Jim Stafford's BlogOKC

For Arkansas football, the long arc from perennial contender to irrelevance

A giant Razorback flag hypes up University of Arkansas fans during a game at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

As we recorded the most recent edition of the 3 Old Geezers podcast, the subject turned to college football and the over/under for number of wins for OU and OSU in the coming season.

So, as a life-long University of Arkansas fan, I decided to weigh in with my over/under prediction for the Hogs.

“Why are we even talking about Arkansas any more?” fellow Geezer Ed Godfrey demanded. “They are irrelevant in football.”

Ouch! I went into defensive mode.

“They will be relevant … some day,” I stammered.

Then fellow Geezer Steve Buck challenged me with an insightful question.

“How is that going to happen, Jim?”

I grasped for the only credible answer that I could come up with.

“They buy players,” I replied. “If Texas Tech can buy players, why can’t Arkansas use some of that Sam Walton money and buy some good players.”

Whew. These are dark days in the Ozarks for the Razorbacks and their fans. They went 2-12 last year and ended the season with an interim coach after firing Sam Pittman midseason.

And in the last decade, the Hogs have gone 55-80 and had 5 head coaches, if you count two interim coaches over that span. Their best coach over the past 10 years might have been Brett Bielema, who went 8-5 in 2015 and 7-6 in 2016 before getting fired after a 4-8 season in 2017.

Maybe Arkansas’s athletic overlords didn’t realize what they had in Bielema, who has gone 19-7 over the past two seasons while leading lowly Illinois.

Or, perhaps, they didn’t realize that Arkansas was slowly becoming irrelevant in college football and Southeast Conference play.

Yes, I said the ‘i’ word.

I am an Arkansas native and fondly recall that the Hogs were a major player on the national college football stage under Frank Broyles in the ’60s and ’70s, followed by Lou Holtz in the ’70s and ’80s and then with Ken Hatfield from 1984-89.

But that was then. These are now the dark days for the Arkansas program, and the Hogs seem to have hit the bottom rung of college football. I mean, apparently Vanderbilt has passed Arkansas in the national pecking order.

By contrast, Texas Tech made itself a contender in 2025 by investing in a talented roster with the financial support of billionaire oil and gas entrepreneur and alumnus Cody Campbell. The Red Raiders went 12-2 last year and made the college football playoffs in the fourth season under Joey McGuire.

That makes me wonder why Arkansas can’t play that financial game and build a winner in the current free agent era of college football. Players are free to transfer to any other school after any season and can earn multi-million dollar salaries.

If athletes are willing to take their talents to the flatlands of Lubbock, Texas, I’m pretty sure they would love Fayetteville, Ark., by comparison. Arkansas has a beautiful campus with facilities that are on par with any peer school.

If only the pot of money was there.

So, I asked my friend Greg Spencer, a Springdale, Ark., resident, Arkansas alum and long-time season ticket holder, why haven’t the Razorbacks gone big into roster payroll, assuming they haven’t.

“I really don’t know,” Greg replied. “The rules have changed so much since the courts decided that the players needed to be rewarded to be there.”

Greg does have some thoughts on how players can be compensated in a manner that make more sense.

“Maybe the players need to be rewarded after they have performed,” he said. “How about a flat fee for showing up, and a reward for contribution?”

So, then Arkansas might become an ongoing success once again, I asked?

“Not on a continuing basis,” he said.

Oh, thanks for the optimism, Greg.

One caveat for Razorback fans is that the Hogs now play in the rugged Southeastern Conference, when the state of Texas was their most fertile recruiting ground back in their Southwest Conference days. Not sure how many talented Texas high schoolers are looking to the Ozarks these days.

However, I’m afraid that the window of roster-investment opportunity may be closing on the Hogs. Legislation known as the Protect College Sports Act is making its way through Congress with the potential to rein in spending, among other impacts.

The Athletic summed up the legislation’s potential in a recent newsletter:

“The bill would allow the NCAA to limit transfers and eligibility, enforce a spending cap, give conferences the ability to pool their television rights and prevent coaches from leaving their teams before the end of the season. It also includes language to limit future power-conference realignment and prevent a private equity-backed ‘super league.'”

Then again, all that might level up the playing field for the Hogs.

You can read more about the Protect College Sports Act here (subscription required)

So a new college football season approaches and brings optimism with it to fans everywhere, even in the Ozarks. Here’s hoping my Razorbacks begin the long road back from ‘irrelevance’ in the 2026 season.

Wait a minute. It just occurred to me that my fellow Geezers never let me actually predict Arkansas’ 2026 record. I’m predicting a dramatic improvement to 6-6 under new coach Ryan Silverfield, whom they lured from Memphis. Silverfield completed his Memphis tenure with a 50-25 overall record.

Take that, Geezers. Wooo Pig Sooie!

