COURT'S THIRD DECK IS SIMPLY FIRST-RATE.

Byline: Adam Jude The Register-Guard

Vertigo develops early for first-time visitors to McArthur Court's third balcony.

That will happen when you realize a three-story fall is protected only by two duct-taped cables. The constant vibrations and random creaks can further rattle those with sensitive nerves.

"It's pretty wild up here," said Dale Osuna of Portland, sitting on top of a back-row backrest in his first visit to the upper deck.

The quirks are nothing new for 300-level regulars, who had no complaints Saturday afternoon, other than the outcome on the court several levels below.

Those rowdy Arizona fans in Section 327 certainly enjoyed Arizona's 77-74 victory over Oregon.

It wasn't the first dramatic finish at the 80-year-old Mac Court, one of the nation's oldest on-campus basketball arenas.

To experience a game in the atmosphere of the third balcony is to gain a perspective few can appreciate. During the most exciting moments, it's also a lot like sitting in a prop plane during a storm.

In truth, the ambiance is reward enough for the 72-step hike to the top.

From such great heights, fans here can look down on everything all at once. They can see entire plays develop, like pawns moving on a chess board. Without shifting their heads, they see Aaron Brooks drive and Tajuan Porter drift open in the corner.

You see everything up here. Except, in some cases, the scoreboard.

Kids run around the walkway, unaffected by dangling ceiling panels.

Couples gather around propped-open windows at halftime, averting the humidity by sucking up as much fresh air as possible.

One mother changes her baby's diaper in the back row.

Jean Wear and Gayle Downing dance in their aisle.

The forgotten folks up here have made an art of seeing the game. Call it creative watching. Or a chiropractor's dream.

The guys in the back row of Section 311 stand on their wooden bench, contorting their bodies like yoga instructors to get a glimpse of the action below. You'd need X-ray vision to see the scoreboard from their seats.

Terry Kramer of Waldport looks down from his seat in Section 319, row 1, seat 9 with one of the arena's grand views.

"This is my favorite place to be," Kramer said. "It's so unique up here. I love it."

Mac Court's 80th anniversary last month conjured up nostalgia for Springfield's Barbara Long, who has been attending games here with her husband, Ken, for almost 40 years.

"We were coming back when nobody else would come," she said. "I really like it up here."

On most days, Lynn Chase does, too. The facility manager has been overseeing Mac Court maintenance for 17 years, spending much of his efforts on general upkeep upstairs. The third balcony consists of five rows of wooden seats, and Chase has replaced many parts in many of its 1,359 seats.

"A lot of them are held together by bubble gum," he said, chuckling.

Chase said there are few safety concerns in the upper deck. He performs safety checks before each game.

Still, it can be hazardous. Just ask Brian Tovey.

Tovey had seats in the third balcony for the first time last month at the UCLA game. He stood to get a better view for much of the game, an oversized air duct inches from his head.

Tovey used the vent as a noise-maker, pounding it with his hand during peak moments in the game.

"I was having a great time," he said. "The whole level was going nuts."

Suddenly, Tovey looked down and saw blood on his shirt. Then he noticed a cut on his hand.

"There was a screw loose (in the vent), and it took a big chunk out of my hand," he said.

Tovey didn't mind much, especially after the Ducks pulled out the rousing victory.

He did keep the screw, as well as a third-balcony experience he won't soon forget.