Veteran Sportscaster Jim Henderson Bidding Farewell to WWL: ‘The Business Has Gotten Tougher’ – TVSpy.

Join us at the Museum for Tuesdays At Sundown—The Legendary Life of Will James
January 17, 2012
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Collector Abram Hays will discuss Will James’ life and times and take visitors on a tour through the exhibit he owns and curated, “Will James: The A.P. Hays Collection.” He will explore the works that exposed readers to the everyday world of the working cowboy and how James positively-influenced the American perception of the West in the early 20th century.

Will James’ trials include facing ethnic discrimination, rodeo mishaps and prison. Those troubles were balanced out with the triumphs of becoming a successful Hollywood stuntman and top ranch hand. He topped it all off by winning literary awards and achieving book sales that rivaled Fitzgerald and Hemingway and having his books turned into movies. In his last written words, Will James proclaimed: THE COWBOY WILL NEVER DIE! If true, his own body of work will have much to do with assuring it.

Members free, Nonmembers $5 each
For more information, call (405) 478-2250, Ext. 264

Join the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Association and the Metro Arts Circle as we visit the first exhibition devoted to the designs of world-renowned French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier!

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk made its U.S. debut at the Dallas Museum of Art in November 2011. Marking the first time that the DMA will present an exhibition dedicated to exploring the art of fashion, this exhibit provides an unprecedented look at the designer dubbed fashion’s “enfant terrible” from the time of his first runway shows in the 1970s and who has become one of the most important fashion designers of recent decades. Organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with the Maison Jean Paul Gaultier, the exhibition premiered in Montreal on June 15, 2011, and will be on view at the Dallas Museum of Art from November 13, 2011, through February 12, 2012, before traveling to its final stop in the U.S. at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young, in March 2012.

The exhibition will feature approximately 120 ensembles from the designer’s couture collections, as well as from his prêt-à-porter line, along with their accessories. Created between 1976 and 2010, the majority of these pieces have never been exhibited. Sketches, stage costumes, and excerpts from films, runway shows, concerts, dance performances and televised interviews all will provide a look at the couturier’s world and will explore how his avant-garde fashions challenged societal and aesthetic codes in unexpected, and often humorous, ways.

What’s Included:
· Round-trip bus transportation from the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art to the Dallas Museum of Art and shops in Highland Park Village
· Admission to Dallas Museum of Art and guided tour of The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
· Lunch at the Atrium Café and Jason’s Deli boxed dinner
· Snacks, water, drinks and coffee provided on bus

Tour Price:
· Museum Members with NARM Benefits ($100+ members): $110 per person
· Docents and all other Museum Members ($60 and under): $125 per person
· Non-Museum members: $140 per person

Bus Departs from the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
555 Elm Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
Saturday, January 14th at 7:45 a.m.
Approximate return: 7:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Katie J. Parker at katiejparker@ou.edu or (405) 325-2297.

Sponsored by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Association
The University of Oklahoma
Reservation Application
To reserve your spot, please download reservation application and turn in a completed reservation application by Monday, January 11, 2011.

Even if you didn’t grow up in Atlanta listening to 96Rock, you grew up listening to some place special that may have had a history like this one.

