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By Craig Edwards
If you haven't become a fan of Greg Oden yet, today really should have helped you jump on the bandwagon.
The Blazers center spoke to the media for the first time since microfracture surgery on his knee that effectively ended his 07-08 season before it even began.
He was personable, humble, fun, optimistic, and most importantly, gracious. He thanked fans for all their support, including the huge card that thousands of signed. It's even got a place of honor in his house.
What really struck me was the sense of loss Oden felt when he learned he was done for the year. He talked about coming out of surgery, and then seeing the press conference on TV. He talked about asking his mom if he was really out for the season.
I also laughed a lot during his Question and Answer session. He talked about his new dog, Charles Barkley McLovin, and assured fans that he did not injure himself playing Dance, Dance Revolution.
Folks, hope that Oden can come back next season. I think he'll definitely be worth the wait.
It was one of those moments made for the internet - and for playing over and over again. At a post-game press conference Saturday, Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy blew his top and it was all caught on camera.
The object of his three-minute long screamfest? A newspaper columnist who wrote a column questioning the attitude and desire of one of his players - the one-time starting quarterback he had just benched for Saturday's game.
Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman wrote the change had been a while in coming - that it was more about attitude than desire, that he didn't gut out what appeared to be minor injuries, and that the quarterback got so nervous - something he admits - that it put the team in an early hole.
That was all the spark Coach Gundy needed to fire off after - get this - a win. Holding up the paper, Gundy went after the writer and the paper.
"Here's all that kid did: He goes to class, he's respectful to the media, he's respectful to the public and he's a good kid. And he's not a professional athlete, and he doesn't deserve to be kicked when he's down," Gundy said.
For her part, Carlson fired back with a column and and in an interview with a television station. Her basic point - tell me what facts in the story were wrong, and I'll change them.
So where do you draw the line? Should college athletes, getting a free education and playing in front of thousands of people be off-limits? Or do the rewards they're getting justify tougher scrutiny.
Or could the problem be, gulp, technology itself as some other Big 12 coaches think?
Weigh in with comments -
It was a life-changing experience....one that only a select few will ever get to taste.
About 40 players from the back-to-back national champs from Oregon State were among the guests of honor at the White House this afternoon.
The team arrived in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, and during the trip, had the opportunity to see parts of the nation’s capital, including the Capitol Building. After the ceremony with President Bush on Friday, the team was scheduled for an event with Oregon State alumni.
“This was a great opportunity,” Oregon State head coach Pat Casey said. “Our players and staff really had a great time on the visit. This was a wonderful opportunity the President offered us and we appreciate the gesture. The two national championships are a great accomplishment, and I’m proud of the fact our players had the chance to visit the nation’s capital.”
And, aside from calling our fine state "Ore-gone"....President Bush, while a bit generic, did have high-praise for the Beavers accomplishments.
“It is a beautiful day to welcome champs to the White House,” President Bush said at the outset of the ceremony. “And I'm honored to stand with some of our country's finest student athletes -- and look at some of our finest student athletes -- and glad to give you an excuse to skip class. But I'm really glad to welcome you here and to congratulate you on being a champion.
“I really enjoy a day like today. You didn't get to see, but I got to shake hands with athletes and coaches and people, some of whom have come a long way to be recognized here at the White House. And it is really a lot of fun to be with people who set high standards and work hard to achieve goals, which you've done.”
If you are interested in seeing the entire video feed from the White House....just head to the 'sports' section on kgw.com and look to the right of the page for the video.
By Craig Edwards
Fall is a great time of year if you're a sports guy. The NFL and College Football are in full swing, with the NBA, NHL and college basketball not far behind. Getting ready for the season, I flipped through the Hockey News 2007-08 yearbook, only to read a fact that has barely registered with me before.
The Phoenix Coyotes play their home games in the Jobing.com Arena.
Is this what the sports world has come to? Friends, we must stand together against horribly awful names for sports arenas and stadiums.
I'm not going to be naive and say we must ban all corporate names. Unfortunately, they aren't going anywhere because of how much money they make teams. Naming rights often cover stadium maintenance costs for many ballclubs.
