FREEDOM !!!!

"The globe is hearing a deeply pessimistic view of what America was and is."

As usual Victor Davis Hanson writing in National Review on line has an excellent analysis of the Obama Administration and their dealing with foreign governments.

Given Obama’s performance on his recent trip, three developments were quite astounding.

First, despite this fresh climate of atonement, there was a complete absence of a single apology from any other foreign leader —.......

Second, there was no other example of “He did it!” about supposedly inept predecessors.......

Third, we saw no concrete evidence of any help — or hope and change — from any foreign leader. Zilch. There were expectations of American concessions, but nothing new or helpful from anyone else......

At present the world is watching, probing, and digesting the Obama presidency. But it has already concluded that Obama is nourished by applause and will work to maintain it — not merely for personal gratification, but because he realizes that loud public endorsement is essential to his perpetual candidacy, given its absence of experience and sagacity.

Those abroad are also reassured that the American media, so heavily invested in hope and change, will do almost anything to transmogrify American embarrassments into Obama successes. Meanwhile, the contours of the new world order are clear. Iraq’s democrats are snubbed; Iran’s cutthroats are courted. A Saudi royal receives a bow; the British queen, a presumptuous squeeze — while her prime minister receives unplayable DVDs.......


In short, we have a return of Jimmy Carter’s postnational idealism, but this time with the charismatic face of a Ronald Reagan. For 40 years we have had well-meaning moral equivalence, utopian pacifism, and multiculturalism taught in our schools, and we are now learning that all that was not just therapy, but has insidiously become our national gospel. The world is hearing a deeply pessimistic view of what America was and is — now offered in mellifluous cadences by a messianic president who not so long ago in more unguarded moments called for more oppression studies and reparations.

President Obama will get his much-needed praise and adulation abroad, and Americans will finally be somewhat admired for a while. And thereafter, there will be real hell to pay — either abject U.S. appeasement as the world heats up, or some sort of frantic eleventh-hour hyper-response to restore stability and lost deterrence.

Just watch.

(To read the entire article click on the title for a link.... the above are just small excerpts of a much longer article)

Medford, Oregon Tea Party

Just got back from the Medford, "tea party" on the front steps of the Jackson County Court House. There was a very large crowd that spilled across the street to the lawn of the old Carnegie Library. There were a lot of signs and placards of people protesting the increase in government and taxes both on the national and state level. Most of the signs and placard's were home made. A local radio personality with an amplified sound system got the crowd wound up with a message of how proud he was to be an American. The group formed earlier this morning in a parking lot in downtown Medford next to a Chinese restaurant and marched the 8 to 10 blocks to the Courthouse. We are silent no more!

I'm WATCHING YOU !

Who is Janet Napolitano of Homeland Security watching? According to Michelle Malkin:

If you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion, favors strict immigration enforcement, lobbies to protect Second Amendment rights, protests big government, advocates federalism, or represents veterans who believe in any of the above, the answer is: You

.

Yes, and this is the lady who will not even use the term "The War Against Terrorism" preferring "man made disasters" when referring to the acts of Islamic fascist!!

To read the rest of Michell Malkin's column click on the title for a link.

APRIL 15Th.... Time For Another Boston Tea Party

Obey the law but exercise your right to free assembly by rallying to a Tea Party demonstration near you! Taxes are too high and in a time of recession they should be reduced for everyone. This is not the time to raise taxes! The Obama Administration and the Oregon Legislator are attempting to raise taxes on select unpopular groups such as smoker's, and the so called rich. If we don't protest we all will be next!

Bruce Snyder RIP

Former University of Oregon football player Bruce Snyder (1960, 1961 and 1962) has lost his gallant battle with cancer. He was one of coach Len Casanova's "boys". When I first arrived at the University of Oregon in 1967 he was an assistant coach to, Head Coach,Jerry Frei.(Picture above is Frei kneeling with Snyder the first coach standing to your right) I collect Oregon memorabilia and still have the game program of the October 7, 1967 game at Autzen Stadium between Oregon and Ohio State. It was the first season for Autzen and the cover has an architect's rendering of what Autzen Stadium would look like when built. Guess, they hadn't had time to take a real picture. I thought of that program a lot today after I heard the news that Bruce Snyder had died. On page 9 is a picture of Jerry Frei surrounded by pictures of his assistants. There is Max Cooley, Offensive Backfield; Jack Roche Defensive ends; Phil McHugh, Offensive Receivers; John Robinson, Defensive backs; George Seifert, Freshman Coach; Norm Chapman, Defensive Line; Ed Johns Offensive Line and Bruce Snyder, Asst. Offensive Backs. We didn't know back then how lucky we were to have such a talented group of coaches. We just didn't know. After these coaches were forced to leave, in the early 1970's, Oregon entered the "Dark Ages" of Duck Football.

