The O'Colly, Friday, May 19, 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023

‘A freakin’ two-way All-American’

McLean’s multi-sport background prepared him for OSU

of being a multi-sport athlete prepared McLean to be a two-way player on the OSU baseball team and an MLB prospect.

Allen Staff Reporter

Derrik Goffena thought surely his pitcher had to be worn out.

The Garner High School (North Carolina) baseball coach watched Nolan McLean heave pitch after pitch with a velocity in the mid-90s. And McLean was doing it an hour removed from football practice.

This wasn’t a one-time scenario. It was daily.

“He just spent hours in football pads bumping around and hitting other kids,” Goffena thought.

“Nolan, are you sure?” Goffena called out.

McLean answered his coach with a nod. Goffena recalls McLean then striking out five batters and hitting a home run during that practice.

It was just another day in the life for McLean, a junior at the time. Wake up, morning lift, school, football practice, fall baseball practice. That grind

“I didn’t think much of it,” McLean said. “I really saw it as my daily itinerary. I was just being a kid.

“I didn’t really have a favorite sport growing up. Honestly, whatever sport I was playing at the time was probably my favorite. I just liked competing. It built me into who I am.”

McLean’s father, Derek, often tells him he grew up on a baseball diamond and a football field.

To some capacity, that holds true.

Derek, a parks and recreations director near their hometown of Willow Springs, North Carolina, recalls dropping his son off at football and baseball camps or games before work.

As Nolan became more immersed in athletics, eventually adding basketball to his schedule, his parents grew concerned about his workload. So, they made him an ultimatum.

“Son,” Derek said, “we know you love playing, but if you ever fall behind, we’re gonna take it away from you. School comes first.”

Nolan, 9 at the time, agreed, saying, “Dad, I just want to play.”

Nolan never fell behind on his schoolwork. He worked rigorously to ensure he could participate in the highlight of his day. For that to happen, he made a game of it.

“I just thought it was fun,” Nolan said. “At the time I didn’t think much of it. I was just focused on getting past school so I could play sports.”

As time progressed, Nolan garnered national exposure. His talent showed as a quarterback on the football field, a forward on the basketball court

and all over on the baseball diamond. College coaches came calling, and offers gradually spewed in.

Throughout his recruitment, Nolan and his father made one thing clear to college coaches: he was playing football and baseball in college, or he wasn’t committing. Nolan turned down his dream school, North Carolina, and committed to Oklahoma State, shortly after his official visit and a lengthy conversation with football coach Mike Gundy and baseball coach Josh Holliday.

See All-American on 2

College athletics

Unfairness in funding

Dylan Taylor O’Colly Contributor

College athletics are a big money-maker for universities across the country.

Schools like Oklahoma State University pride itself on its athletics achievements and many times dedicate much of its funding toward these programs. While geographically similar to schools like the University of Oklahoma and the University of Arkansas, these universities financially prioritize different areas of sports.

College athletics matter just as much to others as football does to the majority. College athletics can help bring a sense of pride to a student body, so it is important to know how the spending is used for these teams. Sports such as softball and gymnastics have just as talented athletes and competition but do not get the same exposure.

OSU’s chase for Big 12 title meets Bedlam

in his backyard.

So, what does Bedlam mean to the hometown pitcher? Surely something.

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Nobody on OSU’s baseball roster grew up closer to Bedlam than Isaac Stebens.

He played at Stillwater High School, just up the road from O’Brate Stadium, and always wanted to be a Cowboy. He played two seasons at Cowley College with the hope that OSU would come calling one day.

And the Cowboys did. Now, in his first season at OSU, Stebens finally has the chance to compete in the instate rivalry that took place

“Nothing,” Stebens said. “Nothing. You only give it as much power as you let it… To everybody else, it’s a little extra, probably, when the outside world sees us playing them. But it’s still just another series.”

