Two Brothers and the Rose Bowl

THE OLDER BROTHER

Ryan Leaf was born in Great Falls, Montana, and led his high school to the 1992 Montana state title. After high school, Leaf played college football at Washington State University, playing in 32 games for the Cougars and starting 24 of them. He averaged 330.6 yards passing per game in his junior year and threw for a then-Pac-10 conference record 33 touchdowns. He also helped the Cougars defeat the University of Washington Huskies, 41-35, for the first time since 1994. Leaf ended the school's 67-year Rose Bowl drought and helped bring the Cougars their first Pac-10 championship in school history. Despite a strong early showing by Leaf in the Rose Bowl, the Cougars were defeated 21-16 by eventual co-national champion Michigan Wolverines.

That year, Leaf was a finalist in balloting for the Heisman Trophy.

Following the Rose Bowl, Leaf announced that he would forgo his senior year at Washington State and turn professional.Ryan Leaf was selected second in the first round of the NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Lief was a disaster in the NFL and drifted to several teams before he was retired for good. The sports network ESPN listed Leaf first on their list of the 25 Biggest Sports Flops between 1979 and 2004.[29] MSNBC commentator Michael Ventre went so far as to call Leaf "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports."The sports network ESPN listed Leaf first on their list of the 25 Biggest Sports Flops between 1979 and 2004.[29] MSNBC commentator Michael Ventre went so far as to call Leaf "the biggest bust in the history of professional sports."(From Wikipedia the free Internet encyclopedia.)

To say the least Ryan had a volatile personality

THE YOUNGER BROTHER

Brady Leaf the younger brother of Ryan was also a star high school QB in Montana who was recruited by colleges to play football at the next level. In order to be his own person and get out of his older brothers shadow he chose the University of Oregon Ducks for his college career over the Washington State Cougars. However, he ended up being being in the shadow and a back up to another talented QB, Heisman candidate, Dennis Dixon. Now Dennis Dixon has gone down with an ACL injury to his knee and and his college career has ended. The University of Oregon Ducks with two regular season games left are still in the hunt of a Pac 10 title and the Rose Bowl. In a large part Brady Leaf will shoulder the responsibility of that quest. I have watched Brady, look very good as a QB and also look very bad. I will not forget the night in the Holiday Bowl in 2005 when he combined to complete 26 of 41 passes (63.4%) for 246 yards and two touchdown to almost bring Oregon back back against Oklahoma. In several spring games he has appeared to be superior to Dennis Dixon. While Dixon is a fast QB who is suited for the "spread offense " Brady is more the drop back QB. He injured his ankle in the Arizona game last week and it was very difficult for him to run and he became very immobile. How serious is his ankle? I don't think we will know for sure until the UCLA game in the Rose Bowl on Saturday. If I were writing a script for a movie, Brady in this his final year of college football, would escape the shadow of both his brother and Dennis Dixon by leading the Ducks to a victory in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day 2008. He would start out slowly and help the Ducks beat UCLA next Saturday in the Rose Bowl where UCLA plays their home games.He would would then return home to Autzen Stadium in Eugene to lead the Ducks to a big victory against the Oregon State Beavers in the "Civil War "game. Oregon would then win the Pac -10 title with a little help form USC on Thanksgiving night and would return to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day and defeat Ohio State for Oregon's first win in the Rose Bowl in my lifetime. Now that would be a Dream Season. It could happen. Go Ducks Win the Day. Beat UCLA

The Optimist

Last Friday speaking to the Federalist Society's Annual National Lawyers Conference Rudy Giuliani said the following:

"I get very, very frustrated when I . . . hear certain Americans talk about how difficult the problems we face are, how overwhelming they are, what a dangerous era we live in. I think we've lost perspective. We've always had difficult problems, we've always had great challenges, and we've always lived in danger.