BONUS CONTENT — If you aren’t familiar with the 3 Old Geezers podcast, it’s produced by three (mostly) senior citizens who bring offbeat, grumpy and often times unintentionally humorous perspective about sports and world in general. The hosts are Steve Buck, who bills himself as Cameron University’s last college football play-by-play announcer, along with Ed Godfrey and Jim Stafford, two retired newspaper reporters. I invite you to sample an episode here.

Lu Dort a fan favorite, but no room for him in roster of retired Thunder jerseys

Lu Dort went from undrafted two-way player to a fan favorite as an Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)

My wife, Paula, and I were sitting in our living room, commiserating a few days after the stunning trade of Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The trade hit us hard. Dort had endeared himself to us because of his hard-nosed, aggressive defensive play and timely 3-point shooting for the Thunder. He played a key role in the team’s 2025 NBA championship.

“I think Dort’s number should be hung in the rafters at Paycom Center,” she said.

I thought about her statement for a few seconds. I know it came from the heart.

However…

“I think there are several other player numbers that might go up before Dort’s,” I replied.

“Well, Nick Collison’s number is already hanging up there,” she finally said, implying, perhaps, that Collison didn’t have the impact that Dort had.

We went back and forth on the topic for a couple of minutes. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Lu Dort, but …

There’s no right answer to this debate, but it got me to thinking whose number(s) really belong in the rafters above the Thunder’s home court.

I’m pretty sure Collison’s number 4 was retired because his career spanned both the team’s Seattle era and well into its OKC tenure. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, Collison was known as “Mr. Thunder” and also played a key role as the team gained its footing here and became a force in the NBA Western Conference and playoffs.

Here’s who I see as most deserving of seeing their number hanging above the Thunder playing floor. In addition to Collison, you can count them on three fingers.

Russell Westbrook. Why not? Russ played a critical role in the team’s rise to prominence in the early 2010s, then committed to OKC after Kevin Durant bolted in 2015.

Kevin Durant: Yes, KD broke our hearts when he ditched the Thunder to join Golden State, but there’s no question about the impact he had on the team’s rise to prominence.

Shai Gilgeous Alexander: SGA is a long ways from retirement, but he brought us a championship, two MVPs and continues to play like a champion.

Who might be long shots for consideration?

OK, Stephen Adams, for one. A big fan favorite and a big impact player during his time here. Serge Ibaka, my favorite player ever out of the Congo. Lu Dort, of course. It’s a shame he was traded for draft picks in a salary dump.

I can’t go much deeper on my list. Of current players, it appears that Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace all show jersey-retirement potential if they can bring us a few more titles.

Now, let’s consider rafter-worthy Thunder players from my friends Ed Godfrey and Steve Buck. They are also co-hosts with me of the 3 Old Geezers podcast.

Ed Godfrey
“Westbrook as soon as he retires. SGA when he retires. No one else. Durant at some point but not immediately. He has to pay a penance for leaving. SGA is a two-time MVP and led the team to a title. He could not score another point and deserve it.”

Steve Buck
“Collison, Russ, KD, SGA. Criteria: 10 years with team or league MVP. Sam Presti and Mark Daigneault get banners, too. All players from 24-25 team go up on a shared banner. Only four retired numbers.”

Steve sets a pretty high bar. I guess we all do. But it’s fun to speculate and debate in the off-season.

Thank you, Paula, for inspiring this post.

BONUS CONTENT: OKC Mayor David Holt may be the Thunder’s biggest fan. He can go deep on the team’s history, too (read his book Big League City). Anyway, Mayor Holt posted a stirring tribute to Dort on Facebook in the wake of his recent trade to Atlanta. Here’s the money quote from Holt’s post:

“Lu Dort was not just one of the 18 young men who brought Oklahoma City its first title in 2025, he was a key leader and contributor, and always a fan favorite for his suffocating defense on opponents. The Dorture Chamber will long live in Thunder mythology. Lu Dort will long live in Oklahoma City history.”

Read his entire post on Facebook.

MORE BONUS CONTENT: I heard from a couple friends of mine after they read this post, and decided to share their perspectives. Thank for letting me publish these worthy comments, guys.

Kent Taylor is retired from the oil and gas industry and lives in Owasso:

“Love the post…have to agree with Steve…Collison, Russ, SGA…and yes, but still need time to heal…KD. I still remember (son) Clint running out to the backyard where I was sitting on my lawnmower mowing to tell me KD was gone. The sting’s gone…especially when rubbing the salve of our ‘25 championship and watching how that Texan can’t win one without GS’s dynasty players. Yes, there’s also probably some bias as an OU alum mixed in.”

David Ramsey is a retired, long-time sportswriter who lives in Colorado:

“The Lugster not so beloved here on Front Range. But … wish we had him on Nuggets roster. Fun to see how Presti is/was messing with the Nuggets by going after Spencer Jones, a solid player with weirdest shot on our planet, or any other. The salary cap is wonderful, except when it causes havoc with Your Favorite Team.”

Privileged to attend service celebrating life of long-time Oklahoman city editor Gene Triplett

Former Oklahoman managing editor Joe Hight kicks off the recent memorial service for long-time Oklahoman city editor and entertainment editor, Gene Triplett.

