestly have nothing better to do than to make horrible videos about OU? Are you that obsessed with the school? If you have a problem with the way things are, join a committee and do something about it! The University of Oklahoma is an excellent institution! Times have changed, a lot! You go with the flow and it works! Who besides you honestly cares that a piece of art, yes I said art, is on campus grounds! Remember, a statue is art sir. Different strokes for different folks!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

"Do you honestly have nothing better to do than to" pester people who exercise our lawful right to denounce corruption in high places? "Are you that obsessed"? You think my videos are "horrible," but you choose to watch them. I wish I could choose not to hear the loud PA system blasting from the stadium. It can be heard a mile away. You are ignorant in your belief that OU, a 3rd-rate university, is "excellent." OU has never been invited to join the elite Association of American Universities.

[ToystoryDBZ]

your a douce bag get a life

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Here we have another typical OU football fan -- a cowardly meathead trying to prove how big and tough he is by sending anonymous insults over the internet. He is also stupid and does not even know how to write the English language at the 5th grade level.  He did not capitalize the first word of his sentence. He uses no punctuation. He wrote YOUR instead of YOU'RE. These people are pathetic semi-literates. All they know how to do is yell "boomer sooner!"

[MichaelPhillipWright]

NEWS: Former OU Recruit Josh Jarboe Arrested in Alabama

The Oklahoman (1/14/09) has reported that Jarboe was arrested at Troy University and charged with misdemeanor harassment. Readers were reminded that Stoops had dismissed him after Jarboe made a rap video about guns and shooting people. Protecting Boren, who doesn't want the public to hear bad news about OU, The Oklahoman suppressed the fact that Jarboe had already been convicted of carrying a gun onto campus when Stoops recruited him.

[ThisGuyisBlue]

[cont]

I don't want people thinking OU is crap, for lack of a better word, because they saw one of your videos. I'm not from Oklahoma so I will be the first to say I chose OU because it is a good school! Every school in America has flaws Mr. Wright. I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Again, some videos do have very good points, but most of them are putting down OU, and that is not right. Yes you have your "freedom of speech" but I think you are taking too far as far as Youtube is concerned.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You say I am taking free speech too far? Since when did you become appointed to the youtube police ? I have the same advice for you as I do for every other Boren-loving jerk who tries to intimidate me against exercizing my lawful right to denounce this disgusting tyrannical buffoon. If you don't like my videos, then DON'T WATCH THEM! They're staying exactly where they are, and I'll be adding more. Don't pester me any more.

[ThisGuyisBlue]

Wow dude you need to calm down! I tried being nice as possible because I knew you would react this way if not. Your arguments make no sense man. "Youtube police"? really? And what I'm saying is that you look at the bad side of OU (which every university has). Why don't you post some good news about OU and Norman?? And if you can't find anything, then YOU SHOULD LEAVE, MOVE, RELOCATE!! simple! Quit making OU and Norman look worse!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

All I do is document facts about OU and Norman. If the truth makes these places look bad, then that's the way the cookie crumbles. There are plenty of propagandists putting out "good news." You Boren-lovers start pulling your hair whenever you see someone report unpleasant realities. You should ignore my videos. They are obviously very painful for you. You are the one who needs to "calm down."

[spdfreakjive]

Your problem is that you don't actually look at the "facts." You bend factual evidence to fit your version of "reality." A perfect example is your claim that hearing loss is the most prevalent chronic illness in America (it's not, I can show you morbidity rates) or that the OU football team has the lowest graduation rate in the conference (they don't, look at the most recent 4 year APR ratings.) You sir, are a fool.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You, "sir," are a JERK. If you weren't so ignorant and stupid, you might try clicking on the link in my text box. This is to an October 2008 Dallas Morning News article which confirms that, for football players, OU has the LOWEST graduation rate in the Big 12. The latest official estimate on hearing loss is that there are 32 million hearing-impaired Americans. You don't want to hear that, though, because in addition to being a football-crazed miscreant, you are also a noise-loving meathead.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