Do we think our parents and our grandparents and our great grandparents didn't live in danger and didn't have difficult problems? Do we think the Second World War was less difficult that our struggle with Islamic terrorism? Do we think that the Great Depression was a less difficult economic struggle for people to face than the struggles we're facing now? Have we entirely lost perspective of the great challenges America has faced in the past and has been able to overcome and overcome brilliantly? I think sometimes we have lost that perspective.

Do you know what leadership is all about? Leadership is all about restoring that perspective that this country is truly an exceptional country that has great things that it is going to accomplish in the future that will be as great and maybe even greater than the ones we've accomplished in the past. If we can't do that, shame on us...

Every single problem that I solved in New York City that people thought were impossible to solve, I solved it because I'm an optimist, because I refuse to accept defeat, because I refuse to accept that intelligent people with the kind of advantages we've been given can't solve any problem that we're faced with.

Dixon finalist for Maxwell and Davey O'Brien QB Award

Injured Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon is one of three finalists for the Maxwell Award as college football’s best all-around player and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Those are two of the awards handed out at ESPN’s college football awards show on Dec. 6, and the network released the list of finalists for all of them today.

Congratulations Dennis!

Duck Cross Country Team wins NCAA Title

The University of Oregon men’s cross country team won the NCAA title Monday in Terre Haute, Ind.

The Ducks were led by the second-place finish of Galen Rupp in capturing their first team since 1977. They Ducks had 85 points, besting Iona, which had 113, followed by Oklahoma State.


Congratulations Ducks . "Track Town" USA is back in Eugene, Oregon. The "Whole World is Watching" this summer for the United State Olympic Trials at Hayward Field.

Rose Bowl and Heisman for Dennis Dixon!

There is a picture of Dennis Dixon in the Eugene Register Guard with Dennis sitting on the sidelines after he went down for the last time in his college career in the Arizona game last Thursday night. Tears are running down his cheeks and it breaks my heart. I chose to use the above picture because it is the way I want to remember him as a Duck! It's been three day and I still can't get over that his college career is over.

I may be biased but if I were a Heisman voter he would get my vote and I have heard similar comments from some of the commentators over at ESPN. (see Ivan Maisel's comments at ESPN by clicking on the title)I remember turning to my wife during the Michigan game and said I can't believe what I am seeing. His performance on the field was a thing of beauty and artistry that I have not seen in football in a long time. ( Gail Sayers comes to mind) The way he could fake out me and everyone else including the TV camera man with his hand offs was a gift. The "Statue of Liberty" play!!!! I loved thay play!!!

I know it's trite but the Oregon team should dedicate the balance of this season to Dennis so he and the team can go to the Rose Bowl. I don't know about you but I would put Dennis in for at least one play as the guy deserves a Rose Bowl Ring.If the team can't be motivated by that, nothing can motivate them. I suspect they are already motivated to to get rid of that sick feeling we all feel in the pit of our stomachs on UCLA, Oregon State and whoever we meet in the Rose Bowl. I can't wait till Saturday and the UCLA game.

It just can't end with that picture in the Eugene Register Guard!

Let's beat UCLA and win the day. Let's Go Ducks!

Movie: "Redacted" by Director BRIAN DE PALMA & paid for by MARK CUBAN

The following is a transcript of a movie review of the movie "Redacted" by movie reviewer Michael Medved

MEDVED: ... I am actually one of the few people in the country who has seen the new movie. It is called "Redacted" ... And let me just tell you, before I go to actually reviewing it: It could be the worst movie I've ever seen. I mean, the out and out worst, most disgusting, most hateful, most incompetent, most revolting, most loathsome, most reprehensible cinematic work I have ever encountered. This is having reviewing movies for more than 25 years. [It] covers a lot of disgusting ground, but none more disgusting than 'Redacted,' which portrays the Marine Corps, one of the finest organizations ever assembled by human beings, portrays the U.S. Marine Corps, as corrupt, vicious, racist killers and rapists ... (snip) ...

