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The Sports Difference

September 25, 2013 by

A recent article in The Atlantic Monthly asks how sports took over childhood. It was investigative. A recent book with a plug on PBS compares the money spent per American student and other nations, with a snide dig at our side with “four hours of football practice a day.” Both miss their mark. Here’s hoping […]

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Home Town Sports Forty Years Later

September 19, 2013 by

High school reunions fall somewhere between a celebration and a punch in the gut. The celebration begins with joining classmates again. The punch comes from seeing the changes. In small town Oregon the punch comes from seeing the old school. In North Bend, the old school was a celebration.

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The Mariota Way vs Baby Boomer

September 13, 2013 by

Sports talk radio won’t bring the best out in everyone. Either on the phone or in studio, the margin of error is thin. Say too much and you’re a grandstanding attention hog giving opponents material for their bulletin board. No one wants a fired up defensive tackle whispering sweet nothings in their ear at the […]

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A Taste Of Tempo

September 9, 2013 by

Since Chip Kelly’s Oregon football years every mention of ‘tempo’ during a football game echoes of the Ducks. While the Virginia game played on one channel, the Real USC and Georgia slugged it out on another. After a turnover one announcer said, “Now the Gamecocks will feed the Bulldogs a taste of tempo.” Here comes a […]

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President Bill Clinton On Sports And Fitness

September 5, 2013 by

A good look at the media-tagged Explainer-in-Chief shows a slim man in good shape. And he should be. Bill Clinton had a big turn around after his heart surgery. He’s never looked better after finding the vegan diet. If he lived in Portland he’d probably consult the Happy Cow Healthy Eating Guide. Does this make him […]

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Baby Boomer And The Oregon Ducks

August 29, 2013 by

What defines big time? The wise answer, the baby boomer blogger answer, is ‘The big time is right where you are.’ But that doesn’t always work out. People who hate where they are, either geographically or emotionally, want a better answer. For them, the big time is out there waiting just around the corner, and […]

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All Ducks In A Line

August 27, 2013 by

What is the biggest lie in sports, in business? “We’re taking another direction at this time.” You hear it after failure stacked on failure grows too heavy. It usually means someone just got fired. In college football, it usually means the coach. Ohio State took a new direction. Texas will take a new direction if […]

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USA Football Month For Boomers

August 21, 2013 by

The time of year for football dreams. From the NFL preseason, college and high school training camps, to peewee football, all eyes focus on the grid iron. At every level players share similar dreams. Offensive linemen dream of springing a running back with a perfect block. Running backs dream of leaving a defender on the ground […]

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Your Phil Knight Moment

August 14, 2013 by

Sharing a new UofO grad and a Phil Knight moment. The University of Oregon drew much attention recently for images of their new football facility. Comments ranging from “it looks like a corporate retreat,” to “why do the Ducks need this,” sprang up in response to the new buildings. Eugene locals see it as another […]

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Future Baby Boomer WNBA Coaches

July 30, 2013 by

How can the WNBA grow? How can the ladies grab more viewers and move beyond their current status? What exactly is their status? An informal poll of hardcore, twenty-something Portland Trail Blazer fans, may hold a clue. They spoke to the issue of  watching the games. I asked questions, which I’ll list as Q. I’ll […]

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