SOONER FANS, IT'S TIME TO FIRE STOOPS

I am no football fan, but I can look at things from a fan's perspective. If I were a fan, I would say that it's time to fire Stoops. Look at his record. He has lost the last 5 BCS games, three of which provided chances for the national championship. He has lost 3 of the last 4 games with Texas. He has never won a national championship while relying only on talent which he recruited. Half of the starters in the 2000 season were recruited by John Blake.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Stoops is overpaid. In 2008 he got $6 million from OU and 3 million was a bonus, from OU funds, given to him by Boren. In 2003, he left Jason White in the Big 12 championship game with KSU, after Whites wrist was severely injured. Stoops had not developed either a reserve quarterback nor a running game. KSU took advantage and destroyed OU 35-7. Stoops later used the injured White in the Sugar Bowl, which LSU won. Not only was this medically irresponsible, but it was poor coaching.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

[Continued]

Stoops has carried on the tradition of Switzer by recruiting thugs, cheaters, and thieves. Here are some examples. Dusty Dvoracek had a barroom brawl in 2004 and sent a guy to the hospital. Rhett Bomar and JD Quinn embarrassed OU by taking money, from an OU auto dealer, for work they did not perform. In 2007 DeMarcus Granger was arrested for shoplifting in Arizona. Later that year Ryan Broyles was arrested for stealing gasoline from a convenience store.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

[Continued]

In 2008, Stoops recruited Josh Jarboe, who had already been arrested on weapons charges while still in high school. Jarboe was later dismissed from the team, after posting a vulgar "gangsta rap" video online.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

QUESTION FOR FOOTBALL FANS:

Did Billy Sims acting like a total jerk at the 2008 Heisman ceremony make you proud? Click on the link to my text box for an editorial about his asinine behavior.

Sounds just like the typical OU fan ! Yee-haw! Boomer! Sooner!

Also see the article about Sims being ordered to pay child support by a federal court.

Does that make you proud too?

How about the low graduation rates of OU football players? Pounding on your chests about that, Sooner fans?

[penguindf12]

I enjoy your videos, and am genetically predisposed to respond positively to your criticism, if only because you seem to hold and defend an opinion even though others deem it stupid because of its unpopularity. I hear enough from idiots who don't think; it is refreshing to hear from someone who actually puts thought into what they say. If for no other reason, I support your statements.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

The ones who deem my opinion to be "stupid" ARE the stupid ones. They are so dumb they don't even know they are playing right into my hands. The title of this video is "Ridiculous Football Fanaticism" at OU. The fanatically hateful messages I have received from these meatheads makes my point exactly. And they are SO insecure. Their existence is wrapped up in the identity of being an OU football fan! They fly into a rage at the thought of ONE person in the community not sharing their madness.

[Jmac0585]

Dear guy talkin inda movie,

wat er akademiks?

Your Pals,

OU students

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Good question ! Around OU, the "leaders" certainly don't seem to know what "akademiks" are !

[MichaelPhillipWright]

How exactly does a video "bend most facts," meathead? I don't know any camera tricks. The video shows EXACTLY what is in front of the camera. You cannot contradict with EVIDENCE any factual claim I have made in my commentaries. It's clear that my videos make you feel insecure, and you drive yourself into howling fits of rage and anger. Before you have a stroke, meathead, take my advice: STOP WATCHING THEM ! And before you accuse me of "slander" again, ask a lawyer to explain what slander is.

[nichron]

Michael, please get a life. OU has a proud football tradition.....If you dont like itleave the state.

GO HUSKERS!!!!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You are the one who needs a life. Don't you have anything better to do than to worship a football team? Don't you have anything better to do than to harass someone who dares to criticize OU, which has never been anything more than a 2nd-rate football school?

Can't you football fanatics stand the idea of having ONE critic in your midst? You sound like a member of a gang of online totalitarian thugs -- out to smash all dissent. "If you don't like it," don't look at my videos, JERK !

[nichron]

Don't you have anything better to do than be a OU stocker...If you dont like the comments don't post them where the world can see....idiot....get a job

[EEKKUULL]

dumb!!!!!!!

You have no life

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I allow mindless messages like yours to be posted just because you miscreants keep providing more evidence that OU football fans are a gang of jackasses !