It portrays the members of our Marine Corps in the most disgusting way imaginable. They hang out in barracks, drunk or stoned, with Confederate flags all over the place. And the head Marine, who is the leading rapist and murderer, is a big fat guy, I mean, hugely out of shape, right - just the typical Marine (sarcastic) - Marines tend not to look like that - big fat guy, overhanging belly, cigar-chomping, loud-mouthed, sort of fair-complexion. His name is Rush. Nothing in movies is an accident. They're clearly trying to indict and smear Rush Limbaugh by saying that secretly he wants to rape and abuse 14-year old girls and murder them and then burn their bodies ... (snip) ...

The film is atrociously acted. It's incredibly badly done ... (snip) ...

Look, I never say this. I don't believe in boycotts. I don't. But I actually think Bill O'Reilly, I know has been going on about this movie even though he hasn't seen it. O.K. I've now seen it. Bill, Bill - hey. It's worse than you think.

This film is an atrocity. It is zero stars as far as I'm concerned. It's very much Rated R. I honestly was close to vomiting when I saw the film. I have seen a lot of unspeakable garbage in years and years of reviewing movies. Nothing quite like this. It is a slander on the United States of America. It is a slander on the Marine Corps. It is a slander on our troops. Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, paid for this entirely. Now he elsewhere has given money to support the troops. I know he has. He ought to be ashamed. Everyone associated with this film ought to be ashamed. I will never see a Brian De Palma film in the same way again. This is a veteran Hollywood director. What is he trying to do with this kind of thing? Will it inspire future terrorists? Of course it will! Because it portrays the United States troops in Iraq as sick, murderous, deviant losers.

I am censoring myself from saying what I really think....DISGUSTING!!!

"They wouldn't be the Ducks if they didn't break my heart"

The above quote is from a Duck forum and is so true! Oregon Fans it's time to lighten it up. At times like this I remember a speech made by Bluto (John Belushi) in the film made at the University of Oregon..... "Animal House" which I have made a few changes, to fit the situation:

"What did you say it's over? NOTHING'S over till we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl harbor? Hell, No! And it ain't over now. When the going get tough the tough get going. Who's with me? Let Go!

What the f*** happened to the Oregon Ducks I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where is the guts? Stewart are you with me? Lief... up big fella! Let's go go go! Everyone ... follow me!

You pus***s.

This could be the greatest season of our lives and you're gonna let it be the worst. Oh, we're afraid to go with you , we could lose. Well you can just kiss my a**. From now on. Not me! I'm not taking this! UCLA... their defeated! Oregon State... their defeated! Bowl opponent... defeated! WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THESE BAST***s. And we're just the Ducks to do it! Let's do it! Lets Go Ducks!

I ordered my Rose Bowl Tickets tonight!!!!

Hear Hear Dennis Dixon !

Denis Dixon's college career is over. He will not play in another Oregon college football game and that includes a bowl game. At a press conference this after noon Coach Mike Bellotti said that in the Arizona State University game almost two weeks ago he "completely tore the ACL in his left knee." He, Dixon, made the decision to keep the news from the public and his own team mates and led the Ducks to a touch down against the University of Arizona last night before he went down for the last time.. He is a true warrior. As Teddy Roosevelt said:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Before he went down he and Johnathan Stewart working together were a thing of beauty this season. They gave us an exhibition in football that will be remembered by all Duck fans and will be part of the lore of Duck football which will be celebrated for a long time. His games against Michigan, U$C and Arizona State will not be forgotten. Thanks for the memories .... you deserved a better ending !

For more information on Dixon click on the title for a link to the Register Guard blog.

Too Bad

Oregon lost to Arizona after QB Dennis Dixon was injured in the first quarter. Time to get ready for UCLA . Still playing for the Rose Bowl.... if Dixon can come back against UCLA. Without Dixon Oregon will be lucky to win one of it's last two games. Coach Bellotti in the post game show thinks QB Dixon is done for the year! Could he come back for a Bowl any Bowl? In the event Oregon can beat both UCLA and Oregon State and ASU loses to U$C there would be a three way tie for the Pac-10 title and Oregon who beat both U$C and ASU would go. How much fun would the Rose Bowl be without QB Dennis Dixon?