I was among a group of 40 or so Oklahoma Publishing Co. alums who attended a recent memorial service for Gene Triplett, The Oklahoman’s long-time city editor and entertainment editor.

Gene passed away on June 6 at the age of 77.

It was a wonderful, upbeat celebration of Gene, emceed by the paper’s former managing editor, Joe Hight. Joe is the endowed chair of journalism ethics at the University of Central Oklahoma as well as director — and member — of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, which is housed at UCO.

I won’t give a play-by-play of the service, other than to say we got to hear “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which Gene Triplett considered to be the greatest rock song of them all. That was followed by maybe six former colleagues who took the mic to tell a favorite Triplett story or what he meant to their careers as a mentor or editor.

Gene’s son, Aaron, also shared some memories and played a video about Gene when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Watch it below.

Although I didn’t work directly with Gene on a day-to-day basis because I worked on a different desk, I still had a lot of interactions with him over the years. He had an unusually warm demeanor for a crusty old City Editor. I never saw or heard him snarl or yell at anyone.

That’s not to say that he didn’t, but I never witnessed it.

Anyway, Gene’s death tightens the circle of my fellow Oklahoman colleagues from the 1980s and ’90s who are still living. I’ve attended a growing number of funerals over the years.

Time marches on, but it’s always a reminder of my own mortality.

As we were leaving the service afterward, my friend and former Oklahoman colleague Ed Godfrey said that it’s too bad that all our newsroom reunions have to occur at funerals. I replied that I didn’t mind so much, because funerals provide the opportunity to rekindle so many lost relationships.

“Why a funeral?” he asked. “I would rather see everyone at a party,”

Well, yes, but I’m not sure how many former colleagues would drive from Tulsa, Dallas or Siloam Springs, Ark., for a party like they did for Gene’s service. They will make the effort to honor a former colleague.

It was a privilege for me to be among the group of former Oklahoman colleagues who gathered to honor the remarkable life and career of Gene Triplett.

BONUS CONTENT: My wife might tell you that “I can’t take Jim anywhere,” because of my inclination to make a social blunder along the way. I certainly committed an embarrassing faux pas at Gene Triplett’s service. As we were visiting outside UCO’s Heritage Room before the service, I noticed that people were signing a book that would be given Gene’ wife, Carol. So, I took my turn and signed it, as well. During the service Joe announced that the book had been signed for Carol by Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame members. Oops. I’m no Hall of Famer, so I can only apologize after the fact.

The continuing saga of Customer Service without the ‘Service’

The Hertz rental car storefront in Edmond

Editor’s note: I’m pleased to reveal that we received a complete refund from Hertz on July 13, approximately three weeks after the fiasco described below occurred at the Edmond pickup location. I spoke to Hertz customer service on June 27 and was promised the refund, but it didn’t happen until I posted a link to this article on Twitter (now X) and tagged Hertz. The company reached out via direct message about a week ago, and the refund showed up in our account today. Thank you, Hertz!

When my wife and I planned a 3-day getaway in Santa Fe recently, we debated whether to put the miles on our vehicle or rent a car. It’s approximately 550 miles one way from OKC to Santa Fe, NM.

Ultimately, we decided to rent a car and landed on Hertz because it has the reputation of being the nation’s No. 1 car rental company and because it has an Edmond storefront pickup location.

So, I went online, joined the Hertz ‘Gold Club’ and reserved a car with a $286 deposit for June 27 pickup at the Edmond location. We were promised a full-size SUV that would be a Chevy Blazer or something similar.

You know where this is headed.

We showed up the at Hertz Edmond location about 10:45 on the morning of Saturday the 27th and saw several vehicles outside the store, including a couple of Blazers.

But when I approached the door, I found it locked. I looked inside and saw no one behind the desk. Then I looked at the hours on the door, which said “closed Saturday and Sunday.”

Wait! The website said open 9 am-noon on Saturday. Plus, I had stopped by the Hertz office midweek and the customer service rep assured me that we could pick up our vehicle by 11 am Saturday.

A woman who was sitting on some nearby steps as I walked up to the store approached me and said she also was there to pick up her rental car. She had been trying to reach customer service without any luck.

My wife, Paula, and 7-year old grandson walked up, and we milled around together for a while deciding what to do.

I finally called the Hertz customer service number and only got an AI ‘representative’ that provided no answers. My wife and I decided to return to our car to wait and see if a Hertz employee showed up.

Our goal was to pick up the rental vehicle, drive to our house, load it and head west toward Santa Fe. I assured Paula that someone would be there by noon because there were several rental cars in the lot.

She scoffed at my naivety.

There were perhaps four or five other customers who showed up, some to drop off vehicles and others to pick up a rental.

So we sat and waited.

When no one showed by 12:05 pm, I began searching for ways to reach a live person at Hertz customer service. I decided to ask ChatGPT, the AI bot, how to reach a human. Chatbot told me to say “request an agent or request a representative” multiple times when speaking to the company’s robot agent.

