No I'm not defending the Homeland grocery stores...partly cause I honestly haven't seen one in awhile.

I am however defending the east side of the state. Defending my dear school, Broken Arrow (never thought I would be doing this).

But a rather seasoned writer/columnist from the 'otherside' of the state decided to throw his two cents into the high school sports world. Its not that he gave his opinion that I have a problem with but rather the opinion itself.

I invite you to check out Mr. Barry Tramel's column from the Daily Oklahoman. He talks about making class 6A smaller. He talks about how Bixby and Shawnee will be playing against schools with 3000 more students in some cases. AND...OF COURSE...he brings up that schools districts like Edmond, Moore, Midwest City and others have multiple high schools unlike Broken Arrow and Union. Oh and he makes the quip that he thinks those school districts made the right decision to do that on multiple levels.

That's when I take offense. I'll get to the athletics side of his column in a minute but let me set straight the wild ideas of our westside brothers. As a graduate of Broken Arrow high school with nearly 1000 students in my graduating class I don't have a problem with the school size. To be honest it's probably a good thing that I didn't know or hang out with half the school. I got a great mixture of society with a school that big. The poor and rich were mixed within the same classrooms. There wasn't a school that was dominantly one race but rather one large school that held all races. It was a small college without the freedom. It was learning to deal with people with different stances and ideas. I believe Broken Arrow averages somewhere around 5-7 National Merit Finalists each year. So you take those kids and distribute them through three schools that's about 3 for each school. Not bad if you ask me.

You want to get my honest opinion about Broken Arrow splitting into multiple schools when it comes to athletics? I think it would be a much more scary situation. I think they might actually be a state championship level squad. Hard to believe but there were some kids that walked the hallways that were the cream of the crop but got lost in the politics. But they still got a good education and are off at college or contributing in the job force. And that's what it's all about right? Academics? So yeah sure maybe Junior didn't become a star quarterback because he went to BA and got lost in the numbers but he did get a good education. Plus isn't the old saying "If you're good enough they will find you."? That's what we say to kids stuck at 4A schools and elsewhere. If you have the ability college coaches will find you and you'll make it to the pros.

Now to the athletics side of Tramel's column. It's been a few years but Booker T. Washington put together quite a run in 6A football. It's funny how that works where the small school that works hard and doesn't let what everyone else is saying stop them. Sapulpa has had good teams in the past. It takes good coaching and the right attitude from the kids and wins will come. But isn't sport all about diversity. Then why does Tramel and others want us to take away that from sports. How about we just get rid of the scoreboards and just put clocks in the endzones and share juice boxes and fruit snacks when the final buzzer sounds!

Life isn't fair. Not everybody wins. It's called life. Better for Junior and Sissy to figure it out when mom and dad are trying to live through them then later on when they are on their own. To be honest I don't think a lot of kids care about this stuff anyways. I've never heard a kid following a loss to Broken Arrow, Union, Jenks or Owasso say "We'll it wasn't the overthrown ball for an interception that cost us the game. But rather the 2,000 more kids they have attending their school really made the difference in this game." I think I found my new question following a game.

This past weekend I drove to Texas for a buddy of mine’s wedding. It was an interesting trip crossing over the Muddy Boggy River and the Clear Boggy River. Going through Atoka (nice little town) and Durant as well as many others really made it an interesting trip. But seeing the names of towns like Dewar and McAlester on street signs and driving through Texas where high school football stadiums stick out on the skyline like a beacon of light from the sky is shining down on them. It left me wondering just how long it is till football action begins. Really getting involved with the magazine this summer has given me the opportunity to realize that high school football goes on all summer long in some form or fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I always knew that team camps and passing leagues and early morning workouts took place. But I’ve been to passing leagues, passing tournaments, team camps and different variations of high school football all summer long. It seemed as if every week or two I had the chance to just feed the high school football beast that lives inside me (I’ve been told I should have that whole beast inside me thing checked out but I think it’s kind of cool, too bad the ladies don’t).

It’s time for the second annual Hot Stove Season for High School Football Report! If you missed it, around this time last year I wrote a nice little blog about last season’s personnel movements, if you’d like to read that one then click here. So with that being said, I present to you the Second Annual (unless there aren’t any transfers next season) Hot Stove Season for High School Football Report.

 So early at the start of the spring semester this past school year a transfer happened that affected high school football and that was Jenks quarterback (by way of Blackwell by way of Muskogee by way of Locust Grove) Beau Marsaln transferred to his fifth school in his four year high school career to Metro Christian Academy. Marsaln will look to replace the graduated Joey Rogers at quarterback and he’ll have a heck of a weapon in Jake Schooley to throw to. It’ll be interesting to see if this young man will live up to the hype that was given to him since early in his high school career.

