“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 -