The O'Colly, Monday, June 6, 2023.

Monday, June 5, 2023

Jemaine Cannon’s plea for life

that year. In January of 1995, his mother Betty arranged for Cannon to stay with Clark; it was not meant to be long term or permanent, and she was not his girlfriend.

No sign of relief

OSU run-rules Utah, continuing its WCWS run

was up 8-0. Talk about a rough start.

An offensive explosion from OSU kept its season alive, defeating Utah 8-0 in an elimination game Friday night.

Friday afternoon. His team didn’t seem to feel anxious about the upcoming do-or-die game, but he suddenly did.

A call for clemency.

On Wednesday at 9 a.m., a clemency hearing for Jemaine Cannon is scheduled at Kate Barnard Community Corrections Center in Oklahoma City.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) will host a press conference to plead mercy for Cannon before the hearing in the House Media Room of the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Ashton Slaughter Assistant Sports Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Halle Morris’ relief effort for Utah couldn’t have started much worse. Morris, who entered the circle for Ute teammate Sydney Sandez, was faced with a 3-0 deficit in the bottom of the second with Cowgirl baserunners surrounding her on all three bases; not to mention, there were no outs.

Within 10 pitches, OSU

“Obviously a really nice game for OSU,” OSU coach Kenny Gajewski said. “I told our team after last night’s game that I couldn’t wait to see what their response would be. I had a good feeling, not sure I can tell you that we were gonna come out and run-rule, but I figured we would play well.”

Coming off the heels of their game against Washington earlier Friday, the Utes (42-16) turned around and faced a Cowgirl team that was run-ruled on Thursday night against Florida State. Gajewski wasn’t worried about his team’s response until

“I felt awesome til about 3 o’clock or so,” Gajewski said. ‘So, I went and got on the treadmill for a moment, just to try and get some energy out. I may have been more anxious than them (around) that time.

“They just know how to respond.”

The anxiety didn’t last long, as Katelynn Carwile plated two off a single to right field in the bottom of the first, giving the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead heading into the second. After Lexi Kilfoyl retired three Ute batters, OSU (47-15) got to work right away in the bottom half of the inning.

Annual Speedfest breaks records

Cannon’s execution is scheduled for July 20. He has been on death row since 1996, after he was convicted of murdering Sharonda Clark on Feb. 3, 1995. His attorney, Mark Henrikson, said Cannon’s previous trial teams “failed to present the affirmative defense, either by permitting him his absolute right to testify or by bolstering his statement to law enforcement with a forensic deconstruction of the government’s case.”

Henrikson prepared Cannon’s clemency petition as well as made minor edits to Cannon’s “Events Leading to Self-Defense,” which tells his own story about the events on that February day in 1995.

Here is a brief summary of “Events Leading to Self-Defense.”

Cannon first spoke to Clark during a phone call his sister Tamara had with Clark in March 1994, during which she put him on the phone for about 20 seconds. They met at his brother’s funeral in July of

On the day of Clark’s death, Cannon had planned to leave, and the apartment was to be sprayed for bugs, causing it to be in extreme disarray.

A neighbor, Sheena Elliot, came by and asked to borrow money from Clark. Clark became angry, and, when she became aware of Cannon’s plan to leave, attempted to stop him. Clark punched and kicked Cannon, who grabbed her wrists to stop her, causing her to punch herself in the nose and make herself bleed. She threw a jewelry box at him but missed, hitting and breaking a window. She tripped over items on the floor and fell into the closet, smearing the closet floor with blood.

As he left, Clark grabbed a kitchen knife and came at him with it. He grabbed her wrists and they both fell, Clark dropping the knife. They both lunged for it and when Cannon grabbed it he blindly swung it, swinging it four times.

The knife broke and Cannon dragged Clark’s body to the bathroom, where he saw he could do nothing to help her. Clark was dead. Cannon changed his clothes and left.

Edward Hueske, a world-renowned crime scene reconstructionist, explained the basis for self-defense in Cannon’s clemency petition. Hueske had access to the trial transcripts, the federal evidentiary hearing transcripts, police reports, crime scene photos, autopsy photos and reports and interviewed Cannon personally.

See Plea on 6

Strap in and prepare for takeoff.

Oklahoma State University’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) hosted its 12th annual Speedfest event at the OSU Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station on April 29 in Glencoe.

The event is an aerospace competition for engineering students from OSU and middle and high school students. They come together from across the state to showcase their engineering abilities in friendly competition.

