Sports

Bull riding’s Red River Showdown will headline Freedom Fest, Sept. 8-10 at Paycom Center, when the Sooner State’s own bull riding team, the Oklahoma Freedom, take on the Texas Rattlers.

In 2023 PBR Teams competitions, the titans have squared off twice. The Freedom walked away victorious in the initial showdown, but the Rattlers rode supreme in their most recent game.

On Sept. 9 inside Paycom Center, both teams will leave everything they have on the dirt to see who the better team is – Texas or Oklahoma.

Get your tickets at Ticketmaster.com and don’t miss a second of the action.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

Oklahoma Sooner Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench will be at the First Americans Museum on Friday, April 28. They will be inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, which will soon relocate permanently to FAM.

Bradford is of Cherokee descent and grew up in Oklahoma City. He broke virtually every passing record in OU history before he became the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2010. Bench is Choctaw and he is widely considered the greatest catcher in Major League Baseball history.

Tickets to the event as well as sponsorships are available here.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Grab that pole and head to a park with a lake this weekend – it’s free fishing Saturday, offered by the City of Oklahoma the first Saturday of every month. You won’t need a city permit on these days, however you need a state license if you are 16 or over.

A two-day fishing license is $15 and an annual fishing license is $25. An annual fishing license for 16- and 17-year-olds is $5. Licenses can be purchased online here.

You can fish all year at three lakes in Oklahoma City and eight “Close to Home” fishing waters. Visit ok.gov for information.

– Staff report, The Oklahoma 100

This year, the Oklahoma Sooners have a new coach, Brent Venables, and a new offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, who had spent the past few years with Coach Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss.

Overall, the Sooners are on track to compete for the Big 12 Championship once again and they’ll likely stay in the national title pursuit for a while.

In today’s era of college football, every game is a must-win, but the stakes will be higher for Oklahoma State. A win over West Virginia could mean another visit to AT&T Stadium for the Big 12 Championship in early December.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Behind every sports team is a lovable mascot, endeared in the hearts of many. With just days remaining before the Oklahoma Freedom debut in the Sooner State, the team has announced the state’s newest mascot.

However, Freedom needs the help of the local community. While an eagle will be their mascot, he or she needs a name!

Head to pbr.com and register your vote for the eagle’s name today. The fan-chosen name will be revealed Sept. 16 during the opening night of games for PBR  Freedom Fest.

Tickets for the Freedom’s home event are still available at Ticketmaster.com.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

In 1993, an OU football coach told me there was a high school sophomore in Tulsa that could start for the Sooners immediately. It was such a bizarre, outrageous statement that I almost dismissed it as recruiting hype.

Well, on Monday of last week, that ‘sophomore’ was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

R.W. McQuarters went on to start for Booker T. Washington High School, OSU and four NFL teams. He is probably the state’s best multi-sport athlete since Jim Thorpe.

Also inducted were Tinker Owens, Lee Roy Smith, Chuck Bowman, Lane Frost and Wilcy Moore.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Mere weeks remain before the Oklahoma Freedom debut in the Sooner State on Sept. 16-18, and the team of gritty bull riders is hitting their stride.

After going 1-for-3 in Missouri, Freedom cracked the code in Anaheim, going a perfect 2-0.

Led by Derek Kolbaba, the Freedom defeated the Rattlers 174.75-86, before upsetting the Stampede 87.75-85.

The Freedom will look to continue their winning streak at the PBR Team Series event in Nashville, when they play the Outlaws, Thunder and Ridge Riders.

Don’t miss your chance to witness history. Get your tickets now for PBR Freedom Fest at Ticketmaster.com.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

Second-round Draft pick Derek Kolbaba has hit his stride in PBR Team Series competition.

And his momentum couldn’t come at a better time with just weeks remaining before the Oklahoma Freedom debut in the Sooner State.

During the recent PBR Team Series event in Kansas City, Missouri, Kolbaba went 2-for-4, logging crucial scores in the Freedom’s games against the Carolina Cowboys and Arizona Ridge Riders.

Kolbaba will be keen to continue his momentum when the team hosts Freedom Fest Sept. 16-18 at Paycom Center. Don’t miss your chance to witness sports history and get your tickets now at Ticketmaster.com.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

At the PBR Team Series event in Kansas City, Missouri, the Oklahoma Freedom logged their first win in dramatic fashion, upsetting the then No. 1 ranked, and undefeated, Missouri Thunder by one ride.

Entering the fifth frame of the game, the Freedom held an 85.75-point lead after Casey Roberts scored early for the team.

The Thunder, however, capitalized on their final out as Colten Fritzlan delivered a go-ahead-score, marked 87 points.

But Eli Vastbinder had the final say for the Freedom. As the last man out, Vastbinder delivered a walk-off 87.25-point ride to clinch the win, 173-87, for the Freedom.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

With the first pick in the PBR Team Series Supplemental Draft, the Oklahoma Freedom seized the chance to add two-time PBR World Champion Jess Lockwood to their already star-studded roster.

At just 24 years old, Lockwood has already amassed a resume that has etched his name firmly in the PBR record books.

In 2017, at 20, Lockwood became the youngest PBR World Champion. And in 2019 he became the youngest two-time title holder at 22.

Now, Lockwood has his sights focused on a new accolade – leading his team to the first-ever PBR Team Series Championship this November in Las Vegas.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) recently reported pickleball surged by nearly 40% between 2019 and 2021 to 4.8 million players, becoming the country’s fastest growing sport.

At a time when playing many sports can be expensive, technically demanding and competitive, there is a reason pickleball participation has surged. The culture of this paddle sport is cheap, easy and welcoming to a diversity of ages, races and genders. 