You are the one who needs a life. If you had one, you would have something else to occupy your time other than expressing hatred toward someone who has much better things to do besides worshipping a football team !

[erica1821]

Something tells me you don't like living in Norman, OK. So I'm kind of confused as to why you've kept yourself here. I see the remark to made to another person who has commented on your video saying, and I quote, "Is harassing people online with crude obscenities "all you have to do with your time?"" You clearly call President Boren a "bafoonish fathead" in this video, which, can be seen as a "crude obscenity" and it's harassment with your amount of videos. Sir, if you have such a huge problem

[MichaelPhillipWright]

It's interesting that so many of you football-lovers are semi-literate fools. Learn to spell BUFFOONISH. There is nothing obscene about my calling Boren a buffoonish fathead. That is exactly what he is. In America, we still have the right to ridicule corrupt public officials. Your desire to see me leave town tells me that you don't respect that right. You can't stand to have even one critic in Norman who doesn't worship your precious OU football. YOU are a buffoonish tyrant too.

[awolfishy]

what this man is trying to do is spit out the facts. He is stating that unless David L. Boren remains to be the president of ou, that they will continue to degrade in value of reputation for academia.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I don't know who you mean by "this man." I certainly don't think Boren is improving OU's academic quality. The man tells many lies, and a university is supposed to be on the mission of training minds in the search for truth. In the 90s, when the OU football team was losing, Boren thought that a losing football team somehow was going to raise OU's academic prestige. How stupid. See my text box for a link to the publication in which quotes him making this asinine statement.

[jeremyj1709]

I've accomplished just as much as you. What's obscene is how you completely down a university,especially one you graduated from. Stating that players only go to play and not for the education is absurd. Yeah, some only go to play because for some it may have been the only chance they had because of the scores on the ACT and finances, but you can find that at any university.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I haven't talked about my accomplishments here. Why are you bragging that you have accomplished just as much as I? I haven't said that players go ONLY to play and not for the education, but clearly many OU football players aren't interested in graduation, because within this group OU has the lowest graduation rate in the Big 12. Regarding your last statement, bad practices at other schools do not justify bad practices at OU. There is nothing "obscene" about denouncing a school which deserves it.

[jeremyj1709]

dude your a fucking idiot...is this all you have to do with your time?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Is harassing people online with crude obscenities "all you have to do with your time?" What have you accomplished? Do you actually think I'm going to take down this video because JERKS like you don't like it? I leave vulgar comments like yours online so you jackasses within the population of "Sooner" football fans can display to the public what kind of people you are.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Your values are warped. Before college athletics became corrupted with "football powerhouses" like OU leading the way, football players were STUDENT athletes and their primary goal in attending a university was to get an EDUCATION. Understand? Your trying to excuse the extremely low graduation rate of OU football players is deplorable.

[Christenng]

First you make the argument that OU football came about for us "Okies" to have pride in ourselves due to a comment made in a congressional record on The Grapes of Wrath shaming Oklahomans. However, I would like to point out that Oklahoma footall came about in 1895 and it was in the early 1900s that Oklahoma became serious about football. Now for a man who claims to know so much about OU football history where would you get this idea that OU football was created to promote pride in Oklahomans?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You howling football fans make total fools out of yourselves. First, I did NOT say that OU football "came about" because of Lyle Boren's tirade in the Congressional Record. I said that OU regents, influenced by Boren, in 1945 decided that OU should be a football POWERHOUSE. You ask where I got "this idea that OU football was created to promote pride in Oklahomans"? The historical facts were recorded by former OU president George Cross. I quote from him in the text box accompanying this video.

[Porcupine05]

Gotta love them SOONERS!!! Why you gotta hate on one of the most storied football programs in all of the land? n I know nobody ashamed of bein an OKIE!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You are another pinhead with insufficient attention span for understanding what I said, so I'll spoonfeed it to you. I said that (1) Oklahomans appreciated The Grapes of Wrath in 1939, when it was published, (2)in 1940, Lyle Boren published his tirade against the novel,(3) the OU regents then got the wrongful idea that Oklahomans were embarrassed by the book and needed a source of pride, and (4) in 1945 they made the decision to establish OU as a football powerhouse. Now do you understand?