I took the advice and the robot voice told me it would connect me to a human representative. After about a 10-minute delay, a real person came on the line.

We explained our dilemma, and she said she would call the local store’s number. She came back on and said no one answered. She then suggested that we head to the airport to rent a car from the Hertz office there. We told her that we were not driving all the way to the OKC airport and then back to Edmond before loading the car and driving to Santa Fe.

The Hertz rep then said she would cancel our reservation and provide a full refund within 7 to 10 business days. That was the first promising result of the day.

We went home, packed our car and hit the road, swallowing our frustrations.

The vacation went off without a hitch, and we had a great time in New Mexico. After we came back home midweek, I decided to drop by the Hertz store and ask about what happened to us and all the other people who showed up at the closed Edmond location on June 27.

So, I drove to the store and walked in.

“Why was there no one here to provide a rental vehicle to us and other customers waiting outside last Saturday?”

A man I assume to be the manager said the store was supposed to be open. Someone was supposed to be there to provide keys to customers like us who had rented a vehicle, or there to drop one off.

“That person is no longer employed by Hertz,” the man told me.

That wasn’t exactly an apology, but provided an answer. I should have asked why there is no local number posted for customers to call when something like this arises. Or why the sign on the door says “closed Saturday and Sunday” when the website says open 9 to noon on Saturday.

Or how about a little something for the effort to keep us as a customer?

But it’s behind us now. It’s been a week and we’re back to our day-to-day routine.

I’m still waiting for the promised refund.

BONUS CONTENT: This isn’t our first go-round with alleged ‘customer service’ from a major U.S. corporation. A few years ago, our daughter’s flight from DFW to OKC was canceled by American Airlines and we drove to Dallas to pick her up. It was the final leg of a flight from Fort Lauderdale. We appealed for a refund of the DFW-OKC leg, which finally happened but not before I wrote a blog post about the experience and the lack of, well, customer service.
Read it here.

Hello muddah hello fadduh, here we are at Camp … Apple?

It’s summer, so my grandson and I went to camp this week. But it’s not what you might expect.

Solomon and I spent about an hour and half at Apple’s Penn Square store participating in Apple Camp, which tried to light a spark of creativity in ‘campers’ aged 6-10.

Apple Camp is free and part of the tech giant’s “Today at Apple” program that provides education for using products like iPhones, iPads, shooting photos and videos, and more.

So, when I saw that Apple Camp was designed for Solomon’s age group and would show him how to create content on his iPad rather than merely consuming games and videos, I signed us up.

Solomon wasn’t so certain about participating at first, but warmed up to the lesson provided by friendly camp leaders (counselors?) John and Bill.

They showed the young campers (and their adult chaperones) how to draw colorful characters using the Freeform app on the iPad. But first, they instructed the kids on how to use an Apple Pencil to unlock various markers and brushes they could use to draw. The campers even learned how to incorporate emojis into the art.

Now that’s a life skill.

Apple Camp leader John shows the young campers how to use drawing tools on the iPad.

John and Bill were positive and upbeat as they encouraged the kids to imagine their own ‘super power’ and then draw a character that would portray their power and use it to help others. Turned out it was a collaborative camp, so the kids swapped iPads with one another and completed the drawing started by their peers.

One kid got Solomon’s stick figure, all black doodling, while we were handed that camper’s tablet that showcased big bold colorful lines. We weren’t there to compare talent, but I’m pretty sure I know which kid will become a graphic designer.

What I liked about the Apple Camp was that it showed very young kids that the iPad offers more than YouTube videos or PBS games. If kids can dream it up, they can draw it up on the tablet, using their fingers if they don’t have an Apple Pencil.

And they got a free T-shirt in the deal.

The downside of the experience was that the instructors threw a lot of how-to information at the kids from the very start of the ‘camp,’ and then — boom — the kids were on their own to find the tools to sketch and draw their characters.

Now, when Solomon got stuck trying to find the right tool or erase something we didn’t mean to make, the camp leaders jumped in to show him the solution. Solomon picked up finding and using the markers and erasers much faster than me.

As we left the Apple Store, Solomon offered a non-committal ‘it was OK’ when I asked him if he enjoyed the experience.

So, I think we will skip the upcoming “Make a Theme Song” using GarageBand on iPad. We’re back to watching Handyman Hal and endless Legos videos on our iPad.

I tried.

BONUS CONTENT: My wife will tell you that hanging out at the Apple store is like Nirvana to me. And it is. I fanboy over all their technology and have since, well, the late 1970s when I first read about the two Steves and their scrappy startup.

That means, of course, that I’ve written plenty about Apple over the years on this blog. Here are a few links to past posts, if you share my interest in the company.

Fondly recalling my first love in computing

I’m a Mac (fanboy) Apple ads across the years

Still an Apple fanboy after all these years

Apple in 2024: Nobody likes a bully

‘HAL’ built our vacation itinerary

Historic Santa Fe cathedral (photo provided by ChatGPT)

One of my favorite things about taking a vacation is planning and researching the destination. We’re headed to Santa Fe in a couple of weeks, a place we’ve never visited.