However, the names don't have to be awful. Here's a few easy guidelines teams and corporations can use in naming their buildings:
Continue reading "What's in a name?" »
As an ardent fan of sports in the Beaver state....I have to say I'm starting to think this '07 Ducks football team is for real. Yes, they are only 3 games in....all convincing victories. But, there's something about that debacle in Vegas that makes me believe this team is vastly different. When we went to cover that "outing" against BYU....I was sold that Oregon would route the reps from the Mountain West Conference. How wrong I was! But, spending time down at Autzen covering UO this year....I'm sensing that WON'T happen again. If it does, I eat the crow. I just see a mental & leadership approach that was lacking last year. This team often will reflect on the transgressions that set them back last December....and they really hate to talk about it.
Somehow, there will be one member of the media that asks it. Granted, it's a valid questiion this early. I get the impression that even though Oregon began last season 4-0 (then had the 'conference shakes')....they won't stand to let that happen again. Really, Dennis Dixon holds the key to this success. No matter the level of play, most quarterbacks either take the blame, or take the kudos....and with Dixon, I see a completely mentally stable quarterback who is enjoying success....while having a lot of fun. But, let's remember....the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Just when it seemed the last piece had fallen into place for the Blazers, it turns out the sky was falling, too. At least that's how it has to seem for fans - and by the look of him, Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard. Check out the video of him officially announcing Oden's surgery. Pritchard looked like a guy who worked for years to score the car of his dreams, only to watch it roll backwards off a cliff the first time he parked it.
At least part of that concern has to do the very large ghost of Sam Bowie, the big man Portland picked when they passed on Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft.
Will Oden be the second coming of Bowie, who spent four injury-riddled years in Portland before getting shipped off to New Jersey while Jordan was turning into the best player ever?
The Blazers say they have no doubt that Oden will return - and return better than ever. Will he? Microfracture surgery is notoriously hard to predict. Amare Stoudamire of the Suns seems to have fully recovered, but has anybody seen Jamal Mashburn in an NBA uniform in a while? The PR folks up I-5 in Seattle have put together this list of NBA players who've had the surgery, along with their pre- and post-surgery statistics. They also point out that Oden is the youngest NBA player to have had the surgery. In their statement, the Blazers' team doctor cites Oden's as a postive factor for his recovery. Of course, the cynic would argue it's bad news that a guy so young has so significant problems with his knee.
But was he damaged goods all along? That's a concern several NBA execs had about Oden, according to columnist Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, who broke the story about Oden being lost for the year.
Wojnarowski quotes one executive as telling him, "there were red flags everywhere" on Oden's pre-draft physical. Those red flags included his back, his wrist, one leg that's an inch longer than the other, and his knees. One Western Conference exec even told Wojnarowski that the team's trainers thought he had somewhat of an issue with the right knee - the one just operated on.
To be fair, these executives all admit they didn't put Oden through tests as extensive as the Blazers did, and at least one says he still would've drafted Oden even with the injury concerns. For their part, Portland management says Oden's knees were fine when they checked him out pre-draft.
So whaddya think Blazers faithful? Is this the second coming of Bowie, or just a short detour on the road to an NBA title? Sound off in our comments section.
By Craig Edwards
Greg Oden is Likely Done for Season
Sorry, Blazers fans. This is possibly the worst news you could have heard out of the Rose Quarter today.
Since draft day, Greg Oden has been the centerpiece of everything related to the Blazers' franchise, from strategy on the court, to marketing and ticket promotion. This is a huge blow for the team.
But... DO NOT PANIC.
The Blazers still have a strong nucleus of a young team, led by 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. They are going places.
Building this franchise up from the bottom of the NBA standings is a long term process. Greg Oden was not going to make the team into NBA champs by himself, or do it in one season.
Again, this is a team on the rise, and will continue to be so in 2007-08. Whenever Greg Oden joins the team, they are going to get that much better.
I know you're bummed if you've got tickets for this season. Hope that the team's franchise center heals quickly, and properly.
Just don't jump off the bandwagon yet.
By Joe Becker
I went out to Linfield College today with "The Ace", Sports Photographer Brian Warner.
We went out to talk with the Lemon Family.
Once again, Linfield is making history...this time with a roster that features four brothers on the same team. Even better, their father is an assistant coach.
The Lemon brothers consist of Sr. Chet Lemon, Jr. Chase Lemon, Sophmore Bubba Lemon and Freshman Mikey Lemon. Their father is Meadow Lemon, the Cornerbacks coach for the Wildcats. Obviously, the Lemons share something special, "It's got to be a dad's dream", says Meadow, "as a family, we've talked about it for a long time and to actually get out here and see it happen...it's really unbelievable."