[shughes2]

My point was that Lyle Boren's opinion of the Grapes of Wrath made no impact on my family's decision to support OU athletics. My family didn't attend OU because of football, or any efforts to restore Okla. pride through football. I would not presume to be able to explain to you that student athletics are an essential portion of most universities. We both know that the University of Oklahoma has more depth to it than just football.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I realize that the illusion that OU is a great school means very much to you, but find another source of pride. Since Boren has been boss, OU has become a culture of lies. See my video documenting another huge lie by Boren. In my text box click on the link to my article in The Muskogee Phoenix, in which I document more lies by Boren. Oklahomans will have a valid reason for pride when they get rid of liar Boren and restore OU to its mission of training minds in the search for truth.

[shughes2]

I find it beyond comical that you degrade the university that gave you two degrees. Your rant is transparent! You obviously have a personal vendetta with the Boren family. I pity you. My entire family MEN & WOMEN for the last 3 generations have earned doctorates from the University of Oklahoma, but I'm sure you would just knock those accomplishments. My grandparents were NOT ashamed to be from OKLAHOMA, my parents nor I am ashamed to be an Oklahoman, or OKIE. BOOMER SOONER!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You didn't listen to what I said, so I'll spoonfeed it to you. In the 30s Oklahomans didn't feel ashamed of our state nor of the Dust Bowl. The Grapes of Wrath was friendly to the downtrodden "Okies" migrating to California. After the 1940 tirade of David Boren's fathead father Lyle vilifying the book in the Congressional Record, his supporters spread the idea that Oklahomans should be embarrassed by it. The regents decided to turn OU into football school to restore "pride." Now do you get it?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

STATUE OF ONE HEISMAN WINNER AT TEXAS

After posting this video I learned that Texas has had 3 Heisman winners. A 2006 article reported that a statue of one of them, Earl Campbell, was dedicated. The others weren't mentioned. When I attended OU it was not a great school but it had its redeeming qualities. During the Boren years it has become a lie factory and unaffordable for average-income Oklahomans, unless they acquire debt or work long hours. See the links in my accompanying text.

[edelweissnpa]

Okla-Mobile-Homa is full of trailer trash and injun reservations. The people suck and your QB is an ugly indian. The Big 12 is down right pathetic! Name one decent team OU plays in that sorry ass conference. I guess most of the people in that state are splitting time between OU games and tribal pow-wows.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I don't think you're for real. You're probably a Sooner fan trying to embarrass me by planting the ridiculous idea that I actually agree with all of your crudities. I'm surprised that someone like you has even heard of The Sound of Music. Try again, joker. (For others' benefit, Edelweiss is a song from that musical).

[Oxium37]

"This years freshman class:

• includes over 300 State Regents Scholars, more than twice the number as the school in second place. State Regents Scholars rank in the top one-half of 1 percent in the nation in test scores.

• is number one in the nation among public universities in the number of freshman National Merit Scholars enrolled per capita, including 176 in this years class.

The freshman class brings the total # of National Merit Scholars enrolled at OU to more than 600."

[MichaelPhillipWright]

The Merit Scholars are at OU because Boren bribes them with scholarships. Then he claims bragging rights and wants us to believe that they choose OU because of its "reputation" for "excellence." The fact is that OU is tied with 4 other schools for the rank of 108, among American universities, in the U.S. News rankings. U Tulsa is #83. OU has never been invited to join the prestigious Association of American Universities, founded by the Ivy League. In the AAU are 7 other Big 12 schools.

[kwat31]

Syracuse has a statue of their heisman winner, just FYI

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Thank you for the information. I just read a brief biography of the Syracuse football player Ernie Davis. He is honored there for many reasons not just for being a Heisman winner. He was the first black American to win the Heisman. He won the trophy in 1961, He was praised by President Kennedy. He was considered to be a pioneer for civil rights. He died of leukemia in 1963.

