Sports
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Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Th e Observer
Continuing the family tradition
Baker athlete is
third in family
to play in East-West
Shrine Game
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
BAKER CITY —
The Van Arsdall name
has quite a legacy at the
Oregon Shrine game.
Mason Van Arsdall, a
multisport athlete for Baker
High School, became the
third-generation Van Ars-
dall to compete at the East-
West Shrine Game in the
2021 rendition on Saturday,
Aug. 7. Van Arsdall started
on the off ensive line for the
East and helped the team
to a 34-6 victory over the
West.
“It’s great to keep the
tradition, and I just feel
awesome that I get to be a
part of this,” Van Arsdall
said.
Van Arsdall’s father, Jef,
and grandfather, Jim, both
played in the Shrine Game
in previous years. Jef was
selected out of Seaside
High School in 1990 and
Jim represented Franklin
High School in 1961.
“I’m incredibly proud of
him,” Jef Van Arsdall said.
“He’s a great kid, and he’s
dedicated to his team and
he’s just a good dude. It’s a
great sendoff to represent
Baker one last time and be
the hometown athlete.”
The East-West Shrine
Game features the state’s
elite football players from
the 1A to 4A state levels.
Football coaches from
across the state nominate
players to compete in the
game and partake in the
fundraising and festivities.
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Jef Van Arsdall, left, stands with his son, Mason Van Arsdall, after the 2021 Oregon East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Baker
City. Mason Van Arsdall marked the third generation of his family to compete in the Shrine game.
The Shrine Game raises
money for the Shrine Hos-
pital for Children in Port-
land and is recognized as
the organization’s largest
fundraiser.
All the players involved
are aware of the game’s
cause, but Mason has
learned the importance of
the game through his pre-
decessors who played in
the past.
“It’s huge for our com-
munity and it’s a huge
event city-wide,” he said.
“It’s just an amazing orga-
nization. Getting to not
only win, but just be a part
of this whole thing, is just
so awesome.”
According to his father,
Jef, competing in the game
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Mason Van Arsdall smiles on the East sideline during the 2021 East-
West Shrine Game in Baker City on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. The East
cruised to a commanding 34-6 victory.
and raising funds for the
hospital is a way of being a
servant to the community.
“It’s about being a part
of something bigger than
yourself,” he said. “The
Shrine Hospital is an
amazing place and the ser-
vice they provide is just
incredible for folks that
might not otherwise have
the opportunity to have
access to medical care.”
With the East holding
a comfortable lead in the
second half, Mason Van
Arsdall took additional
reps on the defensive line.
The versatile lineman
recorded a sack near the
sidelines that drew a huge
eruption from the crowd
at Baker Bulldog Memo-
rial Stadium. After the
game, he was swarmed by
friends, family and fans.
“Everybody turned out,”
he said. “We had a huge
crowd.”
The East dominated
the entirety of the game,
taking an early lead and
never looking back. The
West closed the lead to 7-6
in the second quarter, but
the East scored 27 unan-
swered to run away with
the victory.
“We controlled the
game the entire time,” Van
Arsdall said. “There wasn’t
a single moment where we
weren’t in control.”
Baker Athletic Director
Buell Gonzales Jr. has
watched Van Arsdall com-
pete over the years and rec-
ognizes the importance of
a local athlete participating
in the Shrine Game.
“Growing up over here
and playing football, this
is the pinnacle of what you
want to reach,” he said.
“Mason is a great kid and
the community is really
proud.”
Van Arsdall will now
shift gears and start
training for the start of his
collegiate baseball career.
The all-state catcher is
signed to play for Eastern
Oregon University next
year.
“I got to end on a
good note, that’s really
important,” Van Arsdall
said.
For the Van Arsdalls,
the 2021 Shrine Game
marked a historic night
that continued the fami-
ly’s legacy. At the conclu-
sion of his high school ath-
letics career, Mason Van
Arsdall will carry his fam-
ily’s name in his future col-
legiate career at Eastern
Oregon.
SPORTS SHORT
CJ McCollum elected president of NBA Players Association
By AARON FENTRESS
The Oregonian
PORTLAND — Trail Blazers
guard CJ McCollum has been
elected president of the NBA
Players Association.
McCollum, 29, replaces
Phoenix guard Chris Paul who
decided not to seek a third term.
Boston forward Grant Wil-
liams, 22, has been elected vide
president replacing Golden State
forward Andre Iguodala. Both
Williams and McCollum will
serve four-year terms that end in
2025.
“I am grateful for this oppor-
tunity to take over as the new
president of the NBPA,”
McCollum said in a statement.
“Chris has done an incredible
job over the last eight years,
strengthening the voice of the
players as a whole and using his
platform to make sure our mem-
bership is taken care of on and
off the court. I look forward to
stepping into this role and to
further growing the game so
that future players can continue
to learn and benefi t from the
Union’s work.”
Paul served eight years as
president.
“It has been an honor to serve
in this position and to represent
the diverse group of players that
make up our incredible league,”
Paul said in a statement. “I am
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extremely proud of all that we
have accomplished at the Union
in the last 8 years and I am for-
ever grateful to Michele (Rob-
erts), all of my colleagues on the
NBPA Executive Committee —
past and present, and of course
all of the players who trusted me
to make the best decisions for
our collective brotherhood. I am
confi dent that CJ will continue
to build on the work we have
already done and I look forward
to working with him to make
our Union even stronger.”
The NBPA directs the aff airs
of the union, including con-
ducting collective bargaining
relationships between the union
and the NBA.
Trail Blazers guard CJ
McCollum shoots during the
second half of a fi rst-round
playoff series Thursday,
June 3, 2021, in Portland.
McCollum has been elected
president of the NBA Play-
ers Association
Craig Mitchelldyer, The Associated Press, File
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