For those of us here who do listen to the Sports Animal on a regular basis, you've certainly heard the occasional call from a guy named "James the Marvel." He's usually out of it, disassociated from whatever topic might be current, and obviously has some sort of problems that afford him varying degrees of lucidity when he calls in. Now, most hosts on the Animal will let him on and at least try to converse with him, and that suggests to me that the station knows more about his circumstance than they convey on-air. I was just wondering if anyone knew any more details than that? Is he related to someone on the WWLS staff, or just a good friend they know listens a great deal?

I'm asking purely a matter of curiosity on my end, and actually had noticed "The Marvel" hadn't called much recently, so when I heard him on Jim Traber's show this afternoon it kinda caught me by surprise a bit. He was not even remotely cogent, unfortunately, so Jim - try as he did - couldn't really get him to engage very well, so they thanked him for calling and moved on.

Just wondering if anyone knew Marvel's backstory.

I remember him also from back in the late 90's. I saw a picture of him somewhere and guessed him to be in his late 50's then. I always thought he was younger, with all the non sense about the 'blue moons', etc that he spewed. I quit listening to the SA about the same time, due to excessive commercials. It took 14 minutes to drive home, and after nothing but solid commercials for the drive, plus Jack Mildren passing, I don't listen to that station except after the Thunder games on the way home.

Whatever happened to "paint brush"?

Whatever happened to "paint brush"?

Pretty sure I heard that he drank himself to death a few years ago. He was a house painter for years

Pretty sure I heard that he drank himself to death a few years ago. He was a house painter for years

Nah, he just doesn't call in that much anymore. Think he moved out of state.

For those of us here who do listen to the Sports Animal on a regular basis, you've certainly heard the occasional call from a guy named "James the Marvel." He's usually out of it, disassociated from whatever topic might be current, and obviously has some sort of problems that afford him varying degrees of lucidity when he calls in. Now, most hosts on the Animal will let him on and at least try to converse with him, and that suggests to me that the station knows more about his circumstance than they convey on-air. I was just wondering if anyone knew any more details than that? Is he related to someone on the WWLS staff, or just a good friend they know listens a great deal?

I'm asking purely a matter of curiosity on my end, and actually had noticed "The Marvel" hadn't called much recently, so when I heard him on Jim Traber's show this afternoon it kinda caught me by surprise a bit. He was not even remotely cogent, unfortunately, so Jim - try as he did - couldn't really get him to engage very well, so they thanked him for calling and moved on.

Just wondering if anyone knew Marvel's backstory.

I know that Mark Rogers took him to Remington Park one time for him to pick some horses. I assume he didn't do to well since I never heard about Mark Rogers taking him again. I think that Mark Rogers prob. knows him better than the other radio guys.

Nah, he just doesn't call in that much anymore. Think he moved out of state.

Are you sure? I mean I hope you are correct but I am thinking I heard this a year or maybe 2 years ago.

Are you sure? I mean I hope you are correct but I am thinking I heard this a year or maybe 2 years ago.

I certainly won't swear to it, but I"m pretty confident I've heard him call in within the last year or so, possibly to BBJ's show. No promises :)

Many of WWLS regular (well, "more notorious") callers from the last year or two have kinda faded - now that I think about this, I think I've heard that Paintbrush calls in on one of the competing stations, possibly KREF, but I don't know for sure. Don't really listen to KREF at all.

Lot of people don't like WWLS, which I guess I don't get, its just sports, mostly silliness, can't take any of it very seriously. I enjoy the conversation because most pop music makes me want to retch :)

Paintbrush is still around. He calls KREF once in a while. James the Marvel was once on the Sunday night broadcast of Channel 9 Sports a few years ago. He wore a western style outfit with a jacket and a bolo tie. He looked to be in his mid to late 50's then. It is my understanding he is a Vietnam Era Navy veteran. He is supposed to be good at picking winning horses. He often calls during Mark Rodgers show. Mark is interested in horse racing and used to own a horse that raced at Remington Park. Mark seems to be the most tolerant of James and knows how to deal with him the best. Jim Traber and Al Eschback seem to try to get him off the air as quickly as they can. I do not know much more about James the Marvel. I often wonder if he plays up his weirdness for entertainment purposes.

Bigray in Ok

I don't know, but I love it when he pulls out his guitar and sings a little tune that he's recently made up!

The Marvel passed away last week. Obit in the Sunday Oklahoman yesterday. RIP...

The Marvel passed away last week. Obit in the Sunday Oklahoman yesterday. RIP...

:-(

The Marvel passed away last week. Obit in the Sunday Oklahoman yesterday. RIP...

What? Who is going to sing Sooner Land Sooner Road when the basketball team wins the National Championship?