Speedfest holds two main competition areas every year. The Alpha Class is the category for college students, while the India Class is the category for middle and high school students.

In the collegiate competition, team orange and team black are made up of more than 20 interdisciplinary seniors. They come together to

design and build a high-speed, remote-controlled plane. Every year, Andy Arena, the Speedfest coordinator and a School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering professor, makes different parameters for the competition that the teams’ planes must follow.

For this year’s contest, the teams were charged with creating a cost-efficient and strong plane that could dependably showcase speed and efficient pylon-racing abilities. The planes

were scored based on how well they completed a rocket glide paired with a pylon race, an ultimate speed and endurance challenge. Team black won the overall contest. They received a high score in the pylon race and endurance test, but it was team orange that developed the fastest plane in the competition’s history, reaching speeds of 240 miles per hour during their speed test.

See Speedfest on 7

Luke Tolbert

The Cowgirls defeated Utah 8-0 in a shortened, run-rule victory during their elimination game Friday night.

Courtesy of OSU

this year’s Speedfest contest, the teams were charged with creating a cost-efficient and strong plane that could dependably showcase speed and efficient pylon-racing abilities.

Mallory Pool Staff Reporter

Stephanie Landaverde News and Lifestyle Editor

Cowboys lose to ORU in regional opener, face elimination vs DBU sports

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Colin Brueggemann stepped into the box with bases full of Cowboys and two outs in the third inning, but grounded a ball to second base for the out.

It was that kind of night for OSU, where it couldn’t plate runners in scoring position, especially in the early innings.

The Cowboys lost 6-4 to Oral Roberts on Friday at O’Brate Stadium in the Stillwater Regional. OSU will play an elimination game versus Dallas Baptist, Saturday at 2 p.m. ORU’s upset over OSU mimicked the first two games the teams played against each other in the regular season.

In ORU’s April 11 and May 2 wins versus OSU, the Golden Eagles led 5-0 and 5-2 late in the games. OSU tried to comeback, but didn’t succeed.

“I think that was a really good, well-played college baseball game all the way around,” ORU coach Ryan Folmar said. “I thought we handled the environment really well and stayed composed. We made some pitches, made some plays, made some swings when we needed to and proud of our guys with the way they competed.”

Two batters prior to Brueggemann’s out, the game went into a 59-minute lightning delay. The delay didn’t effect the game much, but it did influence ORU’s change at pitcher.

Caleb Isaacs came in for relief and even though he gave up three runs in 4 1/3 innings, he nixed OSU’s chance to tie or take the lead through the early and middle innings.

OSU had opportunities early to score with six runners in scoring position in the first four innings but never saw a run cross home plate. OSU batted 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, with one of the hits leading to two runs.

“Guys were ready, we just didn’t get the base hit we needed there in the early innings with a lot of guys on base,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to 5-0 lead in the fifth inning and had a response when OSU attempted a comeback. OSU scored two runs from a David Mendham single and revived the O’Brate Stadium crowd, but the Golden Eagles’ Mac McCroskey drove in a run with a two-out single in the sixth, pushing the lead back to four runs.

“At the time it was 5-0 then it was 5-2 and then 6-2. I mean you still have to rally,” Holliday said. “You’re still in a position of the game to put something together. We can’t let that knock your spirits.

I mean we had to put a run

together whether it be 5-2, 6-2.

Just got to keep going.”

When OSU hammered two solo home runs in the bottom of the eighth and drew

a leadoff walk in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, ORU’s closer Cade Denton threw together three quick outs to secure the victory.

“The kids did battle back, we got a couple barrels and got the leadoff walk in the ninth inning, but the young man (Denton) made some

nice pitches there to finish it,” Holliday said. “You just got to be resilient, that’s all there is to it.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy OSU Athletics

An OSU rally came up short, and the Cowboys dropped their first game of the Stillwater Regional, 6-4, to Oral Roberts on Friday night.

Continued from 1

Taylor Tuck started the Cowgirls’ six-hit, six-run inning with a double, before Megan Bloodworth and Rachel Becker loaded the bases with no outs. Chyenne Factor capitalized on the opportunity, hitting an RBI single to left.

Enter Morris, who was put in a problematic situation by entering the circle with a juiced-up Cowgirl offense.

