On this cold and rainy Sunday in California, it’s time to for a double matinee'. Time to honour our "Sunday Best" and to add another Hall-of-Famer into the "Hometown Heroes" file: Oklahoma Quarterback and Heisman Trophy Winner, Sam Bradford.

A lot of people often ask why, as a Californian well-entrenched in the political class in the golden state, I so often talk about my home state of Oklahoma. 

My question is, How could I not.

Those who were born in Oklahoma, raised in Oklahoma, or those who just went to school in Oklahoma all know why.  There is a spirit there. Perhaps due to its prominent locale smack in the middle of the United States Bible Belt, there is an indominitible spirit of life, determination, generosity, grit, unconditional love and humanity that I have yet to see in another state. And I’ve lived in a few.  Have worked in most. And I’ve had family who have lived overseas in foreign countries. To this day, none of us have seen it anywhere else.

Wherever I go, and whatever I do, I am always struck by the bond that remains between Oklahomans. As a woman rarely at a lack for words (and some would argue, quite fairly, at times overflowing with them), I have a hard time even describing the quality.  The best way I can describe it is an “I’ve-got-your-back” mentality that most people don’t have the privilege to experience in life, unless they are a member of one of the branches of our elite Armed Forces.

It takes a while to get into an Oklahoman's heart (as we are a skeptical people), but once you are there, it is for life.  Same goes for those who betray us, betray a fellow Oklahoman and you will find yourselves circled with wagons fairly quickly. You know the old slogan, "Don't Mess with Texas"?  Well, Oklahomans are so tough, you need not even put that warning out: everybody knows.

Oklahomans are a special breed of folks, ones who would give you the shirts off their backs, and literally did so for their fellow man in the immediate aftermath of the tragic bombing that rocked the Oklahoma Federal Building. I lived there. I saw it. People (even women) stripping off their shirts they wore to work that day to create a turnequot for someone they didn’t even know.  In a post-9/11 world, it seems like such a relatively small event, but you must remember that this country had never seen anything like a terrorist's truck bomb before, and it was the deadliest terrorist act on American soil until 9/11. In the end, 168 lives senselessly snuffed out, hundreds of people trapped in a collapsed building for days, and more than 800 wounded zombies walking around downtown. In fact, I recall going to the shopping mall months after, and remember being stunned to see so man folks who had gotten legs blown off and were still suffering critical injuries. It could have changed the character of that city, but instead made it stronger. I always say that Oklahoma had to go first, to show the rest of the Nation how to handle a terrorist tragedy with dignity and grace, in true Oklahoma fashion.

Lastly, I often hear Oklahomans described as “good people.”  Someone will say, “Now they are what I call ‘good people.’”  Which is why I was struck by the Associated Press article today (below) about Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, who is described as “one of the good guys” and “the kind of guy you’d want your daughter to marry.”  That just about sums up how I feel about my fellow statesmen.

Sam Bradford is special to me not just because of his football statistics as the QB for my college alma mater, the University of Oklahoma.  He was also the high school quarterback and graduate of another alma mater – my high school, Putnam City North in Oklahoma City.  The place where, (in addition to my own home, with my own fantastic parents), where I learned to be “good people.”

Today, I’m proud that one of the good guys won.  In a world gone mad, it proves that nice guys can still finish first.  For this reason, slingin’ Sammy, Heisman Trophy Winner, Putnam City North high school Panther, “good guy”, and Oklahoma Football Quarterback Sam Bradford is not only our Hometown Hero, he is also our pick for today’s “Sunday Best.”

Bradford's old school glad to claim Heisman winner
By MURRAY EVANS / Associated Press

Sam Bradford's high school coach stared at the TV, chewing his nails and waiting for the announcement.

When he and about a dozen others heard the name "Sam," they roared so loudly no one could hear the last name. It didn't matter.

It was a night to celebrate for Bob Wilson, Bradford's high school coach at Putnam City North, where he worked with the Oklahoma quarterback who is now a Heisman Trophy winner.

"It felt like right before a state championship game," Wilson said...

http://www.newsok.com/bradfords-old-school-glad-to-claim-heisman-winner/article/3330239?custom_click=headlines_widget