Bruce Snyder's career after leaving Oregon is best summarized in this Wikipedia article:

Bruce Snyder (March 14, 1940-April 13, 2009) was the head football coach of Utah State University from 1976 to 1982. He was the head football coach of the University of California from 1987 to 1991. And from 1992 to 2000, he served as the head football coach at Arizona State University. At Arizona State he compiled a 58–47 record. Snyder was chosen as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1996, the same season the Sun Devils played in the 1997 Rose Bowl losing to Ohio State, 20–17. His career record stands at 126–106–5. Snyder was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1990 with Cal and 1996 with ASU) and is a member of the Arizona State Hall of Fame. His 58 wins ranks second in Arizona State history and is the second-longest tenured football coach in school history. Snyder led the Sun Devils to four bowl games while at Arizona State. More than 40 players who Snyder coached at ASU were drafted into the NFL, including seven first round selections. In addition, more than 40 other players who played under Snyder at Arizona State signed rookie free contracts in the NFL. He died on April 13, 2009 of melanoma.

Click on the title above for a link to Terri Frei's Blog (Jerry's Son)where he has a nice post about Snyder's battle with cancer.

A sad day to be a Duck. Go Ducks!

I Knew It!

Bob Dylan in his autobiography "Chronicles Volume One, "writing about his life in Greenwich Village in the early 1960's

"I had a primitive way of looking at things and I liked country fair politics. My favorite politician was Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, who reminded me of Tom Mix, and there wasn't any way to explain that to anybody. I wasn't that comfortable with all the psycho polemic babble. It wasn't my particular feast of food. Even the current news made me nervous. I liked old news better. All the new news was bad. It was good that it didn't have to be in your face all day. Twenty-four-hour news coverage would have been a living
hell."

Yes, the "voice of a generation"!!!!!

"In great deeds something abides"

These are the words of Joshua Chamberlain, the Union hero who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for the defense of Little Round Top on the second day of fighting at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. His unit the 20th Maine was the last unit on the left end of the Union line. They had to hold or the Confederates would have been able to outflank the Union Army and destroy it. Robert E Lee believed if he could defeat the Union at Gettysburg the North would allow the Southern States to leave the Union. Chamberlain's story is featured in the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara and in the film Gettysburg that was based on this book.

"In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: 20th Maine,speaking 26 years later at the dedication of the Monument to the 20th Maine, October 3, 1889, Gettysburg, PA

Score One for the Good Guys !!!

The captain of the Maersk Alabama was freed Sunday after being held captive since Wednesday by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a senior U.S. official with knowledge of the situation told CNN.

The official said Capt. Richard Phillips is uninjured and in good condition, and that three of the four pirates were killed. (YES!!!)The fourth pirate is wounded and in custody. Phillips was taken aboard the USS Bainbridge, a nearby naval warship.

UPDATE:

Navy snipers on a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Baimbridge, took out the three pirates when they had a clear shot of the three. The fourth pirate was on the Bambridge as a negotiator and was taken in custody. Captain Phillips was then freed from the lifeboat where he had been held captive.

Perfect Weekend for Movie:"Wind and the Lion" 1975

This could be a good weekend to play my DVD copy of the 1975 movie "The Wind and the Lion" directed by John Milius. This movie, based upon a historical event,is about an American (Candice Began) and her young son who are kidnapped by a Moroccan Bandit (Sean Connery). President Teddy Roosevelt(Brian Keith) sends the American fleet and the United States Marines to get her back. Keith as TR has several good lines in the movie:

TR:What do I want? I want respect! Respect for human life and respect for American property! And I'm going to send the Atlantic Squadron to Morocco to get that respect

TR:The American grizzly is a symbol of the American character: strength, intelligence, ferocity. Maybe a little blind and reckless at times... but courageous beyond all doubt.