On her third pitch, Kiley Naomi had an RBI single to left. Her seventh pitch ricocheted off the front right corner of home plate and over the catcher’s glove, bringing another home. Morgyn Wynne hit a two-RBI double to left center on the eighth pitch. The 10th pitch led to a Katelynn Carwile RBI single, putting the finishing touches on the inning of pure Cowgirl dominance.

sports

Former four-star recruit Miranda transfers to OSU

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

The Cowboys have added a 7-footer via the transfer portal. North Carolina State transfer Isaiah Miranda has committed to OSU, it was announced Sunday morning by Joe Tipton of On3. His time with the Wolfpack was brief, as he arrived at NC State for this past season’s spring semester before opting to enter the NBA Draft and transfer portal. After taking his name out of the draft, the big man was on the open market. Miranda had previous ties to the Cowboys and coach Mike Boynton, as he received an offer from OSU in July 2021. Although he’s yet to play in a college game, Miranda is still viewed as a talented big man. In high school, he

displayed high-level athleticism, finishing around the rim and an ability to knock down perimeter shots in spurts. He was ranked as the No. 55 overall recruit by ESPN and No. 30 by Rivals. In his senior season at Springfield Commonwealth Academy, he averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game.

247 Sports had Miranda tabbed as a four-star transfer, and he received high interest from Alabama and Kentucky when he first entered the portal before choosing the Cowboys.

Miranda slots into an OSU frontcourt alongside Jacksonville transfer Mike Marsh and McDonald’s All-American Brandon Garrison and will likely be a big part of Boynton’s lineups and rotations. He’s Boynton’s fourth get from the portal, joining Marsh, East Carolina guard Javon Small and North Florida guard Jarius Hicklen.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

“They got on a roll... and you saw the rest of it,” Utah coach Amy Hogue said. The next three innings were quiet for both offenses, but nothing else was needed; the eight-run lead was enough to end the game early after Utah’s fifth scoreless inning. The Utes’ lack of offensive production was due to Kilfoyl’s dominance in the circle.

Kilfoyl started in the circle of a Women’s College World Series game for the first time since June 2021, when she was a sophomore at Alabama. No stretch may have been more impressive than Kilfoy’s outing in the top of the fifth, where Utah had two runners in scoring position with no outs, putting the Cowgirls’ run-rule in jeopardy. Her response?

Turning the next three Ute batters into outs, promptly ending their season. The first out wasn’t because of Kilfoyl’s arm, but her

hands, where she caught a ball that fired toward the circle, showcasing her quick, twitchy reflexes.

Practice makes perfect, it seems, as Kilfoyl said postgame that fielding drills are her favorites in practice.

“I definitely take pride in my fielding; that’s one of my favorite things to do at practice, actually,” Kilfoyl said.

“Even from a young age, on my travel ball teams, I would play first base all the time, so... I think that has definitely helped me today.”

OSU gets a day off before facing the loser of Oklahoma-Tennessee on Sunday night. Either way, the Cowgirls will face a high-level offense, but until then, they’ll look to keep their offense at a high level as well.

“We’re built to move on in this,” Gajewski said. This team will celebrate this win; we’ll wake up tomorrow and celebrate this win.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Pageant/Performace Wedding

Luke Tolbert

Lexi Kilfoyl’s quick reflexes at the mound in the fifth inning kept Utah off the scoreboard and secured a run-rule.

Mia Ledbetter OSU coach Mike Boynton added Isaiah Miranda, his fourth player from the transfer portal, to his 2023–24 roster on Sunday.

Cowboys’ season ends in blowout loss to Dallas Baptist

“Very, very numb right now. That was a difficult game, difficult set of emotions,” OSU coach Josh Holliday said. “The only thing I was able to share with the kids in the brief huddle was to not let the empty feeling and the numbness that we have right now be the lasting memory of this team and what they’ve done for the last four months.

because of a dropped third strike. Miguel Santos took the next pitch from Watts-Brown on a ride to right field to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead.

ingly putting away the Cowboys’ 2023 campaign.

OSU had one of its toughest outings in the most critical game of the season, and now, the season is over.

Dallas Baptist defeated OSU 18-4 in the Stillwater Regional’s first elimination game. OSU was the first team eliminated in its own regional for the first time in program history. This is the first time since 2017 OSU failed to win a game in a regional.

“This tournament we simply did not have our rhythm or, we weren’t able to put winning baseball together in either game.”

