People may be wondering why Oregon is opening up against Stanford. It's highly unusual to start the season with a league game even though, without going to the media guide, I distinctly remember Oregon opening the season at home against Arizona in either 1996 or 1997.

When the Pac 10 went to a round robin schedule Stanford was looking at playing 12 games in 12 weeks. No bye week.

Stanford decided that wasn't a good idea and went in search of a solution. The most viable alternative was to play Oregon September 3, get a bunch of money (and exposure) for playing an ABC, and then have a bye later in the season.

Stanford Head Coach Walt Harris told The San Francisco Chronicle, "I didn't see how (playing 12 straight games) could happen with the depth concerns that we have here. I did not want to play a conference game right off the bat," Harris said. "I don't think that's good for us, trying to rebuild out program, just in our second year, going against a coach that's firmly entrenched. It's already hard enough, but that makes it harder."

Stanford now he 3 bye weeks due to the Big Game with Cal being moved back a week.

Go figure.

RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 5:25 PM | Permalink

If I'm Ernie Kent I don't want to sit down because that seat is extremely hot.

Mike Montgomery is without a job.

What kind of coach is Montgomery ? Let's put it this way. The next big time college job that is open, Montgomery is an instant front-runner.

He won at Stanford. Not that easy to do. Academic requirements are tough in Palo Alto. What do you think he can do at a place like Oregon where the academic requirements aren't as difficult ?

While at Stanford Montgomery's teams went to the post-season 16 of the last 18 years he was there. Before he left for the Warriors Stanford made 10 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Let's not forget what Ernie Kent has done at Oregon. Before Kent got to Eugene getting to the NCAA Tourney was a dream. When Jerry Green took the Ducks to the tournament his reward was a long term contract at Tennessee.

Kent got players like Freddie Jones, Luke Ridnour, and Luke Jackson to come to Oregon. That was good. He then took the Ducks to the Elite 8. That was a really big deal. In fact Kent fielded calls from Illinois and Notre Dame. They were interested.

But Ernie has failed the last 3 years in more ways than one. His teams are losing and he's losing some of the top recruits the state of Oregon has ever seen.

When guys like Kevin Love and Kyle Singler won't even consdier staying in state, that's a problem.

So that takes us back to Montgomery. Will the Ducks wait and see what Ernie and the Ducks do this season or will they go after Montgomery right now ?

If Oregon waits, Montgomery may be snapped up by another school.

The answer may not come from Eugene, but from the boosters who will pay for the new arena.

I don't think the new arena gets built with Ernie Kent as head coach. But if Mike Montgomery gets hired I think Phil Knight may donate the millions the university is waiting for. Think of Mike Montgomery as Oregon head coach and a new arena being built. That's pretty enticing.

Will Duck fans and the big time boosters wait to see how the Ducks fare this year ?

I'm not sure Bill Moos and the University of Oregon can afford to wait.

Rpivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 9:53 PM | Permalink

As we get ready for College Football season let me tell you a quick story. When I worked at the NBC station in Eugene we had a few interns that played for the Ducks. One of them told me that back then Mike Bellotti's nickname was Flanders from "The Simpsons". You be the judge.

RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 8:32 PM | Permalink

From what I hear Zach Randolph won't be charged with a crime regarding the current investigation Portland Police are looking into. But Zach has been skirting trouble for years. Take a look at this clip I found from 6 years ago when he was a freshman at Michigan State.

In the beginning there were doubts.

Critics pointed to a criminal record as a severe roadblock for him to succeed, with charges of shoplifting, battery and receiving stolen property. Then there was the hurdle of trying to qualify academically to be eligible to play Division I college basketball, as he was 20 points below the score needed on the SAT.

Through it all, freshman center Zach Randolph has found an ability to learn from his mistakes - it’s that same mindset that has led to improved play on the court this season.

