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The Waseda Oregon Programs take North American and international students to the prestigious Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan for academic programs of Japanese language and comparative US-Japan Societies study: • Waseda Oregon Summer Japanese Program July 10 - August 20, 2002 • Waseda Oregon Transnational Program January 15 - June 27, 2003 Scholarships of up to $1000 are available for the Transnational Program. For more information, contact: Waseda Oregon Office Portland State University (800) 823-7938 www.wasedaoregon.org email:info@wasedaoregon.org mt^MrroiiariiMOT Now featured in the ODE: WEEKLY MOVIE LISTINGS Find them in the classifieds every Friday Oregon Daily Emerald Come worlc for us. The Oregon Daily Emerald is always looking for young writers who want to learn and grow at a real newspaper. For information on how to freelance for the Emerald, call 346-5511. Williams continued from page 9A Ducks a 55-42 lead, their largest of the game. “Sometimes she’s the biggest spark,” sen ior guard Jamie Craighead said of Shreve. Williams is expected to be in the lineup this weekend when the Ducks face the winner of the Oregon State-Hawaii first round WNIT game, to be played tonight in Corvallis. “Shaq has been struggling with the flu, and it kept her in bed for a few days last week,” Oregon first-year head coach Bev Smith said. “She’ll be fine, and we will be a loaded deck in our next game. In the single-elimination WNIT, the Ducks said they were not panicked without Williams. “I never felt like it was going to be our last game,” Craighead said. “We know how to pick it up when we need to. I was never worried. E-mail sports editor Adam Jude at adamjude@dailyemerald.com. Men’s continued from page 9A won’t affect them at all.” Perhaps the Ducks aren’t feeling the pressure of the high tournament seed be cause they feel it’s a reward for hard work on and off the court all season long. Rid nour said the players even talked about the tournament before the season started. “We talked about making it to the tournament and go ing as far as we could,” Rid nour said. The Ducks see tough de fense as important to a deep run in the NCAA Tourna ment. Oregon is a noted of fensive team — the Ducks ended the season ranked first in the Pac-10 in scoring with 85.9 points per game — but will need to play defense to win in the postseason. “We’re going to stay with our defense,” Kent said. “That’s the key to our destiny.” As the Ducks get set to take on Montana today, they aren’t thinking about their fate in the 2002 Big Dance. When asked if he was looking forward to a pos s i b 1 e matchup with Kansas in the Elite Eight, Kent responded immediately. “Not at all,” Kent said. “We’re not looking any fur ther than Montana.” E-mail sports reporter Peter Hockaday atpeterhockaday@dailyemerald.com. Smith continued from page 9A NCAA Tournament season. The other day, while finishing off a cheesesteak, an acquaintance couldn’t stop asking me ques tions. His questions mirrored those that I’ve received in every great Oregon season. “So, um, you like, get to go to all the games for free and talk to all the players, huh?” “Well, yeah.” “Nice! And you’re going to Sacramento?” “Yep. Should be a fun weekend.” “Dude, that’s so cool. You must have so many memories of going crazy on the road with all the Ducks fans. That must have been amazing to sit in the press box for the Fiesta Bowl. And now the hoops team! What a great time to be a Duck, huh?” This is where the conversation usually comes to a screeching halt, and I change the subject to some thing else. You see, what few understand — especially toward student reporters — is that being a sports writer means not being a fan. At all. We watch the games through a much different lens. For example, you all can proba bly remember where you were and how you felt when... Darius Wright hit that remark able three-point shot at the buzzer, capping a surreal six points in 2.8 seconds, to beat ASU in hoops, 76 74, in 2000. When Keenan Howry passed the football to Joey Harrington in the A Ken Kesey "Readin' in the Rain" j Author Event Chuck Palahniuk OUT OF NOWHERE: The Character and Craft of a Writer A tribute to the spirit and craft of Ken Kesey Thursday March 14th, 7:00pm Upstairs in Books UNIVERSITY of OREGON Wt BOOKSTORE (541)346-4331 • www.uobookstore.com Holiday Bowl and Harrington stumbled, bumbled and almost fumbled his way into the end zone. When UCLA kicker Chris Grif fith missed his last-second field goal at the Rose Bowl in November 2001 for the Ducks’ 21-20 victory. And when Freddie Jones drove through lane and drilled a soft floater as time ran out at USC to give the men’s basketball team the two-point win and at least a share of the conference championship. While you were probably high fiving your buddy and/or clanking your beer cans, my pen was touch ing paper as I absorbed the emotion all around me and thought of ways to describe what had happened. So goes the job of a storyteller. And the mood never changes af ter memorable defeats, such as the football Civil War loss in 2000, the basketball NCAA Tournament loss to Seton Hall and the football 49 42 defeat to Stanford at Autzen Stadium in October in as entertain ing game as I have seen. (I’ll never forget coming home that evening to my two depressed roommates.) In a way, maybe I’ve missed out on a lot. After all, I always enjoy watch ing the Oregon student section at Autzen Stadium and McArthur Court go wild in celebration. Although, I feel it’s you who has missed out. I’ll never forget the ex periences I’ve had through my job, all the places I’ve seen and the ath letes who have opened up to me and allowed me to tell their stories. Because, in my opinion, that’s the best part about this job: listening. So yeah, I do root. I root for indi viduals and for great stories. I doubt you appreciated watch ing freshman Stephen Clayton play this past fall on the football field as much as I did as he made play after play on special teams, much like he does everyday in practice. FEBRUARY SPECIAL ^ Gemstone ^ Beads * 50% Off Loose Gemstone Beads 25% Off Gemstone Strands 10% off with student I.D. Sal* expires February rlequin ■OrM* Beads & Jewelry 1016 Willamette ♦ 683-5903 Or watching senior Kristian Christensen being honored with his mother on basketball’s senior night, knowing the hardship they’ve faced together and how strong a bond they’ve formed since the death of his father prior to Christensen’s freshman season. On the other hand, say there’s a prominent athlete who everyone seems to adore, my perspective might be a little different because I’ve seen a side to that person that few others have. It’s all coming to an end, though, at least at the college level. By the time you read this, I’ll be in Sacra mento, getting ready to cover per haps the best Oregon team since the NCAA championship team from 1939. Odds are that the Ducks should have no problem with the 20.5 point-underdog Montana Griz zlies, and you’ll be getting plenty of happy stories to read Friday morning. Now, let’s say the 15th-seed Grizzlies shock the nation and the Ducks by pulling off the huge up set. It’ll be a sad day in Duckville, but you’ll still get your stories, and I’ll still enjoy my weekend. It’s all part of the strange numb ness I’ve developed toward Ore gon sporting events over these last few years. k But when Oregon does lose, and when my duties are complete here at the Emerald, I’ll return home and climb up in my attic. I’ll dig through the piles and piles of junk I’ve collected until I find one thing, which I’ll promptly dust off. My yellow duck lips. After all, Oregon will always be my alma mater. E-mail assistant sports editor Jeff Smith at jeffsmith@dailyemerald.com. His opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. STOREWIDE 20%-70 Ski Equipment Downhill • Cross Country ONNOW! 13th & Lawrence *683-1300