But this weekend’s Bedlam series in Norman isn’t just another series. For this year’s OSU team, which sits second in the Big 12 in the final week of the season and is on the bubble of hosting and NCAA regional, Bedlam means a lot.

The Cowboys (35-15, 13-8 Big 12) sit two games behind West Virginia in the conference title race with three games remaining, after winning 12 of 14 games.

They don’t control their own destiny – WVU must lose two or three to Texas this weekend – but they can control what they can control and give themselves championship hopes with a series win or sweep against the Sooners.

“It’s what we’ve been playing for all year,” Stebens said. “It’s only fitting that it comes down to OU. So, that’s a little fun, that’s a little extra. But at the end of the say, it’s still just another series that we gotta go out and win.”

OSU second baseman Roc Riggio grew up in California and had no knowledge of Bedlam or its significance in Oklahoma. As a freshman last season, he got his first taste.

Under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, all public universities are required by law to

release documents that display the gross income and expenditures for a publicly funded athletic department.

In 2019, OU brought in the most total revenue of the three schools with $163 million. Although these schools bring in a substantial amount of money, not all of it is prioritized toward small sports, especially women’s sports. This has been a major controversy over the past few years as television numbers are on the rise. OU gymnastics and softball have proven to be very dominant, with each totaling up 12 total National Championships together. However, with how dominant football is at the school, these teams don’t get the same recognition.

“People know they’re really good but since they’re not football they don’t get the same exposure which equates to not having as much funding as football, ” said Brenna Sawney, a senior at OU.“Football at OU has a cultish following, so all of the resources are relegated to that program.”

See Funding on 6

Chase Davis

Nolan McLean has a 1.65 ERA, which is the best on the team for pitchers with at least 10 appearances.

Carson Toulouse

Former Oklahoma State women’s basketball player Kassidy De Lapp said she felt the women’s team did not get the same treatment as the men’s team.

Chase Davis

Daniel

sports

All-American...

“They told me I could play both sports,” Nolan said. “I wasn’t gonna pass on that opportunity to compete.”

***

Nolan didn’t play as a freshman on the football team. He didn’t even suit up or travel. At most, he’d wear a jersey and walk out of the tunnel alongside his teammates.

“I could tell it hurt him that he wasn’t getting to play,” Derek said. “But he just liked being there and being on the team.”

Baseball season was where he proved his worth.

Nolan got off to a hot his first season, finishing with eight home runs, 20 RBI and a .261 batting average. A back injury limited him during the end of the year, keeping him out for nearly two months.

By the time he returned, the football team was already a month into summer camp, causing Nolan to quit the football team.

“It was like breaking up with a girlfriend that you’d been dating your whole life,” Nolan said. “Football had been part of me since I was an adolescent. It was tough on me.”

Still, Derek said moments like those gelled his son into a hard-nosed, gritty athlete.

“Nolan always comes back better in tough situations,” Derek said. “It’s like he thrives in them. I don’t know why, but he’s always a better version of himself afterward, and I think that sums him up.” ***

Nolan stood behind home plate and embraced the moment.

OSU led Arkansas 12-10 in a back-and-forth affair at the 2022 NCAA Stillwater Regional. Nolan, a sophomore, knew his team needed insurance runs, “I remember

thinking, ‘I need to do something here,’” McLean said. “I love moments like that. It gives me an opportunity to deliver for my team.”

As always, his outlook on the pivotal situation remained the same.

“I didn’t think much of it,” he said.

On an 0-2 count, with two outs and a runner on first, McLean jumped on a hanging slider over the center of home plate and watched it sail over the outfield wall.

But the job wasn’t finished.

Shortly after, he took the mound as the team’s closer. Four batters later, a fly out from thenArkansas shortstop Jalen Battles ended the game.

Holliday described his twoway talent’s heroics postgame in one word: “remarkable.”

Nolan had not only hit a gamedeciding, tworun home run on national television, but he also closed it as a pitcher.

