I should've been a sports columnist!
I should've learned to mope and write!
Last week, we broke open the biggest Oklahoma sports media story since Al Eshbach was stabbed with a fork outside of a Columbian brothel – or when Dean Blevins was suspended for tweeting a video of a Bourbon Street flasher – when we leaked the big news that Berry “Boomer” Tramel and Jenni “Concrete Post” Carlson were fleeing The Oklahoman for a new sports startup apparently cobbled together by Mike “McSmirky” Koehler.
A couple of days later, I shared more details about the project, including its name (Sellout-Crowd.com), other A-list local sports media stars joining the project (like, uhm, Ed Murray), and even some of the ad rates ($20,000 a month to sponsor the Jenni Carlson Podcast, which should probably be called “The Sentence.”)
Unfortunately, it looks like I did get one thing wrong:
There’s a rumor floating around town that Toby Keith is the main investor sticking his boot in the project’s ass.
However, a source close to the Keith camp is telling me that rumor is not true. Makes sense. If Toby was involved, the site would probably be called ILoveThisOklahomaSportsSite.com. However.
Well, look who has a big greasy plate of Jimmy’s Egg on his face!
Since my report went live, I received reports from various Moles that Toby Keith, along with his financial manager, are definitely investors in the “transformative” project. I don’t know how much equity Toby sank into the project, but it’s reportedly more than he spends on beer each month for his horses! I assume that’s a lot.
I guess the people with Sellout-Crowd.com are using the Toby Keith connection to scream “How Do You Like Me Now?” to the local business community. They’re apparently using his involvement to give the project some validity and name recognition and justify its astronomical ad rates.
I have to say, that’s pretty spineless. It’s been 10 years since Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire invested money in TLO and I haven’t mentioned them once.
In addition to Toby Keith, I’ve heard from multiple Moles that Mike Koehler is now telling people around town that Bob Stoops also has a stake in the Sellout-Crowd project.
Yep, that’s right! Tell Carey Murdock and James Hale to put down the chamois and slowly step away from the coach’s car – Bob Stoops is apparently getting involved in the local sports media!
I don’t know if it’s a simple financial interest or if Stoops is getting his own podcast to talk about the glory days of 2000, but if true, it will generate shockwaves through the local sports media powerful enough to make even Dean Blevins forget who he is.
Seriously, part of Stoops's schtick is that he spreads the wealth and Rock N Roll tequila with everyone in the local sports media, which leads to him being such a beloved figure. If he gets involved, and makes Jenni Carlson a millionaire in the process, a lot of the good love will be lost.
But, once again, that’s just a rumor. Although the Sellout-Crowd folks are saying Stoops is involved, I’m hearing from others that he isn’t. Who knows.
Anyway, I guess we’ll just have to wait around and listen to Toby Keith songs to see what happens. Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
