MEAN DOES NOT NEGATE THE TRUTH by ST

After I arrived on the West Coast, I was fortunate to make some great friends. Even met my wife. At times they've pulled me aside and said that my East Coast "tone" is capable of coming off as a bit mean spirited and downright obnoxious. I understood, but at the same time countered it doesn't mean I'm wrong. Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker is trying to continue his playing career in the Developmental League. Despite having earned about 100 million over his career in salary, he's not only broke, but in debt. Antoine Walker is a moron. Is that harsh? Mean? Sure! Wrong? I don't think so.
Still haven't heard from an OSU supporter who has offered up a football reason this Civil War is going to be tight. Received some cuts, some 'watch outs', but no one has even come remotely close to convincing me the game is hanging in the balance like last season at Autzen. We will have a conversation with Lindsay Schnell who is in her 1st year covering the Beaver Beat for the Oregonian. She's due for a chat at 4:20. I really like her work. Had a great quote from one of the coaches about having to "tackle in space" better against Oregon. If that's their potion, I'm doubling down on the Ducks.
The Colorado Rockies have just extended their shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the tune of 20-mil per season. That's a bit more than the Yankees offered Derek Jeter, but less than he wants. Tulo will play this season at age 26. He's just hitting his prime. Love my Jeets, but he's gotta get a grip and take that 3 year, 45 million dollar offer from the Yanks.
I was just given some neat giveaways to get us through the week. Let's begin with $25 gift certificate to Jung's Mongolian Grill. Great stuff. Up West 11th in Eugene. Text me at 653-3098 or email the answer to stevetannen@live.com
We've seen a few lopsided Civil War football games this decade including 65-38 in 2008, 50-21 in 2004. What was the most one-sided romp during the decade of the 1990's?? Good luck!

PROVE IT by ST

Get the cliches ready. It's the Civil War. Throw the records out. You never know what can happen. I buy this in some cases. If the Ducks play their worst game of the year by far. If Darron Thomas throws 5 interceptions(like Joey in 2000). Maybe, somehow, Oregon State can hang with this team and steal it. I don't see it. I see the USC romp by OSU a borderline abberation. The 2010 Beavs are fair, maybe mediocre. They lost to awful teams like UCLA and the Washington Schools. The defense is just plain bad when if faces a solid, balanced offense. They can't get the opposition off the field. Stanford converted 9 of 15 on third down. Wazzou was 10 of 17! Let's not forget, last year the Ducks rolled up nearly 500 total yards of offense and turned it over twice. They passed and ran for more than 200 yards each. This against an Oregon State team that was Pac 10 champion caliber. Oregon is much stronger in all aspects of the game in 2010, the Beavs weaker. Their defense failed to find a replacement top playmaker Keaton Kristick or David Pa'aluhi. Quizz is simply not as dangerous without James. Ryan Katz as a sophomore is not in the same league as Sean Canfield who was as good a QB as we had in the Pac 10 last year. Nothing is for sure, but it's gonna take more than anger, desire and want to convince me OSU has a shot to win this game.
As for Auburn barely climbing past Oregon in the BCS rankings, it's completely and totally meaningless. For openers, I'm a bit surprised the computers have the Ducks this close to the Tigers. I have bad news, the Pac 10 is 2 elite teams and 8 that are either very mediocre, fair or just plain bad. Really? Washington wins as many conference games as anyone besides Oregon and Stanford? Time to bag the no respect, or East Coast bias whine. It's moronic. Just worry about this team beating Oregon State then taking on Auburn from what is clearly the best league in the nation.
So much NFL and Boise State's nightmare and the decent showing by Dana Altman's crew, plus a few surprises coming at ya!

THE SCHEDULE AND A FEW THOUGHTS by ST

This blog is gonna have to last through Monday unless I get really motivated(don't count on it).
Want to chime in on the fact most of the pundits are riding the Alabama bandwagon, calling for them to knock off Auburn. It won't be an upset as the Tide is a 4 point chalk with an over/under at 58 points. I still don't get it. Not saying Bama "can't" win, but based on what do they stop the Tigers. Alabama had an historically great defense last year but lost the following. One of the nation's great run stoppers in Terrence Cody on the nose(2nd round pick of Baltimore). Add in fellow lineman Brandon Deadrick who was taken by the Patriots. It goes on. Rolando McClain was the Butkus Award winner as the top linebacker in America along with one of their top tacklers, Eryk Anders, an outside linebackers. Not sold? How about 1st team All American corner Javier Arenas, a 2nd round selection of the Chiefs. On the other side they lost Kareem Jackson who was a 1st round pick of the Texans, is now starting in the NFL. A year ago(granted at Auburn), it was a really close game, 26-21 against a team who lost 5 SEC games. The Tigers had a decent game. Just under 350 total yards, 180 throwing, 150 running. Nice balance. Now the Auburn offense is 100 times better and the Tide defense is significantly weaker. I love Auburn in this game! FYI this game is at 11:30 our time on CBS(KVAL local).
On Friday we'll also get Oregon/AZ on ESPN at 4pm, Nebraska looking to ice their spot in the Big 12 title game on ABC at 12:30(KEZI local) and the biggie between Boise State & Nevada at 7:15, following Ducks/Cats on ESPN. Broncos win that after an Alabama victory over Auburn and they might just clinch their spot in the National Title game.
On Saturday, Oregon State at Stanford is 4:30 on Versus. We won't get Oklahoma State & Oklahoma at 5 on ABC as, understandably, KEZI will roll with USC/Notre Dame though the battle for the Bedlam Bell is about 800 times more significant on a national level.
The Big 10 picture clarifies a bit on Saturday with Wisconsin hosting Northwestern at 12:30 on KEZI. The day begins with Michigan at Ohio State at 9am on our ABC affiliate as well with ESPN2 rolling with Michigan @ Penn State. FYI....if all 3 win it likely means a trip to Pasedena for the Badgers as they'd finish higher in the BCS rankings to break that 3 way tie.

