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INNOCENT, from Page 1
tion scandal.
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“When I talk about exonerees, I am talking about absolute factual innocence,” she said. “I am talking about didn’t have anything to do with the crime, not there, didn’t do it. I’m not talking about sentencing issues. I’m not talking about guilty of a lesser included off ense. I’m talking about having nothing to do with the crime for which they were convicted.” To better help exonerees fi nd justice in terms of compensation from the state, Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, has been looking into Oklahoma’s wrongful conviction compensation laws through the interim study she fi led in June. “Th e more we understand the impacts of our criminal justice system and incarceration in general,” Munson said, “the more we can do to ensure Oklahoma families do not have to continue to be in a cycle of constant trauma, stress and a lack of hope.” Under Oklahoma statutes, wrongfully incarcerated exonerees may only make liability claims if they have received either full pardons from the governor or judicial relief absolving the exoneree of guilt. In both cases, exonerees must be considered to have “actual innocence”
of the crime for which they were convicted. Both of those are almost, if not completely, impossible, Miller said. “In the pardon con To be considered “actually innocent,” exonerees must meet several criteria. -Th ey must have been charged with a felony. -Th ey must have not plead guilty to the offense charged or any lesser included off ense. -Th ey must have also been convicted of the offense regardless. -Th ey must have been sentenced to incarceration. And, they must have been imprisoned solely on the basis of the conviction of the off ense. “We have exonerees who would be automatically excluded from this as a result of the guilty plea,” Miller said. “Innocent people plead guilty
-Lynde Gleason
text, if you pull the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board’s qualifi cations for a gubernatorial pardon, nobody who has been exonerated would qualify,” she said. “Th ey say you have to have a conviction, which if you have been exonerated, you don’t, and you have to have completed your sentence in order to be considered for a pardon.”
-Cyndi Munson
all the time for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it’s to avoid the death penalty. Sometimes, it’s to avoid lengthy sentences.” Currently, only 38 states, the federal government and Washington, D.C., have laws that compensate wrongfully convicted individuals. Of those 38 states, only 19 also off er non-monetary compensation, such as tuition assistance and job search assistance, but Oklahoma isn’t one of them. “I think that there are some big strides being made to having more second chance employers, especially in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but there’s still quite a long way to go,” said Lynde Gleason, re-entry site supervisor for Th e Education and Employment Ministry in Oklahoma. TEEM is a nonprofi t organization dedicated to breaking cycles of incarceration and poverty through education, personal development and work readiness training. “If you’ve ever fi lled out a job application, the application itself asked ‘have you ever been convicted of a felony? Check yes or no,” Gleason said. “Th at right there is barrier No. 1. Th at’s hard for a lot of people to know what they should answer because it feels like if they say yes, they’re not going to be given a fair shot, but if they say no, then they’re going to feel like they’re not trustworthy.” Even though exonerees no longer have the conviction to hold them back, that question found on every job application applies to them. A recent study by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 33% of prisoners released in 2010 could not fi nd employment in the four years since their release. “When there are employment opportunities,” Gleason said, “they’re not always the kind that are going to pay in a way that is going to support them because not only now do they just need to support themselves, they might need to support their families.” As of 2020, over 22,000 sentenced prisoners are incarcerated in Oklahoma, which has decreased by almost 9% since the last census in 2010. Yet, studies have estimated that 3-5% of incarcerated prisoners have been wrongfully convicted. By these estimates, more than 1,100 Oklahoma prisoners could be innocent.
-Andrea Miller
During the 2022 legislative session, Munson introduced House Bill 3511 to adjust not only the eligibility requirements for wrongful conviction compensation but also the compensation available for exonerees. However, the bill never made it to the House fl oor. HB 3511 would remove the “did not plead guilty” provision for compensation, and instead of the $175,000 cap, exonerees would be eligible for $50,000 for every year they spent wrongfully incarcerated and an additional $50,000 for every year they served on death row. Th e bill also off ered non-fi nancial compensation, such as health benefi t plan coverage and tuition-free education.
