Octavian
3/4/2007, 10:25 PM
Amarillo takes a shot at O-State
Winning with the Grim Reaper at Oklahoma State University
TIM DAHLBERG - AP Sports Columnist
Let's get something straight before we begin: I'm not as smart as Boone Pickens. I can't be, because he has $2.7 billion in the bank and, well, I don't. He also owns a major college athletic program at Oklahoma State University, and I don't.
He may be a bit eccentric about things, but that's a billionaire's right. Howard Hughes was so afraid of germs that he refused to leave his hotel room for months, but as long as the money kept coming, no one said a thing.
No one is saying much around Boone Pickens Stadium, either, because the oil and gas investor recently gave $165 million to renovate the football stadium and build a new athletic village.
Who knows, if there's anything left over, they might even build a classroom or two.
Actually, there was some handwringing from academic types when Pickens made the donation last year. They might have preferred a new science building, or some more distinguished chairs.
Pickens, though, certainly has the right to give his money to wherever he wants to give it, and he wants to give it to his beloved Cowboys.
Still, you have to wonder just what they're putting in the water in Stillwater, Okla., these days.
Because now things have turned just plain creepy.
The news out of America's heartland the other day was that Pickens had put together a plan for OSU to borrow some $20 million and buy life insurance policies for 25 well-heeled supporters with the university listed as the sole beneficiary.
Upon the demise of each booster, the university would be paid another $10 million to add to it's already bulging athletic coffers.
A Cowboy death pool, if you will. From the grave, the gift that keeps giving.
Take that, Oklahoma and Nebraska! You may live for your teams, but we die for ours.
The best part is that OSU shouldn't have to wait all that long for the money to start coming in. All of the boosters are between the ages of 65 and 85, and you don't have to be an insurance actuary to figure out that some will be kicking off in the not so distant future.
The numbers don't make much sense to me but, like I said, I'm not nearly as smart as Pickens. My idea of making some money off the Cowboys is to bet 20 bucks against them anytime they're playing the Sooners.
Anyway, the plan is called "Gift of a Lifetime," which probably made it a bit easier to sell to the would-be donors. Other suggestions were "You Die, We Win," "Kick The Bucket, Help Build An Arena," and "From The Casket To The Basket."
OSU fans will now need to change their reading habits. Instead of turning to the sports pages to see how things are going, they'll read the obits first to see if any of the gang of 25 have croaked.
Could make for some good conversation over morning coffee.
"Hey honey, I see here that old Jim Jones died yesterday. He sure was a great guy, wasn't he?"
"Yes, he was dear. Now if Hank Evans goes too, we'll have just enough for that new weight room. That should really help with the recruits."
The athletic director reportedly plans to install a direct line in the Strode Funeral Home in downtown Stillwater to get first word on the timely demise of any of the Fab 25. No sense letting any of that money languish any longer than necessary.
The NCAA hasn't weighed in on the plan as of yet, but it's hard to believe the organization would pick a fight with one of the richest men in the country. And (wink, wink) Pickens doesn't really run athletics at OSU, because the school has assured the NCAA that it has employees who make decisions without picking up the phone and calling him first.
Besides, it's not like Pickens doesn't donate elsewhere. He did give $5 million for brain research recently to the University of Texas, though that might simply be a reflection that there are a lot fewer brain surgeons in Texas than there are football players in Oklahoma.
Still, this could lead to some interesting scenarios.
Imagine if OSU's basketball team is up two points with 10 seconds left against Nebraska and coach Sean Sutton forgets to call a time out to remind his team to guard against a 3-pointer that wins the game.
Who could blame him because he was busy looking at a courtside donor desperately grasping his oxygen tank and trying to breathe.
He goes, and the Cowboys get a new practice court.
And don't think the golf coach doesn't have his eye on a couple of old geezers hanging out at the bar in the clubhouse at the Karsten Creek Golf Club. They could be worth a new driving range, and maybe a putting green, too.
Speaking of new things, maybe it's time OSU changes its slogan to keep up with the new theme. Right now, it bills itself as "The State's University," which doesn't really say a lot.
