Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Capes to Cowboys
OSU football as superheroes Peyton Little Staff Reporter Superheroes are often depicted as larger-than-life characters saving the day using unheard of feats of strength, crazy super powers or quick wits. While none of them have actual superpowers, the Oklahoma State football team has quite a bit in common with superheroes. They both fight for a cause they believe is good, put-on athletic performances and compete with a true fighting spirit. Here are just a few OSU football athletes and who their superhero counterpart would be.
Courtesy of Tribune News Service After Roe vs. Wade is overturned on June 24, Dr. Alan Braid informs people inside the waiting room of Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio that his clinic can no longer provide abortion services.
Supreme Court overturns Roe. vs Wade Gina Ferazzi Los Angeles Times
My assignment was to illustrate a story on how blue states might receive an influx of abortion patients from neighboring red states after Roe v. Wade was overturned. That’s why I was in New Mexico last Thursday, when many thought the Supreme Court would issue its ruling. I had emailed two clinics, including the doctors who worked there. After many email exchanges, the Center for Reproductive Health at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque agreed to let me come. The doctors and staff welcomed me, granting me more access than I had expected. I arrived at 8 a.m. with Elizabeth Gibson, my escort from the university, waiting for me in the parking lot. I soon met a new family physician and other medical staff. What unfolded over that day and the next embody the challenges of being a photojournalist in such situations — how to portray reality accurately but compassionately, preserving some privacy for subjects in their most personal and vulnerable moments. Within a few minutes, I was able to photograph a 25-year-old patient during her ultrasound procedure. Though she didn’t want her face shown, the photos are intimate and tell a story. At 8:31 a.m. my phone began to vibrate. I looked down at the caller ID, and it was our Houston bureau chief Molly Hennessy-Fiske on the line. “I think I can get us into an
abortion clinic in San Antonio, Texas, tomorrow,” she said. In a whispered tone, I said, “We need to go.” We didn’t know when the Supreme Court would issue its ruling. Nothing was certain. I was thinking to myself how important and historic it would be to be inside a clinic when the decision came down, especially in a red state. I put my phone into my back pocket and quickly headed back to the staff work area, where I photographed the doctor and her resident viewing an ultrasound of a 39-yearold woman who was seeking an abortion. The woman already had four children. The woman agreed to let me photograph her procedure without revealing her identity. I entered the exam room, where 1980s music was playing softly through ceiling speakers. The room was dark except for the small and bright exam room light. I wanted to capture the mood of the one light source, so I adjusted the ISO on my camera; that controls the amount of light let in. I stood at the back of the room. The angle did not reveal the woman’s identity. The doctor and her resident worked in tandem as a nurse assisted during the procedure. “Are you doing OK?” the doctor asked the patient on the exam table. The woman acknowledged by nodding her head, yes. At one point, the nurse held the patient’s hand and gently rubbed her head. My Apple Watch began to vibrate. “I need to leave soon,” said the text message from Gibson, my escort inside the clinic. She was
waiting outside the exam room. “Do you mind if I stay in here 5 more mins and maybe Angela can escort me out?” I wrote back. “Unfortunately, that’s not the policy. I have to be with you,” she replied “3 more minutes, okay?” I wanted to stay until the end of the woman’s procedure, but after 3 minutes I tiptoed out of the room. I got in my rental car and drove to a shady parking spot. I needed to get confirmation that I had permission to photograph inside the Texas clinic the next morning — and find a way to get there that night. I left a voicemail for the Andrea Gallegos, executive director of the clinic in San Antonio, and sent her a text message. I waited. Ten minutes passed. Then, a text from Andrea arrived. After a back and forth, she agreed to let us come to the clinic first thing in the morning. I headed to the airport. It would take me six hours to get from Albuquerque to San Antonio that night. When I arrived at the Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services at 9 a.m. Friday, patients were already lined up outside the door. Protesters were screaming through a megaphone on the sidewalk near the clinic. “You don’t have to go in!” the activists pleaded with the women. “They murder babies!” Braid, the clinic’s owner. Then at 9:13, everything changed. Braid’s daughter, Gallegos, poked her head in the door. “It’s out. The decision’s out,” she said. “Full overturn.” See Abortion on Page 3
Brennan PresleyThe Flash Starting off this list we have the speedster wide receiver Brennan Presley paired up with DC Comics Barry Allen, The Flash. The Flash has the ability to run at supersonic speeds and most of the powers he has are linked to his incredible superspeed. Brennan Presley has shown his speed in multiple occasions with his role as a slot receiver last season, as well as in the return game. During Presley’s now infamous kick return for a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners, commentator Rece Davis described the play as a “lightning strike.” Both are speedsters with the ability to light up whatever they are facing, whether it be a super villain or top 10 opponent.
with split personalities each playing different roles. One leads a wealthy, yet seemingly normal life, one is a violent taxi driver, and the other is a mercenary. Sanders falls into different types of roles just like Moon Knight. Sanders has been shown to light up competition and play as one of the best quarterbacks in the country in some games, yet in others he has been liable to put the defense in tense situations. Moon Knight’s multiple personalities could also be used to say that Sanders is very versatile. Just like how Moon Knight’s personalities bring a lot of different elements to the table, so does Sanders’ skill set. He is an excellent runner when he needs to be, he has a great arm for putting balls into tight pockets, and he has even been seen blocking for his team in some cases. While the resemblance between Sanders and Moon Knight is not exact, it is not like they are night and day with one another.
Jason Taylor IIDr. Strange Defensive back Jason Taylor II goes hand in hand with Dr. Strange. Dr. Strange uses his magic powers to cast all sorts of spells and tricks to defeat his opponents. Taylor is a strangely talented player in his own right. Dubbed “the human playmaker” by voice of the Cowboys, Dave Hunziker, Taylor has been seen pulling off near magical plays Collin Oliverat the right time for the Beast Boy Cowboys. During the Collin Oliver 2020 season, he took was a beast for the a fumble to the house OSU’s defensive line from the 20-yard line last season, leading the against Kansas State, team in sacks with 11.5, and he recovered an just like this next hero onside kick for a touchBeast Boy. Beast Boy down against Texas is a teenager with the Tech. During 2021, he ability to turn into any blocked Boise State’s animal of his choosgame winning field goal ing. Being one of the on the road, and he had younger heroes on this a pick six to put OSU list, it only makes sense on a rally against Texas. for him to be paired up Both find ways to get with now sophomore things done on the field, Oliver. even if it may be a bit Oliver’s ability to strange. fight through offensive linemen, like a bear, John Paul Richand use his cheetah-like ardson- Spider-Man speed to track down the Up next, wide requarterback made him ceiver John Paul Richa force to be reckoned ardson meets the wall with for Big 12 offens- crawler himself, Spideres. To secure the game Man. Spider-Man is a winning tackle against young man that was bit Oklahoma, he showed by a radioactive spider off his “Beast Boy giving him all the abilipowers” by crawling on ties of a spider. all fours to bring down Peter Parker, former OU quarterback Spider-Man’s true idenCaleb Williams. It is a tity, is willing to help dog-eat-dog world on fight crime to keep New the field and in fighting York City safe. Nothing crime, and Oliver and is too big or too small. Beast Boy are ready for John Paul Richardson the challenge. is very similar in this sense. He is comfortSpencer Sanders- able in the role he has Moon Knight been given as a rotation Quarterback slot receiver, and he has Spencer Sanders shares often made the most of some similar aspects the opportunities with Marvel’s Moon Knight. Moon Knight is a mercenary of sorts See Capes on Page 6