Punishment Too Lax for Repeat DUI Off enders
News Editor
In a House Public Safety Committee meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 14, the subject of concern was the current and possible future programs for repeat DUI off enders. Various citizens, attorneys and members of law enforcement came to express their grievances with the current protocol regarding repeat DUI off enders. Patrick Crowe, an assistant attorney with the Cleveland County District Attorney's Offi ce, spoke fi rst. With extensive experience working on DUI and homicide cases as a prosecutor, he shared his thoughts and experience on the lack of force and eff ective punishment for repeat DUI off enders. “Some of the diffi cult things that come from our offi ce is identifying people who are driving under the infl uence of drugs,” Crowe said. “I think there needs to be more funding or training for drug recognition experts. When people get pulled over and the offi cer suspects they are under the infl uence of drugs, it becomes a more diffi cult investigation to undertake than it is for someone who is under the infl uence of alcohol.” With the increase of marijuana use through the legalization of medical marijuana, there has been a signifi cant increase of drivers under the infl uence, but there are no breathalyzer-type devices that are designed to detect drug use. Now, the only way to tell if a person has drugs in their system is for them to voluntarily submit themselves to a drug screening. Consequently, the screening takes place after the off ending use of a vehicle making for an inaccurate method of determining if the user was driving under the infl uence. Probation options for repeat DUI off enders were also considered. “When cases come to me as a felony, I look to see if I can screen them in for treatment,” Crowe said. “Obviously, without a violent criminal history, we will recommend probation. However, in my experience during the last decade, almost every assessment is the same.” Child endangerment while driving under the infl uence was another subject of debate. Not only are drivers putting themselves and those on the road at risk, but any children in the car are now also in jeopardy. “I’ve seen an increase in child endangerment DUIs. You are obviously endangering yourself, but when there are children in the back, sometimes in a car seat and sometimes not, that's a higher level threat,” Crowe said. “I think more should be done on our end, and I guess on your end to try and hold those folks accountable. I get too many cases where the Department of Human Services hasn’t even been contacted.” Kristy Murrow’s daughter, Marissa Murrow, was killed by a repeat DUI offender. She expressed her experience and distaste for the current protocols for repeat DUI off enders. “Th ere is no place we’d rather not be than right here, but we are here today because my daughter, Marissa Murrow, was killed by a repeat DUI off ender,” Kristy Murrow said. “Her killer had many opportunities to do better and never chose to do so. Starting in 2011, he’s had DUIs in four diff erent states prior to the time that our daughter was killed.” DUIs are one of the few felonies that, no matter how many an off ender acquires, off enders are always eligible for probation. Regardless of the numerous systems and programs in place that are meant to provide grace and rehabilitation, it’s impossible to help someone who doesn’t want help.
Some banned books found in the Rose State library. (Photo by: Katrina Crumbacher) Staff-Selected Book Review
By Zak Royka
Staff Writer
In honor of Banned Books Month, I sat down with the Learning Resources Center’s copy of “The Color Purple” expecting to cry; I was not disappointed. First published in 1982 to great acclaim, Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” stands out as one of the greatest of a generation. Its subject matter and forward presentation make it shine despite its age. This book is a harrowing tale about overcoming oppression and growing through trauma. By laying bare the horrors of the American South with careful nuance, Walker guides the reader through the lives and loves of a cast of unforgettable characters. The protagonist, Celie, is an impoverished African American woman living with a man her abusive father chose for her. This story is incredibly dark with topics such as sexual abuse and domestic violence permeating nearly every page. It does not shy away from challenging subjects and always presents them deftly and tactfully. Alice Walker wrote “The Color Purple” as a series of letters. At first, the letters are from the protagonist to God and then from various perspectives. This literary device precludes the use of chapters, which makes this 287-page book fly by in a flurry of emotions. The author also uses wonderful wordplay, expressing the depth and complexity of characters who feel like they could jump out of the page.
This book is set in the deep South during the first half of the 20th century. The latter part of the book contains tales from Africa told by Celie’s sister, Nettie. Sisterhood is a central theme of the book with the bond they share emphasized by the distance between them. Celie’s character works because of her emotional weight. She is allyless through the first third of the novel after losing contact with her sister. By the time she realizes the sway she holds
-Celie
in other people’s lives for both good and ill, she has become complacent as both a victim and perpetrator of abuse. At one point, Celie even encourages the abuse of her stepdaughter, but when confronted with the error of her ways, she reforms. Her progress towards personal freedom and emotional healing strikes a chord with the change in her surroundings as she ventures into deeper communion with her faith. “I been so busy thinking ‘bout him I never truly notice nothing God make. Not a blade of corn (how it do that?) not the color purple (where it come from?).” -Page 197.