This season, holding a .284 batting average, nine home runs and a 1.65 ERA, Nolan is likely in his last season with OSU. He’s already gone through the MLB Draft process twice. Initially out of high school and then again after last season, when the Baltimore Orioles drafted him with the first pick of the third round.

Holliday realizes the rare talent he has on his roster. It’s one of the many factors causing him to cherish their relationship as the 2023 season wind down.

“Nolan is a freakin’ two-way All-American,” Holliday said. “He’s unique. Unique is the best way to describe him. For him to do what he does every game is remarkable. Hitting towering home runs and closing games simultaneously is unique.

“No other player in the country can do what he does.”

Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.com

Chase Davis Nolan McLean played multiple sports in high school and came to OSU to play football and baseball. But now, he’s committed to baseball, where he pitches and bats for the Cowboys.

Thanks, Pat Riley

Gajewski using NBA champions ideology on leadership prior to NCAA Regionals

Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

Kenny Gajewski looked toward NBA legend, Pat Riley, for advice when addressing his team earlier in the week.

The OSU softball coach sat in the living room of a secluded Broken Bow cabin – away from big cities and softball stadiums – with members of his program days prior, where they watched his team receive a No. 6 ranking heading into postseason play. This was met with celebration from his team, who wasn’t certain a top-eight ranking would have their name attached to it after closing out the season on a 2-11 skid.

But the Cowgirls got it. Let the celebration ensue.

Still, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows in Gajewski’s eyes, who had been studying video of errors, defensive mishaps and the Cowgirls hitting struggles prior to Selection Sunday; he knew what he wanted to tell his squad. But it wasn’t time to address his team, Gajewski knew that. He let them enjoy the moment and their weekend getaway before returning to Stillwater.

“I didn’t think that telling them that in Broken Bow was the best time,” Gajewski said. “I wanted to wait ‘til we got back to practice there.”

Gajewski used an excerpt from Riley’s bestselling book, “The Winner Within,” when talking with his team before Tuesday’s practice earlier in the week. That’s when the Cowgirls were informed on “The Disease of Me,” an excerpt showcasing seven danger signs of an individual’s leadership throwing off a team’s continuity when one’s ego comes into play.

“Inexperience in dealing with sudden success” and “personal effort mustered solely to outshine a teammate” are two of the seven danger signs, with the other five also highlighting other things to avoid in a team setting.

After using the words of someone that’s won championships as a player, coach and in an NBA front office, the Cowgirls have been locked in during practice, and Gajewski believes his team is prepared to make a run lasting longer than just the upcoming regional weekend.

“I think they’re ready to get one of those streaks that we can talk about for a long time,” Gajewski said.

Before they can start a possible-historic run, the Cowgirls need to get past the

regional round, which includes some familiar names and faces.

Traveling to Stillwater this weekend is UMBC, Nebraska and Wichita State.

UMBC will be OSU’s first opponent on the weekend, with their game starting at 3 p.m. on Friday. After the Friday afternoon matchup against the Retrievers, the Cowgirls will face a team they’ve seen this season the following day, whether it’s

the Cornhuskers or Shockers. In two matchups this season against the Cornhuskers, the Cowgirls outscored them 13-1 in early-season tournaments, while the Shockers got the best of Gajewski’s team twice, both at home and on the road. The Cowgirls’ second loss to the Shockers was the second game of their final dispiriting 13-game stretch to end the season.

When Gajewski saw the Shockers come up on the TV seconds after his team’s celebration, he saw an opportunity. An opportunity to avenge the two upset losses.

“When their (Wichita State’s) name popped up, I just looked around and was like, ‘OK, you guys owe them,’” Gajewski said.

At the end of the day, though, Gajewski doesn’t care

if the Shockers, Cornhuskers or Retreivers are in the other dugout.