Juaron Watts-Brown, OSU’s ace pitcher, started and pitched well early but hit a wall in the fourth. The game came crashing down after that.

DBU crushed two solo homers to start the fourth inning. Then, DBU’s Ethan Mann struck out but got on base

“They made an adjustment in the fourth and got some balls on the barrel and got them elevated,” Holliday said. “We could not collect an out. Balls were finding holes, they were hitting them on the barrel. It was one of those innings where literally no matter what we went to, tried to do or whatever, we could not stop the momentum they built in that inning.”

The next inning, Watts-Brown gave up three more runs and was eventually replaced by OSU’s No. 2 starting pitcher Ben Abram. Abram didn’t record an out and gave up two runs.

DBU scored 18 runs from the fourth to the seventh innings, seem-

“A disappointing finish, sure, but everyone has the right to view the team and the season in which ever way they wish,” Holliday said. “I will always view this team through all the good things they did and all the moments that made us proud. Sure, we are all going to have a scar from this, no question.

“If the only way you can celebrate and appreciate a club simply by the final result of the last game, there would be a lot of empty seasons in a lot of people’s hearts so I would hope they have a bigger view of the club and appreciate all the effort that went into it.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Luke Tolbert

OSU was went 0-2 in an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2017 after Saturday’s 18-4 loss to DBU.

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

OSU CEAT professor recognized by the National Science Foundation News

Emilee Norton Staff Reporter

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to Ritesh Sachan, assistant professor and researcher from the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT). He will conduct first-of-its-kind research regarding high entropy alloy nanoparticles.

Sachan, assistant professor in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, will receive over $500,000 over the next five years to further his research proposal, “Leading to Accelerated Discoveries in High-Throughput Ultrafast Laser-Driven Processing of High Entropy Alloy Nanoparticles,” which is a significantly undiscovered area for science.

“I am honored to get this award,” Sachan said.”It is very prestigious and highly regarded among our academic and research peers. It creates a lot of visibility for myself and my research which allows for further funding opportunities and the opportunity for collaboration with others in the field.”

Everyday alloys such as steel, brass and bronze are materials made up of about two or three dominant materials. Compared to pure or traditional alloy counterparts, high entropy alloys that contain a minimum of five elements and materials in various percentages could potentially be found to have the same or even better characteristics. The formation and composition of these high entropy alloys is the primary focus of Sachan’s research.

The nanoparticles are created by firing a laser through a thin film of each composite material, causing the film to break and shrivel, creating nanoparticles that can then be tested and recorded. The primary application of these materials are as a cataly-

sis for energy production. This research could make a significant difference in the cost of the process that usually uses scarce and costly materials by finding new materials that are just as effective, with an abundance of elements at much lower cost.

“Long-term, cost-effectiveness is the biggest benefit,” Sachan said. “Right now, the most popular catalyst is platinum, which is very expensive. However, if you can replace that with new materials made of nickel, cobalt, etcetera, you may still be able to yield the

effectiveness of platinum, but at a much lower cost.”

The main product may not be the only groundbreaking aspect of Sachan’s research. Adapting laser-driven production methods for the production of high entropy nanoparticles will require new approaches and methodologies based on well-founded production methods.

“We are performing foundational research,” Sachan said. “New materials may not be the only product of this research, but the methods and procedures we use along the

way could be transformational to this area of research.”

Sachan will be conducting fundamental research regarding novel nanoparticle composition and its benefits, as well as utilizing new methods to understand their microstructure. For example, he will be using 4D STEM (4D scanning transmission electron microscopy) technique coupled with machine learning to identify and understand the structural properties of the nanoparticles.

“This research is super exciting,” Sachan said. “The NSF labeled this proposal

“high risk, high reward” because we are one of the first to venture into this particular area of research. It is both exciting and intimidating because of the unknowns.”

The researcher remains unfazed by the challenges that lie ahead, even with the outcome of his research being unknown.

“It is exciting because we have a pathway forward,” Sachan said. “We know the steps we are going to take. Whether it is successful or not remains to be seen, but it will be an interesting journey.”

Courtesy of OSU

Sachan will receive over $500,000 over the next five years to further his research proposal, “Leading to Accelerated Discoveries in High-Throughput Ultrafast Laser-Driven

Processing of High Entropy Alloy Nanoparticles.”

Continued from 1

“This is a good example of how not to document a crime scene and leave as many unanswered questions behind as possible,” Hueske said in his report.