Walker conveys this indisputably bleak life with great care and joy, subtly radiating hope through her words. The color purple is one such ray of hope. The first mentioned appearance of purple, a dress that Celie desires, demonstrates the invisible chains of commitment that hold her to her assigned husband and keep her from hope. If this book has piqued your interest, check out “The Color Purple” and other banned books at the LRC or your local library.
Filmed in Oklahoma
By Jeremiah Cockroft
Graphics Editor
A large collection of film memorabilia lines the shelves of Marcus Mallard’s office. Just from looking at these posters, toys and scripts, it is clear he has a deep love and respect for cinema. That is why he is training the next generation of Oklahoman filmmakers. Since COVID-19 hit the United States, film and TV production has significantly slowed. However, Oklahoma’s film industry has grown exponentially. Whispers of Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese and Sylvester Stallone constantly pop up all across the state. Oklahoma has been the site of many new Hollywood titles, including “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Minari,” “Reservation Dogs” and “Tulsa King.”
In May of 2021, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed the “Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021.” The legislation provided new incentives that attract larger film and TV production in the state. SB 608 increased the incentive cap and eligibility threshold to build a stronger local workforce to stimulate jobs in the state. “It is my privilege to serve the greater community of Oklahoma, as well as work alongside our state’s thriving film industry which creates local jobs and stimulates positive economic impact throughout the state,” said Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. By creating a stronger infrastructure for film production, Oklahoma created new opportunities with fewer restrictions. Companies can hire welltrained, professional, local Oklahomans to work Oklahoman jobs, instead of hiring out of other states. Local productions stimulate the economy by bringing large workforces into cities and smaller towns. Hundreds of people are brought in who all need food and places to stay. “People see the 1 percent of the film industry,” said Nancy Hayden, Head of the Oklahoma Film and Television Academy. “You see the giant stars, but 99 percent of that industry are working-class people.” Hayden is also a large part of the future of the Oklahoman film industry. The Oklahoma Film and Television Academy, which is a part of Green Pastures Studio, gives students handson experience to build the skills needed for jobs in production. “There are so many talented individuals from this region that would have had to move to bigger cities to be noticed,” she said. “This allows them to stay local, and still do what they love.” Rose State College has seen the growth of the film industry and created are a new program to cultivate the skills of students interested in production. This film degree is handcrafted to meet the needs of the growing demand of the industry.
Rose State will be adding 14 new classes which will be used in the new Film Studies course, headed by Professor Marcus Mallard, professor of English and digital media. Mallard has taken charge of the creation of the new degree and has been working closely with several production companies to ensure the best possible resources and leadership. “Helping people make movies, create and self-express, that is the biggest goal in life,” he said. “I am beyond ecstatic to open these doors for the kids.” Matt Payne co-founder and co-CEO of Prairie Surf Media, Amy Janes, co-founder and chief inspiration officer at Green Pastures Studio, Randy Heitz, executive director and assistant program director of Tyler Media, and others are on the advisory board for the Rose Film Studies Course. They have been instrumental in creating a course that is designed to best prepare the student for film production.
Gardening Without a Garden
By Valerie Scott
News Editor
There are a couple of stigmas around growing your own produce. Folks will swear that you need heirloom seeds, lots of land, expensive fertilizers and sprinklers. This just isn’t the case. Grocery store prices have hit record highs this year. According to Fox 25, over the last year grocery store prices have gone up by 9.4%. This is the highest inflation rate since April 1981. However, this issue isn’t limited to Oklahoma or even America. Globally, we are hurting for food. The cause behind this increasing problem consists of a few factors. California, for example, is experiencing extreme temperatures, which are burning up the majority of crops grown. This change in climate is affecting food production worldwide. This has caused the remaining food to go up in price due to the scarcity of certain products and produce. With inflation rising and affecting the cost of all goods, it begs the question of whether it’s worth it to grow your own produce. This is especially applicable to college students who already face a tight budget. It virtually costs no money to grow your own produce. The biggest expense is the correct soil, as this factor is essential.
