Sports B1 SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019

Halep defeats Serena in Wimbledon final. B3

After becoming ill on May 25, Jim Tra-

ber underwent brain surgery. Less than
a month later, he resumed work on his
radio show. BILL HAISTEN/Tulsa World

Traber
back to
irascible
ways
E
DMOND — Not long
after Jim Traber under-
went a four-hour brain
surgery on May 29, he
was starving.
“I hadn’t eaten in five days,”
he recalls. His wife, Julie,
responded with a sausage, egg
and cheese
biscuit.
Metro Christian quarterback Asher Link, a passing and rushing threat, rolls out of the pocket during spring practice in May. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World
Traber
devoured it. A
healthy appetite
was a positive
sign.
2019 Another
ALL-WORLD QUARTERBACKS sign that the
PRESEASON FOOTBALL CONTEST Bill occasionally
Haisten irascible Traber
Sports is on the road
columnist to recovery and
normalcy: He

LINK TO
bill.haisten
@tulsaworld.com ended a recent
exchange with
an Oklahoma
City Sports Animal caller by
calling the guy a “fool” and a
“stupid sissy.”
Traber’s most famous insult

QB LEGACY
of callers is to refer to them as
“yardbirds.”
Now, even as he has a fresh,
6-inch scar on the back of his

» See Haisten, page B5

Asher Link is latest Metro Christian QB to put up big stats

By Barry Lewis • TuLsa worLd In addition, Link is a run- commit. Rankings are based
ning threat. Last year, he had on past achievements, pro-

D
uring the past decade, Metro Christian 107 carries for 605 yards and
quarterbacks have consistently pro- 12 TDs — he had a rushing TD
duced prolific passing numbers. in each of the last six games.
“He’s probably the most
In 2018, Asher Link became the fifth physically gifted QB I’ve ever
Metro passer in 10 years to throw for coached and we’ve had some
more than 3,000 yards in a season — great quarterbacks,” Metro
following Beau Marsaln, 2011 World coach Jared McCoy said. “He’s
metro player of the year Andrew our fastest time in the 100
and 200.
Hearon (twice), Abe Anderson and “And he’s durable. He
Dylan Bierman. would prefer to throw it, but
Link, who is 6-foot-1 and 197 with (2018 rushing leader)
Ryan (Johnson) being gone,
pounds, completed 236-of-364 passes for 3,477 yards he’ll probably assume more
and 33 touchdowns. His stats down the stretch were
especially impressive as he led the Patriots to the Class
2A semifinals. In his final five games, he connected on
of that workload, too.”
Link, who has been offered
by Air Force, is No. 2 in the
122-of-180 passes for 1,851 yards and 15 TDs with only
two interceptions.
All-World preseason football
quarterback rankings, behind
Sapulpa’s Eli Williams, a TCU
jected 2019 performance and
college potential.
Last year, Link’s signature
moment came in the second
round of the playoffs at third-
ranked Jones. Link passed for
428 yards and four TDs, and
he capped the winning drive
with an 8-yard TD run with
22 seconds left to give the Pa- Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young
triots a 49-45 victory. coaches a participant during his youth
“He’s done a really good basketball camp in Oklahoma City on
job of knowing when to tuck Saturday. NATE BILLINGS/The Oklahoman
it and run when it’s not a
designed play,” McCoy said.
“He’s a throw-first type of kid,
but I don’t know if we win the
Jones game if he doesn’t run
Young
it. He runs in untouched and

