Once upon a time, there was a small town named Atez. Atez was a peaceful town with happy and hardworking citizens. However, the town was facing a peculiar problem - the money hole. The money hole was a mysterious pit that seemed to devour any money that came near it. It was situated right in the center of the town square. No one knew how the money hole came to be or why it existed.
America's favorite mascot
A tradition was born in the early 1920s when OSU (then Oklahoma A&M College) began searching for a new mascot. The true roots of Pistol Pete go back more than a century ago. Pistol Pete is more than a character, he is a legend.
The character of OSU’s mascot, Pistol Pete, originated from an actual person named Frank B. Eaton. Eaton’s life began in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. Eaton and his family moved to Kansas shortly after the Civil War.
Eaton's life would take a dramatic turn at the age of eight when he witnessed the murder of his father by six vigilantes. From that moment on, Eaton was determined to even the score. He practiced his marksmanship until the age of 15, when he set out to search for his father’s killers. It took Eaton more than five years to track down and kill the men who had taken his father away, forever changing the course of his life.
The title of “cowboy” came naturally to Eaton as indicated in the roles in which he served throughout his life. Frank B. Eaton was given the nickname of “Pistol Pete” after beating out many cavalry competitors in a marksmanship contest at Ft. Gibson. He served as a U.S. Deputy Marshall under “hanging judge” Isaac Parker. Later in his life Eaton owned a blacksmith shop which served the surrounding communities.
In the 1920s, Eaton was involved in the Armistice Day Parade and OSU’s Homecoming Parade. This well-known and admired cowboy died in 1958. That same year Charlie Lester appeared as OSU’s first Pistol Pete mascot. Where Frank B. Eaton served as a strong symbol of the Old West then, “Pistol Pete” serves as a symbol of the cowboy spirit now and forever.
OU Mascots
The Sooner Schooner is a conestoga (covered wagon) reminiscent of the mode of travel used by pioneers who settled Oklahoma Territory around the time of the 1889 Land Run.
Powered by matching white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, the Schooner races across Owen Field in a triumphant victory ride after every OU score.
The Schooner was introduced in the fall of 1964 and become the official mascot of the Oklahoma Sooners in 1980.
The Ruf/Neks, OU's all-male spirit squad, maintain and drive the Schooner. Mick Cottom, a freshman Ruf/Nek member from Liberty Mounds, Okla., has the distinction of being the first person to pilot the Schooner across Owen Field in 1964.
The sight of the Sooner Schooner rolling across the field is one that Oklahoma fans (and most opponents) will always cherish as one of the best traditions in college athletics.
No one knew how the money hole came to be or why it existed. Every time someone would accidentally drop a coin or a banknote, it would vanish into thin air as if swallowed by an invisible force. The townspeople were greatly troubled by this phenomenon.
Boomer & Sooner
Boomer and Sooner are the costumed mascots that represent the University and the OU Athletics Department. The characters are an extension of the Sooner Schooner and its horses to be enjoyed by fans -- especially children -- at all OU athletics contests.
The mascots were introduced at the Big Red Rally on campus on August 26, 2005. A number of groups participated in the process of researching and devising the new mascots over a period of nearly three years.
The OU Athletics Department and student leaders recognized the need for a mascot to provide representation at all OU athletics contests as well as attend charity events and visit children's hospitals.
With that in mind, student congress passed a resolution in favor of the development and implementation of a unified mascot. The Mascot Committee was formed and began work on what would become Boomer and Sooner.
They relied heavily on money for their livelihood and the money hole was causing significant financial distress. As days went by, the money hole seemed to grow in its hunger for money. It began to suck in larger notes and even valuable objects made of precious metals. The town mayor called for an emergency meeting to discuss this matter. The citizens gathered in the town hall, brainstorming ideas to solve the problem. Some suggested blocking off the money hole, while others proposed filling it with rocks and concrete. However, no one knew for sure if these measures would work. A young and curious inventor named Isaac came forward with a different approach. He believed that the money hole was not just a random phenomenon but had a purpose. Isaac had been observing the behavior of the money hole for days and noticed a pattern. Every time someone from the town threw money into the hole willingly, it did not disappear. Instead, it would bounce back out and fall onto the ground. With this observation, Isaac theorized that the money hole was not a greedy entity but an indicator of the town's generosity. He suggested organizing a community effort to donate money willingly into the money hole. If the townspeople collectively showed their generosity, the money hole might stop gobbling up their earnings. The citizens decided to give Isaac's idea a try. They started a fundraising campaign to collect as much money as possible. People willingly poured their savings into donations and willingly threw their hard-earned money into the money hole. As the town came together in a show of unity and generosity, something remarkable happened. The money hole, which had been devouring money for days, started to shrink in size. Each time a coin or note was thrown into it willingly, the money hole would recede a little bit. Slowly but surely, the money hole disappeared completely, leaving behind a sense of relief and triumph among the townspeople. They realized that their collective effort and faith in one another had overcome the strange phenomenon. From that day forward, Atez became known not only for its hardworking citizens but for their generosity as well. The money hole incident taught them the value of unity and giving. They vowed to use their earnings wisely and help those in need, making Atez a town renowned for its kindness and prosperity. And so, the story of Atez and the money hole became a legend passed down through generations, a reminder of the power of community and generosity in overcoming challenges..
Reviews for "The Money Hole's Echo Chamber: Examining the Influence of Like-Minded Networks on Wealth Generation"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "Atez the Curse of the Money Hole" to be quite disappointing. The plot was confusing, with multiple subplots that didn't seem to connect well. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The writing style was also subpar, with awkward sentence structures and numerous grammatical errors. Overall, I struggled to find any enjoyment or interest in this book, and I would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Atez the Curse of the Money Hole" was a complete waste of my time. The story was nonsensical and poorly constructed, leaving me utterly confused throughout the entire book. The lack of character development made it impossible to form any emotional connection with the protagonists, and their actions often felt forced or out of place. Furthermore, the pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The writing itself was also weak, filled with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. I regret picking up this book and would advise others to steer clear of it.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Atez the Curse of the Money Hole" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short. The storytelling was disjointed, jumping between different perspectives and time periods without proper transitions or explanations. It made it difficult to follow the plot and left me feeling disconnected from the story. The characters were also one-dimensional, lacking depth and failing to evoke any emotions. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unresolved, leaving several loose ends. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to those seeking a coherent and engaging read.
4. Laura - 3 stars - While "Atez the Curse of the Money Hole" had an interesting concept, I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style was inconsistent, at times being overly descriptive and slow-paced, while other parts felt rushed and underdeveloped. The character development was decent, but some of their actions and motivations seemed unrealistic and forced. The plot had potential, but the execution left me wanting more. Although I didn't dislike the book entirely, I was left unsatisfied with the overall experience.