THE CRIMSON PIGSKIN e-LETTER
TO AIR IS HUMAN
Five thousand fans crowded around the soundstage in OUlu, Finland. The anticipation of the audience continued to build until Bjorn Turoque took the stage. He was the first member of the night's competition. Ten contestants from countries all over the world annually participate in two separate rounds, including a freestyle performance and a compulsory number to be determined by competition officials. It's was a long road to the Finland Finals but each one of the competitors believed the trip was more than worth the effort.
Just three days before the big night, C-Diddy hid away at a cabin with no electricity to practice what 2001-'02 back-to-back world champion Brit, Zac Monro, calls "the only remaining pure art form on Earth". Monro continues, "Someone can take your cell phone or your car but no one can take away your music and your air guitar. It is the only art form which can not commercialized because it is entirely intangible. The only visible result of air guitar is the effect is has on its surroundings and the emotions it inspires."
Now on DVD, Air Guitar Nation is a documentary following both Diddy and Turoque from their New York City beginnings, and the climb from US east coast champion and runner-up respectively, to the world championships. Diddy and Turoque talk strategy, rehearse meticulously and bring the house down a number of times in this humorous look at an eccentric activity no one could call just a hobby. The stage names and costumes add a considerable amount of flair to what an air guitar historian says is high-action
"performance art".
Why air guitar? To a person, each air guitarist answers this question by stating it is an opportunity to be the best in the world at something even if they can't play a note of honest to gosh music. Some entertaining stuff. This may make a great "rockumentary" to rent for one of those icy days on the horizon but don't give up those Van Halen tickets just yet. If you're looking for the exacting technique today's guitarists dish out onstage, hear Monro's closing remarks from the feature. To air is human. To air guitar,…is divine.
LOCAL SEASIDE
Nunu's Mediterranean Café & Market at 3131 West Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma serves up the freshest Mediterranean cuisine west of Crete. Everything on the sampler plate is delicious. There is perfectly seasoned rice, a cabbage roll, two pieces of melt-in-your-mouth grilled chicken and a tasty portion of beef kafta. The tangy humus and tabouli are very good as well. With indoor and outdoor dining possibilities, closed eyes can whisk you away to Athens (no, not Georgia).
When the meal is over, ingredients for the same taste treats are available to take home in the market section of Nunu's space. Even if Mediterranean isn't a big favorite, this food is good enough to change a mind and the most finicky palette. With lower end to middle-of-the-road price ranges, stopping by Nunu's is never a no-no. Bon appetit! The CPEL,…something for everyone.
66 REASONS
Three notable facts making Oklahoma a great state to be a college football fan in are the three local football teams being in the top 25 nationally. Oklahoma is ranked as high as 4th. Oklahoma State is ranked as high as 6th. Tulsa has finally broken into the top 25 with a ranking of 22nd. The teams' combined record is 20-1. The only loss in the trio is OU's game versus Texas which is currently ranked 1st. That is some great football for some of the world's greatest fans,…even better than the five-thousand at the air guitar world championship.
TULSA
Kate from Sapulpa, Oklahoma made this submission after witnessing the Tulsa versus Texas-El Paso football game last Saturday.
The Miners were impressive on their offensive front, frustrating the home team's defensive effort, but QB Johnson responded to UTEP's (how dare you!) scoring first by issuing a long bomb that was easily jogged into the end zone for a quick 7 points for TU. Let there be NO DOUBT, Tulsa can score at will. The 77 to 30-something could have turned into a 100 point score if Graham hadn't been merciful and put in his second and third stringers in for the fourth quarter.
Think of it: 77 points. That's 11 touchdowns. The prospect of a three-point field goal never entered a Tulsan mind.
This SUNDAY night at 7pm, The Golden Hurricane hosts Conference USA nemesis Central Florida Golden Knights in the battle of the golden mascots. Tulsa is much improved since the two meetings last year and figures to post the 8th win of the year against zero losses. Let's see if TU's golden record survives the Knights one more time. Tulsa 45, UCF 31.
ARKANSAS
Last week, the CPEL made a 20-19 prediction for the Arkansas-Kentucky game. The final score was 21-20 in favor of the Wildcats (excuse me, PowerCats). The hard fought battle dropped the Hogs to 3-4 on the year with former head coach Houston Nutt bringing the Ole Miss Rebels into Fayetteville, Arkansas for a 6pm kick-off this Saturday. The Razorbacks have improved this season but the Rebels should be more than the home team can handle this time around. Tough season for the Big Red Pig fans. Crooked letter, humpback, blah, blah, blah 21, Arkansas 20.