Typically, when thinking of growing your own produce, one thinks of huge fields lined with vegetables. Well, not everyone has a chunk of land for a garden. Luckily, there are several ways to grow your own food and fresh herbs without land at all. Front porches, back porches, apartment patios,and even a kitchen window sill are perfect places to start growing produce. “The availability for soil mixtures, pots, as well as simple methods for irrigation are out there that previously weren’t just five years ago. After COVID, we’ve seen a significant increase in people growing produce on their own,” said Raylene Harrison, a board member of the Master Gardeners of Oklahoma City. So how does one garden without a garden? Here are a few methods to get started. Zucchini, squash, potatoes and herbs are great plants for beginners. For squash and zucchini, buy some seeds, or just buy the vegetable from the grocery store and save the seeds. Place two to three seeds in potting soil inside a container that’s at least 35 inches deep. Ensure that your pot also has sufficient
-Raylene Harrison
Containers are an option if you have limited yard space for starting a garden. (Photo by: Valerie Scott) drainage holes. Begin watering the seeds immediately after planting and each time the soil dries out. Give the seeds around 7-14 days to sprout. Once this stage has begun, it will only take the plant 30-40 days to produce fruit. When the seed starts to sprout, it is time to implement a device for the squash or zucchini to climb up on. The fruit and vines themselves like to be elevated off the ground or at least have something to attach to. Placing your pot next to the apartment patio railing is perfect, or even placing a long stick inside the pot is enough for your plant to climb on. Potatoes are very similar to growing zucchini and squash but without the need to vine out and climb. Grab a bag of potatoes from the store, and cut the potatoes into inch-thick chunks. Place these chunks on a damp paper towel next to a window. Soon these pieces will start to sprout and that’s when you know it’s go time. If you already have a bag of potatoes that have sat on the counter too long, you can skip this step and cut those taters up and put them in the dirt. Place your chunks with the spuds facing the sky in about four inches deep in the soil. Make sure to pick a pot or aerated sack that’s roughly a foot wide, and 40 inches deep. After this, water your sprouts when you notice the soil is dry, and you’ll be pulling around 10-12 potatoes from the dirt in about 80 days.
-Zach Cook
When wanting to grow herbs, thyme, rosemary, basil, chives and sage are easy to start with. If growing from seed, the plants will take around one to two weeks to germinate. From there it is a bit of a waiting game, taking around six months to fully produce, depending on the plant. It is suggested to buy your herbs from an already developed plant. At Walmart, a bushel of sprouted rosemary, which will quickly reproduce when cut, is $3. An already cut small bundle of rosemary is $2.
Herbs can be placed in a window sill or on a patio; these plants do not require large pots like the zucchini and potatoes. Zach Cook, a software engineering major, shared his experience and benefits of a garden. “When I was growing up, my parents always had a garden,” Cook said. “We grew watermelon, cantaloupe, tomatoes, okra and squash. I think we saved a lot of money, I would possibly start growing my own again once I move out.” There is no hiding the fact that we are facing a food shortage and inflation. Starting your own produce is a perfect way to save money, eat fresh and start becoming self-sufficient.
It’s Day One or One Day: Maintaining Physical Health
By Michael Palacios
Photo Editor
Change isn’t easy and in the realm of fitness; it is a great challenge to overcome habits that have become second nature. This isn’t to say that peak physical shape should be the standard that all should follow. There are some who think the idea of a lifestyle change is too difficult. It’s not. Getting started is the first step into a different world, which can be confusing. This is the point where many people who are new to exercise or nutritional maintenance are met with a world of daunting transitions. Though the transitional stage is expansive, it is an inspiring point for those who are beginning a journey into fitness due to the scope of the possibilities of what can be one day. What better challenge to aspire to overcome than the most formidable opponent there is; yourself.
One thing to understand is not everyone needs to diet. Whether it be an Atkins diet, which is a diet that cuts out most, if not all carbohydrates, found in foods, or the popular ketogenic diet, which has an emphasis on high-fat, low-carbohydrate and fair-protein intake. Not to dismiss any of these diets-they can be effective-but there are other much more enjoyable routes to take when reducing weight. However, it is not always about losing weight. In some instances, it is a great idea for certain individuals to gain weight for their own benefit. “People think you need to eat only rice and chicken to lose or gain weight … look,
Lighthouse fitness trainer John Tiglao working with client Elizabeth Ybarra. (Photo by Michael Palacios)
people, it’s okay to eat bread; you can have French toast yearround,” said Greg Doucette, bodybuilder and author of the “Anabolic Cookbook.” “The whole point is to show a diet doesn’t have to be restrictive, know your body type.” It is important to understand one’s own body mass index. The BMI is a quotient-derived from both the height and mass of a person. The scale often ranges from 10-30, a BMI below 18.5 refers to an individual being underweight; 18.5-25 tends to be a normal weight, while 25-28 is considered overweight. Beyond those numbers is obesity, which can be detrimental for an individual’s health. Recognizing the BMI category one falls into can provide options for personal maintenance. Like an individual being underweight would ideally want to gain healthy weight. Vice versa, an individual in the overweight category may consider losing weight. BMI charts are calcu-
lated estimates of what someone’s body type currently is. There are multiple websites that compute height and mass values for people, such as tnhlbi.nih.gov. “It starts in the kitchen,” said John Tiglao, a personal trainer for Lighthouse Fitness Management. “Properly portioning your
-John Tiglao
meals throughout the day will have better results than working out.”