Hueske’s report found law enforcement did a poor analysis of the crime scene, failing to check if the blood on the suspected murder weapon was both Cannon’s and Clark’s or solely Clark’s. This scientific analysis was possible and would’ve supported Cannon’s self-defense case.

Cannon was abused emotionally and physically as a child, and he was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumat-

ic Stress Disorder in 1995, which Georgia Wykoff, a licensed social worker and mitigation specialist, connects to his self-defense.

Cannon was charged with Attempted Murder for the assault of Awanna Simpkins in 1990, of which her physical description did not match Cannon’s and she had also identified her attacker’s name as “Anthony.”

At the time of the initial interview, Simpkins did not claim she was raped, and an examination by Dr. Martha Dannenbuam was inconsistent with rape or sexual assault. Simpkins added rape to her allegations ten months later. Neither Simpkins nor another witness identified Cannon in a lineup until Simpkins was shown a yearbook photo of Cannon, which was inconsistent with the original description of her attacker.

No fingerprints, DNA evidence or witness connected Cannon to this

crime. The rape charge was dismissed and Cannon was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Cannon was released on parole in 1995. His defense case was handled poorly, Henrikson said. Although every defendant has the right to testify, his attorneys, Julia O’Connell and Sid Conway from the Tulsa County Defender’s Office, met his request with disdain and obstruction, Cannon’s clemency petition said.

The trial team met with Cannon only six or seven times before the trial, each meeting lasting no more than an hour. Wykoff, who will be present at Tuesday’s press conference, was unable to testify at the trial and the neuropsychologist Herman Jones replaced her. Jones testified that Cannon was an unacceptably high risk to society, especially women, and should not be out among the general public.

Cannon made many requests regarding his case, including funding for neuropsychological evaluation, a medical examiner expert, a blood expert and a self-defense expert, which were all denied. While Cannon claims he and Clark were not dating, that their living together was purely transactional, many other sources claim otherwise. Articles by The Oklahoman, Tulsa’s News & Talks and The Forgiveness Foundation all state Clark was Cannon’s girlfriend. Not included in his petition is Clark’s body was found two days after her death, during which Cannon fled to Michigan, and while he stated that he acted in self-defense, no defensive injuries were noticeable when he was arrested, according to The Forgiveness Foundation.

Courtesy of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) will host a press conference to plead mercy for Cannon before the hearing in the House Media Room of the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Speedfest...

Continued from 1

“Speedfest is one of the largest competitions of its type in the world,” Arena said. “To date, there have been over 10,000 spectators, 1,400 students and 300 college faculty and K-12 teachers participating. At the collegiate level, the students are designing and building their aircraft using state-of-the-art tools and techniques, gaining knowledge that they will need to work in industry.”

The judges that help out at Speedfest are industry professionals that represent major aerospace companies, and one judge described the experience as exceptional.

“I was blown away by the quality and capabilities of the aircraft, the professionalism of the student’s display areas and the overall experience that Speedfest delivered,” a judge said.

The invitational competition, the India Class, is open to 5th-12th grade teams. Their contest is to construct a plane kit that’s provided to try to improve the performance of the aircraft. Modifications to the plane are allowed as long as they follow certain parameters and restrictions. Every team’s plane then competes in a pylon race. Scoring is based on the distance the plane traveled on a two-turn course in two minutes. Turn markers were placed 400 feet apart on the course. Planes are tagged as they pass to calculate their total distance traveled in the time constraints. A record of 31 teams competed in Speedfest this year.

“Our India Class numbers were up by 14 teams, and a total of more than 270 students competing this year, as we only had 17 teams compete in 2022,” said Dorinda Risenhoover, education coordinator for the NASA

Oklahoma Space Grant STEM (NASA OKSG STEM) Education Center. “And I think this increase is greatly due to the NASA OKSG STEM Education Center taking over the pre-competition side of the India Class in 2022, in order to provide around the clock build assistance to these 5th through 12th grade teams.”

The center provides assistance by means of virtual meetings for teams to ask questions and educator professional development events. They also supply extra parts, which ensured educators would not have to use personal funds to buy parts for the contest.