Bubba was a star at Tualatin High School and received full scholarship offers from The Air Force Academy, Portland St. and Montana...but he picked Linfield to make it a full house, "You don't get too many chances like this to play with all three of your brothers", said Bubba, "it was just something I had to do."
Linfield Head Coach Joe Smith says it's pretty neat, "There's a unique way of doing things here at Linfield and it's a very family oriented institution and program, so that fit's right in with those guys."
By the way, if the name Lemon sounds familiar, it's because their grandfather is the legendary Harlem Globetrotter, Meadowlark Lemon.
"The Ace" and I are putting the story together for the 6pm news on Friday on Kgw.
If you were one of the 12,022 in attendance at Portland State's home opener....let me say I'm sorry. I realize this wide open system known as the Run and Shoot is complex....but it can't be that hard. All the players I've spoken with said they have been grasping the system pretty well. There is one crew that obviously hasn't latched on.....the offensive line! Remember last NFL season when the Raiders Andrew Walter got sacked like 400,000 times (actually it was 46)? That was Viks QB Brian White last night. He was sent to the turf 9 times (and it could've been much more) by a UC-Davis team that lost the prior week to Western Washington of all schools! From about midway thru the 2nd half until the end of the game....PSU was outscored 23-zip by the Aggies. There's no other way to explain the porous effort by the o-line....than the 39 rush attempts for a paltry 29 yards. Yep, that's .74358974358 yards per carry. That's scary bad....especially for a team that has been so good at running the ball over the years (Delgado, Holmes, Dunn, Fuqua, Rubin, etc.) Jerry Glanville and Mouse have some serious work on their hands. I still trust they'll do better....although it was greatly diminished after Saturday night. As linebacker Jordan Senn told me after the game "Don't give up on us just yet!"
It's the day after.....and I'm still not sure what it was I witnessed from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati last night. The Beavers outgained the newest darling from the Big East in total offense....but there was one number that just didn't add up....7. That was the clear cut difference....as Oregon State got whacked, 34-3. It was the first ever meeting....and by all accounts, could be their last. The Beavers were caught offguard by the Bearcats ability to fly to the ball. The speed was quite evident on TV....and it looked as if Cincy had a little more tenacity from the get-go! Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao are having growing pains....let's just hope it doesn't last into next weeks game vs. the Bengals---not Cincinnati, but Idaho State. Suddenly that one doesn't look 'that' easy anymore.
Okay everybody. We gazed into our crystal balls, read the tea leaves, and tried just about any other method of divination we could think of, looking for a glimpse into the future of the NFL.
Who will win each division? Each Conference? And the Super Bowl?
Here now, are our fearless predictions for the upcoming NFL season:
Continue reading "Fearless NFL Predictions" »
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is used to boos - it's an occupational hazard when you step under center for an NFL team. But he says not even that prepared him for the hate mail he got after presenting President Bush with an autographed jersey at a fundraiser for a Republican congressional candidate. Hasselbeck had company; fullback Mack Strong joined him at the event. Read their take on the whole situation here.
And it didn't take long for fans to sound off, with many telling the Seahawks they're done with the team because the two players hung out with the Prez.
So readers - what do you think? Is it really fair to hammer the 'Hawks just because of an appearance two players made, or did the duo step over some "line" by mixing sports and politics. Take your shot in the comments section.
By Joe Becker
First the PSU Vikings get rolled on by Mcneese St. in Lake Charles, Louisiana...and now they get word that two of their best players are out for the season.
Yes, as feared, both Running Back Bobby McClintock and QB Tygue Howland are lost for the season after injuries last Saturday night. McClintock has a torn ACL as well as a torn lateral meniscus. Howland suffered an injury to the second metatarsel of his left foot. Both players will have surgery.
I just got back from Portland State and talked with Offensive Co-Ordinator Mouse Davis and McClintock, who was obviously very dissapointed. "It's real tough" said McClintock, " I was real excited to come in here with the new offense and play real well this season but, It didn't work out that way."
Mouse felt bad for both players, who are just sophmores, and talked about the big holes they will have to fill on offense. "It's always the situation where someone's going to step up and I believe that is true. I think Brian White's an excellent QB and we now have to get the young ones ready to go at QB in addition to Brian...but that's part of the deal."
