Shades of dismay
OKC United, our (sort of) new USL team, unveiled the name and colors in July, and while those colors were chosen for their resonance with the Oklahoma sky and weather, thus pink, blue and white, predictably, the self-described alpha male community was not pleased. While the gender reveal jokes are admittedly funny, many men were inexplicably angry at the choice of pink. We’re now waiting for the conspiracy theory that wearing pink leads to ED in men.
Epic fail
Epic Charter Schools made the news again in July—does it ever miss a month?—and as usual, the news is bad. Per a report to the Statewide Charter Board, reported by Oklahoma Watch, only 0.06% of Epic’s 2025 senior class achieved an ACT score that qualified them for college or university admission without remediation; were accepted; and completed the FAFSA. We’re so used to making fun of the school for its financial shenanigans that we ignored the academics, assuming they would be at least average or so. Epic boasts that its system personalizes the student experience to meet the students’ individual needs. Clearly, the school doesn’t think improved academic outcomes are needed.
One out of four is bad
Gubernatorial hopeful Mike Mazzei seems confused about his role on the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement Board. Governor Stitt appointed him to the board in March 2023, and since that time, he’s made 10 out of 40 meetings, per reporting by KOSU. (If you went to Epic Charter Schools, that’s 25% or one in four, a failing attendance grade in every school we’re aware of.) It’s possible that Mr. Mazzei misunderstood, and assumed his presence on the board meant he’s already retired; that is of course the most generous interpretation, unless you’re communication advisor Jahan Wilcox, who said it’s “… an unpaid, volunteer position.” So there you have it: Don’t expect him to show up to things he signs up to do unless he’s paid to do them.
With friends like these …
Mazzei’s month wasn’t great as publicity goes. Almost simultaneously, he posted about his endorsement by Republican State Representative Danny Williams (Seminole) as NonDoc was reporting that Williams is under investigation for “improper behavior” toward staff. No details yet on what this particular improper behavior is, but we’re working for a short list of common and familiar possibilities. Mazzei deleted the post after the news broke, but he won’t be able to delete the subsequent endorsement he received from Williams. That had to feel like the time your grandma accidentally kissed you on the mouth.
This article appears in Best of OKC Winners.