OKC Barons Seek to Blaze a New Path

Photo by: Garrett Duty

The year was 1992, and Oklahoma City was looking for a winner to throw their support behind. The Switzer dynasty had just come crumbling down to earth with the NCAA imposing the proverbial “death penalty” on the OU Sooner football program. The Oklahoma State Cowboys were coming off of a 0-10-1 season, and things weren’t looking up any time soon. Oklahomans desperately needed a team to rally behind. Enter the Oklahoma City Blazers, a member of the newly founded Central Hockey League.

The Blazers would go on to become a staple of the Oklahoma City community, through both their involvement in the community and their great successes on the ice. They won seven consecutive regular season division championships spanning from 1996 to 2003, and CHL championships in 1996 and 2001. The attendance figures for the team rivaled that of some NHL franchises.

Despite completing the unlikely task of converting the football-crazed Oklahomans into hockey fans, the team was declared financially unable to continue operations in 2009, and had to close up shop. After 17 years of success Oklahoma City’s beloved team was gone.

Enter the American Hockey League, the direct feeder league, designed for grooming the NHL’s budding stars. Oklahoma City was selected as the host city for the team that would become the Barons in February, followed by a whirlwind of selecting players, staff and coaches. The first players, Colin McDonald and Jake Taylor, were announced in early July along with the head coach Todd Nelson. With the season starting in early October, the organization had only a few short months to get their feet beneath them and begin progress.

Since their inception, the Barons have been faced with the seemingly impossible task of turning Oklahoma City from a Blazers town into a Barons town.

The reception has been warmer than some might have anticipated though. Barons defenseman Jake Taylor said, “(The fan support) has been great. Opening night we had over 10 thousand, which was awesome.”

Taylor also had glowing reviews for the community surrounding the Barons. “The response around town has been really welcoming. Everything that we’ve seen has been very positive,” Taylor said.

Regardless of the positives, there will always be some negatives. Most of the negative feelings towards the Barons come from the staunch supporters of the Blazers that simply cannot accept that their team is gone. But the new generation of Oklahoma City hockey has one major factor on their side when it comes to winning over the hearts of the people: talent.

“I think we have a really good product on the ice. You’re having guys that are coming in here like the top draft pick of their organizations, but just as cool is you’re having other teams with the same kind of players coming in. So the quality on both sides is real high,” Director of Ticket Sales Bob Flannery said.

Director of Communications and Public Relations, Josh Evans is also certain that the new team brings an exciting brand of play previously unseen.

“Within 30 seconds you’ll be able to see a difference. That is not to downgrade the play that was here before, it’s just to say how much better this is,” Evans said.

The talent of this brand new franchise has propelled them to fourth place overall in the highly competitive Western Conference, and third place in their division. The Barons are working hard both on and off the ice to win over the affection of the community and to become yet another successful Oklahoma City sports franchise, but only time will tell whether the Barons flourish or flounder.

Ozzie's Diner

Tucked back in the Max Westheimer Airport terminal sits Ozzie's Diner, one of Norman's most popular and beloved restaurants. A staple of Norman cuisine since it opened, Ozzie's is famous for the All-You-Can-Eat breakfast that is offered for $5.49 everyday from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and until noon on Saturday. Lines can snake out the door on Saturdays with hungry customers waiting for their endless plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and much more.

But it isn't just about the breakfast. The menu features everything from "Ozzie's Pig Stand" sandwich to the popular Cajun Salad. And don't forget the most popular menu item, the Chicken Fried Steak. This comes in a "small size" that only takes up about half of a plate along with two sides. There is also a giant option that takes up a plate on its own, with a separate plate for the three sides that accompany the monstrous chicken fry.

Walking into Ozzie's is like walking into a different decade. From the mason jars full of iced tea to the Casablanca poster and the old style wall phone by the kitchen, Ozzie's is full of reminders of the past.

The restaurant has loyal followers from all over the country. Waitresses tell stories of pilots flying to Norman from as far as Colorado just for a meal at Ozzie's. The regulars at Ozzie's keep coming back for multiple reasons. The food is the most important reason of course, but the atmosphere and the wait staff also give the diner the old-time feel that people appreciate. Elizabeth Geyer and Dutch Tersteege have been frequenting Ozzie's together every Friday for years. Geyer first ate at Ozzie's 40 years ago after seeing signs on the road pointing her towards the diner. She convinced Tersteege to join her in her weekly ventures to Ozzie's about 7 years ago and he has been hooked ever since.