If his team’s rolling, he’s got all the faith he needs. They, like Riley, have a championship mindset. “It wouldn’t matter if we’re playing them (UMBC), Nebraska or Wichita State, if we are the best version of us, look out,” Gajewski said.

Chase Davis

Kenny Gajewski believes his team is prepared to make a deep postseason run. “I think they’re ready to get one of those streaks that we can talk about for a long time,” he said.

Big 12...

Continued from 1

Riggio remembers stepping onto the field at O’Brate Stadium for his first series against OU and seeing that almost half of the 7,000 fans in his home ballpark were wearing crimson. It was clear Bedlam meant something to them.

“The atmosphere was already there,” Riggio said. “The atmosphere was something different than I’ve kinda experienced throughout playing my college career.”

But at this year’s Bedlam, like Stebens, Riggio isn’t focusing on the rivalry aspect. The series’ outcome and impact on his team means more.

“The reality is that it is

just another game,” Riggio said. “It’s baseball. Every day is baseball.”

OSU coach Josh Holliday has plenty of Bedlam experience, as a coach and player. In 1996, his freshman season, OSU played the Sooners six times, including five times in six days.

As a coach, Holliday is 3011 against OU. He’s been part of the rivalry since his dad, Tom Holliday, coached at OSU. Josh has watched coaches such as Gary Ward, he’s seen 18-inning classics, blowouts, brawls. He was even ejected during a Bedlam game in 1996 after a verbal altercation with an OU player.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

128 N Main St.

Stillwater, OK 74075

Carson Toulouse

Josh Holliday is 30-11 in Bedlam as OSU’s coach.

Cowboy golf team finishes seventh at Las Vegas regional, misses NCAA Championships

and Northwestern.

ETSU won the team playoff by three strokes to take the fifth spot and advance to the NCAA Championships.

For the second time in 75 years, the OSU men’s golf team will not be at the NCAA Championships.

In their last tournament at Prairie Dunes Country Club, the Cowboys finished in fifth place, shooting 24-over par. However, they had a different performance while competing in the NCAA Las Vegas Regional Tournament this week.

In order to qualify for the NCAA National Championship, a team must place in the top five, and playoffs occur if necessary. The Cowboys finished seventh out of 14 teams on Wednesday, with a total of 35-under par, eight strokes out from the fifth-place tie between East Tennessee State

Arizona State won the Las Vegas Regional.

The Cowboys started the tournament on the right foot, shooting a combined 10-under par. This score placed the Cowboys seventh, where they stayed for the remainder of the tournament.

Fifth-year Rasmus

Neergaard-Petersen and se -

nior Hazen Newman led the Cowboys in Round 1, scoring 4-under and 5-under par. Not far behind the two was junior Jonas Baumgartner, who shot 2-under for his round, carding a 70. Junior Bo Jin scored 1-under, and Leo Oyo shot 2-over par.

After Round 2 of the

NCAA Las Vegas Regional team

tournament, the Cowboys’ placement did not waiver. However, their individual performances did, all in a positive direction.

Neergaard-Petersen remained the leader for the Cowboys at 7-under, while Baumgartner had an incredible round and completed his round at 6-under. Jin finished his round 4-under, Newman dropped to a total of 2-under and Oyo concluded Round 2 at

1-under par. Although the team scored well in Round 2, they still trailed that necessary fifth-place cutoff line. Neergaard-Petersen finished Round 3, carding a final score of 9-under par and tied for 22nd. Baumgarner thrived for the Cowboys and tied for fifth at 15-under par. Jin completed the tournament at 1-under and tied for 49th. Newman did not perform his best in his

final round and ended at 3-over par, tied for 61st, and Oyo tied for 44th at 3-under par. Baumgartner’s final round climbed him 19 spots, where he won the fifth-place individual playoff against Northwestern’s Daniel Svard. The top-five individual finish earned Baumgartner an individual advancing spot at the NCAA Championships.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo

For just the second time in 75 years, the OSU men’s golf team missed the NCAA Championships.