We Oregon fans owe a big thanks to Dennis Dixon for a great run this season. You made Duck Football oh so much fun.

BIG GAME TODAY!

This today from John Canzano's column in the Oregonian:

When you talk about college football, you use words like emotion, passion, and perseverance, forgetting that they also belong to you. And you invest income, and family time, and schedule your lives around game day.

You arrive early. You leave late. And when you can't be there, you shout at your television, because what happens feels like it belongs to you, too.

John Canzano can write a column that makes me so mad I vow to never read him again. Then, as in today's column, he can write something that is very touching. To read his entire column click on the title above for a link.



OREGON DUCKS....WIN THE DAY!

Oregon Ducks vs Arizona Wildcats in a football "shoot out"

A little more than 24 hours to kick off! This is the most important game of the season. The nation will be watching on ESPN tomorrow night. Ducks need to concentrate and get ready for this tough game in Tuscon. It should be a real western shootout in an old western town. "Old Tuscon Studios" an old western town made for movies and also a theme park , where John Wayne made Rio Bravo, and other westerns is right next door. Go Ducks Win the Day

"Beaver Nation" third world country?

In today's Oregonian, Oregon State University Athletic Director Bob De Carolis is quoted as saying this about Oregon State fans after a bad call in last weeks Oregon State game with the University of Washington.

"God forbid if we had lost," De Carolis said. "I had about 30 people use the same words with me. They said we would have had a riot on our hands. It would have been like a soccer game in some third-world country. That's how dangerous it could have been with the night, the alcohol, and the total frustration with the mismanagement of the game."

Bob De Carolis is sounding like the President of the University of Oklahoma David Boren after Oklahoma lost to Oregon.

Go Ducks beat Arizona.... Win the Day!

Dennis Dixon for Heisman !

Time to lighten it up. Check out a cute video on You Tube about a baby learning to talk and his first words. Click on the title above for a link. Go Ducks Win the Day!

Ducks are # 2 in the BCS

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Arizona Thursday on ESPN. Go Ducks.... Win the Day!

Vetrans Day 2007

THANKS FROM A GRATEFUL NATION.

Birthday Weekend

This weekend we planed on traveling to Portland to visit my sister for a milestone birthday. However, my wife came down with a bad cold so we decided I would drive to Portland without her. As much as I missed not having her accompany me it was an opportunity to play my new Time/Life CD compilation of Rock music called "Flower Power" in the car as loud as I wanted. A great collection of music from about 1965 to 1972. I watched ESPN GameDay TV, Saturday morning, before I left and listened to the music from Medford to Eugene. I stopped at Best Buy in Springfield and looked at DVD's and then tuned the car radio to ESPN radio GameDay from Eugene to Portland. Just as I got into Portland it was announced Ohio State had lost meaning Oregon would probably move up to 2nd in the BCS college football standings. I called my wife and then our son on my cell phone with the good news. I then went to my sister's house and we visited for a while and I showed her our pictures of our trip to Europe. I have put in three scarp books. I then got a call from our daughter who had just heard the news about the Ohio State upset. On the way into Portland I stopped at a Safeway to get my sister a birthday cake. I then took her out to a restaurant near Clackimas Town Center Mall for a nice meal. We then went to the mall and spent some time at a Barnes & Noble bookstore. While there I found a CD with the soundtrack of the 1963 movie "How the West Was Won" I originally bought the record of the Soundtrack of the movie in 1963 (I still have it) and the tape cassette of it in the 1990's. However, until last night I was unable to find it in CD. Unfortunately, this soundtrack unlike the cassette tape does not have the voice over narration of Spencer Tracey. After shopping we went back to my sister house for cake and then she went to bed while I used her computer to check on football scores. This morning we had a nice breakfast and I said goodbye. It was nice seeing her again. She has recently repainted her living room and dinning room and they looked very nice. I stopped at the outlet shops in Woodburn on the way home. There were a lot of Oregon State Beavers and Washington Huskies there . Both teams played last night in Corvallis. The Beavs won. When I got to Eugene I stopped by Borders Books at the Oakway Mall and purchased a DVD set of "The First Churchills." This was a BBC TV series about Winston's great ancestor the Duke of Marlborough who Winston idolized.
From Eugene to Medford I listened to my new CD set of the Soundtrack to "How the West was Won". When I got home and was talking about my trip with my wife they announced on TV that the Ducks were #2 in the BCS. A good Weekend and Happy Birthday Sister..