"I've been coming here about seven years. She drug me over here. It's good stuff, good food, the help is very friendly and the prices are reasonable," said Dutch as he worked on finishing his plate of Ozzie's Pig Stand.

The two enjoy Ozzie's so much that sometimes they make a Tuesday visit along with their weekly Friday stop.

"You feel like family when you walk in here, everyone is just delighted to see you," said Geyer.

The owners of Ozzie's graduated from Oklahoma State with degrees in Culinary Arts. The wide range of menu items shows their extensive knowledge of different foods, but the most surprising part of the menu is the prices. If the unlimited breakfast for less than $6 is surprising, then consider an Old Fashioned Hamburger for $3.99 or a 10 oz steak with three sides for $8.29.

Ozzie's location is something else that makes it unique. The location at the Max Westheimer airport makes it popular amongst the private plane flyers and pilots, but can make it hard to find for Norman locals. However, this does not deter large crowds from showing up early every day of the week, either for the unlimited breakfast or the daily specials.

"We have different specialties every night of the week. Friday nights, for an example we do the all you can eat catfish, Wednesday we do all you can eat fried chicken, we have many different specialties that go on during the week," said waitress Amie reed.

Even at 2 p.m. on a cold, rainy Friday there were enough people in the diner to need two waitresses and a cook to keep up with the orders. As Geyer and Tersteege can attest, Ozzie's keeps you coming back for more. and more. and more.

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Muslim Project: Marjan Seirafi-Pour

Marjan Seirafi-Pour holding the centennial Quran in her north Norman home. Photo by Garrett Duty

Marjan Seirafi-Pour's toughest moment as a Muslim in Oklahoma came during what was supposed to be a celebration for the state.

Seirafi-Pour was the chairperson of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council in 2007, when the council decided to give Oklahoma politicians a Centennial Quran to commemorate Oklahoma's 100th birthday. A Baptist group had given Bibles to the politicians, so the council thought it would be acceptable to distribute Qurans as well.

They were wrong. The gift seen by some politicians as offensive. Some denied the Qurans, while the media created a firestorm over this issue. Suddenly Seirafi-Pour and her council were the subject of international outcry regarding their decision.

Despite the negative outpouring by some, Seirafi-Pour said many good things came from the conroversy. The united nature of the Muslim community in Oklahoma provided a strong support group. Though some politicians were rude to her, there were many that were very kind. Her proudest moments as a Muslim in Oklahoma have also involved politicians.

Seirafi-Pour cherishes Governor Brad Henry's iftar dinners.

Iftar is the breaking of the Ramadan fast and Henry was one of the first governors to begin reaching out to the Muslim community by participating in this event. Seirafi-Pourwas even nominated by Henry to be part of the Oklahoma Textbook Committee, which helps choose the curriculum for the schools of Oklahoma.

"Governor Henry's inclusiveness and willingness to consider everybody in Oklahoma equal and the same has helped in so many instances," Seirafi-Pour said.

Seirafi-Pour was born in Tehran, Iran, in the 1960s. As a child, she attended schools mixed with boys and girls. That all changed in 1979 when she was about 13. The shah of Iran was overthrown, and the country became the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many reforms were implemented including the segregation of schools by gender.

Her family decided to stay in Iran after the revolution. But the next year, Iraq invaded Iran and began the nearly decade-long Iran-Iraq war. After realizing there was no end in sight, Seirafi-Pour's family decided to move to Oklahoma, where her bothers and sisters had already been in school.

One would think that leaving a war torn country for Oklahoma would be tough, from dealing with a language barrier to experiencing the cultural changes. But, Seirafi-Pour said the most difficult part was something else: "Just like every 15 or 16-year-old girl, leaving the friends and people you have gone to school with for years."

