So, Clay Bennett has been named Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Today magazine

Granted, his competition wasn’t exactly stiff. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?

Oklahoma Today editor Louisa McCune-Elmore said that “no one came close” to Bennett when the staff set about selection the Oklahoman of the Year, calling Bennett’s fleecing of the Sonics “probably among the most important achievements in our capital city’s history.”

Seriously, stealing a basketball team and bringing them to your city where they now have a stellar record of 2-24 is “among the most important achievements” in Oklahoma City’s history?

Now I just feel bad for them.

Sark cleans house

New Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t waste any time cleaning house. The new coach from USC gave every one of former coach Tyrone Willingham’s assistants a pink slip, choosing to assemble his own staff.

Some of the new names should be familiar to Washington football fans. New offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik is a Port Angeles and WSU grad who has been the offensive line coach at California for the past seven years.

One coach who won’t be joining UW is Rocky Seto, USC’s secondary coach whose wife, Sharla, is from Bellevue.

Speaking of cleaning, it looks like former Bellevue star EJ Savannah will get a clean slate from Sarkisian and a full welcome back to the team. Savannah left the team before the season began after being held out by Willingham.

Holiday basketball madness

While many of us will enjoy our holidays here at home, some of the area’s high school basketball teams will be basking in something called sunlight.

High school basketball teams often travel to winter tournaments and this year is no exception. The Bellevue boys team will play in the Maxpreps Torrey Pines tournament in Torrey Pines, Calif. Coach Michael Downs will take his Bellevue Christian squad to San Diego for the Surf n’ Slam Tournament, where they’ll be joined by the Bellevue High School girls team.

Meanwhile, I’ll be sitting in my living room next to the fireplace, struggling to keep warm.

Mike Holmgren’s swan song

Sunday will be Mike Holmgren’s last game at Qwest Field as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks when the team takes on the New York Jets.

If you can lie, cheat or steal to get tickets to this game, do it. Say goodbye to a legend in fashion.

Holmgren has already said he’ll do a final lap around Qwest following the game to thank the fans. Rumor has it the Hawks have something in the works for the pre-game and that fans will want to show up early.

If you’re a Seahawks fan, you can’t downplay the effect Holmgren’s had on the team, and surely the Seattle faithful will give him a fitting send-off.