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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2005)
“I feel that if he plays or not, we definitely have a chance of making it to the Super Bowl and winning it. ” Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb on Terrell Owens’ uncertain return ■ In my opinion ION ROETMAN ROUGHING THE PASSER Onterrio's Whizzinator doesn't help reputation Some people just never figure it out. According to the Associated Press, Minnesota Vikings running back and former Oregon star Onterrio Smith was caught with an elaborate contraption designed to beat drug tests at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on April 21. A search of a bag Smith was carrying turned up several vials of dried urine and a device called “The Original Whizzinator," which includes a fake penis, bladder and athletic supporter. The device sells for $150 on the maker’s Web site and is used to produce a clean urine test. The user fills a plastic bag attached to the athletic supporter with water and blends it with the dried urine powder. When the user takes a drug test in front of an observer, the water is released through the prosthetic penis with a valve. An NFL spokesman said using the device during a drug test would be a violation of league drug policies, but it wasn’t clear whether there were penalties for possessing one outside of a testing situation. Police became suspicious of Smith’s posses sions because the dried urine powder looked like cocaine. Smith told police the dried urine was for his cousin. Smith was then released after brief questioning. The 24-year-old’s drug problems have been well-documented. He was kicked off the Ten nessee football team in 2000 for using mari juana and already has two strikes against him under the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He got the second last season and was suspended for four games. A third violation could earn him a year-long suspension. I don’t care if the dried urine police found in Smith’s bag was for his cousin, a teammate or his homey D-Rob back in Sacramento, Calif. Smith should have distanced himself from all drug-related paraphernalia by now. Smith’s actions are selfish and stupid. He has the talent to be an NFL starter but doesn’t seem to have the heart or desire to stay out of trouble. Even if he’s not suspended for his actions, this has to hurt Smith’s chances of playing in the Vikings’ talented backfield with Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore and Moe Williams. While there’s no questioning Smith’s abili ties — he still managed to lead the Vikes in rushing last year despite the four-game sus pension — a line has to be drawn somewhere. Minnesota recently cleansed itself of talented but troubled wide receiver Randy Moss, and it should do the same with Smith. If the Vikings release Smith, they still have plenty of talent at running back, and the team will have fewer headaches to deal with. Then, hopefully Smith can cleanse himself of the wacky tabacky and catch on with another team. Please, figure it out Onterrio. jonroetman@ daily emerald, com ■ Duck lacrosse The BEGINNING and the END Louisa Dorsch stayed an extra year to play Division 1 lacrosse, but all good things must end BY STEFANIE LOH DAILY EMERALD FREELANCE REPORTER Louisa Dorsch was in seventh grade when she started playing lacrosse at a small private school in Maryland. Now 23, and the sole senior on the Oregon women's lacrosse team, Dorsch has come further than she ever dreamed possible. When Oregon decided to add women's lacrosse to its arsenal of Division I intercolle giate sports, Dorsch was in her senior year as the starting goalkeeper for Oregon’s Club women’s lacrosse team. She was also one of the coordinators who planned practices and managed the team. When Dorsch and her fellow coordinators heard that coaches had already been hired for the burgeoning Division I team, they decided to tap into the new resource. “At first, we just went to them to ask for help with drills. In the end, they started com ing out and helping us run practice twice a week,” Dorsch said. Oregon head coach Jen Larsen got to know Dorsch, and she liked what she saw in the senior goalkeeper. “I saw Louisa as a really hard worker. I knew she had a lot of passion and care for the Club program,” Larsen said. “I saw potential in her as a member of our program, and I knew she would be honored to be a part of this. ” That winter, Larsen approached Dorsch and expressed interest in having her play for the Division I team that she was trying to put together. “It was completely unexpected,” said Dorsch, whose tone was infused with a sense of excite ment as she recalled the encounter. “But I didn't take it lightly because I loved playing and son Lauren Wimer | Senior photographer Oregon goalie Louisa Dorsch was the only senior on the inaugural women's lacrosse team. Dorsch helped lead the Oregon Club women’s lacrosse team to nationals last season. wanted to make sure that I could really commit myself and play for an entire year. ” Playing Division I lacrosse proved to be too tempting a deal to pass up. Dorsch delayed her graduation plans, stayed in school as a fifth-year senior and signed on as a member of the pioneering class of the women's lacrosse team. “It was one of those opportunities that I knew wasn't going to come around again. Even if I DORSCH, page 16 ■ Women's track and field Zane Rm 1 Photographer Senior jumper Maegan Traver, seen here at the Pepsi Team Invitational, will look to add to Oregon's team score at the Pac-10 Championships this weekend. A little bit of success helps heal team's pain Though individual goals are on the line at the Pac-10 championships, coach Rock Light hopes his athletes focus on scoring points for the team BY STEPHEN MILLER SPORTS REPORTER Numerous Oregon women’s track and field athletes have weathered the bulk of the season with thoughts of team points and regional qualifying marks lingering in their heads. Attempting to score those points and record those marks takes a certain amount of pain, and those who are willing to endure it see the results. “I’m always hurting,” Oregon multi event athlete Lauryn Jordan said after practice Tliesday. A member of the athletic medical staff treated Jordan’s sore left shin in the Bowerman Building immediately after her Tuesday workout, only two days after she returned from the Pacific-10 Conference Multi-Event Championships. Even without winning an individual disci pline, Jordan captured 5,299 points at UCLA, a personal record and regional qualifying mark, to take fourth place in the heptathlon. “She had a great competition over the two days,” Oregon assistant coach Rock Light said. “In every single event except for one, she had a lifetime best.” But that’s not good enough for Jordan. “I won’t be happy unless it takes me to nationals,” the junior said. Some of Jordan’s teammates are still just trying to get over the headaches that come with the pressure of trying to achieve region al qualifying marks. This weekend, they will also have to compete for team points at the Pac-10 Championships. “I definitely want to do well for the team,” senior jumper Maegan Traver said, “but 1 also want to get a qualifying mark.” However, Light said those two goals should not be competing for athletes’ mind space. “Regionals is an opportunity for you to compete in front of the home crowd and get into the NCAA Championships,” Light said. “That is secondary to the task at hand, which is scoring points for the team. 1 don’t want (regional qualifying marks) in their thought process. They will be a by-product of competing well.” Traver believes that if she lands a jump with enough distance to be rewarded points then the measurement will exceed her per sonal record and the regional qualifying standard simultaneously. “If I score, my qualifying mark will pretty WOMEN, page 16