Theodore Roosevelt: Loneliness. The American grizzly lives out his life alone. Indomitable, unconquered - but always alone. He has no real allies, only enemies, but none of them as great as he.
2nd Reporter: And you feel this might be an American trait?
Theodore Roosevelt: Certainly. The world will never love us. They respect us - they might even grow to fear us. But they will never love us, for we have too much audacity! And, we're a bit blind and reckless at times too.
2nd Reporter: Are you perhaps referring to the situation in Morocco and the Panama Canal.
Theodore Roosevelt: If you say so... The American grizzly embodies the spirit of America. He should be our symbol! Not that ridiculous eagle - he's nothing more than a dandified vulture.

You know as well as I do that we can't have Arab desperadoes running around kidnapping American citizens. If I had my way, I'd go in there with a couple of Winchesters, a battalion of Marines - but, I can't do that, can I?

Thanks, John Milius, a perfect movie for this weekend.

Dont Tread On Me !

Tonight after work my wife and I walked through the "street fair" at Vogal Park that is part of the Pear Blossom Festival and at the Republican booth had the above flag for sale for $12.99. What with the political climate in this country and the fight against the Somali Pirates I was tempted to buy one. I resisted the temptation and will post this picture on my blog instead. At another booth I did buy for $10.00 a great metal sign which has a picture of John Wayne from "The Searchers" that looks great in our movie room. (See Below)

Pear Blossom Weekend

This is the weekend of the Pear Blossom Festival in Medford, Oregon. The Parade and Running events will be tomorrow. . The street fair is opening today at 3 PM and will be open all day on Saturday only one block from my office in downtown Medford. On the way in to work this morning I saw them setting up for it in Vogal Park. I may go over there after work and get dinner on the way home. We will come back to the office on Saturday to watch the parade unless it is raining very hard. Though the years we have watched the parade in 80 degree temperatures and in other years in pouring rain. I am getting to old to stand out in the pouring rain for anything other than an Oregon Duck football game.I do enjoy these community events although it was more fun when the kids were living at home and sometimes marching in the parade or running in the various runs. They have a "fun run" and a longer one for real runners. Portland has their Rose Festival, New Orleans has Marti Gras, Ashland has the 4th of July Parade and Medford has the Pear Blossom Festival.

The Pear Blossom Festival was started to celebrate the pear orchards that surround Medford and were a major industry . Unfortunately the orchards have lost their importance but the Pear Blossom Festival is still going strong as an event the unites the community. In times like this that is comforting.

You know you’re an Oregonian when :

You weep during both Pre movies, the rising-tide scene in “Sometimes a Great Notion” and on high-pollen days.

You find yourself defending the socially redeeming value of “Animal House.”

You remember where you were on Columbus Day 1962.

You’ve sat through a rainy Civil War football game while wearing a Glad trash bag.

You know the significance of 0-0.

To read the rest of Bob Welch's column in the Eugene Register Guard click on the title for a link.

Register Guard Story on Havercroft

UPDATE to post below. Click on the title above for a link to the Register Guard news story on Jeanne Havercroft.

The greatest Duck fan of them all is gone.

“Absolutely the biggest Duck fan I ever met,” said Yvonne O’Herron, who is now the “lone survivor” among active Daisy Duck members who helped start the University of Oregon athletics booster group in 1972.

O’Herron was talking about Jeanne Leilani Havercroft, who died Tuesday of cancer at Eugene’s Valley West Health Cancer Center. Havercroft was 72.

Sad day for Oregon Ducks

Long time University of Oregon Duck booster "Jeanne Hovercraft, 72, died on Tuesday, and a mass e-mail went out a few minutes later informing the boosters at the University of Oregon and her former co-workers at the American Cancer Society." Jeanne was always a fixture at Oregon games and she will be missed. Below is a picture of Jeanne from a fund raising event for the Ducks. Click on the title for a link to John Canzano's column about Jeanne in today's Oregonian. Jeanne became famous for taking her deceased husbands ashes to Oregon Bowl games and spreading the ashes on the football field. To quote Canzano:

Jeanne told me she'd placed Bob's ashes on the field at Autzen Stadium and the hardwood at Mac Court. During the postseason, she enlisted help from the sideline chain crew, the local media and school officials to help spread Bob, too. There was a Rose Bowl, a Cotton Bowl, a Las Vegas Bowl, a Fiesta Bowl, a couple of Holiday Bowls, and two Sun Bowls.

I can still see in my mind Jeanne waving that Oregon Duck Flag she would bring to Oregon football games.

GO DUCKS!