This kind of has a nice ring to it:
"OSU: Winning With The Grim Reaper."
http://ap.amarillonet.com/pstories/sports/college/20070303/153744012.shtml
Winning with the Grim Reaper at Oklahoma State University
TIM DAHLBERG - AP Sports Columnist
Let's get something straight before we begin: I'm not as smart as Boone Pickens. I can't be, because he has $2.7 billion in the bank and, well, I don't. He also owns a major college athletic program at Oklahoma State University, and I don't.
He may be a bit eccentric about things, but that's a billionaire's right. Howard Hughes was so afraid of germs that he refused to leave his hotel room for months, but as long as the money kept coming, no one said a thing.
No one is saying much around Boone Pickens Stadium, either, because the oil and gas investor recently gave $165 million to renovate the football stadium and build a new athletic village.
Who knows, if there's anything left over, they might even build a classroom or two.
Actually, there was some handwringing from academic types when Pickens made the donation last year. They might have preferred a new science building, or some more distinguished chairs.
Pickens, though, certainly has the right to give his money to wherever he wants to give it, and he wants to give it to his beloved Cowboys.
Still, you have to wonder just what they're putting in the water in Stillwater, Okla., these days.
Because now things have turned just plain creepy.
The news out of America's heartland the other day was that Pickens had put together a plan for OSU to borrow some $20 million and buy life insurance policies for 25 well-heeled supporters with the university listed as the sole beneficiary.
Upon the demise of each booster, the university would be paid another $10 million to add to it's already bulging athletic coffers.
A Cowboy death pool, if you will. From the grave, the gift that keeps giving.
Take that, Oklahoma and Nebraska! You may live for your teams, but we die for ours.
The best part is that OSU shouldn't have to wait all that long for the money to start coming in. All of the boosters are between the ages of 65 and 85, and you don't have to be an insurance actuary to figure out that some will be kicking off in the not so distant future.
The numbers don't make much sense to me but, like I said, I'm not nearly as smart as Pickens. My idea of making some money off the Cowboys is to bet 20 bucks against them anytime they're playing the Sooners.
Anyway, the plan is called "Gift of a Lifetime," which probably made it a bit easier to sell to the would-be donors. Other suggestions were "You Die, We Win," "Kick The Bucket, Help Build An Arena," and "From The Casket To The Basket."
OSU fans will now need to change their reading habits. Instead of turning to the sports pages to see how things are going, they'll read the obits first to see if any of the gang of 25 have croaked.
Could make for some good conversation over morning coffee.
"Hey honey, I see here that old Jim Jones died yesterday. He sure was a great guy, wasn't he?"
"Yes, he was dear. Now if Hank Evans goes too, we'll have just enough for that new weight room. That should really help with the recruits."
The athletic director reportedly plans to install a direct line in the Strode Funeral Home in downtown Stillwater to get first word on the timely demise of any of the Fab 25. No sense letting any of that money languish any longer than necessary.
The NCAA hasn't weighed in on the plan as of yet, but it's hard to believe the organization would pick a fight with one of the richest men in the country. And (wink, wink) Pickens doesn't really run athletics at OSU, because the school has assured the NCAA that it has employees who make decisions without picking up the phone and calling him first.
Besides, it's not like Pickens doesn't donate elsewhere. He did give $5 million for brain research recently to the University of Texas, though that might simply be a reflection that there are a lot fewer brain surgeons in Texas than there are football players in Oklahoma.
Still, this could lead to some interesting scenarios.
Imagine if OSU's basketball team is up two points with 10 seconds left against Nebraska and coach Sean Sutton forgets to call a time out to remind his team to guard against a 3-pointer that wins the game.
Who could blame him because he was busy looking at a courtside donor desperately grasping his oxygen tank and trying to breathe.
He goes, and the Cowboys get a new practice court.
And don't think the golf coach doesn't have his eye on a couple of old geezers hanging out at the bar in the clubhouse at the Karsten Creek Golf Club. They could be worth a new driving range, and maybe a putting green, too.
Speaking of new things, maybe it's time OSU changes its slogan to keep up with the new theme. Right now, it bills itself as "The State's University," which doesn't really say a lot.
This kind of has a nice ring to it:
"OSU: Winning With The Grim Reaper."
http://ap.amarillonet.com/pstories/sports/college/20070303/153744012.shtml