96 Rock Reunion Tribute Video from GRHOF on Vimeo.

Here is the release…

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- .
This production is under the direction of Alan Muraoka, who directed Lyric’s productions of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 in 2007 and 2009, and has many Broadway, Off-Broadway and National tour credits as an actor including MISS SIAGON, THE KING AND I, ANYTHING GOES and MAME. Some might recognize Muroaka as Alan, proprietor of Hooper’s Store on Sesame Street since 1998. Muroaka is ready to bring something different to Lyric’s Plaza Theatre stage to help kick off the new season.
“This show has awesome 80s music with roller skating and even some fake Australian accents. That’s what awaits you in the upcoming Lyric production of XANADU,” says Muroaka. “The music will make you want to dance in the aisles, but don’t because we’ll probably be roller skating in them. A great time is guaranteed by all who experience it.”
Completing Muraoka’s artistic staff for XANADU is Chris Castleberry, choreographer; Brian Hamilton, music director; Christopher Domanski, set designer; Jeffrey Meek, costume designer; Art Whaley, lighting designer; Brad Poarch, sound designer and Jeff Cochran, stage manager.
A familiar face on Lyric’s stage, Oklahoma City native, Lexi Windsor, is playing the young and perky Kira in Lyric’s production of XANADU. Audiences will recognize Windsor as Gretchen in Lyric’s 2011 production of BOEING BOEING and Evelyn Nesbit in Lyric’s 2011 summer production of RAGTIME.
“ I love the music of Electric Light Orchestra, and I’m so excited to go to the theatre every night, throw on some roller skates and rock out to ELO for a fun evening of live music and slaphappy comedy,” says Windsor. “But ultimately, I love the challenge. I haven’t had a role with this much responsibility on the Lyric stage before, so it is truly an honor to attempt something of this measure.”
Joining Windsor on Lyric’s Plaza stage and playing Kira’s forbidden love is New York City’s Adam Levinskas, as Sonny Malone. Levinskas, making his Lyric debut in the production of XANADU, played Asher in the National Tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Other cast members include Renee Anderson (Lyric’s OLIVER!), Jacob Chancellor (Lyric’s 42nd STREET), Stephen Hilton (Lyric’s HAIRSPRAY and RAGTIME), Sheran Keyton, Eloise Kropp (Lyric’s HAIRSPRAY and A CHORUS LINE) , Parish Mechling (Lyric’s THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and DECEMBER DIVAS), Jamard Richardson (Lyric’s HAIRSPRAY and RAGTIME) and Christopher Sieker (Lyric’s THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW).
As an added treat, the original star of the film Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John, has recorded a special pre-show announcement just for Lyric’s production.
Single tickets for XANADU are $40 and are available to purchase. For tickets go to www.LyricTheatreOKC.com, call (405) 524-9312, or come by Lyric’s box office at 1727 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK.
Performance times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon. XANADU is sponsored by Bank of Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy, The Oklahoman, Allied Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Maisha is the perfect place to sow your year-end gift. Will you please consider Donating Today? Maisha means LIFE, which is exactly what your gift brings. We have big plans for 2012….
OPEN PRE-SCHOOL IN MAISHA CENTER
Over 50 children in this age range hang out around Maisha daily. Let’s start stimulating those young fertile minds in a positive way and give them a jump start to develop their skills for a successful future!
EXPAND MAISHA VILLAGE
Build Maisha Clinic, bringing much needed access to medicine in our area. Having no such facility within a reasonable walking distance to Maisha is the cause for many needless deaths. Local doctors from Kisumu are eager to begin donating their time once a week.
Build a Modern Kitchen, greatly increasing levels of health, nutrition and sanitation of the Maisha Feeding Program where 450 are fed daily. Not to mention easing the burden of the widows who cook in smoky back breaking conditions.
Grow Shambas of Maisha into a sustainable community garden; further train and develop local’s skills in horticulture and sustainability.
Build a Water Tower and Solar Pump allowing irrigation to flow to Shambas of Maisha and providing sanitary dishwashing to Maisha Center.
Add more Solar Panels and Computers, further bridging the technology gap
ACQUIRE TRANSPORTATION
A truck or van to facilitate our rapidly expanding programs and simplify tasks that are currently very labor intensive for our staff on ground in Kenya
MAISHA MARKET EXPANSION
Marketing & Business Training so locals can acquire work and ply their trade successfully
Microfinance, funding local entrepreneurs, new inventions and hand-crafted goods through small loans into our table banking
Initiate Tailoring Classroom/Program in coordination with local YWCA in Kisumu who administers certification exams.
Enterprise Projects in the works for 2012 include our own Maisha Water Drilling Team and a tuk-tuk service!
2012 is shaping up to be our best year yet! Thank you for helping us finish well in 2011. We at Maisha wish you and yours a Happy and prosperous New Year!