"Everybody has some kind of problems in their past," said Randolph, who was cleared this fall to play after an appeal to the NCAA. "I’m just learning from mine, being a man and moving on with my life."

As you can see Zach hasn't really learned. He continues to toe the line between right and wrong.

He's a great player and that's what makes this so difficult. If he was the 12th player on the team he would have been gone yesterday. You want to root for him. You want him to straighten up. We want a lot of things from Zach Randolph. But as the song says, "You can't always get what you want."

Your comments are always welcome.

RP
RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 6:40 PM | Permalink

What a shocker.

Yea right.

This story has been floating around for more than two months. In fact I went into the KGW archives and I first reported this on June 13th.

Porter's first choice would have been to become a co-owner or work in the front office of the Blazers if the team sold to the group he was part of. That's what took so long with this announcement. I've been told that Porter's group was never a serious contender even though it had Jeld-Wen in its back pocket. In fact I don't think anyone was a serious contender because if Paul Allen really wanted to sell the team it would have been sold.

In case you want the Porter story from Detroit here it is.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006608230432

Your comments are always welcome

RP
RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 3:39 PM | Permalink

Often times in a sportscast I can't give you as much information as I would like. There's just limited time. So this blog will give you a little added info to some of the stories I put on the air.

I have never liked the term "minor" surgery. Any time you have surgery it's never minor to you. Maybe to others. But not you.

Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge is having shoulder surgery. This isn't good. Aldridge was going to be fighting for minutes the moment he put on a Blazers uniform. He has Zach Randolph and Raef LaFrentz ahead of him at power forward. At center he would have been battling for minutes with Joel Przybilla and Jamal Magloire.

This is quite the setback for the youngster. Conservative estimates have him coming back in 2 months.

This is a guy who came out of school 2 years early and needs to hit the weight room.

Guess what you can't do after shoulder surgery ? You got it. Lift weights. So the one thing he desperately needs to do to play in the league and get better, he can't.

It looks to me like this year will be a wash for the man from Texas.

Your thoughts are always welcome.

Ron
RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 11:31 PM | Permalink

As of Monday night we don't know if Zach Randolph will or will not be charged with a crime. Portland Police are looking into a sexual assault complaint in which police say Randolph may be a witness or even a suspect.

Randolph has been walking a fine line for years when it comes to illegal activities. Earlier this summer he was a passenger in a car that was stopped in the early morning hours on SW Broadway. Police found two loaded guns in that car.

Three summers ago Randolph was in a nightclub with his brother in Indiana when a shooting took place. Randolph's brother was sent to prison.

Randolph just doesn't get it. He is one of the most recognizable people in the state of Oregon and continues to act like a child. In fact I take that back. Even children don't act with such reckless abondon.

This is a guy who was best friends with Qyntel Woods. What does that tell you ?

A former Blazers employee told me that Randolph used to have his pet Pit Bulls delivered to the Blazers Practice Facility. For all I know these were his pets, but once again this is Zach playing with fire.

I hope Zach isn't involved in any crime. He's got a good attorney and may just walk away from this with no charges filed.

But one day he won't get so lucky. One day his bad judgement will cost him dearly.

Your comments are always welcome.

RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 9:33 PM | Permalink

Just in time for the NFL season. According to a recent study people playing fantasy football spend an average if 50 minutes a week checking stats, injury reports, etc.

All this is costing businesses a billion dollars a week in lost productivity.

I kind of raise my eyebrows when I hear the pharse "a billion dollars" because you can't be sure that when these people are checking on Reggie Wayne's injury they really will be making money for their business.

I do know that fantasy football is addicting. I used to laugh at people who played. Now... I'm in.

During the NFL season I will be doing a fantasy football league in conjuction with NBC Sports.

Check back for updates.

By the way... I am back to blogging... on a regular basis.

Bookmark this page. You never know what I have in my pint-sized head.

RP
RPivo@kgw.com

Posted by at 5:46 PM | Permalink