LIST TIME by ST

I like to think I come clean at least as often as any other Sports Radio host in America. Woke up today. Snow on the ground. On the cars. Had to take time to shovel, clear the rigs, even to do some work in the backyard and on our faucets as we have a 58 year old home. Really cut into my show prep. While working out I heard Coach K of Duke won his 799th game last night with the Blue Devils and is 4th all time behind Bobby Knight, Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp. Started wondering about the great hoop coaches I'd seen. Then the dominoes started to tumble and I figured it's radio bailout time. Gonna throw it out to Justin and the gang who are the all time manager/coaches we've seen. Top 3 in college football and hoops, NBA, MLB, NFL. That should kill a couple of hours. Throw in Oregon getting back to work versus Cal, some interesting goings on in the NBA and a newly crowned AL MVP, I might sneak by with minimal work. Really counting on our listeners.
Oregon men's basketball team gets back at it this evening with Texas Southern at The Pit. If you want in on the action and perhaps a pair of freebies, you'll need to log onto our website(already there) and join our Skybox Club. Looks like that's how we will be distributing the tickets we get for our beloved listeners. Their next game is against top ranked Duke in Portland on Saturday. Great timing there!
Today I'll also recap the picture as far as the NFL playoffs and major conference races in college football. Look forward to it.

TELLING WEEKEND? by ST

If we've learned anything this football season, and I mean NCAA & NFL, it's don't pay all that much attention to what you just saw. Not sure I recall a year where the landscape changes more week to week. I was positive this Oregon State team was as weak as we've seen since 1997, the year before they beat Oregon in that Triple OT Civil War. And by the by, those losses to the Cougs, Dawgs and Bruins are a horror show. Saturday's top to bottom demolition of USC shows Mike Riley can still rally the troops and knock you off your pedastal. Still have to grab one agains the class of the conference(and nation), on the road at Stanford and home for the Ducks. Gotta admit, I was way more worried about Arizona from an Oregon point of view. That's changed a bit.
Lot of focus on the antics of Nebraska coach Bo Pellini losing it with the refs and his own star QB Taylor Martinez. Want to discuss this on today's show. It's about the leopard and his spots. I'll cite clowns like Mike Stoops of Arizona, Terrell Owens and Vince Young. I think people can change and mature, I wonder if the same percentage we see in society applies to long time spoiled, pampered, overpaid folks in the fantasy world of sports?
Gotta doff my cap to the folks handing out MLB's post season awards. Some felt to voters might go with Albert Pujols who again put up monster numbers over the deserving Joey Votto of the Reds. They didn't. Votto was nearly unanimous taking all but one vote. Cincy got in the playoffs, the Cardinals didn't. This must be incorporated when decifering a guys value. Well done.

A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT by ST

We usually reserve this space for what I'll term "the majors". Oregon football, NFL, NBA, college hoops, MLB or the big story of the day. The past couple of years I've had many on air chats with Duck Volleyball coach Jim Moore as well as the coaches of soccer, lacrosse and track & field. This morning I had the treat of being joined live on our KUGN show from the Gateway IHOP by senior volleyballer Heather Meyers and sophmore Alaina Bergsma. Simply put, just a pair of amazing young women who are not only terrific players but special people as well. We get caught up in the 'big time' sports and don't get me wrong, I'm a junkie for March Madness and Pac 10 football. It's also important in a community like this to understand how many incredible student athletes are doing their thing on a daily basis, just out of the spotlight. It was an honor to spend the morning with HM & AB. I'm looking forward to seeing them play tonight at The Pit, 7pm against UCLA. Just two more games ever for the volleyball program at Mac Court. I have extra tickets for anyone interested. Drop me a line at stevetannen@live.com if you're interested. It's the first time for my wife and I. I've heard it's incredibly entertaining!
Got an interesting e-mail yesterday about Oregon football. Lot of national focus on Jeff Tedford asking his guys to fake injuries to slow down the Duck offense. This gentleman asked if I'd noticed tacklers ripping off the shoe of Darron Thomas. Have seen him have to put the occasional cleat back on so I'm wondering if this is another delay tactic. Great observation!
Loving the bye week. We'll get back after it in preparation for Arizona come Monday. Enjoy the weekend.

THE TRUTH HURTS by ST

I heard an interview with Trailblazer coach Nate McMillian and he was dead on. Can't really point the finger of blame over Greg Oden being incapable of staying healthy and playing NBA hoops. It's not pre-meditated like with Michael Vick where it's easy to vent your anger. Still doesn't change the fact it was a bust of a pick with the number one overall selection. For all those harping on how the right move was taking Kevin Durant, save it! I did this show in this state and way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way more than half of you wanted Oden because he was a big guy. Deal with it, or provide me the proof. I screamed from the rooftops that you could not pass on a guy like Oden who had taken Ohio State to the national finals with a terrorizing style of defense and ability to dominate the backboards. I was wrong. They were wrong. The draft is a crap shoot. Period. End of conversation.
I heard and read where the Yankees and Derek Jeter have hit a snag in negotiations. Almost hit the floor laughing. I'd like to smack both sides. Jeets is no longer an elite shortstop despite his gift golden glove. Never, ever in history has a guy his age performed at a high level at that position after experiencing a dip in production. That said, the NY front office is kidding about haggling over money right? They throw away nearly a hundred million on clowns like AJ Burnett, Carl Pavano or Chad Gaudin and are playing the finance card with their franchise face? What a crock.