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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1948)
DUCK TRACKS By FRED TAYLOR Co-Sports Editor 0 A good share of the column today is devoted to a rather un pleasent subject—the questionable sportsmanship of Oregon fans at the basketball games. Now. don’t misunderstand us—we personally don’t believe that the Webfoot rooters are any worse than students of the rest of the Northern Division schools. But that doesn’t excuse the actions of the student at home games. Few people realize the amount of bad publicity the Uni versity of Oregon is receiving from the poor behavior of its students at the games. More harsh words have been written and spoken about the poor sportsmanship exhibited by Oregon fans in the past two years than about any other group of rooters. The subject is not whether Oregon’s supporters behave worse than other school’s followers; it is that they do behave badly. These are harsh words. But we feel very strongly about the whole situation, for several reasons. We Are Tired of Being Roasted One of the reasons—4s that we are getting quite tired of being berated for the Oregon students’ rough treatment of the officials at the home games. Every time we mingle with any grouP that isn’t sold on this University’s merits, abu&eisconstaotly .flung at us about the booing and strong language from the crowds at McArthur court at every ad verse decision. We would like to be complimented about our school for a change, instead of being made to feel ashamed of the place. We think Oregon is a prety good school and are proud of it but it is difficult to keep this pride under the withering fire of criticism that has been hurled in this direction lately. W e have no cJme-back to the accusations of poor sportsmanship, except the, weak, unjustified one of “Well, they were worse at Cor valiis last Saturday night.” or something on that order. As a matter of fact, Oregon State fans displayed the most terrible brand of sportsmanship we have ever witnessed, last Saturday night. But that does not excuse the Webfoot fans. It Is Poor Public Relations ' -v—This tirade against the students of this fair University has been growing for some time, but was tipped off by a letter we received yesterday from an unbiased observer—Rudy Lachen meier, sports editor of station KGW of Portland. The sports caster dropped us a line, telling of the reports he had received “time and again about the terrific uncalled-for booing—at the officials as well as opposing players.” Now Lachenmeier is in a position where he receives comment and information about all the Northern Division schools; yet Oregon has been the object of the criticism. This is extremely poor public relations. The University has a man who does nothing but act in a public relations capacity for Oregon’s athletics, but one night of poor spectator sportsmanship ruins a month’s hard labor. By this poor sportsmanship we are referring to the booing and yelling at the officials. After a Michigan State-De Paul basketball game recently during which the crowd belabored the officials constantly the administration made a public apology for its students, saying that the coaches and players are not expected to protest, so the students shouldn’t either. We are also referring to the lack of courtesy shown visit ing players by the home crowd. Friday night the Beavers at the foul line were roundly booed while shooting, which is very disconcerting. Individual hoopers were given a very bad time by-the crowd. Generally the fans were on the vis itors’ necks all during the game. Other Schools Are Just as Bad We repeat that this isn’t to say that Oregon State and other Northern Division schools aren’t as bad or worse. We have per sonal knowledge, and some reliable reports of the conduct of other fans is no excuse for poor conduct by Oregon fans. Maybe the spectators at the other games. But we also repeat that the poor conduct of other fans is no excuse for poor conduct by Oregon fans. Maybe even some courtesy by the \\ ebfoot fol lowers would be a good example to the other schools, although that is certainly a weak supposition. But courtesy would cer tainlv raise the stature of Oregon in the eyes of outside ob servers. As long as we are blowing our tops this morning we would like to put in a couple of blows at the Portland sportswriters, who waxed eloquent over Oregon players of their fouling tactics over at Corvallis Saturday night. Oregon racked up 38 fouls, and about a yard of adverse copy in the metropolitan papers for their work. But the night before Oregon State committed 32 personal fouls, and received practically no criticism for it. Does six fouls make such a difference? Swimmers Face Full Weekend Slate A full schedule awaits both the varsity and frosh swimming teams this week-end. Saturday, the “big boys” are slated to compete in the annual Northern Division meet in Seattle. Then they will return to Portland on Sunday, where part of the var sity strokers will combine their talents with those of a five-man yearling squad to represent the University in the Oregon AAU in door swimming championships to be held at the Multnomah Athletic