■ Guest commentary
Kent's personal life plays no role
in his superb coaching abilities
I could no longer hesitate voicing
my opinion after reading John Can
zano’s piece in the Oregonian on July
15 about Oregon men’s basketball
coach Ernie Kent. The journalistic
defamation of our Northwest icons
must stop!
It’s irritating to watch Kent evade
the media’s target practice during a
bump in the road of his life. The mag
nitude of Kent’s “difficult times” is
not affecting the highly anticipated
2005-06 season. Why then does it
seem Northwest media has a fetish
for targeting our community’s exem
plars, only in attempt to insert them
into the sports version of “The OC”?
(Drama.)
I suffered as a fan when Mr. Can
zano attacked and helped derail Da
mon Stoudamire’s career in Portland.
When my man Ernie’s name was put
on blast, I felt it was my duty as a
current Duck to speak out.
Canzano mocks Kent’s recruiting
skills, citing Oregon’s inability to
have Lake Oswego phenom Kevin
Love on lock for signing day. If one
player manages to slip from “Ore
gon’s backyard,” can we really doubt
Kent’s recruiting ability? No, but un
der his breath, Mr. Canzano does.
Remember Aaron Brooks? He was
the Seattle native and prep All-Amer
ican that Kent stole from the
Huskies’ backyard.
USC/UCLA’s backyard: 13th-best
prep shooting guard (rivals.com)
Bryce Taylor — son of two-time ABA
all-star and 1973 rookie-of-the-year
Brian Taylor. Ray Schafer: Alaska
state player of the year and third best
center on the West Coast
(rivals.com). Oregon native Maarty
Leunen (OSAA player-of-the- year)
and “Champ” Oguchi from Texas are
two more examples of Kent’s stellar
recruiting. Finally, we must not for
get signing Malik Hairston: third
ranked prep player (USA Today), best
shooting guard in country
(rivals.com) and 2004 McDonald’s
All-American. Why the sour grapes?
All these terrific recruits were signed
just last year!
Hairston became the most antici
pated recruit to step onto the 100
year-old hardwood of MacArthur
Court. I lived down the hall from him
last year while attending the Univer
sity, and during my first legitimate
conversation with him, I had to ask
the mind-boggling question: “Why
Oregon? Why not Duke or Kansas,
the NBA, or why not stay close to
home with Tom Izzo at Michigan
State?” Hairston paused and laughed
about it for a second. His first words
were, “My mom liked coach Kent.”
He continued by describing Kent’s
run-and-gun offense, demand for
discipline and ferocious team
work ethic.
Mr. Canzano, you’re right, Kent is
obsessed with his image. As well as
his players’ image and the Duck
basketball program’s image. Kent
molds his players with a philosophy
that will only tolerate gentlemen stu
dent-athletes on and off the court.
Canzano preached the outlook of im
age for years during the era of the Jail
Blazers. Ian Crosswhite crossed the
line last season and Kent gave him
the heave-ho. If “image” is an impor
tant aspect en route to a successful
organization, why the fuss about ob
sessing over it?
Kent has established a close-knit
family within the Eugene communi
ty, and treats his players and fans as
though they were children of his
own. The Ducks will potentially start
four sophomores and a junior next
year, with more talent than Kent has
ever coached. Yes, the Luke-Luke
Freddy days are in the past and the
new legends are here. Oregon’s 14-13
record last year resembles the 2002
03 North Carolina Tar Heels, who
also started four freshmen. North
Carolina’s season with immature
leadership resulted in a 19-16 record
and no March Madness. Two years
later, they won a championship. If
this crew of sophomores hangs
around until junior year (Aaron’s
senior year), there will be a stir of
madness on the Duck campus
come 2006.
You hear that Mr. Canzano? In
2006, Oregon will have its best bas
ketball season since 1939 and could
BASKETBALL, page 8
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■ In my opinion
Deserter Williams
doesn't deserve warm
welcome in Miami
BY SHAWN MILLER
FULL-COURT PRESS
It scrolled across the bottom of
ESPNEWS: Running back Ricky
Williams reports to Miami Dolphins
training camp.
My immediate thought was: who
cares? Seriously, who really cares
about a dopehead that quit on his
team a year ago? Who wants a quit
ter that is only returning to profes
sional football so he won’t lose
$8.6 million?
Last year, Williams informed
then-head coach Dave Wannstedt
on July 23, a week before training
camp opened, that he was planning
on retiring.
The decision shocked teammates
and the sports world, while Miami
suffered through a 4-12 season. Not
only did Williams hurt the team,
but it cost Wannstedt his job.
It is said that one player doesn’t
win games or make a team, but
when that one player won the
NFL’s rushing title in 2002 and quit
without leaving time to find a rea
sonable replacement,'one player
costs games.
It was later announced that
Williams violated the league’s sub
stance abuse policy; he admitted
that he failed drug tests and faced a
suspension for testing positive three
times for marijuana.
Current head coach Nick Saban
was vocal about wanting Williams
to return to the program and offered
him his roster spot back. Mean
while, teammates have been saying
“If he wants to be here and doesn’t
quit, we want him here.”
BS. Don’t listen to that crap. His
coach wants him there because he
wants more than four wins, and his
teammates are just being politically
correct. I wouldn’t want a quitter
on my team, and I’m sure most of
the Dolphins feel the same way.
They fought through a tough, dis
couraging season together because
of Williams. They have a bond of
fighting through adversity, a bond
that doesn’t include Williams.
The Dolphins drafted running
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back Ronnie Brown of Auburn Uni
versity with the second pick of the
2005 NFL Draft, presumably to fill
the empty, dust-filled shoes of
Williams. It almost seems that
Williams just v/ants to screw with
the Dolphins. First, he quits just be
fore training camp starts. Now, af
ter the Dolphins got a top draft pick
because of a horrible record, and
used it on a running back, Williams
wants to be a part of the team
again.
The whole situation could be for
givable if it weren’t just about the
money. It is obvious that Williams
doesn’t want to lose the $8.6 mil
lion he owes the Dolphins for
breaching his contract. Williams
battled Miami when the courts or
dered him to repay the Dolphins,
and when there were no more ap
peals and the decision was final, all
of a sudden Williams wants to lace
up the cleats and step back on the
field.
I don’t respect Williams, nor do I
think the Dolphins should take him
back. The only problem is, if the
Dolphins don’t take him back he
can play for one of 31 other
NFL teams.
I suggest a punishment. First off,
Williams should have to run all of
the team errands that are usually
reserved for rookies. Second, every
Dolphin should line up during
training camp and play a little drill
I call “Run Ricky Run.”
The object of “Run Ricky Run” is
to work on tackling. Teammates
take turns on the defensive line, the
ball is handed off to Williams and
the team works on tackling. To be
effective, this drill should be daily
and all Dolphins should participate.
And last, he should have to visit
middle schools weekly and explain
the negative effects of smoking pot.
Sorry University of Oregon Ston
ers, I mean... students. I know
most of you are into the liberal side
of marijuana, but I vote for
punishing potheads.
shawnmiUer@dailyemerald.com
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