Much of the greatest changes in people’s bodies begin with proper eating habits. Subscribing to a diet plan is a good idea but it can often limit people in food diversity. Fats, carbohydrates and sugars are all part of a well-rounded diet, but in proper moderation.
Limiting variation in foods does not need to be the only method of weight loss. In fact, another popular approach is the calorie deficit. A calorie is the unit of energy used to describe how energy has been absorbed from consuming everyday foods and drinks. The caloric deficit is simple, intake fewer calories than are burned. Plain, yet extremely effective for weight loss over time. Ingesting fewer calories than the body needs to perform the daily calorie usage will result in a calorie deficit. On the contrary, eating above the recommended caloric intake needed to maintain a steady weight will cause the body to enter a calorie surplus.
There are plenty of sites across the internet that specialize in calculating daily caloric intake, one such application is the Calorie Intake Calculator found on Calculators.org. From foods to physical exertion, there are various methods to pursue when seeking casual weight loss or strength training. General exercise benefits more than just the body. Cognitive changes occur for those that partake in exercises. Beyond the strengthening of muscle density, the perks of an exercise routine are beneficial to the mental health of the person who invests in exercising. Walking is a great start. Just 30 minutes of walking is ample exercise to help people experience the positive effects. In many instances, regular exercise is found to help alleviate symptoms of mental fogginess or stress. Going to the local gym is usually accompanied by a slight sensation of hesitation. However, someone new to strength training at a gym holds an advantage that makes any long-time weightlifter jealous. The concept of beginner’s muscle gains also popularly known as “newbie gains” is a rapid increase in body muscle for the individual who has hardly trained in their life. The cause of physiological change is due to muscle protein synthesis. MPS is a process by which amino acids begin to bind to skeletal muscle during post muscle repair. Muscles grow from being damaged during training, the more torn a muscle group is, the stronger and thicker it grows back. Those new weight lifting experience a prolonged MPS for up to 60 hours, while those who are long-time lifters only experience a 36-hour period of MPS. This innate advantage for beginners lasts 3-6 months, which is the time frame beginners make the greatest amount of gains. Consistency is a necessary factor for these advantages to be beneficial. Beyond the beginning phase of physical health maintenance awaits an entire spectrum of possible changes that are only proven to help mental and physical health.
Independent Films Can’t Compete with Larger Studios
By Carsten Clark
Staff Writer
In 2019, Martin Scorcese was interviewed by “Empire Magazine” during his press tour for “The Irishman.” Near the end of the interview, he was asked what he thought about Marvel films. “I don’t see them,” he said. “I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema. Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well-made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.” Across the internet, people quickly flared up in defense of both sides. Marvel fans, in particular, argued in favor of the films illustrating their many artistic qualities, saying it was unfair to reduce them to “theme park” movies, as Scorcese described them. This interview is still referenced in recent discourse as Marvel continues to expand their cinematic universe. Marvel fans still resent Scorcese for what he said, calling his comments pretentious and reductive. Many missed the point he was trying to make. Scorcese’s opinion stemmed from his disapproval of what Marvel films were doing to the film industry as a whole.
When high-budget and highly advertised films are being released as frequently as they are in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it creates an uneven playing field for independent films to compete. It’s not just Marvel films that are to blame but its parent company, Disney and other big name studios, such as Warner Bros and Universal, also bear responsibility. For example, a direc-
The Regal Warren movie theater located in Moore, off Interstate 35. (Photo by: Thomas Slinger)
tor with as much high praise and box office return as Quentin Tarantino struggles to compete against Disney. In 2015, when he was releasing his hit film, “The Hateful Eight,” he was adamant about having it shown at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. He had a deal worked out with the Dome so his film would premiere two weeks after “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released, and as was expected, “The Force Awakens” was immensely successful. So in a last-minute decision, Disney told the Dome that if they did not play “The Force Awakens” throughout the holiday season exclusively at the theater, Disney would not allow it to play in any of their Arclight movie theaters. Unfortunately, theater chains thrive on the big-ticket movies Disney tends to produce. Left with an ultimatum, the Cinerama Dome was forced to choose whether to break the existing contract they had with Tarantino or be left crippled financially. Unsurprisingly, the Dome chose to side with Disney and played “The Force Awakens” throughout the holiday season.