» See Link, page B7

Why top recruit Raym picked OU
Strong pitches from
Georgia and Michigan
didn’t shake Sooner blood
By Eli Lederman
Tulsa World
Andrew Raym was on a
boat, casting for catfish with
his younger brother and a few
friends just off the quiet family
farm near Lake
Eucha when the
decision became
clear.
The Broken
Arrow star and
No. 1 football re-
cruit in the state
Raym of Oklahoma
for the class of
2020 finally was
sure of where he would be play-
ing his college football, and he
knew the person he wanted to
tell first. As the boys reached
the shore, Raym sought out his
father, Gerald.
“Dad,” the four-star recruit
told his father outside the
farm’s barn, “I’m going to OU.”
A few days later, with weights
clanging and music blasting,
the calm peace of Lake Eucha
felt worlds away in the sprawl-
ing practice facility at Broken
Arrow, and Raym felt like a ce-
lebrity.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the
nation’s No. 55 recruit, accord-
ing to ESPN, verbally commit-
ted to play for the Sooners next
fall over Georgia and Michigan,
and his phone had been blow-
ing up with texts and calls from
to attack
Year 2 with
confidence
After a rocky start to his
rookie season in the NBA,
the ex-Sooner feels settled
Broken Ar-
row offensive
tackle Andrew
By Eli Lederman
Raym (left)
blocks Owasso’s
Tulsa World
Haydon Grant
during a game OKLAHOMA CITY — Drib-
in Owasso on bling around young kids in a
Sept. 7. Raym, white hoodie and mint green
who had been basketball sneakers during his
the state’s top youth skills camp on Saturday,
uncommitted Trae Young looked calm, settled.
football recruit, The scene was a far cry from
committed for a where the former Norman
second time to North and Oklahoma star guard
Oklahoma last stood this time last year, when
week.  terms like “bust” and “over-
rated” were being slung his way
BRETT ROJO/
for the Tulsa World,
with every turnover or missed
file shot as Young struggled through
the NBA Summer League as a
member of the Atlanta Hawks.
The look he wears now is one
of confidence, the sort of swag-
people at home in Broken Ar- ger that comes with averaging
row, in Norman and all over the 19.1 points per game for the
country ever since. Hawks and emerging as a final-
The dream, the one the ist for NBA Rookie of the Year.
Rayms wished upon for much And now with a full season
of Andrew’s life, had been under his belt, the 20-year-old
» See Raym, page B7 » See Young, page B5
TULSA WORLD tulsaworld.com SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2019 B5

Haisten: ‘May 25 is a day we’ll remember forever,’ Traber says

» From page B1 in a tournament at the radio again. His June 24 been his biggest audience
Hard Rock. Julie also is comeback show coincided ever. During his April 15
head, Traber considers there. with the annual Bob Barry show, there was a 558%
himself the luckiest man “I don’t gamble,” she Jr. memorial golf event in increase above normal
in Oklahoma. explained. “I just find a Oklahoma City. As nearly in the number of listen-
During a period of place where I can read.” every participant listened ers who were connected
about 24 hours on May Traber is well-known on a smart phone, there online or by using the
25-26, he and Julie within Oklahoma’s tour- were echoes of Traber’s Animal app.
weren’t sure whether he nament-poker culture. show all over the golf
had sustained a stroke He’s an accomplished course. ‘Incredibly blessed’
or a heart attack — or player and seems to be During the first few
whether a cancer had an expert on the subject. days after the surgery, A father of three daugh-
spread to his brain, caus- While hospitalized before several friends delivered ters and two sons, Traber
ing him to have head- surgery, Traber received a homemade meals to the hails from the Pittsburgh
aches and, ultimately, to big-time flower arrange- Trabers. Involved in the area. His loyalty to the
collapse during a poker ment from the Hard Rock. meal chain, Jim says, was Pittsburgh Steelers is per-
tournament at the Win- For three weeks before Thunder general manager manent and intense.
Star World Casino and he became ill at the Sam Presti. As a college athlete,
Resort in Thackerville. WinStar, Traber had been Traber has a history of Traber was an Oklahoma
“May 25 is a day we’ll bothered by headaches. being critical of Presti — State quarterback and
remember forever,” Traber He said the discomfort and at one time suggested first baseman. For the
said during an interview centered on the back of that a Presti firing would Cowboys baseball pro-
in his Edmond home last his head. benefit the organization — gram in 1980-82, he had
week. “I knew he didn’t feel but the Thunder organiza- a career batting average
Looking and seeming good,” Julie said, “so on tion responded to Traber’s of .389. For the Baltimore
better than I expected, that Friday night, I told plight by sending “a Orioles in 1984-86 and
the 57-year-old Traber him, ‘Why don’t you just beautiful bunch of food,” 1988-89, he played in 264
resumed radio work only not go down there (on Traber said. games.
three weeks after his May 25)? You could stay “What a cool thing to On Sept. 30, 1988,
surgery. home and relax. You’ve do,” Traber said. “Only in against the Toronto Blue
As it turned out, there been pushing yourself too On May 29, Jim Traber underwent surgery for the removal of a Oklahoma.” Jays, he punched a two-
was not a stroke or a hard.’ ” benign brain tumor, leaving a 6-inch scar. COURTESY Said Julie: “Oklahoma out single in the ninth
heart attack or cancer. A Jim’s response was, “I’m people are the nicest in inning to end Dave Stieb’s
benign tumor caused his going. I’ll be fine.” “This probably was a us, ‘This is the best-case the world. It’s like living bid for a no-hitter.
seizure. On May 25, Julie did seizure,” Julie was told. scenario. It’s in the perfect in Pleasantville.” Traber is nicknamed
“This was going to not join Jim for the 140- “At least, she knew I location,’ ” Julie said. “I’m “The Ultimate.” Dur-
happen sooner or later, mile drive from Edmond wasn’t dead,” Traber said crying and hugging the Traber and Tiger Woods ing his first radio work
no matter where I was at to the WinStar casino. last week. “A lot of other doctor, and Jim wakes up during the ’90s, he was
the time,” Traber said. “I She decided to stay home. people got text messages and asks, ‘What’s going When Tiger Woods introduced each day as
just happened to be at the During that Saturday saying that I had died.” on?’ I told him, ‘You’re go- won the Masters in April, having “the ultimate
WinStar when it hap- afternoon, Jim had a nice Traber was transported ing to have brain surgery, Traber was on the losing sports mind.” Eventually,
pened.” run at the poker table. to an Ardmore hospital. but you’re not going to side of a bet— established “The Ultimate” became a
During a Texas hold ’em “I’m rolling,” he texted A brain scan revealed an die.’ ” in 2011 — that Woods nickname that stuck.
event, Traber remembers to his wife. extreme irregularity. Traber’s reaction: would not win another For the time being, Tra-
having blurred vision Around 6 p.m., as Julie The plan was for a “You’re fired up because major golf championship. ber does his shows from
from his right eye. He also dined on takeout food helicopter to take Traber I’ve got to have brain At $200 apiece, Traber the office of his home.
remembers a statement and was about to watch to Oklahoma City, but surgery?” had bets with Animal co- When he needs to be at a
from another man at his a movie, she got the first the state was rocked by Within a few seconds, workers Craig Humphreys remote location — like a
table: “You are having a call that her husband was violent weather during he again was sleeping. and Mark Rodgers. car dealership — he uses
seizure.” in trouble. the evening of May 25. There was a delicate Within Traber’s show Uber transport.
Moments later, Traber “I don’t know what’s The sky was too unstable surgery on May 29, but the intro for years was his Because he was a
was lying on the floor really happening,” a friend for helicopter flight, so it Trabers got the best pos- mention of the Tiger seizure patient, Traber
of the casino. Julie got a reported, “but Jim’s either was 4 a.m. before Traber sible result. Jim would live. bets: “This is the great- legally is banned from
terrible phone call from a had a stroke or a heart was checked into Mercy est wager ever made by driving until December at
friend. attack. They’re saying he’s Hospital in OKC. Traber and the Thunder any human being ever on the earliest. If there isn’t
Forty-seven days later, unresponsive.” For a few hours, Julie this planet or any other another seizure within
the Trabers were seated Julie remembers her says, the Trabers feared Traber for years has planet!” six months of the May 25
together on the sofa, reaction: “This can’t be that Jim had been expressed an opinion that For the Sports Ani- incident, he’ll be cleared
recounting and marveling happening.” stricken by a cancer that Russell Westbrook is inca- mal network of stations, to drive.
at what transpired during She wound up making had invaded his brain. pable of leading an NBA Traber has a statewide Traber is the veteran
the final week of May. the 140-mile trip after all. “Jim was unbelievably team to a championship. audience. He hosts “The of several major health
“I was told that (an calm,” Julie recalled. During the operation, Afternoon Sport Beat” for issues and surgeries, but,
‘I’ll be fine’ ambulance) was 45 “I was on some good the surgeon wore a pair two hours (2-4 p.m.) and he says, this most recent
minutes away,” Julie said. drugs,” Jim explained. of Westbrook’s signature then collaborates with Al episode set the bar much
When Traber is involved “I thought, ‘If he’s had a “It was as a surreal deal. basketball shoes. Eschbach from 4-6. higher for having been so
a poker tournament at stroke or a heart attack, That night, everything “They put my head in As Woods held on for unsettling.
WinStar, at the giant he’s not going to make it.’ changed.” a vise. I couldn’t move,” his fifth Masters victory, “I can’t believe how
Choctaw Casino near I was pretty emotional. I That night, a special- Traber said. “I had 24 “Jim Traber” was a trend- incredibly blessed I’ve
Durant or at the Hard asked a friend in Norman ist determined that Jim’s staples in my head. It was ing topic on Twitter. been,” Traber said at the
Rock Hotel and Casino in to meet me and drive me issue was a meningioma serious.” The next day, Traber conclusion of our inter-
Catoosa, Julie typically is to WinStar.” brain tumor. A benign Two days later, he was paid Humphreys and view, after which he began
with him. This weekend, About an hour later, tumor. released to go home. Rodgers. Traber also at- to prepare for four more
in fact, Traber is involved there was another call. “(The specialist) told Three weeks later, he did tracted what might have hours of live sports talk.

Young: It took until the All-Star break to feel comfortable, he says

» From page B1
said he feels ready for his
sophomore season in the
league.
“I’ve gained a lot of con-
fidence,” Young said. “For
me going into Year 2, I can
now come out with the
same confidence I had at
the end of last year. Hav-
ing that from the start will
be great this season.”
Fresh off his first year in
the NBA, Young returned
home to host his annual
youth camp at the Santa
Fe Family Life Center. The
camp, which continues
Sunday, was open to boys
and girls in grades 1-12
who each received coach-
ing instruction along with
an opportunity to meet
Young and bring home
an autographed souvenir
from the two-time Okla-
homa Gatorade Player of
the Year.
During his meeting with
the media, Young was
asked about a number of
the topics swirling around
the NBA this summer.
On the Thunder’s trade
of Russell Westbrook,
Young, who attended
games at Chesapeake En-
ergy Arena since the team
arrived in 2008, said it was
tough to see the fiery point
guard go.
“I remember going and
seeing Russ play,” Young
said. “I’ve had season
tickets here since he was
a rookie. It’s crazy seeing
him go. I know people in
Oklahoma will welcome
him back whenever he
comes back with the Rock-
ets because of everything
he’s done for this city.”
On the wild summer
transactions that have
swept the league this
month, Young admitted it
has been interesting and
enlightening to watch up
close.
And when the discus-
sion finally turned to his
debut season and the next
one that lies ahead start-
ing in October, the No. 5
overall pick in 2018 dove
into his initially rocky
rookie year and expressed
optimism about what lies
ahead.
This summer, Young is
experiencing his first NBA
offseason and settling into
a season preparation un-
like any he has had before.
Solidified in his role but
no longer saddled with
events like the Summer
League or the expectations
and pressures of a rookie
season, he has been able to
step back and simply work
on his game.
Even after overcom-
ing his underwhelming
performance in the Las
Vegas Summer League
a year ago, where he fa-
mously opened his career
with consecutive air balls,
Young struggled during
the early months of the
2018-19 NBA season.
There were growing
pains, he admits, that
came with adjusting to
life in the NBA. Not only
was he forced to grapple
with the very real chal-
lenge of facing the tough-
est point guards in the
league night to night, he
also had to learn to han-
dle aspects of pro life like
travel and publicity. All of
it required some time to
settle in.
“There’s no nights off,”
Young said. “You’re going
up against a different type
of point guard every night.
Every single night is a dif-
ferent test. That was the Atlanta Hawks
major adjustment for me.” guard Trae Young,
a standout at Nor-
His slow acclimation to
man North and
the NBA robbed Young of Oklahoma, said
the confidence that had during his youth
made him a star in college basketball camp
and thrust him onto the at the Santa Fe
national stage a year ear- Family Life Center
lier at OU. In fact, it took in Oklahoma City
until the All-Star break on Saturday that
in February for him to fi- “Every single night
nally hit his stride, he said. (in the NBA) is a
From there, Young caught different test.” 
fire.
Over the final two and NATE BILLINGS/The
Oklahoman
a half months of the sea-
son, Young was a menace
for Atlanta and carried the
Hawks with 24.7 points
and 9.2 assists per game,
flashing the kind of skill
and talent that made him
a top-five draft pick.
Nothing, Young said,
really changed over that
span, only that he finally
felt comfortable and set-
tled into his role on the
Hawks and in the league.
Looking back, Young
said he wishes he could
tell his rookie self one
thing: Be who you are.
For a brief time last fall,
he got lost in trying to fit
in and that’s where his
struggles began.
Nothing Young can do
now can change what hap-
pened then, but as Year 2
appears on the horizon,
that same advice is on his
mind. He’s not going to let
himself forget it this time,
and now, he’s ready for
what comes next.
“It’s going to be a fun
year,” he said. “And I can’t
wait to get it going.”
Eli Lederman
918-581-8386
Eli.Lederman
@tulsaworld.com
Twitter:
@ByEliLederman