Today marks the final day of my junior year here at the University of Oregon and oh, what a year it has been.
This column represents my final farewell to those of you who have followed the sports desk over the course of the year, and my last opinion piece as the sports editor for the Emerald before summer hits and the majority of you return to wherever it is you call home.
I’ll spare you the sappy closing remarks on how much I’ve enjoyed my time at the head of the sports desk, and rather reflect back on a few of my favorite moments in Oregon sports this school year. It’s daunting to realize a full year has come and gone, yet again, and here I am ready to dive into the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday and a laundry list full of other sporting events to come this summer.
But as I look back on the year and try to pinpoint the things that stuck with me the most, like most of you, I’m sure, it’s nearly impossible to stay away from the unbelievable ride that was the 2010-11 football season.
From the first summer practice I attended on Aug. 7, to the day we flew out of Glendale on Jan. 11, it’s still hard to believe what we at the Emerald got to be a part of.
Think about it.
There were 189 points scored in the first three games of the season alone (while giving up just 13) in what led to the most prolific offense college football has seen in a long time. And even with all the amazing statistical things we so diligently kept track of each week, interceptions and LaMichael James touchdown celebrations, those won’t be what I remember 20 years down the line.
I’ll remember the first time I interviewed one Clifford Harris, for an early edition of Game Day, when he confirmed that beloved quote (what was it again?) that turned Cliff Harris into Uncle Cliffy, and Kash into a viral sensation. A small part of me likes to think I had something positive to do with the Cliff Harris epidemic, and another part almost feels guilty for the way reporters bait Cliff into an attractive sound byte.
He would have done it himself, regardless, but I’m proud to say we were the first on scene, so to speak.
Of course, the Civil War win in Corvallis, as Patrick Malee and I nearly froze to our keyboards up in the wind tunnel that was the Reser Stadium photo deck, will be another of the fondest memories from the year.
Not sure who posted what numbers in that 17-point victory, not sure I care, either. But I will remember being jammed in that tiny hallway outside the press conference room surrounded by more reporters than football players.
And when I went to my seat near the back of the room with Patrick, minding my own business, why wouldn’t Phil Knight sit down right next to me? Only seems logical, right? Ah, the things I would give to have another opportunity to be in that moment, and shake Mr. Knight’s hand and thank him for everything he does for the University of Oregon and the way he — however indirectly — affected mine and so many other young people’s college experience for the better.
It was him, after all, who brought the greatest tennis players in the world to Eugene for an event that is hard to put into words. I was lucky enough to be in the same room with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova before they took the grand stage, and I watched as the slew of other Nike celebrities rolled through Matthew Knight Arena.
I’ll remember the way Jessica Moore overcame one of the scariest moments ever at Howe Field this spring to help her team when they need it most. While I never got to say it to her face — and I’m sure she won’t be reading this — that moment, to this day, was one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen from an Oregon athlete.
I’ll remember how welcoming Felecia Mulkey and the acrobatics and tumbling team have always been, and how happy I was for them when all their hard work came to fruition with a national championship title in front of their home fans.
Yet, as I ponder over this selfishly short list of things that hold special value to me from my one year as sports editor, one thing is obvious — it’s the people that make this job worth stressing over every single day of my life.
The sports editor in my hometown at The World newspaper, John Gunther, once told me that he does what he does for the kids. I don’t think I ever really understood what he meant until just now, but man, was he right.@@http://theworldlink.com/sports/article_97ce06c5-700a-56ab-acf3-642338c5c4c2.html@@
This job is about the individuals who make the sports we love so unique. It’s the people that we love, cheer, and support that make these games worth reliving through one form of storytelling or another.
And for making me come to this realization over the course of this column, no matter how off-base or cheesy it may seem, I assure you it’s genuine.
For that, I thank you.