TENNESSEE
Sporting a twinkie record with Arkansas at 3-4, the Volunteers showed some signs of life in a 34-3 drubbing of Mississippi State last weekend. Phil Fulmer and his band of rowdy RockyToppers had to do something before this week's game at 2nd ranked Alabama. Although the past two weeks 'Bama has looked less than stellar on the gridiron the Tide is playing for keeps and a possible national title in this 6:45pm CDT contest.
Following the Alabama game, UT has what appear to be two breathers at South Carolina and hosting non-conference opponent Wyoming. South Carolina's quarterback is named Smelley so how good could they be? Then the Cowboys in the yucky brown and yellow unis are like one final sacrificial lamb entering Neyland Cathedral. Two weeks after branding the 'Boys, Tennessee faces intra-state rival Vanderbilt and that should be a dandy. Tennessee closes the season by hosting Kentucky two days after Thanksgiving (yes, it's already that time of year). Belch! Mmmm,…turkey! Alabama 24, Tennessee 13.
OKLAHOMA STATE
The darlings of college football this week hail from Stillwater, Oklahoma, home of Pistol Pete, Eskimo Joe's and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Hopefully Pete has his air guitar tuned up for a journey inside the Austin City Limits and a friendly meeting with number one Texas. What must be a typographical error on FoxSports.net indicates the Pokes are in 1st place in the Big 12 Conference. When was the last time that happened? The pleasant surprise start of 7-0 would be even better if the real Cowboys can lasso the Longhorns and advance to 8-0.
OSU head coach Mike Gundy threw media members and fans for a loop by sitting far behind the bench during the Missouri win making notes on a clipboard. This weekend chances for a win against sMack Brown's burnt orange steak hopefuls may improve if Gundy sits in the parking lot making notes or perhaps since it's the battle for number one, sitting on a barstool at Tumbleweed's would provide the lift needed for victory.
Peering into the CPEL crystal ball, there's Joe DeForest (Kelley) and Tim Beckman co-accepting the Big 12 Coach of the Year award. Congratulations in advance fellas. You've got a great team there. CPEL,…Always ready to help when the big one is on the line.
Homecoming weekend at Boone Pickens Stadium saw OSU pummel the Baylor Bears 34-6. Baylor struck first and didn't strike again the rest of the game. Gundy's charges rolled on to an easy victory. Kick-off in Austin is at 2:30pm CDT. This is the most exciting thing to happen in the history of Indiana Basketball. Oops! Different story. All offense at Darrell K. Royal,…Horns 55, O-State 52.
OKLAHOMA
Another homecoming weekend was in full swing in Norman, Oklahoma as Oklahoma took on Mark Mangino's Kansas Jayhawks. As the Sooners were headed into the KU game, Kathie from Richmond, Virginia wrote, ",…if you ever figure out what a Jayhawk actually is, please let me know. Perhaps some fans in mourning after the game will spill the secret of the blue/red bird." Well Kathie, the jury's still out on the avian genus and species of Jayhawkicus losicus but there was one sure-fired way to identify the Kansas fans afterward. They were the long-faced individuals in royal and crimson basketball hats, looking for the fastest way to I-35 North.
Oklahoma gained 674 yards in total offense but even more impressive was the headliner for Kansas Saturday afternoon. KU wide receiver Dezmon (no, not Dez Bryant) Briscoe made twelve receptions for the ridiculous total of 269 yards. Number 80 was seen making more trips up the sideline than the chain gang. Even most OU fans would agree this was the most impressive performance of the afternoon.
OU's Sam Bradford distributed the ball like the frat brothers and sorority sisters distributed candy to the young and young at heart, who were witness to the OU homecoming parade on a perfectly clear day without a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. This added to an already perfect day at Owen Field. Eyewitnesses report there was plenty of good food and fun pre and postgame.
Although this particular 45-31 loss wasn't a complete surprise, it accompanies the 'Hawks' only other upset loss to South Florida. Interestingly enough at 5-2, KU is also listed as 1st place in the Big 12 by FoxSports.com. Guess anyone can be number one in the Big 12 these days.
Saturday at 11:30am CDT, OU kicks off against the K-State Wildcats (excuse me, PowerCats). The Little Apple, Manhattan, Kansas has been the scene of a number of upset victories over the years and Oklahoma has to be careful not to be added to that number. KSU, 4-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, is recovering from a disappointing 14-13 loss at Colorado last Saturday which will add to the 'Cats' motivation, as if playing 4th ranked OU wasn't enough to elicit the most perfect effort the purple people can muster. More drama than Broadway in the Big Apple ensues but the good guys win in the end. Sooners 37, KSU 31.
THE PERCENTAGES
After the topsy-turvy week six picks, CPEL went 5-0 last weekend. This brings the season total to 26-4. That's 87% for all those air guitar champs out there and you know who you are.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Carlos
www.crimsonpigskin.com
THE CRIMSON PIGSKIN e-LETTER
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