[cherob1984]

First of all guy, I was in a hurry to go to pick my son up from day care. Shit, who the hell cares how I mess things up when online. I am not being graded. Thanks for the correction though. What are you, some fucking English professor or something. Oh, and another tidbit. I'M NOT EVEN ORIGINALLY FORM OKLAHOMA. I am actually from LA County, California. I claim to be from OK because in the 5 years that I have lived there I enjoyed every bit of time, and have come to realize that OK is............

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Answering your question, I am not an English professor. I am just an average American who knows how to use the English language. Try as you will, you OU football fans cannot help betraying yourselves as meatheads. You used two obscenities. Do you people ever open your mouths without sputtering obscenities? You did not even spell the word FROM correctly. You wrote "FORM."

[cherob1984]

Everybody can talk as mush crap as they want about OU BUT, OU has the highest wining ratings than any other NCAA team out there!!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Learn to spell, Sooner. The word is MUCH -- not "mush." It looks like you were describing what is between the ears of the typical OU football fan. Additionally, the second independent clause in your sentence is goofy. To be grammatically correct, it should state: "..OU has a higher winning percentage than any other NCAA team out there." Like most of the people who send me messages defending OU and Boren, you are semi-literate.

[utvolsfan1]

Dude you sucks. Get a life!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I leave disgusting comments like this on display just so these meathead OU football fans can continue to show the world what hateful vulgar sleazebags they are. As usual, this one doesn't even know how to write a three-word sentence in English correctly. Welcome to the world of David Boren.

[GummiLoveQuad]

When I attempted to leave a comment here a few days ago, it told me you would have to "approve" the comments before they showed up. I notice that mine has not yet appeared under this video. I'm taking it that you're filtering out the coherent comments; silence anyone with a counterargument. That's the American way!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You have the wrong idea about the American way. It means we have the right to denounce corrupt public officials. That is exactly what I'm doing with David Boren. The American way does not mean I have to provide a forum for praising this scumbag and OU football. Boren and Stoops already have all the media help they want. They deserve no help from me. You can go put up your own website and worship OU football to your silly heart's content, but remember: you DONT have the right to lie about me.

[osuhoe]

haha go cowboys!!

have some class, go to OSU.

[codepounder]

Damn man. You have to much free time HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH GETA FUCKIN LIFE YOU FAGGOT ASS REPUBLICAN

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Every time one of you vulgar jackasses sends me an insult like this you reinforce my point: you are extreme fanatics with deep hatred for anyone in Oklahoma who does not worship OU football. You are also very insecure and feel inferior. You crave OU football victories so that you can pretend to be important and powerful.

[radiomac99]

BAG O' DOUCHE YOU ARE!!!!!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I allow these vulgar hateful messages from OU football fans to be posted here just to assist them in displaying to the world the fact that they are aggressive meatheads. They follow the example of David Boren, the number one meathead. Their real problem, as I explain in my commentary, that they can't understand, is that they are insecure Okies who were misled by Lyle Boren into believing that The Grapes of Wrath, an outstanding novel, was an insult to Oklahoma. They never got over it.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

NOTE TO SOONER FOOTBALL FANS

Some of you might find this video and commentary to be extremely disturbing, so I invite you not to listen to it. I know how fragile your feelings are.

I don't want to ruin your day. Listen at your own risk, and if you don't like what you hear, please don't waste your time sending me hostile comments.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

See my online photos of a campfire site, from a fire set in 2007 by OU football fans on university property. They had no permit. This was in defiance of fire safety law, but in Norman, football fans get away with acting like they are above the law. Click on MORE INFO to the right of the screen for the link.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I used to cheer for OU football, until I started understanding it all too well. In January 1989, OU players were arrested for rape, drug dealing, and a shooting. Switzer had to resign over it. Quarterback Charles Thompson's photo was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in an orange jail suit. Boren's 2002 destruction of a historic neighborhood was an atrocity, along with renaming the stadium for his tycoon pals in the Gaylord family. Before that it had been named in memory of the war dead.