The VIkings play their home opener Saturday night against UC-Davis at PGE Park at 6pm.
By Joe Becker
Osu standout receiver Sammie Stroughter is working out with the first team and might play in the Beavers game at Cincinnati Thursday night. During his weekly press conference...Beavers Head Coach Mike Riley had this to say about Stroughter's status. "We'll make, frankly, a decision on that in the next couple of days...but as we finish out the week of practice and as we travel, we'll see where it's at. It's conceivable he could play."
Stroughter has been dealing with the loss of two family members, who passed away this past year. Sammie missed a couple of weeks of practice and spent last week on the sidelines during the Beavers win over Utah.
Stroughter was a Third Team all-america by AP and caught 74 passes last year for more than 12-hundred yards.
Also, former Beavers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are now stars in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. They are supposed to be around the Beavers on Wednesday and Thursday when OSU is in town for the game with the Bearcats.
By Joe Becker
Did you catch the hilites of Jacoby Ellsbury at Fenway Park in Boston? The former OSU baseball star and pride of Madras, Oregon had a day he will never forget.
Jacoby was just called up again by the Red Sox and he was playing centerfield against Baltimore. He hit his first big league homer in the 4th, made a sensational diving catch in the 5th...and then had to put a number back in the scoreboard on the Green Monster left field wall in the 6th. The number came off when Red Sox leftfielder Brandon Moss slammed into it making a catch. The 23 year old Ellsbury now has 9 career hits in 9 games and is batting .391. The Red Sox won 3-2 and have the best record in baseball.
Fenway is the Oldest Ballpark in the majors and opened just five days after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
Babe Ruth played there and Ty Cobb. So did Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle...and now Jacoby Ellsbury gets to play there.
It's special for most people to just be there...but for Ellsbury, it was a Dream Day at Fenway!
By Joe Becker
What a start to the football season! The Ducks win, The Beavers win...and a little bar-b-que on Friday Night. I don't know if you noticed...but our Ace Sports Photographer Brian Warner shot the Beaverton-Tualatin game on Friday night. The first shot on the hilite reel was a tasty bar-b-que going on at Tualatin. It has me in the mood for our first Friday Night Flights next week. It should be another great year.
It's also great to see the college season going...and you know, I like Thursday Night Football. The Beavers played last week and they are doing so again this week. Two Thursday night games are perfect for the season.
Talk about a wild Duck game with Houston. What an entertaining afternoon for Duck fans. Plenty of great plays and perfect weather to go with it...plus the W.
Not such a great start for new Vikings Head Coach Jerry Glanville and Co. However,
Mcneese St. is a terrific team and they were playing at home. Give the Vikings some time. They are going to be a fun team to watch...and they have their home opener this weekend against UC Davis at PGE Park.
Also, next weekend...the Seahawks open the NFL season. I can't wait....however, I'm also amped about the Baseball pennant races.
Yes, this is one of my favorite times of the year. Sit back and enjoy!
After all kinds of anticipation....college football is back in the fold.
The Beavers won a decent matchup with Utah, 24-7 on Thursday.....laying the smack on the Utes in more ways than one. They knocked out 3 of Utah's best players....and next take on Cincinnati for a nationally televised game (Thurs ESPN2). Mike Riley has got to find a way to pick Canfield and be comforatable with it. I've said it before.....I'm not one to doubt any of Riley's decisions. Afterall, he is coming off a 10-4 season.
Just got back from the Ducks game in Eugene. What a wild and crazy affair that was. For as lopsided as their game was with Houston....they managed to give up nearly 550 yards of total offense to the Cougars. A 21-point win (48-27) looks good....but they'd better shore up that defense when they visit a extremely determined (and ticked off) Michigan team next week. The Ducks didn't turn over the ball at all today....and key defensive plays by Jairus Byrd and Patrick Chung at crucial times helped lift Oregon to victory today.
And, as a proud PSU alum, it stings a bit to see that the Jerry Glanville era got off to a less than stellar start. All they could manage was 4 stinking FG's?? You've got to be kidding me. I know the conditions were difficult....playing in the hot and humid southeast (Lake Charles, LA)....but the Run & Shoot has to produce better results than this. John Canzano was in Louisiana and will have an entire column about it in Sunday's Oregonian.
We are off and rolling.....college football is in full swing.
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