Gina Foster

Staff Reporter

Funding...

Continued from 1

In 2019, OU softball and gymnastics’ combined expenditures totaled up to be over $7 million. OU football totaled over $41 million in expenditures.

OU is not the only Oklahoma school with this problem. Former Oklahoma State women’s basketball player Kassidy De Lapp said she felt

the women’s team did not get the same treatment as the men’s team.

“We were treated equally as far as using basketball facilities go,” De Lapp said. “However over the five years I’ve played, I noticed the men’s team have had several upgrades within their program that we did not.”

OSU spent more than $7 million on the men’s basketball team compared to the women’s team only having just over $3 million in expenditures.

The issue of funding for men’s sports compared to women’s sports can be seen throughout Division 1 sports. The Division 1 yearly expenditures for

women’s sports is about $1.9 billion in comparison to the $4.8 billion that is spent on the men’s teams.

Men’s teams receive more funding based on total revenue. Division 1 football and men’s basketball dominate in terms of exposure and revenue compared to other sports in the country.

Jason Carroll, former general manager of Hogs, said the team’s funding is based on attendance and revenue.

“It really is just about exposure and how much you are bringing in,” Carroll said. “It’s not that people do not care about women’s sports, it’s just they are not receiving the same expo -

sure as football and basketball.” Athletics bring in large amounts of money. However, universities have a tough decision in deciding the allotment for each sport and department. This can lead to some programs receiving more than others, but it is purely based on the money the teams are bringing in and how to properly allocate it. Each university relies heavily on funding to reach its ultimate goal of providing a service to its student athletes and student body, but this can lead to not all programs receiving equal treatment.

news.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Courtesy of Dylan Taylor

OSU spent more than $7 million on the men’s basketball team compared to the women’s team only having just over $3 million in expenditures.

McKnight Lineup 2023-2024

through April, in Stillwater’s close and personal venue.

American Idol Winner Scotty McCreery – Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

New York Philharmonic “Bright Night Gala Concert” – Friday, 22, 2023, at 6 p.m.

New York Philharmonic “Saturday Night at the Movies” – Saturday, 23, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Get ready for concerts, movies and symphonies this upcoming school year. The McKnight Center in Stillwater just released the lineup for the 2023/2024 season. All performances will take place starting in September

New York Philharmonic “New World Symphony” – Sunday, 24, 2023, at 2 p.m.

Chris Botti – Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Pretty Woman – The Musical –Tuesday, 31 and Wed., Nov 1, 2023, at

7:30 PM

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Life in the Past Lane Tour - Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” In Concert with the Tulsa Symphony – Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at 7 p.m.

Martina McBride: The Joy of Christmas Tour – Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

Come From Away – Tuesday, 23 and Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

1964 The Tribute – Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

An Evening with Sutton Foster –Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra –Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at 3 p.m.

Chamber Music: Piano Spectacular – Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 3 p.m.

“The Cameraman”: Silent Film with Organist Peter Krasinski – Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 3 p.m.

The Book of Mormon – Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott –Friday, April 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

To learn more about season subscriptions and event on-sale dates, visit https://mcknightcenter.org/Online/ default.asp or call 405-744-9999.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts

The “Book of Mormon” is coming to the McKnight Center on April 1 and April 2, 2024.

Jaycee Hampton Assistant News & Lifestyle Editor

Courtesy of the

Paid to play collegiate esports

College scholarships have evolved from full-ride scholarships for five-star quarterbacks and National Merit Scholars, to wide-ranging opportunities for some of the greatest esports players in the world.

Former champions, highlevel amateurs and rising stars can return to school and earn scholarships because of their video game performance. Some colleges, including Fisher College and Mars Hill University, recruit across the world for athletes to represent them. Even Justin “Silly” Fargo-Palmer, 2018 Call of Duty World League champion, attends college to get an education and compete in the College CoD League.