[arkboyslim]

Michael, have you ever been outside the state of Oklahoma? Have you had to deal with the responses you get from people who have never been to here when you tell them where you are from? John Steinbeck and the dust bowl are part of the reason people from outside Oklahoma have such a stereotypical view of this area. It's pretty understandable why some people around here don't like The Grapes of Wrath.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I've been to Europe twice and in many parts of the USA. I don't sound like a dumb redneck when I speak, and no one has ever expressed a negative attitude about Oklahoma to me. You are ignorant for blaming Steinbeck. As I said in my narrative, Lyle Boren's vicious tirade against him, in the Congressional Record, influenced Oklahomans to start feeling ashamed about the Dust Bowl (which impacted five other states) and the Grapes of Wrath. Like so many Sooner fanatics, you need an education.

[OkieProud918]

One more thing, while the Dust Bowl may have affected five other states (only 7 counties in Oklahoma are included as being in the Dust Bowl by the way) all migrants from all states were referred to as "Okies".

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You should read Lyle Boren's tirade against Steinbeck and 'Grapes' (Congressional Record, Appendix, 1/10/40). The fathead called it a "lying filthy dirty manuscript," among other things. He also thought that Steinbeck invented the word "Okie" as a way of insulting the migrants. The fact is that Steinbeck was sympathetic with the migrants and deplored the abuse conducted against them. David Boren is no better than his father, who was also a racist opposed to allowing blacks to attend OU.

[OkieProud918]

Well, there are some historic inaccuracies in it.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You are making the same mistake which the ignorant buffoon Lyle Boren made in his tirade in the Congressional Record. The book was not written as a work of historical scholarship. It is a NOVEL. Got it? It was inspired by real historical events, but we don't judge novels according to whether they are "historically" accurate.

[OkieProud918]

You dare to compare me to a man you claim to be an "ignorant buffoon"? Do you truly believe that Steinbeck wrote the book to be nothing more than a flight of fancy, a novel intended to merely tug at the heartstrings of his readers? Are you that dense? The book was written as a record of what the migrants went through. It was meant to open the eyes of the American populace. Unfortunately the book left a lasting stereotype of the "poor dumb Okie" in the American conscientiousness. "Got it?"

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You are anonymous. You suffer no loss of reputation from anything I might say about Okieproud918. By contrast, I identify myself. You are making a hostile public statement about Michael Wright. If you are so proud, then why not identify yourself and make this a level playing field? As I said, the book was inspired by real historical events, the ordeals suffered by Dust Bowl migrants. Oklahomans were not embarrassed by it until Boren's 1940 tirade. The text box has a link to documentation.

[apologeticjedi]

First, I'd like to point out that this person doesn't represent all Oklahomans. I like the statues. This sounds like sour grapes from one amateur video expert that he has to call names and take pot shots at people. Truly, there is more important things in this world than to complain about statues that someone else has erected.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Like so many other OU football fans and Boren-lovers, you don't know how to use the English language properly. The correct way to write your last sentence is: "Truly, there ARE more important things..."

As for you, "truly, there are more important things in this world than to complain about" videos that someone else has posted.

[oukid1]

The University of Texas has a statue to their Heisman winner, Earl Campbell. Do your research.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You need to do your research, wise guy. From the internet I verified that Texas has had 3 Heisman winners. A 2006 article reported that a statue of one of them, Earl Campbell, was dedicated. The others weren't mentioned. When I attended OU it was not a great school but it had its redeeming qualities. During the Boren years it has become a lie factory and unaffordable for average-income Oklahomans, unless they acquire debt or work long hours. See the links in my accompanying text.

[mrowlou]

what a dumb ass.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Your use of obscenity is so typical of OU football fans and supporters of David Boren.

[holycharizard]

We were at the Adrian Peterson football camp the past 3 days. It was great! OU did not sponsor it, but let the camp use the intramural fields. MPW, do you believe OU had to be paid by Peterson(never won Heisman, 2nd place only) for us to use these fields? Also, it seemed to me, watering the intramural fields is wasteful by OU. It created MUD in the small parking lot(if that is what you call it) and led to several injuries of children. Peterson also slipped(4.5 mil/yr liability)! MORE VIDEOS MPW!