Yeah, that's the trick

"President Obama's Spring Apologies Tour" aka His Trip to Europe

Ralph Peters in The New York Post:

Obama means well. Just as Jimmy Carter, his policy godfather, meant well. But the road to embassy takeovers and strategic humiliation is paved with good intentions -- coupled with distressing naivete.

On every stage, Obama draped Lady Liberty in sackcloth and ashes, drawing plentiful applause but no serious economic or security cooperation in return.

*********

He told the Europeans that the global economic crisis is all our fault. No mention of European greed, overleveraged governments, destructive Euro-loans or Chinese currency manipulation. We did it. Whip us, please.

In return, the Europeans gave him . . . nothing.

********

And Obama's disdainful remarks about President Bush were just shabby.

After those overpriced tour T-shirts have shrunk in the wash (trust me -- they will), what will we have gained from Obama's superstar act?

********

I believe that our president wants to do the right thing. But he doesn't have a clue how. For now, he's enraptured by the applause. But he hasn't tried to charge his fans for their tickets. And they've already made up their minds they won't have to pay.

To read the rest click on the title for a link. The author has some particularly good point about Obama's trip to Turkey.

UPDATE:

Now, Charles Krauthammer's take on Obama's "Spring Apologies Tour"

To various degrees of directness or obliqueness, he held America guilty for a range of offenses, a partial list of which includes arrogance, having caused the financial crisis, torture, genocide, racism, Hiroshima — he didn't even leave that one out — Guantanamo, of course, an insufficient respect for the Muslim world.



And as we say, what did he get in return? On Afghanistan troops, nothing. On stimulus in Europe, nothing. And on Guantanamo, what did he get? The French offered to take one prisoner. Now, you'd think that is an attempt at Gallic humor. It was a serious offer. I guess the guy that comes out of Guantanamo will have to leave his swim buddy behind.

U.S. Crew Regains Control of Ship from Pirates!

"Prepare to repel all boarders!" "Only one thing to do with pirates is to catch them and hang them from the yardarms!" "We have not yet begun to fight!" "Don't give up the ship!" ..........Love talk like that.

The United States crew member probably figured unless they took action into their own hands and took control of the ship from the pirates they were in for a looooooong wait what with Barack Obama as President of the United States. They remember Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Embassy staff in Iran who were held for 444 days or until Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. 2009 is not a good time to be an American hostage.

The Reconstruction and Restoration of the John Wayne Movie "The Alamo"

"THE ALAMO is the greatest picture I've ever seen. It will last forever, run forever, for all peoples, all families everywhere."

- Legendary Director, John Ford, 1960.

In 1960 John Wayne produced, directed and stared in this movie. It is his heartfelt statement on America and American ideals. He mortgaged everything he owned to make this movie and the actual original film is disintegrating as you read this. There is a major effort to restore the film including the 192 minute "Roadshow" version of the film which was latter cut down to 161 minutes for commercial reason. I have the 192 minute version on VHS but the only version released on DVD is the 161 minutes version which I also own. However,the film for BOTH versions are now turning into "vinegar" because the life of the original film is at an end. As a result there is a major effort going on to restore the film. To learn more click on the title for a link.

I love this movie!

A "washed up" politician speaks from his "wilderness years"

A disliked, washed up, politician who left office in disgrace and who writes historical books. A politician who is even distrusted within his own political party. No... not Winston Churchill in the 1930's, I am writing about former Speaker of the House,Newt Gingrich! In an interview with the Politico this week he said:

The U.S. is at greater risk of terrorist attack because of the Obama
administration's actions, Newt Gingrich said Monday.

In a chat with POLITICO readers, Gingrich also called the administration’s response to the North Korean missile launch a “vivid demonstration of weakness in foreign policy.” He said Obama’s proposals for a resumption of nuclear arms limitation talks reflected “a dangerous fantasy that runs an enormous risk. ... Not since Jimmy Carter have we had an administration this out of touch with reality.”

“Dick Cheney is clearly right in saying that between the court decisions about terrorists and the administration actions, the United States is running greater risks of getting attacked than we were under President Bush,” said the former speaker of the House and Georgia congressman.

To read the rest click on the title for a link.

Will Newt ever be called back to power by his country in a time of crisis?

Charles Krauthammer's Take on Obama's Trip to Europe

Posted by the staff of National Review Online:

From Charles Krauthammer on Friday’s “Special Report.”on FOX NEWS:

On Obama’s European tour:

Where does one begin? Obama says in America there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world.