OREGON DUCKS 2nd in the BCS

That's right, the Oregon Ducks had a bye this week and moved from 3rd to 2nd in the BCS college football standings based upon the loss of Ohio State to Illinois. Oregon will play Arizona in Tuscon on Thursday night and the game will be broadcast nationwide on ESPN. This season has now become a CRUSADE for the DUCKs. We MUST beat Arizona or all of this dream season will disappear into thin air. One game at a time Beat Arizona .... Win the Day!

Oregon "O" Line on the Jim Rome Radio Show

Click on the title for a link to an interview of Jeff Kendal on the Jim Rome Radio Show as posted on you tube. After listening to it I am pumped up..... Lets Go Ducks!

Friday Night Lights... (UPDATE) South Medford Wins 42 to 19

Tonight my wife and I will be at the Oregon state 6A high school playoff football game between the South Medford Panthers and the Barlow Bruins here in Medford at Spiegelberg Stadium. Go South. The following is the Oregonians preview of the game

This first-round game will feature a contrast in styles. Barlow is run-first and, at times, run-only. No. 8 South Medford boasts one of the top passing offenses in the state. Both schools' losses were to playoff teams. The Bruins, the Mt. Hood Conference No. 4 seed, are led by workhorse Malcolm Johnson, who ran for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns last week during a 41-17 win over Reynolds. The junior scored on runs of five, 36, 65, 44 and 19 yards. Johnson leads the state this season with 2,299 yards rushing for 21 touchdowns. "He is the real deal," South Medford coach Bill Singler said. "They are physical and happy gaining four or five yards a pop. If they break one then that is just icing on the cake. Either way they are controlling the clock and keeping the other offense off the field." South Medford, the Southwest Conference runner-up, has won four in a row and recently has shown offensive balance. Running back Patrick Thibeault ran for 228 yards and a touchdown last week in a 21-12 win over North Medford. The junior has rushed for more than 600 yards in the last four games and provides a counterpoint to quarterback A.J. Palazzolo, who is second in the state in passing with 2,348 yards and has 21 touchdowns and a 63 percent completion rate. Receiver Mitch Singler caught seven passes for 167 yards against North Medford. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder has caught at least one touchdown and gained 100 yards receiving in every game this season. He leads the state in receiving yardage with 1,094 yards and 14 touchdowns on 53 receptions. Cousin E.J. Singler also has 53 receptions for 816 yards and six touchdowns.

The teams regular schedule records are as follows:


SOUTH MEDFORD HIGH PANTHERS(7-2)


9/07 Summit 48 - 15(W)

9/14 at Tualatin 38 - 41 (L) OT

9/21 Sunset 28 - 21 (W)

9/28 at Wilson 28 - 14 (W)

10/05 Sheldon 13 - 34 (L)

10/12 at South Eugene 26 - 14 (W)

10/19 Grants Pass 44 - 22 (W)

10/26 at Roseburg 28 - 21 (W)

11/02 North Medford 21 - 12 (W)

11/09 Barlow 7 p.m. (playoff game 11/9/07)


