Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 2005)
“I’m just here to play and win. I’m a gangster. ” Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez after changing his mind about wanting to be traded Every Saturday kickballers gather at Skinner's Butte Park to relive the playground days BY SCOIl J. ADAMS FREELANCE REPORTER In today’s wide world of sports, the trend of bringing playground sports into the mainstream continues to stretch its grammar-school-sized arms across America, and thanks to adult kick ball, Eugene is in its grasp. This phenomenon found its second wind with last year’s release of the movie “Dodge ball: A True Underdog Story.” The film was a hit in the box office and at video stores and created the foundation for a rise of recreation and adult leagues specializing in sports you may remember playing on the blacktop at re cess. Oregon’s recreation center followed suit last spring when dodgeball was added to its list of sports students could sign up to play. Dodgeball may be the staple playground sport, but at Skinner’s Butte Park on Saturday afternoons, kickball is king. Kickball is kept alive by the Northwest Asso ciation for Adult Competitive Kickball, or NWAACK for short. The league is composed of a ragtag cadre of individuals who are as colorful as the game itself. The pothole-littered field where they play can make nine innings seem grueling in the summer heat, but the players, whose sole form of identity comes from nick names coined by their peers, are always in high spirits. Speaking of spirits, beer and liquor help pass the time on the scarcely shaded benches flanking the rusty backstop. One of the more outspoken players in KICKBALL, page 6 IliPII Tim Bobosky | Photo editor Brett Polevoi, also known as "Chicken Chaser,” kicks the ball in his first kickball game at Skinner’s Butte Park. Games are held at the park every Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Bears smash Ems further into slump Yakima handed Eugene its eighth loss in the last 13 home games with a 7-4 win on Sunday SHAWN MILLER SPORTS EDITOR Offensively, averaging five runs per game is solid. Defensively, five runs allowed every nine innings can lead to a lot of losses. After allowing at least five runs in six of its last seven games, the Eugene Emeralds (18-22) have lost five of those seven, including Sun day afternoon’s 7-4 loss to the Yakima Bears (17-23). While most teams look forward to home games to break out of a slump, Eugene manager Roy How ell believes a road trip might be just the cure. “There is no homefield advan tage or disadvantage,” Howell said. “It doesn’t matter where it is happening, the game is played the same. ” With that said, Eugene has lost eight of its last 13 home games. “The fans here are great fans,” Howell said. “You want things to go well at home. You lose and not too many fans show up.” The Emeralds are scheduled for an eight-game road trip, beginning with a five-game series at Tfi-Cities (18-22) starting today at 7:15 p.m. “It is 27 outs, and whoever has the most runs after that wins,” Howell said. Simplifying the game and not al lowing themselves to “think too much” might be what the Emer alds need for a jump start. With 36 games to play in the season, Eugene sits nine games be hind Vancouver, the West Division leader. That jump start will need to come quickly. “Every game is really critical,” Howell said. Eugene hasn’t won more than two consecutive games since a five-game winning streak was snapped on July 3. The Emeralds will need to string victories togeth er in order to get back in the chase for the playoffs. “Confidence is the greatest thing you can have in this game,” Howell said. While confidence is ideal, it is hard to find after the Emeralds suf fered through six and four-game losing streaks during the month of July. “You go out there with the atti tude of winning the ball game,” Howell said. “Sometimes you get in streaks and sometimes it goes the other way.” Yakima jumped on Eugene early with three runs in the top of the first inning and two more in the second. After a run in the first inning, the Emeralds scored three runs in the third inning to close the EMS, page 6 Eugene starting pitcher Ben Krosschell gives up one of seven hits Sunday during a 74 loss to Yakima. Krosschell, who allowed six runs in five innings, was the losing pitcher. IN BRIEF Tamika Nurse, Carolyn Ganes shine on Canadian teams Tamika Nurse, an incoming freshman for the Oregon women’s basketball team, helped Canada’s Under-19 women’s team to a ninth-place finish at the FIBA World Cham pionships on July 23 in Tbnis, Tlmisia. Nurse started all seven games, in which Canada was 3-4, and scored 18 points against Australia and bronze medalist China. She also scored 12 points during a 71-64 victory over Puerto Rico in the ninth-place game on July 23. Oregon teammate Carolyn Ganes was named to the Canadian senior women’s na-. tional team, while Kaela Chapdelaine was chosen as an alternate. "I’m really excited and, as a fellow Cana dian, proud of both Carolyn and Kaela,” Ore gon coach Bev Smith said. “It’s a terrific honor for those two. ” Ganes scored six points Friday as Canada fell to Poland 83-57 in the team’s opening game of a tournament in Lorient, France. Ganes nailed a clutch overtime bucket to help defeat Hungary 86-82 Saturday and also recorded a game-high 16 points during a 77 48 loss to France on Sunday. Canada is scheduled to play Belgium, Spain and Finland in a tournament held in Belgium beginning today. The team will play in one additional tournament before the FIBA World Championships Qualifying Tour nament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Re public, Sept. 14 through 18. Yurkovich, Noble win gold at junior championships Future Oregon track athletes Rachel Yurkovich and Becca Noble each recorded victories in their respective events to win gold at the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in Windsor, Ontario. Yurkovich set a PAJAC record Sunday with a javelin toss of 172 feet six inches. “It was a great way to end my season and my high school career,” Yurkovich said. “To win gold here is very special.” Noble won the 800 meters Saturday, while Galen Rupp ended his season with a fourth place finish in the 1,500 meters. Chris Winter, who will redshirt at Oregon this fall, earned the bronze medal with a time of 8:58.49 in the 3,000 steeplechase. Brooks misses cut for USA's U21 team After making the final 15, Oregon men’s basketball guard Aaron Brooks wasn’t named to the 12-man USA Under-21 Men’s World Championship Team. Despite scoring 11 points in 14 minutes against Ukraine on Wednesday, shooting 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from the free-throw line, Brooks didn’t make the roster the following day. Saint Joseph’s University (Pa.) coach Phil Martelli, head coach of the USA U21 team, an nounced the roster Thursday morning. Neva da’s Nick Fazekas is the only player from the Western half of the United States selected. Duck golfers fly to U.S. Amateur championship Oregon men’s golfers Derek Sipe, Gregg LaVoie and Ted Whitney each advanced to the U.S. Amateur Championship held Aug. 22-28 in Ardmore, PA. Sipe shot a 7-under 137 to earn medalist honors, joining LaVoie, who shot a 2-over 146. Whitney shot a 3-over 147 and defeat-,, ed Chander Cocco on the fourth playoff hole to secure the bid. Moretti, Snyder sign National Football League contracts Former Oregon football players David Moretti and Adam Snyder each signed a con tract to play the upcoming season in the Na- - tional Football League. Moretti signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Snyder agreed to a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the third round of April’s NFL Draft. —Shawn Miller -