So I’ve been all over the city of SantaFe.org ‘plan your trip’ website, as well as taking suggestions on things to do and places to eat from folks who’ve been there.

Our friend Linda Lynn gave us some great tips on restaurants to try and favorite museums to visit, as well as stops along the way between OKC and Santa Fe.

She gave me museum ideas, areas to visit and some inviting restaurants such as Tomasita’s and The Shed. I’ve been all over their websites since Linda provided the tips. My mouth is watering in anticipation.

And since AI seems to be carving out a prominent place in our lives, whether we welcome it or not, I’ve asked my virtual assistant I’ll call HAL to give me a two-day itinerary for visiting Santa Fe. Our party will be composed of two adults and a 7-year old.

I was pleasantly surprised by the detailed agenda, complete with photos, that my AI friend built for me in less than 30 seconds.

So, I thought I would share the itinerary HAL provided. Our new AI overlords may be useful after all, if they don’t annihilate all of us first. (Just kidding HAL! maybe)

I welcome your suggestions on other Santa Fe locales to visit, as well.

Here’s the Santa Fe agenda ChatGPT built for me.:

“Santa Fe is a great destination with a 7-year-old because it mixes history, outdoor activities, art, and some surprisingly kid-friendly attractions. Here’s a balanced 2-day itinerary that won’t feel rushed.’

Downtown Santa Fe (photo provided by ChatGPT)

Day 1: Historic Santa Fe & Family Fun

8:00 AM – Breakfast

Try a local favorite such as Tia Sophia’s for New Mexican breakfast dishes and pancakes for the youngster.

9:30 AM – Explore the Santa Fe Plaza

Visit Santa Fe Plaza, the heart of the city. Kids enjoy the open space, street musicians, and shops.

10:30 AM – Cathedral & Loretto Chapel

Walk to:
– Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
– Loretto Chapel
The “miraculous staircase” at Loretto Chapel is often fascinating to children.

Noon – Lunch

Grab casual lunch near the Plaza.

1:30 PM – New Mexico History Museum

Visit New Mexico History Museum. The exhibits on Native American and Spanish history are engaging and interactive.

3:00 PM – Railyard District

Head to Santa Fe Railyard and nearby park areas where kids can run around while adults browse shops.

5:30 PM – Dinner

Enjoy an early dinner at Tomasita’s, known for classic New Mexican cuisine.

Evening

Return to the Plaza area for an evening stroll. The cooler temperatures and illuminated adobe buildings create a wonderful atmosphere.

Day 2: Meow Wolf & Mountain Scenery

Meow Wolf house (photo provided by ChatGPT)

8:00 AM – Breakfast

9:00 AM – Meow Wolf

Spend the morning at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return.
This is often the highlight for children and many adults. Expect colorful rooms, secret passages, interactive exhibits, and lots of exploration. Allow 2–3 hours.

Noon – Lunch

1:30 PM – Santa Fe Children’s Museum

Visit Santa Fe Children’s Museum. It’s geared toward younger children and provides hands-on activities.

3:30 PM – Scenic Mountain Drive

Drive up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains toward Hyde Memorial State Park. Even a short walk offers cooler temperatures, beautiful views, and a chance for the child to burn off energy.

Mountain scenery near Santa Fe (photo provided by ChatGPT)

6:00 PM – Farewell Dinner

Consider dinner at The Shed or another local New Mexican restaurant.
—

If your child loves trains, animals, or science…

You could substitute one activity with:
– Santa Fe Children’s Museum
– Museum of International Folk Art (huge toy and miniature collections)
– Randall Davey Audubon Center (easy nature walks and wildlife)
For a first-time 2-day visit with a 7-year-old, I’d make Meow Wolf, Santa Fe Plaza, and a mountain drive to Hyde Memorial State Park the three must-do experiences. They provide the best mix of Santa Fe’s unique culture, scenery, and family fun.’

So, thanks Linda, our actual human friend, and HAL. We looking forward to the trip.

The surprising decline of downtown in ‘Big D’

American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas

In case you haven’t been scoring at home, the city of Dallas is reeling from some pretty big blows to its self-image. Big D’s downtown is losing the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the NHL’s Dallas Stars, AT&T’s corporate headquarters, as well as Comerica bank and the iconic Neiman Marcus store.

Whew!

That’s a huge hit, even for a city as big as Dallas, with 1.3 million residents and a DFW metro area population of more than 8 million people.

Here’s what has gone down:

First, AT&T announced it was moving its corporate headquarters out of downtown Dallas and relocating to the northern suburb of Plano. Plano! Let someone in, say, Bend, Oregon, try to figure out where Plano, Texas, is when they see it in the dateline of future AT&T news releases.

Then, in the wake of its February acquisition of Dallas-based Comerica financial services company, Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp announced it was moving Comerica employees out of the 60-story Comerica Tower to Preston Center, far north of its current downtown location.