More than 200 schools across the country, including five in Canada, were surveyed for information about their esports programs. Fifty-one schools responded with their esports scholarship information. Each school’s location, point of contact, region, county’s median age and type of school was used to further breakdown the responses.

Most colleges that provided scholarships in-house, not from other sources like the University of Oklahoma, came from the Northeast and Midwest. Of the schools that provided scholarships, 80% were from private schools. Mike Aguilar, director of esports at the OU, said the biggest esports funding difference comes from whether the school is publicly or privately funded. OU doesn’t receive scholarships from the school for esports; instead, they fundraise for their program and have raised around $180,000.

“That is the difference between most Division I Power Five schools and private

schools,” Aguilar said. “Ottawa, Fisher, Maryville. Our funds operate completely different. If you’re just waiting for the university to pay for scholarships, that doesn’t happen in our world.”

To see if age and region played a factor in the providing of scholarships, five different age groups and five different regions were created. Fisher College in Boston, a city that held two scholarship schools and fell into the youngest age group, recruits around the nation for production members, players and staff. Parker Perentis, Fisher’s General Manager, said the school expects to provide around $20 million in scholarships to nearly 600 students next year.

Non-scholarship competitors in collegiate esports often use social media to argue that recruiting and paying for the best talent isn’t fair. However,

Joey Gruszkowski, a nonscholarship Call of Duty player at Butler University, said that the arguments aren’t fair.

“People complain and say, ‘Oh they’re giving out scholarships and fully online educations,’ but it’s for people who wouldn’t be getting a degree otherwise,” Gruszkowski said.

With the outlier, Fisher College, excluded, young counties in Northeastern and Midwestern America are still the most common suppliers of esports scholarships. Mars Hill University was the only school in the survey that was in the oldest age group and outside of those two regions to provide scholarships. However, it doesn’t always start with money and championships. Culture and education have a massive impact on the growth of esports scholarships as well.

Shaun Noll, Gamers of Oklahoma State University adviser, helped OSU create an esports certificate within Arts & Sciences. He said the university is working toward developing the certificate into a minor, and one day, a major.

“The biggest thing is proving that the model works,” Noll said. “Whoever is investing is going to want to see what they’re learning and who is learning it.”

Every source described the significance of culture when building esports. They mentioned member diversity, inclusivity for all games and developing bonds between teammates that extend outside of the game. Aguilar said the ability to leverage the esports community and culture with school faculty is critical. Billy Kastigiannis, University of Oregon Esports Director, said that many esports programs are

missing that piece, especially the ones that provide scholarships.

“Building a culture is the most important thing that should come before anything else,” Kastigiannis said.

Blake Mitchell, Bethany College esports director, understands the arguments against esports scholarships. Bethany College gave $306,000 in esports scholarships this semester, but not with the goal of winning championships. Mitchell, like Gruszkowski, said the goal is to help students find a space they enjoy and get genuine experience in the industry.

“I have a couple of kids in particular that if they didn’t get the scholarship I offered to them, they probably were not going to go to college,” Mitchell said.

Courtesy of Wally Skalij

Former champions, high-level amateurs and rising stars can return to school and earn scholarships because of their video game performance.

Isaac Womble, Gavin Bender and Cole Weiberg O’Colly Contributors

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft

2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood

floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Business Squares

Business Squares Company Coming?

Check out “Cowboy Cabin”