-Haleigh Short
The recent release of “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” had over 70 showings on premiere day at the AMC Theatre in Times Square and is just another example of Disney’s choke hold on the film industry. “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a movie released in March 2022, has garnered almost $70 million to date, which is considered a huge success. However, “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” opened to over $187 million and has brought in over $411 million since its release. I mean, what can you do? “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness” was a high-budget and highly anticipated Marvel movie. Part of the problem is that Marvel films are so much more accessible than a movie from an independent studio. Marvel films reach larger audiences simply because it was produced by a company like Disney. There have even been reports of Disney threatening to pull its films from theaters if they do so much as give their employees a free screening of any of Disney’s films within the opening month. Most would call that foul play, an abuse of power, etc. At the end of the day, Disney is a monopoly, merely taking advantage of the power they wield over the film industry as a whole. In a post-pandemic world, blockbuster films are proving to be the glue holding theaters together, and many are still reeling from the lockdowns and the resulting loss of profits. Having big-name franchises and films play in theaters is proving to be a make or break for most independent theaters across the country. Some have even resorted to abandoning their intended purpose of highlighting smaller and more obscure films to instead show these blockbuster films in order to make ends meet. It’s ironic that everyone asks for originality from Hollywood, but the indie movies that do get released don’t receive the exposure necessary to change how moviegoers view the film industry. Most people think that all Hollywood does is reboot and remake popular franchises, but if casual moviegoers were to dig a little deeper, they would find the answer to their prayers.
“As fun as it is to watch movies like ‘Doctor Strange’ in theaters, I really wish there was more variety,” said Haleigh Short, a nursing student. “It feels like the same movies are always in theaters. If smaller films got more attention, I feel like people would be more open to them.”
It’s a shame that this is where the film industry currently stands. Rather than creating an open playing field and respecting the art medium itself, the industry is being used strictly for profit. “Independent cinema will definitely be affected by the marketing methods used by larger conglomerate studios such as Disney, but I think independent cinema has always struggled to find its place within mainstream cinema viewing practices,” said Marcus Mallard, English professor. “Movies like those within the Marvel Cinematic Universe are blockbusters, and we do have to come to terms with that to some degree.” Ultimately, blockbusters will reign supreme, as they always have. However, it seems like the gap in competition between independent films and blockbusters is slowly closing. We can only hope independent films have more of a chance to compete in the future.
Oklahoma City Thunder: MASTERING THE ART OF TANKING
By Thomas Slinger
Editor-in-Chief
Winning by losing. An oxymoron by every definition yet, the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team is making this concept a reality. The concept of “tanking” is not new in the NBA. Because of how the NBA works, with the previous year’s worst teams drafting the best new players first, there will always be an incentive to lose if the organization is not competing to win a championship. To combat this, the NBA instituted a lottery where teams draw to determine the order of a draft. The worse you are, the better your odds of winning this lottery. However, the worst team in the league is not guaranteed the best pick, unlike in other professional sports. At the end of the 2019 season, it was clear that the Thunder was not competing with the NBA elite. Although they had an excellent team led by All-Stars Paul George and Russel Westbrook, the Thunder had lost again in the playoffs.
Sensing change blowing in the wind, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti decided to do something unprecedented and obtain as much future draft capital as possible. He traded his two best players, George and Westbrook, and worked on dismantling the team he had spent a decade trying to build. During the next two years, Presti would gather the most draft capital in the history of the NBA. At the end of the 2021-2022 season, the Thunder had 38 draft picks over seven years. For reference, the nor-
The Paycom Center, where the Thunder play home games. (Photo by: Thomas Slinger) mal amount of picks for that time would be 14. In this year’s draft, OKC finally began to see the fruits of the Thunder’s labor. With the second pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Thunder drafted Chet Holmgren. Holmgren, who stands at a whopping 7-foot-1, is a generational talent that the team can build around in the future. In the same draft, the Thunder also selected Ousmane Dieng and Jalen Williams. Both these players are long, stretchy, wings who can shoot. They look to be good building blocks for this young team moving forward. There are now 13 players on the Thunder roster who are under the age of 24. All five of their projected starters this season are under this age cap as well. With this collection of young players, critics are wondering how exactly the organization will develop so many players. “Player development and growth are at the forefront of what we do here,” said an Oklahoma City Thunder representative. “Our coaching staff, front office and ownership strongly believe that these players deserve the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.” This is still a daunting prospect, even if the organization is fully committed to it. The Thunder still has 31 picks in six years. Ignoring trades, that is 31 new players. Inevitably, they will have to either trade or cut players to make room for this new influx of talent.