The next blow to its image was the announcement last week that the famous Neiman Marcus downtown Dallas store that has been in operation since 1907 will close down in September. The retailer’s corporate owner, cited a “changing environment and declining foot traffic” in downtown Dallas.

Then Dallas was hit by what may be the two biggest blows, at least for sports fans like me. The Mavericks and the Stars announced this past week that they are abandoning American Airlines Center for yet-to-be built arenas in North Dallas and in the suburb of Plano.

Both franchises claim that the 25-year old American Airlines Center was not built for the ‘modern fans’ who demand more amenities like upscale dining and beverage options, as well as “social areas” that allow fans to mingle during the game.

But it goes beyond the arena experience. Each franchise envisions an ‘entertainment district’ built around their arena that features restaurants, bars and other business to draw people to the venue.

Similar stadium-and-entertainment districts are popping up in other cities with professional sports franchises, including OKC where the OKC Thunder is expected to demolish Paycom Center and create an entertainment district after its new arena opens. (Don’t we already have a downtown entertainment district in Bricktown?)

Here’s what I’ve read about the Mavericks move: The team plans to build a multi-billion dollar arena and entertainment complex on the 104-acre site of the former Valley View Mall, approximately 10 miles north of downtown along the Dallas North Tollway and I-635. Unlike the American Airlines Center, located along the Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail line, the new site offers little public transportation options. So fans likely will have to negotiate crowded freeways before enjoying NBA games and the entertainment options. Read more about the move at ESPN.

The Mavs made no mention of operating a casino in their news release, for which the team’s ownership had been advocating. Mavericks CEO Rick Welts was quoted in a Dallas Morning News article: “I think if Dallas had it all to go over again, I think there might have been a little bit of a different approach on American Airlines Center. It does not serve … the needs or the expectations of a sports fan in 2026 who goes to a professional sporting event. We don’t have any of the hospitality amenities that one would expect in other markets, and I think we’re really looking forward to that.”

As for the Stars, here’s what I’ve found: The NHL franchise has signed an agreement with the city of Plano to move to what is now known as the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, a retail center that is on the decline. The Stars envision a new arena and entertainment districts, similar to what the Mavericks plan on the Valley View Mall site a few miles to the south. Read more at ESPN.

Dallas residents vented their frustrations on the spate of exits from downtown at a recent city council meeting.

“The Valley View Mavs, the Plano Stars, Fox 4 gone, AT&T gone, Neiman gone,” said Sana Syed, the President of the Dallas Farmers Market Stakeholders Association. “What an embarrassing and painful city this week.”

Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram seemed to be enjoying some schadenfreude over the plight of Fort Worth’s big brother city 30 miles to the east. The headline on an article about the downtown departures reads “Mavericks’ site for new arena would turn downtown Dallas into a ghost town.”

Said Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel: “Both the Mavericks and Dallas Star have stated their intentions to leave the American Airlines Center after their respective leases end with the facility in the spring of 2032. If they both leave, it would turn downtown Dallas into an evacuation site almost every night at 5 p.m.”

So, what’s behind the mass exodus from downtown Dallas. I asked a friend I’ll call “Andy” who lives in the DFW metro to share his perspective. Parking challenges for employees and the large number of homeless people inhabiting the area play a role, he said.

Workers have to park blocks from their offices and then are harassed by the homeless as they walk in, Andy told me.

So, employers are choosing to locate elsewhere like suburban communities far removed from downtown and the challenges it presents in 2026.

The decline of downtown Dallas brings to mind OKC’s downtown when I first came to town in 1983 to work for The Daily Oklahoman at its then-downtown newsroom. Downtown was dark and mostly abandoned after 5 p.m., with few restaurants, only one hotel — the Sheraton.

Fast forward to 2026 and we can see the renaissance brought to OKC by passage of the original MAPS program in 1992. Today, our downtown thrives with a busy entertainment area in Bricktown, multiple hotels and restaurants scattered throughout. Yay for investing in ourselves.

We have our own issues with homelessness, but there are organizations like Curbside Enterprises and SidexSide OKC that offer a path to housing and employment. We’re not running away from the problem.

So, while downtown Dallas declines, downtown OKC continues to rise up with new sports venues, an awesome park and convention center that give people a reason to come on down. (I’m not counting the exodus of Devon Energy because I see that as related to a corporate merger)

Can Dallas reverse the exodus and have a downtown worthy of its ‘Big D’ image? Stay tuned.

Light Rail in OKC Metro: Let’s get ‘er done

Almost a decade ago, my family and I were visiting friends in Irving, Texas, when it was decided that we would all go to downtown Dallas to visit the Sixth Floor Museum.

The most likely route would have taken us on busy, congested freeways into downtown, and then hunt for parking.

So, we found a better alternative.

We took a train into Big D on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit — DART — light rail line. The station was much closer than downtown and offered a large park-and-ride lot.