Seirafi-Pour went on to graduate from Carl Albert High School in Midwest Cit. She then get a respiratory degree from Rose State College in Midwest City. Following that, she earned a bachelor's degree in Allied Health Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

She has now spent 20 years in the health care field. In addition to her health care degrees she has a master's in educational psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

She is now working on a master's in international relations. For this degree she is writing her dissertation about the Basij women in Iran. The Basij are a paramilitary force consisting of women that are trained to protect the Revolution.

Seirafi-Pour's work will be the first of its kind, which makes it difficult for her to find references to use. Her ability to speak Farsi, the language of Iran, helps her greatly in her work.

Seirafi-Pour's experiences in the Muslim community of Oklahoma have left her with a distinct sense of pride and optimism about the future.

"I think here in Oklahoma and in general in America that Muslims are being able to achieve what they want and be successful and work hand in hand with others to make America a better place," Seirafi-Pour said.

Muslims In Oklahoma: Marjan Seirafi-Pour

Marjan Seirafi-Pour's toughest moment as a Muslim in Oklahoma came during what was supposed to be a celebration for the state.

Seirafi-Pour was the chairperson of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council in 2007, when the council decided to give Oklahoma politicians a Centennial Qur’an to commemorate Oklahoma's 100th birthday. A Baptist group had given Bibles to the politicians, so the council thought it would be acceptable with Qur'ans as well.

They were wrong. The gift was seen by some politicians as offensive. Some denied the Qur'ans, while the media created a firestorm over this issue. Suddenly Seirafi-Pour and her council were the subject of international outcry regarding their decision.

Despite the negative outlook by some, Seirafi-Pour saw many good things come from the controversy. The Muslim community in Oklahoma remained united and provided a strong support group, which gave Seirafi-Pour a distinct sense of pride in the Muslim leadership.

Though some politicians were rude to her, there were many that were very kind. Her proudest moments as a Muslim in Oklahoma have come from politicians.

Seirafi-Pour cherishes Governor Brad Henry's iftar dinners.

"Governor Henry's inclusiveness and willingness to consider everybody in Oklahoma equal and the same has helped in so many instances," Seirafi-Pour said.

Iftar is the breaking of the Ramadan fast, and Governor Henry was one of the first governors to begin reaching out to the Muslim community by participating in this event. Seirafi-Pour was even nominated by Governor Henry to be part of the Oklahoma Textbook Committee where she helps choose the curriculum for the schools of Oklahoma.

Seirafi-Pour was born in Tehran, Iran in the 1960s. As a child she attended schools mixed with boys and girls but that all changed in 1979 when she was about 13. The shah of Iran was overthrown and Iran became the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many reforms were implemented, including the segregation of schools by gender.

Her family decided to stay in Iran after the revolution, but the next year Iraq invaded Iran and began the nearly decade-long Iran-Iraq war. After realizing that there was no end in sight, Seirafi-Pour's family decided to move to Oklahoma where her bothers and sisters had already been in school.

One would think that leaving a war-torn country for Oklahoma would be tough in many ways. From dealing with a new language, to the cultural changes seen from the Islamic Republic to Oklahoma. However, Seirafi-Pour said the most difficult part of moving was, "Just like every 15 or 16 year old girl, leaving the friends and people you have gone to school with for years."

Seirafi-Pour went on to graduate from Carl Albert High School in Midwest City and then got a Respiratory degree from Rose State College in Midwest City. Following that, she earned a bachelor's degree in Allied Health Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

She has now spent 20 years in the healthcare field. In addition to her healthcare degrees she has a Master's in Educational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

She is now working on her master's in International Relations. For this degree she is writing her dissertation about the Basij women in Iran. The women of the Basij are a volunteer paramilitary militia force consisting of women between the ages of 18 and 38 years old.

Seirafi-Pour's work will be the first of its kind, which makes it difficult for her to find references to use. Her ability to speak Farsi, the language of Iran, helps her greatly in her work.

Seirafi-Pour's experiences in the Muslim community of Oklahoma have left her with a distinct sense of pride and optimism about the future.

"I think here in Oklahoma and in general in America that Muslims are being able to achieve what they want and be successful and work hand in hand with others to make America a better place," Seirafi-Pour said.

Seirafi-Pour's work with the Oklahoma Textbook Committee and the governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council as well as many other organizations are a prime example of Muslims working hand in hand with others to make America a better place.

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