550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

Airbnb.com/h/cowboy-cabin

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (05/19/23). Shine your light this year. Faithful team collaboration can realize big dreams. Springtime privacy inspires productive planning and prepara tion. Shift directions with a partnership this summer, before a busy, high performance autumn phase. Make a personal change next winter. Let your passion sing out.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Begin a lucrative New Moon phase. Discover fresh markets and rising prosperity. Strengthen financial foundations for growth. Rake in and preserve a healthy harvest.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Pursue personal dreams. Expand talents, capacities and skills over two weeks, with the New Moon in your sign. Grow and develop. Shine your light.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Insights, breakthroughs and revelations sparkle in tonight’s New Moon. Dreams seem within reach. Enjoy a two-week creative, imaginative and organizational phase. Imagine possibilities.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Connect for shared support for big results. This New Moon phase benefits team efforts. Grow through friendships, social networks and community participation. Have fun together.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — This New Moon illuminates professional opportunities. Develop interesting projects over the next two weeks. Pursue exciting possibilities. Your career, status and influence rise.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Educational opportunities arise after tonight’s New Moon. The next two-week phase favors study, investigation and exploration. Consider new perspectives. Make connections, contributions and discoveries.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Find creative ways to grow your family nest egg. A lucrative two-week phase dawns with tonight’s New Moon. Launch valuable initiatives with your partner.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Collaboration comes naturally, especially over two weeks following tonight’s Taurus New Moon. You’re on the same wavelength. Take your partnership to the next level.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Energize your physical moves. The New Moon tonight initiates two weeks of growing work, health and strength. Put your heart into your actions. Practice makes perfect.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy yourself. Stir up some romance. The New Moon begins a two-week family, fun and passion phase. Get creative. It’s all for love.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Realize domestic visions with upgrades over a two-week New Moon phase. Get creative. Improve the beauty and functionality of your home. Nurture family.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Profit through communications for two weeks. Possibilities spark in conversation over this New Moon phase. Creative projects flower. Express, share and connect. Write your story.

FOR RELEASE MAY 19, 2023

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1 College-level HS English course

6 __ and drop

10 Party loot

14 Place for a bench warmer?

15 Bag

16 Melodramatic sigh

17 Building a fire without any charcoal or lighter fluid?

20 Brain wave readout, for short

21 Not bumpy

22 Hindu spiritual writing

23 Mountain of comfy shoes?

Edited by

Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

By Alexander Liebeskind

with surf or shop

40 Restaurant offering that may have an age limit

45 Skin care brand

46 Open-book exams?

47 Prolific TV producer Norman

49 Caribbean spots

5/19/23

50 2022 FIFA World Cup host

Strand during a ski trip, say

“ ... never mind, then”

Solution to Thursday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

Gaming at its best Lifestyle

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

If you’re thinking about picking up “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” now that the spring semester is over, be sure to clear your schedule. Once this game is picked up, it is nearly impossible to put down. If there was one word I had to use to describe “Tears of the Kingdom,” it would be innovative.

Imagine everything you liked about “Breath of the Wild”. The unique powers, the freedom, the vast, open world packed with content. “Tears of the Kingdom” has every bit of this and more, all while dialing it up to 100.

Without spoilers, Hyrule is bigger than it’s ever been, and is packed with new locations and features at every step along your journey. After 20 hours of playing, I’ve only finished one of the numerous temples and dungeons this game has to offer. Every time you go somewhere, something new is bound to distract you and send you spiraling down a rabbit hole of side quests and adventure. This isn’t even mentioning the new abilities, which are easily the highlight of the game. I’ve never played a game with mechanics as innovative as these. Now, you can use your powers to traverse Hyrule in ways you could only dream of in the past. You can

build contraptions, fuse weapons and objects and rewind time to make your own creations. The game has no rules in how you approach your obstacles; you can use the tools you’re given in any way imaginable.

“There’s no way this’ll work,” is always followed by a delighted, “that actually worked.”

One flaw “Breath of the Wild” had was its empty, boring dungeons. “Tears of the Kingdom” makes up for this tenfold with some delightfully elaborate and fun dungeons. Perhaps not on the same level as “Ocarina of Time,” but they are great fun regardless. There is a much stronger story as well, with plenty of mysteries and lore to keep you invested in the main quest all the way through.

Many of the issues “Tears of the Kingdom” has, primarily comes down to the player. If you aren’t willing to get creative to try and overcome the bumps in the road, this game can feel a bit frustrating. However, every failed contraption and experiment leads to a successful one that gives you a boost of dopamine like no other.