On top of this assistance, CEAT’s K-12 Department of Defense STEM Grant provided $25,000 in funding. This

covered travel costs, safety helmets that are required when planes are flying and plane decorating materials for five teams that were in the districts supported by the grant. The money also covered extra supplies during Speedfest for all 31 teams so they could purchase new items and make repairs on their planes as needed. In addition, the grant encompassed all of the supplies for 13 of the teams to complete all 12 of the tactile discovery and inquiry-based NASA OKSG India Class Speedfest Curriculum lessons which reached 150 students. Halliburton supplied the funds for lunch at the event for the 31 teams and the Oklahoma Aerospace Commission gave over $15,000 in funding for the

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

competition.

“At the moment, we currently have enough returning teams and prospective new team names on the waiting list who wish to be considered for an invitation to Speedfest 2024, that we could easily see the team numbers increase to 60 plus,” Risenhoover said. Risenhoover asked for feedback about the impact and scale of the Speedfest program from educators and the students who participated.

“Too often we teachers push higher academics without implementing concrete, real-life applications of our theoretical lectures,” an educator said. “Speedfest requires students to complete handson work, become an active participant, work as a team to

solve a common goal, learn to delegate, learn to lead, learn to overcome failures, practice time management and it gives students more confidence in themselves while they have fun.”

Besides the competition, Speedfest featured senior capstone designs and displays, food vendors and sponsor tents. During breaks, the attendees witnessed demonstrations by the Stillwater RC Flyers, rocket launches by CEAT students on the rocketry team and a CEAT sophomore versus senior race between a rocket car and an autonomous firefighting vehicle from the two teams respectively.

Courtesy of OSU

India Class teams at Speedfest 2023 launch their planes to compete in their circuit challenge.

Double Dribble Lifestyle

The Space Jam Legacy

When we put Michael Jordan’s original ‘Space Jam’ and LeBron James’ sequel head-to-head, we are compelled to consider: which one hits the game-winner and secures the victory in this cinematic one-on-one?

In the world of sports and especially cinema, it is often the case that the sequel fails to live up to the legacy of its predecessor. However, such is not the case for “Space Jams” as neither were critically received.

A quarter of a century remains separated between the two iterations, but the central premise of the story remains the same: a world famous NBA superstar must team up with Looney Tunes characters such as Bugs Bunny in a high-stake basketball game.

Pros:

Original Space Jam: The 1996 classic “Space Jam” embraced its erratic and zany nature at heart as well as utilizing its unique sense of humor and story to create a film that delighted audiences worldwide. Even though it received a “rotten” score from film critics ranking at 44%, it nevertheless became a beloved sports film and comedy for years to come, particularly amongst the younger viewers.

The animation of the film at the time was vastly underrated in my eyes, I remember rewatching it and applauding how effortlessly the film holds up to today’s standards. Don’t get me wrong, there are without a doubt instances where it could be improved, but for a 1996 film, they did a great job.

Space Jam: A New Legacy: The sequel, while not as good as the first, brought a unique and new utilization of sports in movies as well as revolutionizing the use of a single company’s vault of intellectual properties in a single film. We

see the use of properties such as “Game of Thrones”, DC, “Rick and Morty” and so on. It was clear that this film prioritized cultural aspects at their disposal to appeal to audiences of all ages. This was definitely overdone, but I enjoyed it more than I disliked it.

In this film, LeBron James goes against an AI who will not release his son unless he wins in a basketball game. This narrative brings a new dynamic to the “Space Jam” legacy as it introduces a family narrative into the story. I personally prefer the first film. However, I do like the incentivization of playing for one’s family. It makes us root for the main character even more.

Cons:

Original Space Jam: The main criticism and negative that this film is responsible for is its thin plot. This was a film in which movie critics did not hold back stating it contained a commercialized nature while also establishing a weak narrative.

Space Jam: A New Legacy: This film received much harsher criticisms than its predecessor, in which it received a 37% from movie critics. It was often criticized for utilizing Warner Bros’ vault of intellectual property in way too high a volume. As previously stated, I agree it may have been a bit overdone. Critics found the product placement to be shameless and excessively blatant. This, combined with an overemphasis on showcasing Warner Bros.’ IP, contributed to a viewing experience that some critics found hard to sit through.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while both “Space Jams” were able to dunk their ways into the hearts of viewers, both of the films airballed in regards to critics. Nonetheless, both of the installments in the “Space Jam” franchise are enjoyable watches as well as films that will be watched for years and years to come.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

‘Succession’ Sticks the Landing

Michael Clark Staff Reporter

There was never any doubt that HBO’s “Succession” would have an excellent series finale. While Jesse Armonstrong’s magnum opus started off a bit slow, once the ball got rolling, it never slowed down. It’s now safe to say there was never a weak episode in the entire series. As Kendall Roy himself would say, it’s “all bangers, all the time.” The series finale is no different, delivering a hauntingly satisfying conclusion to the best show in recent memory. Season 4 as a whole has been a fantastic season of television, properly shaking up the story and taking these characters to places you’d never expect for them to go. While some of these shifts are rather abrupt and jarring, it’s easy to buy into these choices because of how well the actors portray them. Through a series of small expressions on Jeremy Strong’s face, you can perfectly understand some of the shocking decisions he makes in the final episodes.