The Green Line DART train delivered us to the downtown West End Station in a matter of minutes without the frustration and stress of negotiating traffic and looking for parking. Fare was roughly $6 per person for a day pass, which allowed us to hop on and hop off at will.

We spent much of the afternoon exploring downtown Dallas, then took the train back to our car.

It was nirvana for me, because I love all things rail and mass transit in general.

I’ve written all of this because of an article I read in The Oklahoman last week that outlined the vision for OKC metro light rail. The article said that ONE Transit, the agency responsible for developing a light rail line from Edmond through downtown OKC and south to Norman, has hired a consultant for the project. Read it here.

Here are some key stats from The Oklahoman article: “The system would run 38 miles along the BNSF railroad corridor, with board members estimating capital costs between $700-$800 million.”

ONE Transit is led by former Gov. Brad Henry, which to me adds credibility to the ambitious plan. I’ve always seen Gov. Henry as a go-getter who gets things done.

However, the ONE Transit rail project faces some gigantic hurdles. No. 1 will be figuring out how to finance nearly $1 billion to upgrade rail lines, buy equipment, set up stations, etc.

As I see it, No. 2 hurdle will be getting buy-in from communities like Edmond, Moore and Norman that would have to contribute dollars to participate in the plan.

The No. 3 hurdle is convincing car-loving Oklahomans across the OKC metro to support the concept of rail — and mass transit in general. (Side note: someone once told me that the average Edmond resident would rather be seen coming out of Christie’s Toy Box than waiting at a bus stop.)

It’s an immense task, but one that I think is do-able, because they got it done in the DFW metro during the 1980s. DART overcame opposition from a large minority of residents who were resistant to rail and wanted instead to build more highways.

More highways and toll roads were also built, but DFW roads are just as congested today, from what I’ve experienced.

Meanwhile, DART operates four separate rail lines and covers 93 miles of the DFW metro. It is part of a DFW system that also includes a separate line from downtown Dallas to Fort Worth and another light rail line from Fort Worth to DFW Airport.

Despite operating successfully for more than 30 years, DART still faces criticism from participating communities about the ongoing financial burden. Some towns threatened or held ballot initiatives to exit the DART system this spring, although I think Highland Park was the only one that voted to end relationship with the transit system.

DART officials promised to add more board members from suburban communities.

Anyway, I’m all in on regional rail in the OKC metro. I would love to be able to some day park my car near Edmond’s downtown, board a ONE Transit train and ride it into downtown OKC before exiting and walking into the new arena to watch a Thunder game.

I can dream!

I hope that my fellow OKC citizens and our Edmond neighbors, as well as our central Oklahoma neighboring communities will support it. Studies have shown that economic development flourishes near rail transit stations.

As my friend Steve Buck said after reading The Oklahoman’s story on ONE Transit’s regional rail vision, “I still believe this is the way.”

It can happen.

BONUS CONTENT: The Oklahoman story reported that a group of ONE Transit officials recently visited Salt Lake City to tour that metro’s light rail system, which apparently has been super successful.

From the article: “The system, which runs from Provo through Salt Lake City, to Ogden, has generated more than 40 million annual riders and attracted $10 billion in private investment around transit stations since 1999.”

DOUBLE BONUS CONTENT: In a related topic, I wrote this blog post a couple years ago after reading Jeff Speck’s book, “The Walkable City.” The book focuses on building a vibrant downtown and neighborhoods that offer access to mass transit and encourage biking and walking. Read it here.

The impatient Transformer in my driveway is honking once again.

This Ford Escape honks its horn at random times like it’s seeking our attentoion

I’m a fan of the original Transformers movie in which Shia LaBeouf’s character buys his first car, a used yellow Camaro, which turns out to be an alien autobot-come-to-earth.

He names the car Bumblebee because of its yellow and black coloring.

The story goes from there, with Bumblebee pulling LaBeouf’s character out of dozens of tight situations as he’s fighting the bad Transformers that are hunting the earth and trying to destroy the good Transformers.

I found it amusing that Bumblebee would get impatient with his owner, at different times revving the engine or honking to get his attention.

That’s where my 2014 red Ford Escape comes in. Lately it’s been randomly honking at me, out of the blue.

For instance, the other day my grandson, Solomon, and I were in the front yard of his classmate, along with her mother. We were focused on a turtle the kids had found when the mom told me my car was honking at me.

Sure enough, the Escape was honking at like 30 second intervals in a real quick and not too loud honk. I walked out to the street where it was parked and pulled my keys out of the pocket thinking that maybe I had pressed a key accidentally.

The car ceased honking, and I went back to the neighbor’s yard.

That’s just one example. The previous week the car was parked in the driveway and I was in the back of the house. My wife, Paula, called out to me and said the car was honking and she couldn’t make it stop. I walked out the front door, and the Escape was honking, but at a more frequent pace.

I grabbed my keys and hit the door lock button trying to see if that would help. The honking ceased … for a few minutes. Then it started up again. I went out again, started it up and drove around the block before parking it back in the driveway. The honking ceased again and didn’t resume.