A solution to this unique problem that the Thunder has is to trade away picks for either a better draft position or trade for a star player. With Oklahoma City not being a desirable destination for most NBA superstar players, trading for a better draft position seems most likely. In next year’s draft, there is one player who stands head and shoulders above the rest–literally. At 7 foot 3, Victor Wembanyama is an absolute unit of a player. Many have said that he could be the next Lebron, Kobe, or even better. Only time will tell what the Thunder have in their back pockets. In the meantime, all we can do as fans is sit back, and enjoy this ride. Good things come to those who are patient, Thunder Nation.
Kristin Tattar departs the 18th green at the world championship. (Photo By: Nathan Fox) World Disc Golf Championship
By Nathan Fox
Sports Editor
EMPORIA, Kan.— Paul McBeth obtained his sixth Disc Golf World Championship on Sept. 3 ,at the 16th hole of Emporia Country Club disc golf course in Kansas. Much like the World Championship the year prior, this one was decided with a sudden death playoff. Unlike the year prior, McBeth came out as the victor. Going into the final hole of the tournament, McBeth was up by one stroke to Aaron Gossage. He threw an incredible approach shot toward the green and was left with just 15 feet for his birdie. McBeth’s approach landed roughly 45 feet short of the pin. With Gossage facing a go-ahead birdie putt to tie, all of the pressure was on McBeth’s shoulders. His birdie putt hit the cage, and landed just below the pin. This guaranteed his par, leaving him tied with Gossage and forcing a playoff for the world championship title. The large crowd raced from the 18th green to hole 16 after hearing the announcement that the playoff would occur there. After a chaotic several minutes, Aaron Gossage and Paul McBeth composed themselves and prepared to make the biggest throws of the tournament. A hush came over the crowd as Gossage stepped onto the tee pad of hole 16. He released the disc, but his shot didn’t land in-bounds. His next shot would be from a 90-foot drop-zone for par. Once again, silence filled the air as McBeth stepped up to make his tee shot. The disc left his hands and landed perfectly on the island green. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Gossage could not sink his par putt, which meant that Paul could lay up his birdie putt, and sink the par for the win. He did just that, and with both arms triumphantly raised in the air, McBeth was crowned the 2022 World Champion. “It means a lot,” said an emotional McBeth when asked about what this win meant to him. “I struggled a lot here, but I found a way to sink some putts and make some good shots. It all just means a lot to me. I’m still growing my legacy.” The situation for the women’s division played out quite differently. Kristin Tattar separated herself from the rest of the field. She managed to post double digits under par scores in all but two of the five rounds of the tournament. Following closely behind her were Henna Blomroos, who trailed by five strokes, and Holyn Handley, who trailed by seven strokes going into the final round. Tattar didn’t relent in her pursuit of her first disc golf world championship. She posted a -10 in her final round which put her eight strokes ahead of second place and 13 strokes ahead of third place. To say her performance at the 2022 Disc Golf World Championship was dominant would be an understatement. Her performance was incredible. She is one of only two female disc golfers to record two 1020+ rated rounds in the same tournament. Her event rating of 1001 is a record for the female division of the World Championship. “It feels amazing; it doesn’t feel real,” said Kristin Tattar about winning her first world championship. “I’ve been thinking about this every day. This is a dream come true.” Tattar just started playing disc golf in 2013, but success came fairly early. In 2014, Tattar won the Estonian disc golf championship. “I realized that I might have potential to do well in this sport, but of course I didn’t think I would be competing with the best in the world,” Tattar said. The outcomes of the 2022 Disc Golf World Championship were exhilarating to watch. Both McBeth and Tattar did exceptional things to procure their titles. One can only hope that next year’s World Championship will be as exciting to watch as this one.
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