The standout in terms of acting has to be Kieran Culkin, who gives Roman Roy so much personality and range that it’s unbelievable. He can be cocky and arrogant in one scene and shockingly pitiful in the next. Each and every actor brings their A-game to this series. These are characters you love to hate, but also hate to love. Because deep down, each character is lovable in their own, bizarre way.

Thankfully, the final episode manages to give each character their flowers and the ending they deserve. It’s more bitter than sweet, but it manages to spin that sadness in a way that makes sense for each storyline as a perfectly natural conclusion. There is a twist that may feel contrived, but it makes sense upon rewatch. The final 10 minutes of the episode are perhaps some of the most tense and heartbreaking in recent memory.

“Succession” would not be what it is without its outstanding music and cinematography. Nicholas Britell has orchestrated one of the greatest theme songs of all time, and

the score is on point through each and every scene. The cinematography is subtle but worth studying, many shots are loaded with symbolism and gorgeous visuals. For example, whenever a character is losing power in a scene, they may move further away from the camera or go out of focus. Little details like these make the show infinitely rewatchable.

All of this is hardly mentioning that “Succession” is a comedy, and somehow juggles a hearty dose of humor alongside all of its serious and bitter moments. This show is downright laugh-outloud hilarious at times. With brilliant one liners, insults and complicated analogies, when you aren’t at the edge of your seat, you’ll surely be laughing.

At the end of the day, Succession has secured itself as one of the greatest shows of all time. It’s hilarious, harrowing and heartbreaking from start to finish. If you haven’t given it a watch already, this summer break may be the perfect time to check out this fantastic show.

Courtesy of HBO

Jeremy Strong, left, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin portray Roy siblings Kendall, Shiv and Roman, respectively, in HBO’s “Succession.”

Tanner Kenyon Staff Reporter

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

LeBron James in Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated/live-action adventure “Space Jam: A New Legacy.”

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Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft

2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood

floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (06/05/23). Imagine possibilities and plot this year. Build professional status with persistence, preparation and excellence. Address summer fitness and health changes, before a busy autumn of family fun and romance. Stay flexible this winter with changes. Shift romantic directions this spring, before social fun. Dreams inspire action.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Tap into work that you love. Romance, beauty and passion spark this month, with Venus in Leo. Collaborate on projects with heart. Enjoy delightful company.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy your love nest. Domestic bliss flowers this month, with Venus in Leo. Pour your heart into home and family. Nurture your garden.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Trust your heart to guide your investigation. You love learning, with Venus in Leo. Write, express and share your story. Create works of beauty.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Gather new income. Venus enters Leo for an especially lucrative month. Discover your money-making power zone. Profit from putting your heart into your work.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — For the next month, with Venus in your sign, you’re especially irresistible and charming. Try a new style. Fitness routines satisfy. Let your light shine.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Relax in privacy. Find beauty in peace and tranquility over the next month, with Venus in Leo. Let your imagination wander. Creativity flowers.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Benefit through social connections. with Venus in Leo. Get out in public. Participate with community efforts for common gain. Win with teamwork and collaboration.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Write your story. Your career flourishes, with Venus in Leo. Develop projects close to your heart this month. Infuse with love for flowering.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Work extra for a bonus. This next month, with Venus in Leo favors travels, research and exploration. Investigate a subject that you love.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Get into a lucrative groove with your partner over the next month, with Venus in Leo. Grow shared ventures with love and tender care.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Enjoy private reflection. Partnerships flower, with Venus in Leo for the next month. Strengthen and renew your bond. Savor surging passion. Share what you love.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially popular and in demand. Balance a busy schedule with peaceful alone time and exercise. Health and vitality flower, with Venus in Leo.

6 First word of a rhyming cocktail name

Susan Gelfand

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

Solution to Friday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit