It's Real Easy Being Green

To change a line from Kermit's song, it's easy to wear the Green and Lemon (oops, I mean Lightning Yellow) these days.    With the success of our football team, the volleyball team, the indoor track and field teams, and now men's basketball, baseball, and softball - being a Duck is something to be proud of.   




The only real negative is the women's basketball team.   In the last 3 years under Paul Westhead they have managed just one year over
.500 in 2010 at 18-16.   His record during his stay has been a disappointing 50-76 and not exactly winning over the fans.    This season was an embarrassing 4 - 27, worst in school history!  The Guru of Go is more like the Guru of Gone.  With the hefty price Oregon paid to lure him here, they are probably going to ride out the remainder of his contract (2 more seasons) instead of paying him to Go. 

An obvious front runner for his job is former Oregon player, Kirsten (McKnight) Moore.   Her Westmount College Warriors just won the NAIA national championship and posted a 31-4 record.   The problem is she's going to be a hot commodity - will she wait until the Oregon athletic department is through paying a coach for his reputation?    Doubtful, but we can hope.






In the meantime, we have the hoops team in the Sweet 16,










the 12th ranked baseball team, the 10th ranked softball team,







and both track teams in the top 10!

 

It's good to be a Duck

One For The Little Guy

     When Tourney MVP Johnathan Loyd hit his 2nd shot of the night in the Pac 12 Championship game, I texted a buddy of mine "Johnny Loyd is gonna go off for 20, just wait".    Like the Black Eyed Peas, "I got a feelin", and that feeling was the little guy would play a major factor.   In front of his hometown crowd, he hit for 19, ever so close to my gaze into the crystal ball.   My detractors will say sure you did!   But I have proof, I kept the text on my cell phone.   Why all the hoopla over my statement?  It seems my predictions seldom are correct, but sound reasonably plausible at the time.  It just feels good to be right once in a while.

     I had to wonder, perhaps, was Big Bill broadcasting in an altered state.    He certainly knows his Eugene area geography taking us with him on a "trip" through the area on his never-ending ramblings that have nothing to do with the game.  I shouldn't complain, at least we aren't having to dwell on what might have been a bad call for 10 minutes as was the habit of a previous local announcer (rhymes with Giant Sundae).  



Now to a prediction I am happy to say was way off.   As I left work on the night of the first tourney game, I said, "One and done?"    Glad to have the Ducks prove me wrong.    On to the NCAA's!  Speaking of the little guy, a 12th seed for Oregon and UCLA gets a 6th?   Is the selection committee smoking with Bill, c'mon!

Two Liners

The hiring of Dennis Erickson by Utah was vigorously endorsed by the Utah Department of Corrections.   It seems wherever Erickson coaches, the population in the local corrections facilities diminish....

Kudos to the Oregon football program for encouraging their athletes to be multi-sport participants.   Now if only this generosity would  filter down to our high schools.....

Texas running back Dontre Wilson changed his mind and headed for Ohio State instead of Oregon.  Must have decided tattoos were better than sneakers....

Under Armour is suing Nike for the use of the phrase "I Will".   In other developments, the Greek Goddess Nike has retained legal counsel to sue the shoe company for unauthorized use of her name.....

The Detroit Lions have identified 4 areas of need for 2013; safety, defensive end, cornerback, and offensive line.   You would think a team that was 23rd in run offense might be looking for a running back.....

Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said, "It's not the end of the world," regarding the cuts scheduled to take place on Friday.  Easy to say when you are pulling down $174,000 a year and the poor schmucks who are going to lose their jobs are just making ends meet.....

Just Sayin'

     Bigotry in Canada?    Toronto pitcher Mark Buerhle will be forced to leave his family behind when he takes his place on the Blue Jays pitching staff.    His family will remain in the states so that they don't bring in a family member who is not welcome, Slater, one of their dogs.  Why?   The province of Ontario has a ban on Slater's breed, the Staffordshire Terrier.  

     Wait Staffordshire, isn't that part of England - and isn't Canada part of the British Commonwealth?   Hmmm, seems like picking on one of your own family members.  And all this time I thought the Canucks were enlightened.    I wonder if they'll place a ban on all Slovaks, after all, we are pretty intimidating, oh wait, Slovaks can play hockey, they must be OK.   Solution to the Buerhle's, teach Slater to skate and he's in!

