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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2004)
Sports Editor Hank Hager hankhager@dailyemerald.com Wednesday, June 2,2004 Oregon Daily Emerald Best bet MLB: Houston vs. Chicago Cubs 11:20 a.m., ESPN Alex Tam Holding court The ABC's at the UO, this year and next I present you with the ABCs of Oregon athletics — as I see them — for this past year and the upcoming year. Aaron Brooks takes charge in his first full year as the starting point guard and becomes the general of an exciting high-octane of fense. Hopefully, though, no more punches to inanimate objects. Bill Moos fortunately stays as Oregon's athletic director, having recently and politely dedined the Washington job opening. Colorado's basketball team witnessed firsthand the impact of the crowd at McArthur Court and Luke Jackson's 29 straight points in an NIT first round loss in March. Daria Panova wins her third consecutive Padfic-10 Conference women's singles title and returns next year as the best tennis play er in Oregon history. Emily Enders, women's pole vaulter, earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Champi onships after besting her teammate, Kirsten Larwin, in a jump-off at the NCAA West Re gional. Foreign-born players play key roles on various Oregon sports teams this year: Aus tralian Ian Crosswhite, Canadian softball pitcher Ani Nyhus and Swedish golfer Therese Wenslow, to name a few. , Gladstone native Adam Jenkins, a senior javelin thrower, is poised to make his first ever trip to the NCAA Champioinships on June 9. Haloti Ngata makes his comeback and will be a force on Oregon's defensive line next season after injuring his left knee in the very first game of the season last year. The women's lacrosse team's inaugural season kicks off next season with two high school All-Americans and a three-time Maryland state champion joining a sport that keeps on growing. Jordan Kent deddes to move away from his storied track and fidd career to concen trate on basketball. Kdlen Clemens continues Oregon's line age of potential NFL quarterbacks. Hey, if Ja son Fife can earn a spot, then I'm sure Clemens could. Luke Jackson. McArthur Court, Best Damn Sports Are na, Period. No squirrel fishing as a dub sport next year. That is not a sport. Oklahoma is Oregon's first opponent on the road next season. The Ducks will need to bring their best to just compete against the national powerhouse Sooners. Pit Crew continues to show why they are one of the nation's dite college sports fans, with their support and creativity. Quinn Dorsey former Oregon defensive lineman, signs a contract with Super Bowl champion New England and will compete for a spot as linebacker. Ryan Gilliam, a two-sport athlete in foot ball and track, ran the 100-meter dash in a blistering 10.72 seconds at the Pepsi Team Invitational meet this year. Turn to TAM, page 8 Lindsey jumps at chance to go home Danielle Hickey Photo Editor Jeff Lindsey qualified for nationals with a third-place finish at the NCAA West Regional on Friday. Sophomore high jumper Jeff Lindsey will get to return to his home state of Texas for the NCAA Championships, held in Austin in two weeks By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter TRACK Jeff Lindsey will be going home a week earlier than he planned. The sophomore high jumper from Mansfield, Texas, finished in a tie for third during Friday's NCAA West Regional Qualifier in Northridge, Calif., assuring himself a trip to Austin, Texas, for the NCAA Championships June 9-12. Lindsey cleared 7 feet, 1 inch on his third try to advance to NCAAs, an achievement that was made even better by the fact the sophomore missed out on nationals by half an inch during the indoor campaign. "What a way to make up for indoors," Lindsey said. "1 was going home to Texas the week after classes, but my family and friends will be stoked to see me a week ear lier for nationals." Battling back pain, Lindsey cleared 6-9 on his first attempt, but needed all three attempts at 6-11 and 7-1 to qualify for third. He had the bar moved up to 7-2 1 /4 but failed to clear. It was the third time he had cleared 7 feet during the outdoor season. "My back was bothering me a little coming in," Lindsey said, "so I was a little nervous. I still smoked 6-9, but then cut it close on the next two bars... My attempts at 7-2 1 /4 were pretty good — better than everybody else other than (California's) Teak (Wilburn). Overall, the conditions weren't bad — it wasn't hot or cold and there was a little headwind. The surface wasn't nearly as fast as Hayward Field, so I had to give it everything I had speed wise. " Along with the chance to go home early, Lindsey will get to travel with a friend since teammate Teddy Davis also qualified for nationals, finishing in a third-place tie with Lindsey. Davis cleared both 6-9 and 6-11 on second attempts, but like Lindsey he needed all three tries to clear 7-1. The final clearance was a 3/4-inch personal best for the sophomore from White Turn to HOME, page 10 Jackson estimates first-round selection Former Oregon forward Luke Jackson has worked out for a number of teams in preparation for the NBA Draft By Hank Hager Sports Editor Luke Jackson is a basketball player. Forget the belief among many that Jackson is considered a tweener — not a small forward, but not a guard. Think of the overall package. That's the view Jackson and his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment, are taking when it comes to the 2004 NBA Draft. Jackson, who is expected to be a first-round pick, at the very least, has been impressive in recent workouts, according to most accounts. "He's doing terrific," Bartelstein said. "He's surprising people with his athleticism." Jackson has visited Chicago, Portland, Sacra mento, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State, Atlanta, New Jersey, Cleveland and Tuesday, Boston. The common denominator among those teams? Nothing, really. The Warriors, Blazers, Bulls, Hawks and Cav aliers are all in the lottery, choosing their first round selection in the first 14 picks. Boston, the Lakers, Kings and Nets all made the NBA playoffs, with Los Angeles advancing to the NBA Finals earlier this week. Turn to JACKSON, page 9 Women’s tennis inching closer to the elite Oregon improves by seven wins from 2002-03 and earns berth for the NCAA team tournament along the way; it loses just one player next season By Clayton Jones Freelance Reporter A team on the verge may be an old cliche in the world of sports, but this year's Oregon women's tennis team personified that phrase A program that was once destined for the cellar of the Pacific-10 Conference has risen from the floor to find itself inching closer to great things, not only in the Pac-10 but across the nation. The Ducks were on the verge of beating rival Washington in the _NCAA team tournament regional finals, but fell one heart-breaking point away in the seventh and deciding match. Washington, "J"|r N N13 ranked 10th in the nation, moved on and _ ended the season one win away from the fi nal four. "With our last match coming down to two match points, you can't even imagine the emotions that our team was going through unless you were there," head coach Nils Schyllander said. "The ener gy was awesome and we can use it as a carrot in front of us for next year." Junior Ester Bak believes it was a defining moment for the pro gram. "We were so close to victory," Bak said. "But it will help us for next Turn to CLOSER, page 8 Erik R. Bishoff Photographer Anna Leksinska (left) and Dominika Dieskova went 20-10 in doubles this season, ranking them second all-time for victories in a single season at Oregon. The pair, returns next season. .