club. Mentor Ray Kireilis said Monday that time trials to determine the team roster for the Seattle trek will be held this afternoon in a closed session. The travelling squad will be picked from the following men: George Moorhead, Bill Vannatta, Paul Thompson, A1 Dahlen, and Rod Weddle, freestyle; Pete Hill and Earl Walters, backstroke: Bill Amburn and Walters, breastroke; and Willie McCullough, diving. Defending champions in the colorful aqua-fest will be the Uni versity of Washington Huskies,' who already clinched this year’s dual meet conference crown with a record of four wins against no defeats. Also participating will be Washington State, Oregon State, Montana, and the University of Idaho. Slated to hit the lanes again Sunday afternoon in the state swimming championships are Van natta, Moorhead, Amburn, and Walters. Walters will couple his ability with that of Roger Har man and Jim Anderson, both of whom were ineligible this season, and enter the national junior 300 yard medley relay, unattached. The frosh roster for the state meet is: Louis Santos, Warren Braucher and Bud Brown, free style: Stan Hargraves, backstroke, and Art Bayly, breastroke. Stick Squad Takes Contest The two girl’s hockey teams battled it out on the basketball floor last night, and the spirited game ended in a 40-19 victory for the Evergreens over the Cascades. The first quarter was close, end ing in a one point margin for the Evergreens. In the second hailf they pulled way out in the lead, and never relinquished a wide margin. Viola Robbins made 8 points to turn in the highest scor ing record for the Cascades. Janice Neeley, Evergreens, dropped in 9 counters. Exceptionally nice play ing in the guard position was turn ed in by Hazel Peterson, also of the Evergreen team. The first game of the intramural semi-finals will be played at 5 o’clock tomorrow night when Re bec meets Hendricks Hall. The winners of the remaining two leagues, will play the other semi final game on Monday . Sports Staff: Fred Taylor Don Fair John Barton Dick Mase Dick Cramer WEYENBER6 Originality in styling gives our newest Weyenberg .'/ models their topnotch smartness. Expert crafting of rich leathers adds inctive "extra touch” ich makes you proud wear these truly fine shoes. Come in and see for yourself! Rugged moccasin style with hand sewn vamp, ghillie tie, triple sole. Ducks Highly Rated In the South, football experts rate Oregon as the team (to watch in 1948, according to Vic Schmidt, commissioner of IfCC athletics, who spoke at the meet ing of the Oregon club Monday noon. Schmidt rated USC, UG1*4, and California as having equal strength and said that the Stan ford Indians would be stronger than last season. By AL PIETSCHMAN . . . watch need fixing and ingo ing to spend spring term in Port land? If so, wait and haveQdOE GREVE, Jeweler, Broadway a»»d Morrison repair it for you. . . . Fred walked into the sonor ity house, hunted for the banger (he acts nonchalant and dotan't really hunt for it because hetif&S dated girls from this house before) and then prepared to wait fort.a while. He started for the smoking ntxan. and the phonograph. The den door opened and .■out came . . . "Hello, I’m Mrs. Peterson, tfebe housemother.” “Howdyado, Mrs. Peterson, (Pin Fred Bell.” (Looks like I’m stMCk now, can’t smoke and can’t oven play a Kenton record.) "You haven’t been here- before, have you, Fred?” (Wonder howbffte of my girls got roped into a date with him?) “Well, uh, ah, yes, ah, (Dammit, wish Pete would be^tiit so I could have a smoke.) “Who are you calling on?”!{Ue hasn’t any personality and isn't a bit smooth.) “Sally Howard, Mrs. Peteraon, I wonder what’s keeping her?” “I guess she forgets to be ot>n time occasionally. You know yfthe is a very popular girl and se&fom stays home. She always has ta handsome young man for a date. “Uh-huh.” “She’s knitting a pair of argjjgs in her spare time. Size 12’s I think. What size do you wear?” “Size 10.” (Sure could uge {.a smoke). Peterson laughed, Fred tw&feed uncomfortably, sprawled out jfcis legs and looked anxiously att&e stairs. Scill no Sally. “Are you going to a show (to night?” “No’m. We’re going to Tfoy’s and drin . . . have dinner. ” (Wfc©w, just made that, wish she’d leave, what a pain . . .). “Sally should be down in a fow minutes. She never keeps otherrfel lows waiting.” “Uh-huh.” "But then she is a popular jgirl and can be independent, I guoss.” “Uh-huh.” He unthinkingly pulled out a pack of cigarettes&*ind offered Pete one. "Me smoke? You must be teas ing.” “Uh-huh.” (Hell, why didn’t;ktoe leave. Sure pulled a boner on that cigarette. Is a date worth 'thisitor ture ?) Sally finally came down. She looked attractive but any chance for an enjoyable evening had been ruined by Pete. He just wasn’t tough enough to face the house mothers. Well, anyway, he could smoke all he wanted to with Sally. "Good night, Sally. It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Fred.” (One of my girls going out with the likes of him. No personality, no charm, whoever pledged him?) "Thank you, Mrs. Peterson, I’ve had an akwsydesg time.” (The, or deal’s over, maybe next time I can miss her as she springs from her den.) (Pd. Adv.)