All in all, “Tears of the Kingdom” is a revolutionary masterpiece that is sure to change the landscape of gaming just as much, if not more, than “Breath of the Wild” ever did. With a massive, sprawling world full of content, thrilling gameplay with more depth than you could possibly imagine, and wonderfully designed dungeons, this game is the culmination of the “Legend of Zelda” franchise and more.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

City manager retires after 46 years of service

Forty years with the police department and six years with the city, the Stillwater community commemorated a longtime servant as he entered retirement.

From starting as an officer with the Stillwater Police Department in 1976 until 2016 when he was named city manager, Norman McNickle has occupied many positions in his time of service. He managed to work his way through the ranks at a rapid pace starting as a patrol officer, investigator, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and was named chief of police in 1987. After almost 30 years as chief of police, he was appointed public safety director then interim city manager and finally city manager in 2016, in which he remained until his last day of service this past Monday.

Among other accomplishments throughout his career, McNickle received the 2009 Oklahoma Municipal League’s Don Rider Award for playing a significant role in the Stillwater Police Department accreditation process. More recently, the first bond election in the last 20 years was passed to ensure the continuously growing population of Stillwater would be granted a new fire station to better serve the community.

Colleagues of McNickle’s like Will Joyce, mayor of

the city of Stillwater, believe that without such admirable characteristics held by him, completing these tasks would be undoubtedly formidable.

“He’s been in a role that’s required him to take on a ton of tough decisions and a ton of situations that most of us prefer not to have to deal with,” Joyce said. “And that’s just what he’s done for his career. He’s dealt with tough decisions for our community. And he’s done it because he cares about service, and he cares about the community. And it’s tough to imagine someone who would be a better example of a public servant.”

Over the years, Stillwater has flourished in different departments in which growth has been made in transportation projects, economic development and infrastructure developments that McNickle has had a hand in. His constant level state of mind is a trait that mayor Joyce said he will miss the most when going forward with different projects in the community.

“For a guy who has been here for 46 years, you can count on him,” Joyce said. “You know he’s going to show up, and you know he’s going to be engaged.

Although he is most known amongst the community as a leader or an official that primarily deals with city business, he is also a friend of many who are excited to see their colleague take a break. Rob Hill, emergency manage -

ment director for Stillwater, is one of those who is happy to see his friend enjoy his retirement, but notes that it is bittersweet.

“I’m sad to see him go because he’s such a great boss,” Hill said. “But I’m happy for my friend who gets to retire and gets to go to Colorado and go fishing and do all the things that he likes to do. We’re going to miss him for sure.”

McNickle is a grandfather of many grandchildren and has recently welcomed another grandson. After finishing up business here in Stillwater, McNickle is excited to spend time with his growing family.

“My son in Colorado Springs and daughter in-law presented me with a grandson on April 30, so I’m running through there,” McNickle said. “I spent quite a few years building a cabin in Colorado and that’s where I’m headed after that.”

McNickle expresses relief as he leaves the office and heads for his next stop in Colorado but is sure to mention his gratitude to his comrades back at the office in Stillwater. He notes that his accomplishments are not his alone and is sure of a fulfilling future for the city.

“They’re great people here, and the city’s in good hands,” McNickle said. “Any accomplishment that I’ve been involved with, the city is built on the backs of its employer. So, we’ve done all of our things together, and that’s extremely gratifying. I’m ready to go.”

Courtesy of HO

“Tears of the Kingdom” is a revolutionary masterpiece that is sure to change the landscape of gaming just as much, if not more, than “Breath of the Wild” ever did.

Emi Norton Staff Reporter

Courtesy of Dawn Jones

In honor of his service to the Stillwater community, the city counsel unanimously voted to name Stillwater’s City Hall to the Norman McNickle Municipal Complex.