Maybe that's because when there was a civil war in Europe's doorstep in the Balkans and genocide it didn't lift a finger until America led.



Maybe it's because there was an invasion in Kuwait it didn't lift a finger until America led.



Maybe it's because with America spending over half a trillion a year keeping over the sea lanes and defending the world, Europe is spending pennies on defense.



It's hard to appreciate an entity's leading role in the world when it's been sucking on your tit for 60 years as Europe has with regard to the United States, parasitically….



And then he (Obama)goes on and calls America arrogant, dismissive, and derisive regarding Europe. "The London Telegraph," a correspondent in Strasburg, said this was the most critical remarks he had ever seen a president give on foreign soil, and I think he's right.



When Kennedy arrived in Paris, he did not attack Eisenhower and the United States. When Obama's elected president, he is president of all of the United States, including Americans who opposed him, and he owns American history, including a past he may not have wanted to engage in.



I think what he did is, in order to gain the adoration of the crowd, he denigrated his country in a way that I think is disgraceful.

And the Democracies did nothing & "doom martches on"!

******In 1936 Hitler and Germany rearmed in violation of the Versailles Treaty without active interference by the Democracies.The League of Nations did nothing! Winston Churchill in his book "The Gathering Storm" wrote:

Great Britain and all Europe and ... America were faced with the organised might and will-to-war of seventy millions of the most efficient race in Europe, longing to regain their national glory and driven ... by a merciless military, social and party regime.....There was perhaps , still time for an assertion of collective security ... to enforce the decisions of the League of Nations by the sword. .... Virtuous motives, trammelled by inertia and timidity, are no match for armed and resolute wickedness. A sincere love of peace is no excuse for muddling hundreds of millions of humble folk into total war. The cheers of weak, well-meaning assemblies soon cease to echo, and their votes soon cease to count.
Doom marches on.

In 2009 North Korea launched a long range missile over Japan in violation of United Nations Resolutions and the Democracies will do nothing. The United Nations will pass meaningless resolutions that will "cease to count." Soon Iran will test a nuclear weapon and the United Nations will pass more meaningless resolutions that will also "cease to count." North Korea will sell their missile technology to Iran and the Democracies will do nothing. Soon the cities of the Democracies will be subject to the nuclear blackmail of Iran. Israel sees this coming and knows what their fate will be when the Democracies are blackmailed by a nuclear armed Iran. "A sincere love of peace is no excuse for muddling hundreds of millions of humble folk into" nuclear blackmail or worse a nuclear attack by a group aided by a terrorist state.

Yes, "doom marches on." We have learned nothing!


UPDATE: From The Politico

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told “Fox News Sunday” that he would have disabled the long-range missile before North Korea launched it, saying too many people “do not appreciate the scale of the threat that is evolving on the planet.”

“One morning, just like 9/11, there’s going to be a disaster,” Gingrich said. “I have yet to see the United Nations do anything effective with either Iran or North Korea.”

Click on the title to read more from The Politico article

Mike Dunlap

Click on the title for a link to a New York Times sports story on Mike Dunlap the University of Oregon's new "Associated Head Basketball Coach". If he stays this could be a great hire by the Ducks. Here is more info on Dunlap from the Oregon AD's web site

Mike Dunlap joined the University of Oregon staff as the associate head coach on April 1, 2009. Dunlap was most recently the associate head coach at the University of Arizona.

Arizona went 21-14 overall in 2008-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 before ending the season with a loss to top-seed Louisville in the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Dunlap entered the NCAA Division I ranks after spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the National Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets. While working under head coach George Karl, the Nuggets compiled a 95-69 (.579) record and made two playoff appearances. The 2007-08 club won 50 games, a first for the organization in 23 seasons.

Prior to joining the Nuggets, Dunlap, a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year and winner of two national championships, was the head coach at Metropolitan State College, for nine seasons. In his nine years at the Denver, Colo., school, Dunlap posted a 248-50 (.832) record.

During his tenure, Dunlap built the Roadrunners into a nationally prominent program. With national championships in 1999-2000 and 2001-02 and nine consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, Dunlap quickly became Metro State's all-time winningest basketball coach.

In May 2006, he was a court coach for the Under-18 National Team trials for USA Basketball. He also was a court coach at the 2005 USA Men's Under-22 National Team trials.