With Love,
Jennifer Whitener and Beatrice Williamson
Assistant Director and Director/Founder
Maisha International Orphanage

THURSDAY’S GAME BASICS
A winner of five straight games, Oklahoma (9-1) plays its fifth contest away from home when it takes on Cincinnati (9-3) on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT at off-campus U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sooners have won by an average of 20 points during their five-game winning streak. The Bearcats, who were ranked as high as No. 20 in the AP poll (Nov. 14), have rebounded from three losses over a six-game stretch to win their last four outings by an average of 34 points. Thursday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KOKC AM 1520 in Oklahoma City; KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck announcing. The game will be televised by ESPNU with Mike Crispino and Tim Welsh calling the action.

SOONER UPDATE
• Picked to finish last (tied with Texas Tech) by Big 12 coaches in the league’s preseason poll, Oklahoma holds the conference’s fourth best record at 9-1. As of Tuesday, the Sooners are No. 36 in the CBSsports.com RPI rankings.

• The Sooners’ 9-1 start is their second best in last eight seasons (surpassed only by the 12-0 start during Blake Griffin’s sophomore year of 2008-09).

• Since sustaining its only loss of the season to Saint Louis in the 76 Classic championship game on Nov. 27, Oklahoma has shot .472 from the field, .459 (34-for-74) from 3-point range and .758 (75-for-99) from the free throw line in wins over Sacramento State, Oral Roberts, Arkansas, Houston and South Carolina State. The Sooners held those four foes to combined .385 field goal and .266 (25-for-94) 3-point shooting, and have won by an average of 19.6 points.

• Oklahoma entered the week ranked No. 12 nationally (out of 338 Division I teams) in 3-point field goal percentage (.413), No. 29 in scoring (78.7 ppg) and No. 45 in free throw percentage (.733). OU also ranks in the top 10 with its +10.8 average rebounding margin.

• No OU team in the last 16 years averaged more points for an entire season than the Sooners’ current average of 78.7 points per game. Kelvin Sampson’s second OU squad averaged 79.0 points in 1995-96.

• The Sooners have scored at least 75 points seven times in their 10 games. Last year’s team reached the 75-point mark seven times in its 32 contests.

• OU has shot better than .500 from behind the arc in three of its last five games.

• OU’s wins over Sacramento State (by 29 points), Coppin State (27), Arkansas (15), Washington State (15), Oral Roberts (14) and Houston (5) represent those teams’ largest margins of defeat this year. The Sooners also handed South Carolina State (35 points) its second worst defeat.

• The Sooners’ pressure defense under new head coach Lon Kruger has boosted the team’s offense through 10 games. Opponents have averaged 15.2 turnovers, resulting in 17.5 points per contest for OU on the other end of the floor. Foes haven’t been as opportunistic, averaging 11.4 points off the Sooners’ 12.5 turnovers per game.

• Rebounding was mentioned by Kruger several times in the preseason as a concern of his for 2011-12. However, OU has outboarded nine of its 10 opponents and ranks in the top 10 nationally with its +10.8 margin per contest despite not starting anyone taller than 6-8. Included were a +34 effort against Coppin State (61-27) on Nov. 18 and a +27 performance against South Carolina State (63-36) last Wednesday. The Sooners own a 168-113 offensive rebounding advantage on the year (despite shooting .451 to their opponents’ .410 mark).

PLEDGER OFF TO SIZZLING START
• After averaging 8.6 points and shooting .386 from the field and .345 from long distance over his first two seasons, junior guard Steven Pledger is averaging a Big 12-high 19.8 points this year and is shooting .575 from the field (ranks No. 1 among nation’s guards) and .490 from 3-point range (single-season school record is .473 by Tim Heskett in 1998-99). In addition to pacing the league in scoring, Pledger ranks No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage, No. 4 in field goal percentage and 3-pointers per game (2.8), No. 5 in free throw percentage (.861) and No. 10 in steals (1.4 per game).

