Dean's List Monday, 6 July 2015

SOONERS SEND LAST YEAR’S STARTER TO THIS YEAR’S MEDIA DAYS

Interesting but not shocking that OU would send QB Trevor Knight (with Sterling Shepard and Erik Striker) to the upcoming Big 12 Football Media Days. Baker Mayfield is the presumptive starter but sending last year’s starter could make sense from a number of angles.

One, the job is not decided and it doesn’t hurt the competition to send Knight. Two, he’s well-spoken and a safe choice to send out the Boomer Sooner message. Three, Knight is the safest choice to address the inevitable questions about the race/fraternity scandal that the team addressed in the spring. Mayfield commented recently about race-related issues and could handle the job. But all things being even, anyone who knows Knight realizes he’s well-equipped to handle any potential difficult questions about the potential sensitive material.

OSU is not sending QB Mason Rudolph, but that’s keeping in line with most every other school. Only TCU (Trevone Boykin) and Iowa State (Sam Richardson) are sending starting QBs. Traditionally, QBs have dominated the summer sessions with the media.

Steve McGehee and I will be at the Big 12 Media Days with a heavy emphasis on Tuesday, July 21, when OU, OSU and Texas are all scheduled to appear.

RORY REALLY HURT OR FANCY NAME FOR SPRAINED ANKLE?

It looks like my pick to win The Open Championship (the old British Open) won’t even lace ‘em up. Or, if he does his left ankle will be so swollen he won’t be able to tie said strings. Rory McIlroy, World No. 1 and also defending champion and betting favorite to win next weekend at St. Andrews, busted the ankle messing around with pals and a soccer ball.

Officially, McIlroy announced Monday that he suffered a total rupture of the ATFL -- the anterior talofibular ligament, and the one most commonly sprained -- in his left ankle while playing soccer with friends Saturday.

Rory’s message accompanying an Instagram photo read, "Continuing to assess extent of injury and treatment plan day by day," the world's top-ranked golfer wrote. "Rehab already started. ... Working hard to get back as soon as I can."

Perhaps the injury is serious and will derail much of the remainder of Rory’s 2015 season. I’ve researched it quite a bit today, but heretofore have not come in contact with the technical analysis of his injury: Ruptured anterior talofibular ligament. It sure sounds a lot like what you and I know as a dad-gum sprained ankle.

Hope it’s not serious because the game of golf needs the injection of young guns with talent and mojo style points. Jordan Spieth is flush with it as he pursues a Grand Slam. Rickie Folwer has it (gotta hope he’s not paired with Tiger for another decade or so at a major as the sideshow carnival that followed Rickie and Tiger’s pairing in the first two rounds of the US Open surely led to the inept performance of the popular former Cowboy).

Rory’s got it. Tiger had it. And if he hits it like he did in West Virginia Sunday and putts like he did when he was bulletproof I’m sure he’ll find the mojo himself. But frankly, as much as golf purists have hoped any one of a dozen talented young guys will emerge, most of them are essentially walking logos with long, hard swings who don’t move the needle with a TV audience.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Trying to confirm word on the street that there’s a lanky, slim, balding, bespectacled man getting the word out that the NBA Finals are set. All he needs is tip times. Sketchy sources say first-year Commissioner Adam Silver has penciled in San Antonio vs Cleveland “sometime next summer.”

Seriously, the rich got richer today as those two powerhouses got former all-stars to sign on for close to the veteran’s minimum. Free agency has gifted the Spurs not only with LaMarcus Aldridge, but now gifted power forward David West – yes, the former OKC/New Orleans Hornet who knocked down umpteen 17 footers from Chris Paul – who walked away from a $12 million dollar option from his Indiana Pacers for $1.5 million for one year from the Spurs. The net difference is apparently closer to just $6 million after consideration is given for Texas not having onerous state taxes.

And hot-shot outside shooter Mo Williams is the latest quality player to flee for less green(er) pastures. Mo had a big year last season in Charlotte and won’t play as much or make as much. But Williams bought in to the idea of playing alongside LeBron and with a team that is basically an unheard of 2-to-1 favorite to win the NBA Title, despite not winning it this past season.

MEANTIME IN OUR FAIR CITY…

Meantime, the ‘Enes Kanter Watch’ continues on another hot, humid day in our fair city. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.