Losses and Gains

LOSSES

[We lost Walter Thurmond III to a knee injury. From GoDucks.com:
University of Oregon senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III will miss the remainder of the year after suffering a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff of last Saturday’s 42-3 win over California in Autzen Stadium.A MRI on Thurmond’s right knee revealed that surgery (timing yet to be determined) would be required to repair the injury, forcing the West Covina, Calif., co-captain to miss the Ducks’ final eight games of the regular season and any potential post-season opportunities.

[ How bad could it be? Why don't they just tape it up, put a brace on it, let him play in the next game and hope for the best like we did with that other guy a couple of years back. What was his name? Oh well.


Another loss suffered this week kind of hits me personally. It has to do with my days as a student at Oregon.

Kathy Ireland was kicked off Dances with the Stars this week. I'm really bummed because you see, as I studied for midterms and finals in my dorm room, she was the one person who was there with me, encouraging me, making me believe in myself. She was my guiding light. My angel who watched from above.

Kathy was THE legendary Sports Illustrated Supermodel of the 80's. And her SI pics adorned the walls and ceiling around my dorm room.

She went on from supermodeling to become an accomplished actress . . . . well OK. She was an actress . . . . . well . . . She acted in some movies and shows. Who can forget her lead guest star appearance on Barnaby Jones?

Currently she has her own clothing line available at Kmart. She's a philanthropist and an author. And she has her own stylish line of home furnishings. I'll have to admit, her decorating style doesn't really fit mine. How would I describe it? . . . . . . . .

Remember when the U.S. military conquered Baghdad, and the soldiers walked into Saddam's palaces where everything was over-the-top, flamboyant, gold-painted plaster or plastic? I'll betcha Saddam had a Kathy Ireland catalog sitting around somewhere.

But none of that matters. Kathy is a kind, sweet, good Christian supermodel (Actually she may be Jewish. But no matter). It just killed me the other day to watch her get unceremoniously axed on "Dances With The Stars" or whatever that show is called.


OK, so she dances about as well as she acts. But it's not her fault they don't have a dance routine that calls for her to just roll around on the sand in a bikini.

I have to hand it to her though. Once she was out, she took it like the trooper she is. She thanked everyone, said she had lots of fun, learned a lot. She was very gracious.

I wouldn't have blamed her one bit if she blounted one of the cockier contestants like Tom DeLay and then attacked the audience. How can she be gone but DeLay is still in? That is just another reason why I'm afraid health care reform is going to fail.


GAINS

While the loss of Walter Thurmond III will be huge. Oregon's other great D-back, T.J. Ward could be back for the UCLA game.

Another gain has to do with Washington State. First let me just say that after watching WSU play absolutely terrible in there 27-6 loss to USC, and then suggest it was a step in the right direction because last year they were pounded by the Trojans 69 to zip, I just don't have the stomach to poke fun at the Cougs. It would feel like kicking a sick kitten.

Their nine year-old coach is doing the best he can. They're all trying very hard. Oregon is going to win this Saturday. So I'm thinking why not just save it and focus on the positive.

Fortunately, WSU has a great positive. They're getting ready to improve their venue, Martin Stadium. It's long overdue; and if you visit the Cougs website, you'll see that it's a huge source of pride.

I pulled some pics off their site, in fact. The following are an artist's conception of Martin Stadium before and after.


Martin Stadium: Before expansion.

Martin Stadium: After

And here's a bonus. Retractable Sun Roof during inclement weather!













Trivia Question: The other day after Ed Dickson tied a record for catching 11 catches, I asked: Who was the previous Duck tight end holding the record for 11 catches in a game, and what was the game?

We got a flood of responses with answers including Dante Rosario, Russ Francis, Joey Harrington, Haloti Ngata, Kenny Wheaton, Gary Peyton, Gerald Ford, Mariah Carey, etc.

Obviously those are all wrong. Let me help you. The game was a very big game. A "grand daddy" of a game.

The player's LAST name has appeared on a Duck roster three separate times. After graduating, this player had a very brief stint as a professional wrestler; then he went on to win a championship in the pros, but not the NFL.

If you think you know the answer, send a 3" X 5" card to Mad Duck, PO Box 156 . . . Oh hell, I'll just give it to you:


JOSH WILCOX in the 1995 Rose Bowl against Penn State.
I believe the record still holds for tight ends in the Rose Bowl.

A great Duck along with his father Dave and brother Justin (Now the Def. Coord. the those bad Boise State Broncos.), he was in the NFL for awhile. But most notably he was the starting tight end for the L.A. Extreme of the XFL -- Pros wrestling's experiment in pro football. He, along with former Duck RB Sallidin McCallough (probably misspelled) helped lead the Extreme to the first and only championship of the XFL before it went defunct.



BREAKING NEWS: BLOUNT MAY RETURN?!?!?!
From Rob Mosely of the R-G
Oregon football coach Chip Kelly will address the status of suspended running back LeGarrette Blount with media following the Ducks’ walk-through today [at 11 am], UO officials said, including the possibility that Blount could play again this season.

LOSS or GAIN?
[Gain: LeGarrette Blount would certainly be a huge plus for the offense. That's obvious.
Loss: Oregon credibility. What if he screws up again? The team chemistry seems to be working without him. Would this upset it?

Check the media sources I have listed on the left later today for Kelly's new plan.

WSU game on TV?
Where will the Oregon/WSU game be televised? Locally on Comcast. If you are outside of Oregon or don't have Comcast, you probably won't see it on TV.

Alternative: Go on http://www.goducks.com/ and sign up for the O-zone for $10 a month. You can view a stream of the game live. It's not bad. ] --kb