• To help put Pledger’s .575 field goal performance in perspective, the only OU guard since the start of the 3-point era in 1986-87 (25 years ago) to shoot at least .500 from the field over the course of an entire season was Nolan Johnson in 1999-00. Johnson shot .559 that year but only attempted two 3-point field goals and made none.

• Over the last three games, Pledger is averaging 25.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting .625 (25-for-40) from the field, .550 (11-for-20) from 3-point distance and .875 (14-for-16) from the free throw line. He recorded his first career double-double with 31 points and 10 boards in the Dec. 17 All-College Classic win over Houston.

• Pledger has scored in double figures in each of his nine outings and has shot at least .500 from the field in every game except two. He has scored at least 20 points five times after doing it three times all of last season.

• Pledger is averaging 15.7 points in the second half of the last three games on 15-for-20 field goal and 5-for-7 3-point shooting.

• Pledger averaged 13.6 points per 40 minutes last season but has almost doubled that figure this year (26.8).

• Pledger has made 61 field goals this year, already putting him at 54 percent of last year’s total (112). He is on pace for 197 field goals in this year’s regular season.

MORE INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Junior guard Sam Grooms has been strong at the point, ranking No. 4 in the Big 12 in assists (5.2) and No. 2 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9). He has recorded one or zero turnovers five times in 10 games and leads the Sooners in minutes (29.1). Over the last two outings, Grooms has 14 assists and one turnover.

• Junior forward Romero Osby leads the Big 12 with his 3.6 offensive rebounds per game and ranks third with his 8.8 overall boards per outing. He has recorded at least 10 rebounds on five occasions this year (his career high entering the season was eight). His 18 rebounds last game against South Carolina State were the most by a Sooner since Blake Griffin’s 21 on March 4, 2009, at Missouri.

• Junior forward Andrew Fitzgerald has scored in double figures in each of the last five games (averaging 14.6 during stretch on .524 shooting) after doing it just twice in OU’s first five outings (averaged 8.4 points on .400 shooting). He has scored at least 16 points in three of the last four games.

• Since sophomore guard Calvin Newell left the team on Dec. 1, sophomore forward Tyler Neal’s production has jumped markedly. Neal is averaging 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists over the last five games. In OU’s first five games — before Newell announced he was transferring — Neal averaged 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists.

• After averaging 3.0 points on .167 (3-for-18) shooting in OU’s first two games, sophomore wing Cameron Clark has scored in double figures in six of the last eight outings and has netted at least 14 points in four of the last six. He is shooting .509 from the field and .556 from 3-point range (5-for-9) over the last six contests.

• Last Wednesday’s OU win over South Carolina State leaves Kruger just 12 victories shy of 500 for his career. He ranks second among current Big 12 head coaches with 487 career wins (Texas’ Rick Barnes has 533 victories).

CLEANING THE GLASS
• OU leads the Big 12 in rebounding margin at +10.8 (Kansas ranks second at +7.9), rebounds per game at 42.2 (ranks fifth nationally), offensive rebounds per game at 16.8 and offensive rebounding percentage at 46 percent (Kansas State ranks No. 2 at 42 percent).

• The Sooners have outrebounded nine of their 10 opponents. Washington State outboarded them by three (35-32).

• Oklahoma’s top two rebounding totals of the 16-year Big 12 era have been recorded this year (63 vs. S.C. State and 61 vs. Coppin State).