Then there was a lull in the action of the high school hot stove. Then it all exploded with the big move as first reported right here on vype.com, Archie Bradley is a Tiger. The Muskogee quarterback whose highlight play came against Broken Arrow was following his mother (who accepted a high school assistant principal’s job) to the Land of Tigers and the Pride marching band. Bradley will likely take the reigns of a Tiger offense that had a big fat question mark at the quarterback position after future mayor of Broken Arrow Cale Fulps had graduated and moved on to the Riverhawks of Northeastern State. (Writer’s note: I hate that nickname and the reason Cale is the future mayor is that he’s a smart kid, personable and he was the first quarterback to lead the Tigers to a victory over Union in 19 years!) The movement away from Jenks didn’t end with Marsaln as Steven Stadler a defensive back that started for the Trojans transferred to cross-town, arch-rival Union. Rumored to be following him over to the U is running back Colton Dost. Then there was the transfer of Matt Leutjen and brother Derrick from Locust Grove to Hennessey. Then there was Kyler Harris who followed dear old dad to Muskogee. Oh and don’t forget about the supposed transfer of Bishop Kelley quarterback Jordy Albert to Booker T. Washington. The last time a kid transferred into BTW to play quarterback it worked pretty well didn’t it Collier Winters.

So there you have it the 2nd Annual Hot Stove Season for High School Football Report. Check back here next year and see what stud players have moved where. And no I’m not like Ed Werder of ESPN camped outside the houses of these kids trying to get a glimpse of what they had for breakfast.

It's crazy to think as schools begin to let out for the summer that high school spring football is also wrapping up. We'll be left to discussions here on Vype.com or at the barbershop about high school football.

But it's not too late for you to catch some high school football spring style. Many teams are holding spring games tonight and this weekend. Muskogee's game is underway and Glenpool is later today. Jenks and East Central will have their spring games tomorrow on a Friday night just like it's done in the Fall. Saturday is a big day that if you wanted to you could see three high school spring games. Broken Arrow at 9:30 am, Booker T. at 1:30 and then wrap up the evening in Sand Springs with Johnny Deaton at 6pm.

If that doesn't fill your appetitie then head to Sapulpa Monday when the Chieftans will have the Blue/White Game at 7pm.

Plenty of opportunities to get your fill...at least until summer passing leagues get underway. That's all for now...better get back to posting stories and updates here and if you have any ideas send them my way to steve.braun@vype.com

For the Bishop Kelley girls soccer team the streak is over. The Tulsa World had a quote from the head coach that made a good statement though. Something to the effect that it's new girls each year. That it's not the same team like many of the great dynasties of sports have been. With the same great player stretching the time of the dynasy. No this one had new components each year.

I still have to hand it to the Bishop Kelley Girls soccer program. 10 straight state titles. It's incredible to imagine. It's just one of those feats that will probably never be matched again. But then again as I say that the Cascia Hall boys program could be starting a mini-dynasty of their own. Check out that team as they go for their fourth straight state title.

Oh and for all of you wanting to talk about private vs. public. Cascia could capture the football, boy's basketball and boy's soccer titles this year. To go along with the state boy's basketball and boy's soccer title last year. Something strong is developing in athletics for the Commandos. Watch Out Public Schools!!!

I planned on having a blog talking about recruiting, looking forward to next year’s high school football and all that other fun stuff.

But then I was on facebook and fellow classmate and RSU basketball player Sylvester Spicer had a photo album of his little brother. His little brother that passed away unexpectedly while playing basketball this past week. To look at those pictures and see his friends comments and then some of his…I can’t even imagine. I don’t want to imagine a loss like that. I have a little brother of my own. I would consider him my best friend.

I’m new to this journalism/broadcasting thing and people ask me well why do you want to get into sports broadcasting? I always answer that I want to get paid to do something I love. But I think it’s also because sports have been a part of my family for a long time. I feel comfortable when dealing with sports because of that family aspect.

We joke in my family that my little brother grew up thinking he lived in a van because he was always shuttled along with me and my little sister from my soccer games to her ballet to my baseball games. When I started to play basketball my little brother was right there in the driveway wanting to join. He was usually regulated to chasing balls that went down the street.

I had the fun of helping coach my brother’s recreation soccer team along with my dad and cousin. It’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had and will be one of those memories that lasts with me for the rest of my life. I was the assistant coach of the tied for 1^st place recreational soccer team in BA.

But I think we all have memories that make us smile about that someone we love. That’s what this is really all about. Be sure to let the ones you love know you love them. Whether it is by saying it or by your actions but let it be known. Cause you never know when your or you’re loved ones last day will come.

Big Spice my prayers go out to you and your family in what has to be a very rough time.

In elementary school I was in the choir and we sang a song titled “Irish Blessing” and I think it fits perfect for times like this.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again.
May God hold you, May God hold you
Ever in the palm of his hand.