“Anyone can pick up a paddle,” says Hope Tolley of the USA Pickleball Association, the sport’s governing body. She adds, “it’s a welcoming culture that sets itself apart from other sports.” 

– Wilson Creative Group, The Southwest Florida 100

Eli Vastbinder’s name is etched in the Oklahoma sports record books, selected by the state’s first professional bull riding team in the opening round of the PBR Team Series Draft.

Vastbinder put the bull riding world on notice in 2021, logging a record four 90-point rides at the PBR World Finals en route to the being crowned the Rookie of the Year.

Continuing his success in 2022, Vastbinder again finished a career-best No. 9 in the world.

Now, Vastbinder is bringing his winning ways to Oklahoma, eager to lead the Freedom to the inaugural PBR Team Series Championship this November.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

When the Oklahoma Freedom signed Casey Roberts as a free agent in May, many were unfamiliar with the name, as the Alabama native had ridden at just six PBR events prior.

However, during the PBR Team Series launch in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Roberts introduced himself to the bull riding fandom in dominant fashion.

In the starting lineup for the Freedom’s game against the Austin Gamblers, Roberts matched up with Magic Bru to register the team’s first 90-point ride, scored a monstrous 90.25 points.

While the ride briefly gave the Freedom the game lead, they were inevitably defeated by the Gamblers 257.5-176.5.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

The PBR Team Series revolutionizes the sport of bull riding, transforming it from an individual event into one where riders compete on teams – including the Sooner State’s Oklahoma Freedom.

During each of the 10 regular-season events, the league’s eight teams will each compete in 28 head-to-head, five-on-five games. The team with the highest aggregate score will be the winner, with ties allowed.

The season will conclude in Las Vegas Nov. 4-6 when the teams will compete in the PBR Team Series Championship, vying to be crowned the inaugural Team Series Champions.

For more information about Oklahoma Freedom, visit pbr.com/teams/freedom.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

Who better to lead the Sooner State’s first bull riding team than Oklahoman Cord McCoy?

During the inaugural PBR Team Series season, McCoy will helm the Oklahoma Freedom as Head Coach, joined by Kody Lostroh as Assistant Coach.

Six-time PBR World Finals qualifier turned stock contractor McCoy finished inside the world’s Top 50 six times during his riding career, registering 10 event wins.

Following his retirement, in addition to making three appearances on The Amazing Race, McCoy grew his stock contracting business into one of bull riding’s most elite outfits.

In 2022, Ridin Solo became McCoy’s first-ever World Champion Bull.

– Kacie Albert, PBR

Let the games begin.

A new study says Corporate America stands to lose $13.6 billion during March Madness. Fifty-six percent of millennials alone plan to miss work to watch the 68-team NCAA basketball tournament.

It’s one of the biggest events in sports betting, expected to be about $10 billion this year. That’s 30% more than the Super Bowl.

Will the boss mind if she finds you filing out your bracket during work hours? Maybe not, if you ask her to join the office pool.

FYI, according to the NCAA, odds of picking the perfect bracket are 1-in-9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (9.2 quintillion).

– Vikki Locke, The SWFL 100

For the first time since 1989, the Cincinnati Bengals – led by Norman native and head coach, Zac Taylor – head to the Super Bowl to square off against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, Feb. 13.

Taylor graduated from Norman High School, where he became the starting quarterback, throwing 1,950 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior year. Taylor then went on to become a two-year starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Prior to becoming the head coach for Cincinnati, he served two seasons with the Rams as assistant wide receivers’ coach in 2017 and quarterbacks’ coach in 2018.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Whether you watch the ultimate gridiron contest to determine the best in the land or rank commercial ads and if worthy of millions spent, or purely for the halftime performance that is sure to generate memes, and at times, controversy – Super Bowl Sunday never disappoints. 

This year, Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation announced that Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will perform at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show on NBC, Telemundo, and streaming live on Peacock. 

The five artists have combined for 43 Grammys and have created 22 No. 1 Billboard albums.

– Christina Johnson, The OJT 100

Both Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma recently ranked in the top 10 of the 2021 NCAA College Football rankings at No. 6 and No. 10, respectively. The last time this happened, it was 1984 when both schools were in the Big Eight Conference.

The Cowboys clinched a close win in the Fiesta Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 37-35 and the Sooners stomped the Oregon Ducks 47-32 in San Antonio at the Alamo Bowl.

Congratulations to the Cowboys and the Sooners! Looking forward to successful 2022 football seasons for both schools and the University of Tulsa.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Between a Bedlam win for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Oklahoma Sooners unexpectedly having to hire a new head coach, it’s been quite a month for Oklahoma football.

Once again, all three Oklahoma Division I schools will be in bowl games. Tulsa plays Old Dominion in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday, Dec. 20. Oklahoma meets Oregon in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Wednesday, Dec. 29, and Oklahoma State plays Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe on New Year’s Day. OU and TU are favored to win. OSU is a slight underdog against the Irish.

– Mick Cornett, Jones PR

Oklahoma native Noel Mulkey, 26, finished Tulsa’s first Ironman Triathlon on May 23 in nine hours, 25 minutes and one second, qualifying him for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. 

The Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run. Mulkey prepared by training and participating in multiple races, including Olympic distance races. He also held the All-American Triathlete title from 2016 to 2021. 

Mulkey currently shares his training sessions on TikTok, where he has more than 750,000 followers. 

We look forward to rooting him on at the Ironman World Championship set for February 2022.

– Jeanine Bertou, Jones PR