Here's a link to a great story about the challenges that DeBruhl has been through in the past year including a serious battle with COVID and the death of a close friend. Many of the schools that had been considering recruiting him faded away during this time also and it was very tough on him. He sounds like a great kid who is very motivated to play D1 basketball. He's a perfect fit for Jim Les and the Aggies: high character, talented, overlooked and hungry.

https://scorebooklive.com/washington/2021/07/13/seattle-academys-leo-debruhl-found-inspiration-amid-emotionally-taxing-year-every-time-i-play-basketball-im-reminded-of-her/

Yes, there are cyclists who do stupid things and, when they do, they help promote the unfounded belief that cyclists are the main problem and don't belong on the roadways. I never flip off a motorist no matter what. Given the extreme anger I've encountered on occasion from road raging drivers, flipping them the bird could get me killed in this day and age.

Outside magazine has been collecting data and writing articles about the increase in cycling fatalities caused by drivers. In fatal crashes between 2015 and 2019, 9% were caused by drivers speeding, 16% by drunk driving and 20% were hit and run and that number is increasing.

In 2020, 697 cyclists were killed by drivers and 26.3% were hit and run. There aren't any numbers for "distracted driving" but you can only imagine. Outside reports that 25% of Americans admit to multitasking while driving.

Outside magazine also cites and example of how the justice system favors drivers who kill cyclists: 132 cyclists were killed by drivers between 1971 and 2019 in the Washington D.C. area. 87% of the drivers were not charged and, of the 13% charged, only 8% served any time.

I have always accepted a certain amount of risk in the activities that I love. I was involved in technical rock climbing and mountain biking for 45 years before gradually becoming an avid road cyclist as I've grown older. I love the solitude and beauty of long rides in the hills and mountains. I also love the sustained effort and rhythm of a challenging climb and the thrill and focus of a fast descent. It brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment and, for that, I choose to continue doing it and accept the risk.

Lots of data here: https://www.outsideonline.com/2409749/outside-cycling-deaths-2020/

And more data here: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/what-we-learned-tracking-cycling-deaths-year/

It also goes back to defaulting to blaming cyclists by calling this a bike accident. (I'm not trying to pick on BGA, just irritated that every news outlet copied the same story and called this a bike/cycling accident). If a car hits a pedestrian in a crosswalk, nobody would consider that a pedestrian accident. Anyway, having friends who have been hit by cars with varying levels of injuries, it gets me pretty angry. — MTBAggie

You are preaching to the choir with me, MTBAggie, and I do understand your point of view on this. You're making a good point and I get it.

Cyclists are increasing being killed by drivers nationwide. One of the reasons that this keeps happening is because drivers who hit cyclists are often not held to the same standard for their actions as they generally are in fatal automobile accidents. Cycling advocacy groups have been sounding the alarm about this for years but little has changed and cyclists' deaths continue to climb. There was a time when drunk drivers got off easy until the outrage of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) changed the consciousness of the majority of Americans and the legal system with their unrelenting pursuit of justice. The same thing needs to happen for cyclists as well.

I've had close calls on roads that are clearly marked "Bike Route" and "Bicycles - Share the Road." Just yesterday, I was nearly hit by a driver in a hurray in a pickup while I was riding through Old Town Sacramento on my way to the American River Bike Trail. I yelled at him and was able to avoid bing hit and, of course, he just looked away. It's maddening but the best we cyclists can do is to ride defensively and never assume that drivers see us and, even if they do clearly see us, never assume that they are going to give us the safe space they would give another car.

Hero Sports says that the Ags will receive $400,000 for playing at Tulsa.

https://herosports.com/fcs-football-2021-fbs-payouts-bzbz/

It sounds like he was wonderful man who touched the lives of many people in a special way:

“The loss of a loved one is always a challenge but is harder when it is completely unexpected,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said in a statement. “Charlotte, Jordan, Natalie, and Camille please accept our most sincere condolences. Greg had such an inner peace about him that people always seemed to gravitate towards. He lived life in a loving way that helped him connect with people from all walks of life in a unique way. In his short time here, I believe the people in this organization had a chance to experience that connection. Greg, thank you for all that you have shared with us, you will be missed brother.”

“In his short time with us, Greg had an immediate influence on those who had the pleasure of spending the smallest amount of time with him,” Jets Chairman Woody Johnson said. “His legacy is not only working with some of the brightest quarterbacks the league has ever seen, but the countless others across this world he has had an indelibly positive influence on.”

More here:http://www.cnn.com/2021/07/22/us/greg-knapp-new-york-jets-assistant-coach-dies-spt/index.html

Terrible...RIP...

This is no longer a local story. Every college baseball coach and every athletic director in America knows that UC Davis suspended its baseball program. It’s been in every newspaper in the country.

And thus, like it or not, every UC Davis baseball player has a dark cloud over his head, a cloud that won’t go away until and unless the investigation turns up nothing. But even then, the cloud is likely to linger.

Read more here:https://www.davisenterprise.com/news/local/bob-dunning-justice-for-ucd-baseball-program-should-be-swift/?utm_source=DE&utm_campaign=8dcfe8ef2f-Daily_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be64fee185-8dcfe8ef2f-171004309

I'll take 100 degree dry heat over 90 degree heat with 90% humidity anyday!

I'm an avid cyclist and I've ridden 3-4000 miles a year for the past 12 years. I ride the American River Bike Trail a lot and also the country roads around Winters, Napa and Amador County. I've had several close calls but I love the long rides in the hills too much to stop doing it because of the risk. The drivers around Winters and Napa are generally very considerate of cyclists but not so much in the Amador foothills. I've lost count of how many time some redneck in his pickup has laid on the horn and screamed at me to "get off the f...ing road."

Average weather in Tulsa for early September, mid 90's with 70-90% humidity.

I grew up in that kind of weather and, believe me, it's sweltering heat and it's miserable to play in. I hope the Ags survive the heat!

The Ags and the Hornets will tangle in the Causeway Classic at the Golden 1 Center on Tuesday, November 23rd. Time to be arranged.

Good points, OBA. I don't think the American players are "out to cruise." So my choice of words, "waltz their way through the competition," was poor. I do believe that our players expect it to be pretty easy and just aren't as hungry as players from other nations who aren't expected to beat the Americans. I hope we gel and win it all but we'll have to work hard for it.

Absolutely agree. Many of the most elite American pros have been pampered and coddled from middle school all the way to college where they're one and done on to the pros for mega-millions. I'm not sure the Olympics mean that much to them anymore. They'll be happy to get some international notoriety and a medal if they can waltz their way through the competition. The problem is just as you say, the rest of the world is up and coming and they're much more hungry.

Wow...look at how powerful Chima has become...

Wow...I've never seen those videos before. I never knew it got that bad. I can only imagine what has gone on a many of the big money programs that has never been exposed.

Probably a failed GED...