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I don't know what is happening currently between Peterson and OU. I recall that in the 2006 season he broke his collar bone. Then they put him on the field against Boise State at the bowl game. It was in the news a FEW MONTHS LATER that Peterson had broken his collar bone "again" at the Fiesta Bowl. This was obviously a lie. By the time of the bowl game, Peterson's collar bone had not completely healed from the first break. Putting him in the bowl game was disgusting medical irresponsiblity.

[mwduck]

I will take your comments in the nicest possible way. To my knowledge, I have never done anything to offend you, but you seem to be baiting readers to take issue with your viewpoint so that you can serially insult each other. That is easily done when hiding behind a blog.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You began by trivializing my video with the suggestion that I must be a faculty member bitter about being underpaid, and that is why I don't admire the heroic statues of the Heisman winners. I gave you some sincere suggestions about how to enhance your understanding of the place of football in Oklahoma culture. You accused me of "hiding behind a blog." I am not "hiding" behind anything. I post with my real name. Like most of my critics, you are hiding behind an anonymous youtube ID.

[mwduck]

I don't understand. I'm a transplanted Okie and proud of it! Is the author a faculty member who feels he's underpaid?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

If by "author," you mean the person who made this video, then I am the "author." I am a native Oklahoman and OU graduate with two degrees from there. Did you even bother to listen to my narration? Your question seems shallow and based on ignorance. I suggest you read The Grapes of Wrath, read Lyle Boren's asinine tirade against this fine novel in the Congressional Record, 1/10/40 (Appendix), and learn about the AAU, which OU has never been invited to join. Then you might begin to understand.

[ksoulboy]

FYI...your opinion that there isn't an inferiority complex in Oklahoma is entirely wrong. I suggest doing some travels around the US and see people's reaction to being from Oklahoma...that's where it's from. It's unfortunate, but it very much does exist...which is but one of the reasons you see a bleedout of young, bright, educated minds in this state to other states...jobs are only one part of that.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Pardon me, but I'm an Oklahoman and I don't have an inferiority complex about it. Oklahomans who need OU football victories and statues of Heisman winners so they can feel good about themselves have an inferiority complex. People who believe David Boren's lies about OU being one of the "premier universities" in the nation have an inferiority complex. David Boren has built his career by lying and cheating. He is a very inferior person.

[ksoulboy]

I wasn't debating David Boren, I was talking about inferiority complexes among many citizens. While I applaud the fact that you are comfortable in your skin, I would like to note that you don't represent everyone. I know MANY, MANY an Oklahoman who is not quite proud of where they're from. I find it highly presumptuous of you to assume to speak for all Oklahomans on this point.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

Not having read what I said, you misrepresent me. On the contrary, I said that people who believe Boren's lies about OU being a "premier university" in the nation have an inferiority complex. Not describing all Oklahomans, I said that I am an Oklahoman who doesn't have an inferiority complex about it. Like many of my critics, you don't use proper English. You wrote about "MANY an Oklahoman who is not quite proud of where they're from." THEY'RE is plural. Its antecedent OKLAHOMAN is singular.

[dertbag2222]

Dude, these statues are across from the stadium, not in front of the library. What is so wrong with that?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I doubt if you would understand. There used to be a beautiful historic neighborhood just east of the stadium. There were two-story homes with gables, fireplaces, and staircases with bannisters. One of the houses looked like a pub on the English countryside. Over the years, the athletic department used eminent domain to drive people out of their homes and destroy them. Boren bulldozed the remainder of the neighborhood in 2002. He also used bully power to re-route Jenkins, a historic artery.

[dertbag2222]

I do remember Fairy Queen Lane (I am pretty sure that was the name of the street). Yes there were some cool houses there, but I don't view it as a big loss. I did not want to see them go at the time, but I think the area looks good now. Being a Norman resident for almost 30 years, I hate to see the old part of town change and I will fight against drastic renovations to the historical district, but this is not a fight that I think is worth it.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I see. You have your priorities. The football program comes first. How would you feel if you had been living in one of those fine old houses, and Boren came along and said "sorry, I'm taking your property"? Would the football program have been more important to you than YOUR house? Did you know that Boren is using eminent domain to destroy all of the retail businesses at Jenkins and Lindsey? That shopping center has been there for at least 50years. How do you feel about that?

