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Spectators were treated to a couple of close bouts Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Lane Events Center. The sold-out crowd of 1,200-plus came out to see the Sick Town Derby Dames of Corvallis take on the local Flat Track Furies and the Andromedolls vs. Church of Sk8in. Continue reading
For those unfamiliar with Roller Derby, it’s time you knew: This is one of the most exciting, brutal and enjoyable-to-watch sports ever created. And the best part? It’s for ladies only. The Emerald City Roller Girls hit the rink this week to begin their sixth season of what some have called “rugby on skates.” It’s more like speed-skating meets wrestling. Ferocity is encouraged. Fear is not an option. Fun is a given. So, if you’re intrigued (which you should be), roll on down to Lane Events Center this weekend and see what all the fuss is about. Continue reading
1. The forward pass. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota throws the ball pretty well and Kansas State does not do a good job defending against the pass. The Wildcats rank 90th in the nation in defending the pass and got scorched for more than 300 yards more than once. Watch for Josh Huff to make some big catches. If Marcus can find tight end Colt Lyerla early and often, the Ducks will roll. Continue reading
Not to gloat but, on paper, my cultural resume is fairly sophisticated. I have eaten escargot. Every year I loyally re-up my New Yorker subscription. … Continue reading
Amateur fighter Chris Sanjose sat in the staging area. His body bears telltale signs of the fight he’d just engaged. Next to him sat his … Continue reading
The folks at Midtown MMA are at it again with their third in a series of mixed martial arts shows, highlighting local fighters and local gyms. Midtown Throwdown III will present a 16-fight card starting at 6 pm Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Lane Events Center. Each match will consists of three three-minute rounds, where fighters may win by way of knockout, submission, technical knockout or decision. Continue reading
The place looks like a dojo. It is clean, well lit and spartan. No frills. On the front door is a sign that warning not to enter unless they are willing to commit 100 percent to the workout. Inside are signs that say things like, “it’s suppose to be brutal,” “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional,” and, perhaps most foreboding, hanging in the bathroom: “Adapt or perish.” Continue reading
In a bout marked by blood-splattering hits, a revolving-door penalty box, five ejections, and an appearance by Miss Oregon USA; our hometown men’s roller derby team lost a testosterone-filled event. The Lane County Concussion hosted the Deep Valley Belligerents of Mendocino County, Calif., Jan. 15 at the Willamalane Center in Springfield. The 198-154 score does not accurately represent how close this bout was. Continue reading
Sports reporters have long been blasted for pursuing homerism that roots for the home team rather than journalism. So it's interesting to look at the alternative realities of a Register-Guard v. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Rose Bowl match up. Here's the game-ending spike that the "reporters" largely covered by watching on TV like everyone else: Continue reading
You might think I wouldn’t care about the fact that Seattle’s basketball team is leaving. Seattle’s a long drive, for one thing, and for another, my heart belongs to the Pistons (and then to the Suns. Gotta love hippie Canadian NBA stars). But for some reason it still pisses me off that the Sonics (though they won’t be called that anymore) are ditching Seattle. Continue reading