BARLOW BRUINS (5-5)


8/31 Oregon City 21 - 14 (W)

9/07 at West Salem 0 - 42 (L)

9/14 Clackamas 24 - 55 (L)

9/21 at Sandy 52 - 18 (W)

9/28 Central Catholic 10 - 16 (L)

10/05 David Douglas 34 - 35 (L)

10/11 at Hood River Valley 20 - 7 (W)

10/19 at Gresham 24 - 7 (W)

10/26 Centennial 15 - 43 (L)

11/02 at Reynolds 41 - 17 (W)

11/09 at South Medford 7 p.m.

UPDATE

South Medford spotted Barlow 13 points in the 1st quarter before they woke up and took over the game. Barlow ran the ball much of the game and gained a lot of yardage. South scored quickly with a passing game that Barlow could not defend. South Medford now moves to the second round of the Oregon State 6A football playoffs and will travel next weekend to Tualatin a suberb of Portland.
Earlier in the season South Medford lost to Tualatin in overtime in their second game.

Important games for the Ducks this weekend

The Oregon Duck football team has a "bye" this weekend but there are a lot of important games that could help the Duck in the Rose Bowl and or National Championship quest. So get out that TV tuner and have a fun weekend watching college football. The Games are as follows and all times are PST in the order of their starting time on Saturday.

Michigan at Wisconsin 9:00 a.m. ESPN

Oregon beat Michigan so Oregon wants Michigan to win to strengthen our strength of schedule in the BCS ratings

Texas A&M at Missouri 9:30 a.m. FSN

Missouri is three teams below Oregon in the BCS at # 6 so we want Texas A&M to win.

Houston at Tulsa 12:00 p.m. (No TV)

Oregon beat Houston so Oregon wants Houston to win to strengthen our strength of schedule in the BCS ratings

Illinois at Ohio State 12:30 p.m. ABC

Ohio State is #1 in the BCS ratings so Oregon at #3 wants Illinois to win. Not likely, but could happen

Arizona State at UCLA 12:30 p.m. ABC

Oregon and Arizona State are tied on top of the Pac-10 standings but Oregon has the tie breaker due to our victory over ASU last weekend. UCLA is right behind Oregon and ASU so this is a hard one to pick but Oregon will play UCLA next in Pasadena so I will hope Arizona State wins. I also think ASU will lose to U$C so again it helps Oregon a little for Arizona State to win this game.

Stanford at Washington State 3:30 p.m. FSNW

Two bottom of the Pac-10 teams. This game has little effect on the Ducks. I like Washington State over the "rich kids" as Stanford. There ought to be some joy to those who have to live in Pullman, Washington other than drinking beer. The kids at Stanford have already gotten the brass ring of life. Am I sounding like a Democrat?

Kansas at Oklahoma State 5:00 p.m. ABC

Kansas is right below Oregon in the BCS standings at #4 and is undefeated. They could leap over Oregon in the BCS so Oregon wants Oklahoma State to win.

USC at California 5:00 p.m. ABC

There is a division of opinion on this one. Since Oregon beat U$C it helps our strength of schedule on the computer portion of the BCS calculation if U$C wins. Oregon lost to Cal so a Cal win could help with the real people who vote in the poll portion of the BCS calculations.I want Cal to win because I want to keep U$C out of the Rose Bowl and a loss here would give them 3 losses.

Louisiana Tech at LSU 5:00 p.m. ESPN

LSU is #2 in the BCS just ahead of Oregon at # 3 so this is a no brainier Ducks are for Louisiana Tech to win. Unlikely as that may be.

Washington at Oregon State 7:15 p.m. FSN

Can we hope that both teams lose? Oregon has already beat Washington and Washington is #9 in the Pac 10 standings and OSU is #6 so my vote goes to Washington as the lesser of two evils. Sorry Beaver friends.

