Suddenly, athletic doldrums seem swept away in the Beaver state. The #1 
draft pick and new management promise to revitalize the moribund NBA 
franchise too long known to America as the "Jail Blazers." Oregon State 
University threatens an NCAA baseball dynasty with its second straight 
national title, implemented by a homegrown team. Portland State University is
shaking off a decade-long football slump with a new coaching duo sporting 
credentials of excellence on a national scale, measured by success in both 
college and pro ranks. The track and field glories earned by Webfoot athletes
during the bygone years of Steve Prefontaine and NCAA meet dominance 
seem to be reconstitued by new UO coach Vic Lananna. 

Duck basketball reached the NCAA final eight in the Big Dance and 
respectability has returned to cagers wearing the colors of PSU, with a talent
upgrade that seems sure to earn a Big Sky title and a first invitation to the national title 64-team Gavotte. And let us not fail to appreciate where the 
football fortunes of both UO and OSU have climbed, since we can well 
remember when both were perrenial also-rans in league play. 

Portland’s PGE Park will become a lively, fan-filled place this fall and leave
sports fans wondering why a previous city administration failed to recognize 
the full potential of a city center arena with a more sophisticated design that 
would attract major league baseball.

Roses and Raspberries...a very big bouquet to the epiphany of Paul Allen, who has discovered  young, intelligent and driven management now 
correcting his near destruction of what was once the proudest franchise in the
NBA...our sympathy to any sports fan who failed to see TV casts of the
OSU Beavers triumphant march through the best teams in college 
baseball...no amount of posies are enough to honor the performance of OSU
coach Pat Casey, who never doubted that he could lead a bunch of native
sons of the cold and damp over the forces from sunnier climes...a shower of 
rose petals for the mastery of Casey’s squad over every facet of diamond 
fundamentals.

© 2007  Oregon Magazine