    Recently, the IOC voted to eliminate wrestling from the 2020 Olympics.   One of the original sports in both the ancient and modern games, it seems a tragedy to drop a "founding father".   All is not lost, wrestling is in the running for the final sport in the games against seven others - baseball, karate, wushu, squash, softball, roller sports, sport climbing, and wake boarding. My vote, keep it.   We need to respect some traditions (I know this coming from a guy who loves the designated hitter) and maintain our link with past games.   Wrestling in this form has no other pinnacle, the Olympics are this sport's top honor.    When we look at the others I have a hard time thinking one of them would bump grappling.    Baseball, no, they have a pro outlet.   Karate and wushu?   Nope, we already have two martial arts in Judo and Tae Kwon Do.   Squash, roller sports, sport climbing, and wake boarding.   Get a grip, would ya?  


     Why not Recliner Chair Remote Control Switching?    Softball may be the only serious contender in this list, but I still vote for wrestling.

     After watching the WSU - UO basketball game, I think a special award is due one of the Cougar hoopsters.    In recognition of the amount of time he spent on his back, I award the Dick Fosbury Flop Award to Brock Motum. 


Sorry, the trophy just couldn't stay upright.

Head Scratchers

      On national letter of intent day, I tuned in to all the shows, checking to see how the Ducks had done.   Were there surprises, did we keep the commits?   But instead of reveling over the signees, I was struck that ESPNU had hired, of all ex-coaches, Gene Chizik as a guest analyst on recruiting.    It would seem that speaking to his experience it would only take a few minutes - open your wallet and check with the recruit's parole officer.   And that worked out well for him didn't it?   His recruits were of such high caliber that he was out of a job in only 4 years.  Yes, I am still flailing away at the Auburn program, eventually the cone of silence will be lifted and the Tigers will have to find something else to occupy the space that will be vacated by the National Championship trophy.  How about an autographed picture of Cecil Newton?   I'll bet we can get you one for around $180,000.

Items I will never buy:
Gatorade
Under Armour
Windows 8 phones
Anything from Foot Locker

Why?  All endorsed by Scam Newton.   You see, some of us have to stand on principle.   

     A real mystery is the ability of Ole Miss to have the #2 recruiting class in the nation!   How does a 7 - 6 team rate so highly with recruits.   Must be the lure of beautiful Oxford, the football tradition, or the state of Mississippi and their progressive attitude.......

     However, another 7 - 6 team topped the nation with five 5 star recruits - USC!   Wow, the tradition is gone guys, why?   A simple answer, the best agents seem to be based out of L.A.   We saw from last year that the Trojans play as individuals and give up when they realize they're not coming out on top.  They were nothing but front runners that weren't worthy of their 2012 pre-season #1 ranking.   It seems it's one season-long audition for the NFL.  The question here is how long will Lane Kiffen be the head man at USC?

     Speaking of USC, firing your basketball coach in January?  If A.D. Pat Haden thinks this will right the ship, you missed the boat.  Firing O'Neal at the end of last season would have allowed the new coach the chance to recruit.   Now it just looks like the program is in chaos and recruiting will be no easy chore.

     A mother knows best, at least that's what H.S. running back Alex Collins' mom thought when she hid her son's letter-of-intent to Arkansas.   Look, I get it, I don't like Bret Bielema either, but sometimes you just have to let kids make mistakes for them to learn.  How can you argue with a chant like 
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Razorbacks!
On second thought, Alex, listen to your mother!

     On to baseball!   The Tigers open spring training games with the Atlanta Braves on February 22nd.   An awkward situation is brewing.   My son-in-law is a staunch Braves fan, while, well, you know my loyalties.  This is the quandary, my grandson has both Tiger and Braves gear, what will he wear that day?  A tough decision for a 5 month old.

Never Mind

Like Rosanne Rosanadana said,

Please disregard my previous post.

See ya Chip, thanks for the past 4 years and I wish you continued success in the NFL.  To all your haters - get a life!  Duck faithful only deserve to relish in success of the past 4 years and how you have pushed this program to the elite of college football.   If anyone should be upset it would be your players - who from all indications, understand your want to reach the pinnacle of your profession. 

Now as they say, next man up.   Welcome Mark Helfrich to the job as Top Duck.   Four years as a Kelly understudy makes you the perfect man for the job.  

Can't wait for the spring game.

Kept The Grip on Chip

Decided to stay did we?  

Well, welcome home, Coach Kelly - you are where you belong.   

The decision that you were not comfortable with the NFL makes the Duck Faithfull do a little dance.   I have to say it was a surprise to many of us.   After last year's flirtation, it was a foregone conclusion that the Pro's would be your stop after this year.   Maybe that one loss at Stanford sticks in your craw or you want to erase the memory of the loss to Auburn.  Either way, we're glad to have you back.   The hardest thing at this point......

the wait for August 31st and Nichols State making their way to Autzen.

 

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