by Adam Bjaranson

We have had Blazer Mania many times this season. But we crave for more, don't we? As a journalist covering the team I grew up rooting for....it's genuinely a great time. After hearing Greg Oden was gonna be on the shelf for the entire season....I predicted Portland would win 31 games--the same as the year before. I wasn't sure how LaMarcus Aldridge would fare as Z'bo's replacement. If Travis Outlaw would finally develop? And I was blinded at how James Jones became this teams X-factor. Portland needs to get JJ back as soon as possible too.
Portland's post all-star break finds them four games back of the playoffs right now. And they need to find lightning in a bottle quickly if they are to contend. Time will tell if Brandon Roy can keep his stamina going for this marathon of a season.....because if the Blazers know one thing, it's that they will go as far as the 'Roy Wonder' will take them.

Posted by at 11:14 PM | Permalink

aka: Why I don't care about Roger Clemens
By Craig Edwards

After months of mudslinging between the two sides, Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee both appeared, under oath, in front of members of Congress today. And we learned.... drumroll please.... Nada!! Nothing!!! Not a bloody thing worth any real substance!!

Both men stuck to their stories. McNamee insists he injected Clemens with steroids at the Rocket's request, while Clemens insists he's never used any performance enhancing drugs. To quote Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, "Both can't be telling the truth."

Continue reading "Rocket Away, Please " »

Posted by Craig Edwards at 6:14 PM | Permalink

By Adam Bjaranson

Monica Carlson is one driven mom! Not only is she the mother of twin daughters....but she's now just 1 step closer to bringing home a hefty $100,000 bucks in prize money (as well as a new Toyota Sequoia). On Monday night, Monica made quick work of the remaining contestants on NBC's new hit reality show American Gladiators....and has punched her ticket to the finals. She remains sworn to secrecy....but I like her chances. The sports department knows the Carlson's fairly well. Monica's husband Chad is Lincoln HS's head football coach....and since our station boarders Lincoln....we see each other a fair amount.
What an awesome opportunity for the whole Carlson family! Everyone here at KGW is glued to the TV when Gladiators comes on. Keep it going Monica! We're thrilled that you have made it this far!
By the way, you can see for yourself if Monica comes away with top Gladiator honors. The finals are this Sunday, February 17th at 8 pm PST.

Posted by at 11:13 PM | Permalink

By Craig Edwards

Seattle football fans now know who will replace Mike Holmgren after he leaves the Seahawks following next season. Your winner is .......... Jim Mora, the same guy everyone thought it would be after Holmgren announced his decision a couple weeks ago. Mora even gave up a chance at the Washington Redskins' heading coaching job because he probably knew this was coming (granted, the situation in our nation's capital would make anybody run and hide right now).

Continue reading "Seahawks Choose Their Man" »

Posted by Craig Edwards at 6:57 PM | Permalink

By Joe Becker

What a football game. By now I've seen more than 40 Super Bowl's on TV. I can still remember watching the first one with my dad. I remember the Chiefs big defensive lineman Buck Buchanan.

There have been a lot of great games that followed...and many not so great. This year's game was a great one! You couldn't ask for a better fourth qtr. Tom Brady did what he's done so many times...drive the Patriots the length of the field in the final minutes. However, this time, Eli Manning did the same thing...twice.

The Giants defense did a great job on Brady and the Patriots, but Manning put together two 80 yard drives in the fourth qtr. That's some pretty heroic stuff.

Super Sunday is always a good time...however, when the game is a great one...then it really is a Super Sunday.

Posted by Joe Becker at 1:09 AM | Permalink

It's roughly 4 hours after the conclusion of Super Bowl XLII. And I can't say I've seen a more excited group of news people! The NY Giants pull over the sports stunner of the decade....beating previously unbeaten New England, 17-14. And, by now---if your an Oregonian---you know that Philomath's Kevin Boss played a pretty big part.
With the Giants trailing in the 4th quarter....the 6' 7" rookie tight end got loose....and caught a 45-yard pass from Eli Manning. It led to New York's first TD of the game....and the big gainer was the biggest of the entire game.
So, there will be a hero's welcome once Boss comes back to his hometown. He's really one of those true success stories. His mom Teresa told me last week that Kevin had dreams of playing in the NBA---not the NFL. But once he told his mom he was heading to Western Oregon University to play football....she said emphatically, "Your doing what!?!?!" I guess Kevin had it right all along.
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy too! I talked with Kevin about 3 days after the Giants victory over Green Bay....and he said the Giants "weren't in awe" of New England. And he wasn't sure what to expect about the craziness leading up to game day!
The Boss family was very accomodating with us.....and comes from an awesome community that supports Boss each and everytime out. And this couldn't have ended any better for the entire town of Philomath. Congrats to Boss and the entire Philomath, WOU, and NYG community.
By the way, Boss told me he'd be willing to come on as a guest on Sports Sunday after the season was over....I'm really gonna hold it to him now :)

Posted by at 11:24 PM | Permalink

By Craig Edwards

Wow! I write this about four hours removed from the end of Super Bowl 42. To be honest, I'm still trying to calm down from all the excitement.

First, there was Oregon native Kevin Boss making his only Super Bowl catch count in a big way. Boss caught the pass from Eli Manning at the Giants' 39 yard line... and took it nearly half the field. The 45-yard play set up the Giants' second score, a touchdown putting them up 10-7.

But the Patriots went 18-0 before this game for a reason. Tom Brady came back, and hit Randy Moss to take a 14-10 lead with less than 3 minutes.

However, in what had to be the most exciting 2+ minutes of football I've seen in a few years, Eli Manning did it, refusing to go down and getting out of an obvious sack, then hitting David Tyree who made the greatest catch I've seen in a Super Bowl, pinning the ball to the top of his head to keep control. That set up up Eli to Plaxico Burress, who had only really caught one ball all day, for the winning score. 17-14 is your final

A wise man once said "You rarely ever know for certain when you're experiencing history... until after it's over. When you do know, it usually involves violence, death and a body count."

But Tonight, we indeed saw the good type of history, and I actually knew it while I was watching. Call it one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, and one of the greatest clutch performances you'll ever see.

The finish ranks with the Rams and Titans and "The Tackle" from Super Bowl 34. Eli Manning made a final drive worthy of John Elway. Both Manning and Tom Brady played with the mastery of Joe Namath.

This is one to tell your kids and grandkids about.

Posted by Craig Edwards at 1:17 PM | Permalink