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It’s a calm Monday night in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood, but Crux Rock Climbing Gym is packed. Or at least it looks packed. For Crux it’s actually a slow night, with about 30 or so climbers, ranged between middle-school-aged to late 50s, gripping handholds and falling onto thick blue mats. Tonight, it looks as though I might be the only newcomer. Continue reading
Despite much wishful thinking since the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup, soccer fans remain marginalized in this country. Soccer rarely receives the attention and accommodation given to the three (or four) hegemonic sports in the U.S. — American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey (what Andrei Markovits and Steven Hellerman refer to as the “big three and one-half”). Continue reading
Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that every person has the right to leisure. For many people, leisure consists of playing soccer, especially with goals, referees, out-of-bounds lines and other standard conditions — including opponents. These things are not so easy to get at the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP), I discovered when I came to play there as an outsider in a prison soccer match. Continue reading
This Sunday Falling Sky Brew Pub hosted their 2nd annual Worlds Shortest Bike Race. With about 150 in attendance racers took on a 13.05 foot course in heats of 4 with the goal of being either the fastest or slowest to complete the course. Here are some photos from the races. Continue reading
The goalkeeper didn’t even have time to lift her hands in the air. The shot by Oregon’s Marlo Sweatman from outside the 18-yard box was that fast. After the defensive midfielder’s first shot rebounded off a Louisiana State defender, all Sweatman had to do was put her foot through the ball and keep moving forward during the UO women’s soccer match against the LSU Tigers at Papé Field Aug. 21. Continue reading
Not long ago I was able to tour Civic Stadium. Even in a state of neglect the local landmark's potential and palpable history was inspiring. Here are some photographs of Eugene's one of a kind Civic Stadium as it stood before it was destroyed by fire yesterday. Continue reading
Andy Zuñiga in mid-swing as he passes the ball up field. Photo by Trask Bedortha. Like many children, Tunde Jowosimi grew up playing soccer, and he continued playing when he moved from Nigeria to England. Continue reading
Golfing is to sports what masturbation is to sex — a solitary endeavor that, no matter how vigorously you go at it, always ends up being about you and you alone, as you come face to face with your own failings in the universe as well as the measure of your stamina in overcoming them. I’ve been golfing, more or less vigorously, for years, and I’m sad to report that my game hasn’t improved one jot. It’s an existential dilemma. Golf, for me, is too often a good walk spoiled, just like people think Mark Twain said. So why walk? Continue reading
If you spend enough time around folks who play frisbee golf, the phrase “growing the sport” eventually comes up. Frisbee golf has blossomed in popularity over the past few years — with new courses and tournaments emerging in Eugene and across the country. The 2015 Lynx Tournament, presented May 22-24 by Dynamic Discs, provides participants an opportunity to play the gargantuan 18-hole Middlefield Golf Course in Cottage Grove. The 13,000-foot course is known as one of the top five distance courses in the world. Continue reading
When Lane United soccer club returns to Willamalane Center to kick off their sophomore season with an exhibition game on May 8, expect the team to build off the momentum they created in 2014. During the inaugural season for Lane’s local soccer club last year, the team secured a home venue at Willamalane, a title sponsor with Oakshire Brewing, a developing fan base as well as a devoted supporter’s group in the Red Aces. Continue reading