• OU has pulled down double-digit offensive rebounds in all but the Sacramento State game (nine) and is averaging 16.8 offensive boards per contest to its opponents’ 11.3. The Sooners are averaging 15.2 second-chance points while foes are averaging 10.1.
GETTING BETTER AWAY FROM HOME
After going 14-5 away from Lloyd Noble Center in the 2008-09 season, the Sooners went a combined 4-28 away from home the last two years (2-18 in true road games and 2-10 at neutral sites). So far this season, OU is 3-1 away from Norman (2-1 in the 76 Classic and 1-0 in the All-College Classic). Steven Pledger is averaging 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in those four contests, and is shooting .571 from the field and .522 (12-for-23) from 3-point range. The rest of the team is shooting .405 from the field and .333 (11-for-33) from deep in those four outings.

PREVIEWING CINCINNATI
• Preseason No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today version, unranked Cincinnati enters Thursday’s game with a 9-3 record. The Bearcats, who are 7-2 at home and 2-1 on the road, have won their last four games by an average of 34 points. Their losses have come at home to Presbyterian (56-54) and Marshall (73-69 in overtime), and at Xavier (76-53).

• Cincinnati ranks No. 1 in the Big East Conference with its 8.2 3-point field goal makes per game and No. 2 in 3-point field goal percentage (.405) and scoring defense (57.2 ppg). The Bearcats are averaging 13.8 treys over their last four games.

• Sophomore guard Sean Kilpatrick is averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game. He ranks No. 2 in the Big East with his 2.6 treys per game and is shooting .413 from deep. Kilpatrick has scored in double figures 11 times and has three games of at least 20 points.

• Senior guard Dion Dixon has also scored in double figures in all but one outing, and averages 13.3 points, 3.9 boards and 1.9 assists.

• Junior point guard Cashmere Wright averages 11.7 points and 5.1 assists per game, but over the last three outings is averaging 19.7 points and 6.0 assists. He is shooting .600 from the field and .583 (14-for-24) from 3-point range in those games.

• Senior forward Yancy Gates (13.5 ppg, team-high 9.5 rpg), is serving a six-game suspension and will miss Thursday’s contest.

• Head coach Mick Cronin is 96-80 in his sixth year at Cincinnati. The former UC assistant coach returned to the Bearcats following a three-year stint as head coach at Murray State (posted a 69-24 record there).

OU-CINCINNATI SERIES HISTORY
Thursday’s game will mark the sixth between Oklahoma and Cincinnati, with the Bearcats owning a 3-2 series edge. OU won the first two meetings, 78-65 in 1985-86 in the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City and 89-81 (in overtime) in the second round of the 1991 postseason NIT in Norman. Third-ranked Cincinnati posted a 72-59 home win during the 1998-99 season and, as the nation’s No. 4 team the following year, beat the No. 21 Sooners by a 72-57 score in Norman. UC won 66-56 last year (Dec. 18) in Oklahoma City.

LAST YEAR VS. THE BEARCATS
• Oklahoma shot .333 from the field (its fourth lowest mark of the year) and .182 from 3-point range (second lowest figure) in a 66-56 loss to Cincinnati (10-0) at the All-College Classic in Oklahoma City last Dec. 18. OU held Cincinnati to .420 field goal and .176 (3-for-17) 3-point marks. The Bearcats improved to 10-0.

• The Sooners, who never led, trailed 28-21 at halftime before scoring the first six points of the second half to draw within one. Cincinnati led by just five (49-44) with six minutes remaining before going on an 8-1 run to go ahead by 12 (57-45) with 3:22 left.

• Sophomore point guard Carl Blair finished with a game-high 15 points and OU highs of six rebounds and four assists, but also committed six turnovers. He was the only Sooner who shot at least 50 percent from the field (6-for-12).

• Steven Pledger netted 13 points while Andrew Fitzgerald contributed 10 points, five boards, two assists and three steals.

• Cashmere Wright and Dion Dixon led the Bearcats with 12 points each.

DEC. 21 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE RECAP
• Oklahoma overcame .395 field goal shooting with strong defensive play and a 63-36 rebounding advantage to post an 83-48 home win over South Carolina State last Wednesday. The Sooners held the Bulldogs to .339 field goal and .125 (2-for-16) 3-point shooting.