[Rserlo]

No Michael, we don't care if you don't like the Sooners. Any one will tell you that they're glad some dumb ass like you isn't a fan. It's your idiotic view on the college and state which is offensive. And honestly, OU is always going to be a main part of what makes Oklahoma a great state. And not just because of football! I don't understand why, if you have such a problem with the college and state, then why the hell do you live in it? Why don't you move to another state and quit your bitching?

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I am posting your vulgar comments just because they make my point: extreme football fanaticism is rampant among OU fans. You people are so insecure about your identities that you turn purple with rage and start blasting obscenity and insults at the thought of there being one single critic of your third-rate university. Get a clue about what a great state is. It's a place where the quagmire of corruption and dishonesty into which OU has descended during the Boren days would not be tolerated.

[andromedasucks]

If it is a "third-rate university," please stop using our facilities to conduct your research. Clearly, our academic materials are not up to your standards.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

"Our" facilities, you say? "Our" materials? I have news for you, fool. YOU don't own OU. How do you know that I am using "your" facilities, fool? You are obviously stalking me. Stay away from me, fool. You sound like one of Boren's repulsive boot-lickers.

[Coleyrockin]

You are a fucking dumbass

[MichaelPhillipWright]

You football-worshipping miscreants continue to prove how stupid and disingenuious you are by sending me your venom full of hatred and obscenity. You cannot stand the idea that there is a single person in Oklahoma who is not impressed by the glorious "Sooners." Without the "Sooners," pathetic losers like you would have NO identity. Go bang your head against the wall. Do you actually think I'm going to take down my videos because YOU don't like them? I am PROUD to be unpopular with cretins.

[Rserlo]

I am ashamed that someone like you lives in our great state of Oklahoma. Have you nothing better to do, than complain how the university conducts its buisness? Are you really so sad that you have to complain about statues of players who earned a name in history? I am proud to be called an "Okie". I am proud of my state. But I am sickened that there are people like you living here and talking trash about your own kind. Boren is a good man. You are the bafoon sir. PLease, get a real life.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

It's amazing how you clones all say the same thing. You claim that I am "sad" and have nothing "better to do." You tell me to "get a real life." You are "proud" etc. ad nauseum. Another common trait among you Boren-lovers is that you can neither spell nor use the English language correctly. You don't know how to spell BUFFOON. You can't spell BUSINESS. Truly proud Oklahomans would learn to spell and demand that OU get rid of David Boren, who is a disgusting fathead and liar.

[eltrip23]

Last time I checked the football program brings in about 20 to 30 million dollars a year to the university. And by the way you are the only person that cares about the "Prestigious AAU"

[MichaelPhillipWright]

From an Open Records Act request, OU disclosed that in 2001 the athletic department borrowed $12 million from the general budget. The "loan" was interest-free and the borrower only had to pay back about half the principal! As for the 2002 stadium expansion, it was financed by a bond issue which ran up the athletic department's indebtedness to $152.7 million. When he was sworn in in 1978, OU president Bill Banowski said that his #1 goal was to get OU admitted to the AAU. He failed.

[eltrip23]

Last time I checked the academic program doesn't bring in 20 to 30 million dollars a year.

[MichaelPhillipWright]

What are you smoking? I can't believe that even an OU football fan would be so ignorant. The "last time I checked" OU was snatching $138 million from tuition and student fees. That was for fiscal year 2007. Since fathead Boren raises tuition every year, this sum will continue to increase until he prices OU out of the market. Then it will diminish.

[ethannasr]

Kudos for your insightful commentary. Such consideration is an increasing rarity in the world of YouTube.

[shane23529]

yeaaaahhh cuz thats why we like football right because were ashamed of being from oklahoma fuckin retard

[MichaelPhillipWright]

I'm leaving your vulgar harassing post online because your illiteracy and use of obscenity makes a good point. It says so much about the meathead mentality of "Sooner" football fans. If you are proud to be from Oklahoma, you might remember to capitalize the name of the state it the next time, meathead. Finally, if you even bothered to listen to my narration, meathead, it's obvious that you didn't understand it. Try again, and maybe your momma can explain it to you.