Fresno State at Hawaii 8:00 p.m. ESPN2

Oregon beat Fresno State so it helps Oregon's strength of schedule if they win over #16 BCS team Hawaii.

Happy Birthday Sister

Happy Birthday to my sister on a milestone Birthday. We will celebrate together this weekend. Good thing the Ducks have a "bye". For many years my sister has had to share her birthday with the Oregon Ducks but not this year. Yes, this is the sister who when we were kids would always fall asleep at the drive in movie theater during the second feature when we went with our parents. She still likes to go to bed early and I am still a night hawk. Happy Birthday!

John Ford & John Wayne

The Oregon Ducks football team has the day off so I thought I would post about something else. Surprise! I was cruising around the Internet today and found a wonderful essay by John Kaufman ( click on the title for a link) about my favorite movie Director John Ford and John Wayne. A few quotes from the Essay:

Between 1928 and 1962, John Ford and John Wayne made twenty pictures together Their films changed the role of the hero in American film, transformed the ways in which we saw ourselves and turned a druggist’s son from Iowa into the greatest movie star of the postwar era....

John Ford was Oscar nominated as Best Director for Stagecoach (1939) and The Long Voyage Home (1940). He won the award for The Informer (1936), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941) and The Quiet Man (1952). Ford’s four Oscars were more than has been won by any other director.

John Ford and John Wayne made films together over the course of four decades. In doing so, they wrote an important chapter of The Great American Myth. We are a young country minus the ancient tales of older lands. Films like those of John Ford have become our legends.

Just as sure as the turnin’ of the Earth.

Read the rest of the essay because it has a good summary of the 20 movies they made together.

When college football is over for the season I will have their movies to get me though the dark days of winter, AND the 2008 Presidential election..... how long till The New Hampshire Primary! How can people get bored in life there is so much going on.

PS check tomorrow because I will be listing the college football games Oregon Duck fans should care about this weekend even though the Ducks have a "Bye" on Saturday.... and about South Medford's state of Oregon, high school playoff game Friday night with Barlow here in Medford. We have our tickets!

The Oregon Duck

I know it is outdated but my favorite symbol of the Oregon Ducks is the above picture of the Duck coming out of the "O." The Oregon Athletic Department with the help of the folks at Nike have been promoting the new "O" as the symbol that they want to use to identify University of Oregon Athletics. They believe it has more universal appeal particularly to young "out of state" athletes. They also don't need to pay royalties to Disney. I like he new "O" but I still love the Duck coming out of the "O".

This year I promised myself I would just watch the Oregon football games and relax and enjoy the moment and not focus too much on winning and loosing. Ha, right!

Oregon needs to be prepared for the game at Arizona!

Arizona will play Oregon very tough next Thursday in Tuscon on ESPN TV

The following is from Bob Rickert's blog over at the Oregonian which he posted a year ago before Oregon played Arizona in Pac-10 football:

"We lost but at least we took out a couple of their quarterbacks." That's what Stoops said after Oregon used third string quarterback Brady Leaf to beat them anyway last year.....
His team ended Clemens' career last year and gloated about it. Then knocked out Dixon with a cheap shot to the head when it looked like he was sliding to protect himself.

Yes, Mike Stoops, the Arizona Wildcats coach is the brother of that guy at Oklahoma. Must run in the family.

To read the entire post over at the Oregonian web site click on the title for a link.

Oregon needs to just Win The Day!

The Dennis Dixon Watch

Click on the title above for a link to a report from a Register Guard blog on Oregon's football practice tonight ( Wednesday 11/7/07) Looking Good! To be quite frank I am very worried about the game at Arizona. This could be a trap game. The Arizona Wildcats are coming off two wins. They have a good passing QB. They will be coming after Dixon and Stewart. There coach is as wild man and he is trying to save his job. Two years ago when we went down their they took out Kellen Clemons and gave Dennis Dixon a concussion and their coach bragged about it. Oregon better be prepared for the game. Win the Day!