The Journey of an Olympic Sooner

By Tyler Aljoe



Mike Aljoe, Photo by Tyler Aljoe

Mike Aljoe grew up playing all sports as a kid. From football, to basketball, to even baseball, Aljoe was the athlete in the family. Aljoe, at the time, grew up in a small town outside of Dallas called Lewisville. From there, he grew up to be a Lewisville Fighting Farmer. At Lewisville High School, Aljoe decided to only play football. He played the center position during his four years at LHS but while earning state honors and recruited by several colleges across the United States, Aljoe changed his position to defensive end by the end of his senior season. Colleges from Texas Tech, Navy, and New Mexico recruited him strongly. Fortunately, the one college that Aljoe loved the most was the University of Oklahoma.
As a Sooner, Aljoe played on three Big 8 Champions and was part of the 1984-85 National Championship team. After playing football at Oklahoma, Aljoe looked into the National Football League but instead of continuing his football career, he tried out a new sport. Bobsled was the sport of choice for Aljoe. With the strength and speed of a division one collegiate athlete, Aljoe fit into the position of a brakeman for the United States Olympic Bobsled Team. Before the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, Aljoe and his team was sent to train and compete over in Europe for several months verse the best teams in the world. As the Olympic Games came along, Aljoe's team unfortunately did not medal in them but overall an experience of a lifetime. After the Olympics, Aljoe decided to hang up the shoes and start out into the real world.
Today, at the age of 46, Aljoe works for Abbott Laboratories. He is a regional manager for the company in which he is the headman for his team in the southwest division.
“After being part of a National Championship team and also competing in the Olympics for the United States of America, the training and commitment has allowed me to be successful in my job today.”
Aljoe now resides in Colleyville, Texas with his wife Kris and his two kids Tyler and Tanna.

Crimson and Whipped Cream

Looking for something sweet to eat? Are you craving a cupcake? Want to sit down and have a delicious freshly made latte made personally from the owner himself? Come on down to Norman's own Crimson and Whipped Cream. Just located on the north part of campus on Campus Corner next to Victoria's. Crimson and Whipped Cream offers freshly made cupcakes and baked goods daily. From red velvet to pumpkin or to the original chocolate cupcake topped with several different icings, Crimson and Whipped Cream has the perfect cupcake for you. Not much of a cupcake person? That’s okay, other baked goods are available like the Ginger Snaps, Cookies, and other arts and craft goods. Any choice will have you wanting to come back for more. From the famous Sprinkles cupcakes on the West coast to the well known Magnolia Bakery in New York City on the East coast, Crimson and Whipped Cream only 4 months new looks to offer the people of Norman its own delicious cupcakes.
"We try to do as much local and quality bake goods as possible and bringing something back to this community that we were apart of. We want to help out and try to grow the culture of Norman and what it has to offer", Owner Johnny Chappell.
People locally have already gave their opinion on the new bakery in town. "I’m pretty big on sweets. I heard about the grand opening and I came out for that. They have really great product", Jason Bigaouette.
Now who makes all these cupcakes and baked goods? Ashley Barnett is the Head Chef of Crimson and Whipped Cream.
"I pretty much only make things I like. I get scolded for that because I forget other people like different things. I really enjoy all fall flavors, pumpkin bread, pumpkin whoopie pies, anything pumpkin, anything that has the spices that make me think of the holidays, that’s what I like.
One of their most popular items is the Snicker doodle.
"You scoop them then I freeze them so they will hold their shape. Then when I take them out of the freezer before I put them in the oven I roll them in a cinnamon sugar mixture, then bake them".
Not only are there fabulous baked goods but Crimson and Whipped Cream offers its very own coffee bar. Coffee, lattes, espressos, and tea are all the available to customers. One of the most common items at the bar, the latte is freshly made by Johnny himself. First, he takes the small amount of blend and puts it in the coffee maker. While that is slowly dripping out, he puts the whipped cream into the coffee cup. Once all the blend is made, he pours the blend then the cream into the cup. Finally towards the end tops the top of the latte with a design of his choice.
Crimson and Whipped Cream is closed on Sunday and Monday but open from 7am to 8pm Tuesday thru Thursday and 7am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.
Are you convinced yet? Thought so! The next time your craving something sweet, stop into Crimson and Whipped Cream and let them treat you to a delicious visit.

Matched Action

Matched Action

Oklahoma Muslim Project

Justin Moore, OU Senior Outreach Chair of MSA. Photo by Tyler Aljoe

Justin Moore is a 21 year old student at the University of Oklahoma. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., but recently moved to Oklahoma City. Moore is a senior at OU and a double major in Spanish and English. Other than school, Moore is involved in an on-campus organization called as the Muslim Student Association.
The Muslim Student Association is a religious organization on whose members gather together for the sake of Allah, to show the true meaning of Islam, and to undo any misconceptions and stereotypes people might hold about the religion. Moore is the organization's outreach chair, a job that requires him to contact several religious organizations in the area. He also interacts with students at the Oklahoma Memorial Student Union every Wednesday by giving out the Qur'an and answering any questions about Islam.

This open forum helps students of the University of Oklahoma and the Norman community understand more about the faith of Islam.

Moore converted to Islam in April of last year. Moore converted to Islam after approximately a year and a half of interfaith dialogue with friends and religious scholars. He read the Qur'an and did soul searching. Moore said it was not a strict and continuous affair; at times there were periods of intermissions. Moore said the Kalima, or testimony of faith, was the most important decision of his life, which he made at the age of nineteen.

"I feel at home in my faith because I believe it to be the truth," Moore said. "I feel at peace with every tenant of Islam because it is a moral guide, a reassurance, a benefit."

Moore said he was attracted to Islam because there was very little room for ambiguity in the religion. He became intellectually interested in all things relating to Islam.
Moore believes that OU has been very accommodating to Muslims. He thinks that some Oklahomans are uninformed and do not understand Islam in general.
Moore wants people are not familiar with the Muslim to better understand what it means.

"The etymology of the word Islam comes from the word salaam, which means peace, so a Muslim is one who submits him self peacefully to God," said Moore.

Moore said that when people find that he is a Muslim they are very shocked. Many people try to conceal their surprise, but some are more embracing to the idea. Moore said that the biggest problem he runs into is that people can not distinguish between the religion and culture.
After college, Moore plans to attend graduate school outside the state of Oklahoma and continue to practice his faith. He would like to become a professor of literature. His interests include translation, cultural differences, and finding identity through language.

Ft. Sill Interview

Tanna Aljoe Slideshow