The honking has occurred at random times over a period of months.

Maybe the car just needs some attention in the same way our late Chihuahua, Sam, would bark and growl at us until we gave in and played with him.

So, I’m not sure if we have an alien Transformer disguised as a Ford SUV on our hands or if the car has some sort of electrical issue. I will go with the electrical issue, for now.

But just in case the car is an actual Transformer, I’ve decided to give it a nickname. Happy now, McIntosh?

I no longer hear any honking.

Lou Holtz and the professional failure that haunts me today

Jim Stafford with then-University of Arkansas coach Lou Holtz at the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.

The recent death of long-time college football coach Lou Holtz on March 4 stirred a lot of memories for me. Not all of them happy.

I’m ashamed to admit it was the biggest failure of my professional career.

Lou was University of Arkansas coach when I graduated college in 1978 and took a sportswriting position with the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith.

So, I joined the SWTR staff in the wake of Arkansas’ stunning victory over OU in the 1978 Orange Bowl. Lou Holtz was riding high as Arkansas coach.

The 31-6 upset of the Sooners by the Lou Holtz-led Razorbacks turned him into an almost mythical hero among Arkansas fans. He had become head coach before the 1977 season, replacing Arkansas legend Frank Broyles, who retired from coaching to assume a full-time role as Athletic Director.

After that first season success, Coach Holtz became a much-sought after speaker across the nation. He even made an appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

I saw that appearance and was amazed by Lou’s magic trick where he tore up a newspaper, wadded it up and then unfolded the wad into a fully restored paper.

I’ve seen Holtz do that trick countless times over the years, and I never figured out where he stashed the paper that replaced the one he tore up, or what happened to the shredded pages.

Anyway, for the first couple of years at the SWTR, my main roles were covering high school sports and doing layout on the sports desk. Eventually, I began attending selected Arkansas home games and writing sidebar stories to the main story written by our Sports Editor.

But in roughly 1982, I became Sports Editor, a position that afforded the opportunity to cover the Razorbacks on a more in-depth basis. For instance, I usually drove to Fayetteville on Tuesdays to attend practice and get some interviews with Lou and certain players for pre-game features.

I wouldn’t say that I was a full-time Razorback beat writer, but I covered all home games for the 1982 season, as well as the season-ending SMU game in Dallas and the Bluebonnet Bowl victory over Florida in Houston.

All that led up to August 1983, when I was preparing the paper’s annual football preview special section, which a lot of newspapers publish annually.

I’m not sure of the date, but an SWTR photographer and I drove to Fayetteville to interview Lou for our tabloid cover story. He welcomed us into his office and we sat down for the interview.

Almost all of my questions were total softballs, asking about certain players he expected to lead the team and looking forward to upcoming games. But near the end of the interview I asked him about the fact that despite all of his success at Arkansas he had not led the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl as SWC champions.

That set Lou off, and he got angry and animated.

“I’m tired of being asked about the Cotton Bowl all the time,” he said. “I’ll tell you right now, this is going to be my last doggone year at the University of Arkansas.”

I was taping this interview. So, I asked him if he was serious.

“I am, but if you say anything I will deny it.”

Whoa! Lou had lobbed a grenade into my pocket. Or the story of the year for Arkansas fans.

I have to admit, I wasn’t up to the moment.

As I drove back to Fort Smith, all I could think of is ‘why me?’ I was not a regular, daily beat reporter for the Hogs. If I broke this story, my reporting colleagues would think that I’m just trying to make a name for myself.

So, I kept it to myself. Call it a lack of courage, if you will. Because that’s what it was.

Pro-tip to young journalists: Don’t keep everything bottled up inside you. And don’t be afraid to share your fears or misgivings with a mentor or an editor. I should have gone straight to Jack Moseley, the SWTR’s editor, and asked him how to handle it.

I wrote my season preview with no mention of Lou’s comments and we published our special section. Less than two weeks later, an opportunity came up to take a position on The Daily Oklahoman sports desk, and I accepted it.

So, as I departed the SWTR, I left the tape of my conversation with Coach Holtz with a colleague and told him if Holtz did, indeed, resign at the end of the season, to write a story based on the interview.

I knew it would be embarrassing for me, but, well, I deserved it. And the story needed to be told.

Lou DID resign at the end of the season, and the SWTR published the story of his pre-season comments. I got a couple of calls from national college football reporters, who wrote about it, as well.

I’m so glad there was no internet or social media in 1983.

Today, it’s known that Lou Holtz did not resign at the end of that season. He was fired by Frank Broyles, in part because he had campaigned for Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, who for decades opposed almost every advance in civil rights for African Americans.

But that doesn’t matter to me. I had the story. I sat on it. I paid the price in self-worth. It haunted me for the rest of my career, even if no one really knew or remembered.

Lou’s passing provided the opportunity to finally admit my failure in a public way.

It’s an important life lesson. Don’t be afraid to share your information or situation with a mentor. Don’t sit on the story.

Don’t be like me.