SOUND OFF.Byline: The Register-Guard Ducks a nice diversion When I found out the Ducks would open the 2005 season in Houston, a couple of hours from my home in New Orleans New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded , I was pretty pumped. I never in my wildest dreams could think of a reason why I wouldn't be in Reliant Stadium Houston Texans • • [ for the game. A major hurricane was the furthest thing from my mind. Sept. 1 was spent driving back from a part of New Orleans, checking on a friend's home. I got to see the last 1:08 of the game on TV. His house and business were fine. Our house was not so lucky. The next year is going to be quite an adventure. Diversions and temporary escapes will be badly needed. To the coaches, players, the equipment staff and all involved in Oregon football, I hope you realize that what happens for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoons is not just a football game. For me and my future wife, a Duck convert from the South, it's a little bit of normalcy nor·mal·cy n. Normality. Noun 1. normalcy - being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning normality . Win or lose, hopefully more win, we'll be listening. Thanks for the break from reality. AARON LEWIS Aaron Lewis, (born April 13 1972 in Rutland, Vermont, U.S.), is the lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist of the hard rock group Staind. Background Lewis grew up, largely, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. New Orleans Grateful Grizzlies The name Grizzlies may refer to:
Please pass along my thanks to the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. fans and the people of Eugene for the hospitality that a few thousand other University of Montana fans and I experienced over the weekend. We all had a great time, even with the shellacking we took on the field. Aside from the stray beer-soaked Metallica T-shirt-wearing fans loudly informing us that "you don't belong in the Pac-10," (really?) everyone was friendly. Autzen Stadium The stadium is tucked between the Willamette River and Coburg Hills. The uniquely shaped bowl blends in with the wooded Eugene landscape. The shape also allows for unique acoustics, making it one of the loudest stadiums in NCAA Football for its capacity. is a wonderful place to watch a very good football team, and Eugene is a great city. PAT RISKEN Spokane NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association needs consistency The NCAA recently implemented a ban of American Indian American Indian or Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. mascots. This ruling was based on their opinion that American Indian nicknames are hostile and abusive. In response, I encourage the schools affected by the NCAA's policy to comply fully. Florida State should change its nickname from the Seminoles to the Protestants. It could be the Utah Born Agains and the San Diego State Crosses. Instead of Chief Illiniwek, Illinois could have a mascot that wears a sandwich board with the Ten Commandments printed on it. Would the NCAA consider these new nicknames and mascots to also be hostile and abusive? Or instead, would their perception now be that these schools were unfairly endorsing, encouraging and paying tribute to one religion over the rest? Consistency is the heartbeat of character. Despite flatlining millions of dollars ago, the NCAA continues to pump fragranced sewage through college athletics and its periphery. JAVAN YRIARTE Eugene The Register-Guard sports department welcomes letters on all sporting topics. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Mail letters to: Sound Off, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: 687-6674 |
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