In 2003-04, Dunlap led Metro State to a school-record 30 consecutive victories, including a perfect 19-0 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play. It was the first time an RMAC team went undefeated in league play since Fort Hays State did it in 1995-96. The Roadrunners led the nation in margin of victory (28.1 points) and were third in scoring offense (93.4 ppg).

Metro State won its second national championship in 2001-02, defeating Kentucky Wesleyan, 80-72. Dunlap was named the NABC and the Bulletin Division II Coach of the Year. The squad posted a 29-6 record and finished second in the RMAC, but after a loss in the RMAC Tournament, the Roadrunners won six straight games to win the national title.

Dunlap's first national championship came in 1999-2000, also a win over Kentucky Wesleyan, 97-79. The Roadrunners tied for the RMAC regular-season championship, won the RMAC Tournament title and went 33-4 after winning their final 12 contests. The 33 wins is a school record and Dunlap was honored as the NABC National Coach of the Year and the RMAC Coach of the Year.

Prior to his tenure at Metro State, Dunlap served three seasons as the head coach of the Adelaide 36ers, a professional team in Australia. The 36ers posted a 59-33 (.641) record during his tenure and advanced to the National Basketball League Final Four in 1995 and 1996.

Before arriving in Australia, Dunlap served five years as head coach at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He led his 1992, 1993 and 1994 teams to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) titles and appearances in the NCAA Division III National Championship. The Kingsmen also advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1992 and 1994. The Kodak District Coach of the Year in 1994, Dunlap was 80-54 (.597) in his five seasons, and his 1993-94 team was ranked No. 1 for two weeks during the season.

Dunlap also served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California under George Raveling, as an assistant coach at the University of Iowa and he spent five years at Loyola Marymount University.

Dunlap, who prides himself in teaching the game of basketball, has had several articles published nationally, including Shooting: The Simple Approach (1990), The Free Throw (1990), Let Your Feet Do the Talking (1989), Motion Offense (1987) and Basic Framework for Achieving Academic Eligibility for Your Players (1987).

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Dunlap earned as associate of arts degree in science from Pierce College in 1978, before earning a bachelor's degree in English from Loyola Marymount University in 1980. An avid runner, Dunlap has a 100-mile race to his credit.

Dunlap and his wife, Mollie, have three children, Holt, Spencer and Ellie.

Maybe the Joke is on Ernie

Dwight Jaynes on his blog (Click on title for a link) thinks that the hiring of Mike Dunlap as an assistant basketball coach to Ernie Kent "was just too good of an idea for Ernie Kent to have thought of it" and that he may have just "hired his own successor." Will Ernie spend next season looking over his shoulder? Maybe the Joke was on Ernie! If the team plays next season, like the last, it will be more fun watching the bench! Besides who wants to watch three of the team members who allegedly spend some of their time shooting real ducks with bb guns. OUTRAGEOUS if true!

Ernie Kent Stays (This is NOT an April 1st Joke)

No, the joke is on us! Actually the bottom line is AD Pat Kilkenny, in a bad economy, could not afford to pay off Kent's contract and then hire a new coach. A good basketball coach would have cost the University of Oregon Athletic Department millions of dollars. Like millions of Americans in today's economy the Ducks will have to do with what we have! Go Ducks!

UPDATE: It appears that as a condition of staying on for another year Ernie had to hire former Arizona Assistant coach, Mike Dunlap, as an assistant coach to cover for Ernie's deficiencies as a game day coach.According to Dwight Jaynes blog (former sports reporter and columnist for the Oregonian and Portland Tribune):

Sounds kind of like one of those “head-coach-in-waiting” situations, doesn’t it? But Oregon wouldn’t do something like that, would it, Mike Bellotti?

What with Ernie Kent's oversizes ego this could be an explosive situation for Dunlap !

UPDATE 2

Click on the title above for John Canzano's take on bringing in Dunlap. I hope he is right.I wonder if Dunlap talked to Fred Litzenberger before he took to job. Litzenberger was an assistant that Ernie ran off.

UPDATE 3

Gary Parish of CBS Sports reports:

but sources told CBSSports.com that the job was Few's if he wanted it. In other words, had Few told Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny that he would leave Gonzaga for Oregon, Kilkenny would've fired Kent and hired Few. As it is, Few made it clear that he was only interested in staying at Gonzaga or possibly moving to Arizona, so Oregon announced on Wednesday that it's retaining Kent, who really owes Few in a big way.

Thirty percent of his salary sounds about right.