• OU’s 61 rebounds were its most in 22 years. Its 26 offensive rebounds were just two fewer than SCSU’s 28 defensive boards.

• Steven Pledger was 6-for-15 from the field (just his second sub-.500 performance of the season) but still finished with a game-high 22 points with the help of 4 treys (on 10 attempts) and 6-for-6 free throw shooting.

• Junior forward Romero Osby recorded his third career double-double (all this season) with 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. The 18 boards were eight more than his previous career high and tied as the most by a Big 12 player this year. The 18 boards were the most by a Sooner since Blake Griffin pulled down 21 at Missouri on March 4, 2009 (span of 79 games).

• Junior forward Andrew Fitzgerald was 8-for-11 from the field and scored 17 points in just 22 minutes.

• Senior forward C.J. Washington came off the bench to supply five points and a career-high 12 rebounds (seven offensive) in only 13 minutes of action. His previous career high was eight rebounds. Junior center Casey Arent grabbed a career-high-tying nine boards.

SOONER TIP INS
• OU has recorded 32 dunks in its 10 games (3.2 average) and junior forward Romero Osby has half of them.

• Osby has grabbed at least six rebounds in nine of 10 games this year. In his 35 games at Mississippi State as a sophomore in 2009-10, Osby pulled down at least six boards on three occasions.

• Thirty-six of Osby’s 88 rebounds (41 percent) have come on the offensive end.

• Junior Sam Grooms has recorded at least six assists four times. He has 32 assists and four turnovers in those contests (8.0 ratio).

• Last year, Steven Pledger averaged 15.4 points in OU’s wins and 7.4 points in its losses. This year, the junior guard is averaging 20.7 points in wins (he missed the season-opening victory) and was held to 11 points in the loss to Saint Louis.

• Senior forward C.J. Washington’s three assists against Coppin State on Nov. 18 were more than he had all of last season (two). He has five handouts this year.

Oklahoma City – With warmer than average temperatures expected for later this week, the Oklahoma City Barons, in conjunction with the Devon Ice Rink and Downtown in December, are offering an alternative outdoor activity tomorrow.

The Barons coaches and players will be available to skate with fans from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Admission and skate rental is free for fans that attend and wish to skate with the Barons during that time.

“As a group, we want our fans to interact with our players and still preserve the ice surface at the Devon Ice Rink for the rest of the holiday season,” said Barons Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Allgood. “We look forward to everyone joining our players for a skate on a beautiful, winter afternoon.”

The man-made, outdoor rink is set up in an area on the east side of the Myriad Botanical Gardens near Robinson Ave. across from the Cox Convention Center. The 60-foot by 100-foot rink is open from noon to midnight daily, including holidays.

In its 10th year, Downtown in December transforms downtown Oklahoma City into a winter wonderland with the Devon Ice Rink, Chesapeake Snow Tubing at RedHawks Field at Bricktown, the SandRidge Christmas tree and so much more. For more information about Downtown in December, visit www.downtownindecember.com.

I’ve known Andrew Harvey since we were both in first grade. His father lived across the street from my family in Georgia and Andy visited from California for one month every summer. He was everything to me: a friend, big brother, mentor and tormenter. He was a slugger; I was a singles hitter. Yet when it came time to pull off some shenanigans we were equally crafty.

We were remarkably different yet uncommonly close, and remained thus over the four and a half decades that have followed. But our friendship forged in those childhood days has taught us both so much. I hopefully have been a small part of his life; he has been a big influence in mine (and the lives of others). Just months after one of his heroes Jack LaLane passed away, Andy proved that fitness is life by smashing the Senior Games Bench Press Record by lifting 435 pounds at age 50. Maybe next year I’ll be inspired to join him in competition… You are, after all, never too old to achieve new things.