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--> --> Ducks show potential as new Blazers The East Oregonian Aug. 11 The University of Oregon Ducks are gaining a reputation as the Trail Blazers of Eugene. The Blazers figured out early on that, as the only (professional) game in town, they could be as rude and overpriced as they cared to be and the fans would keep coming. So over the years they've brought out the lawyers whenever any mom and pop business dared to use any form of the Blazer nickname or logo. They've kept their ticket prices some of the highest in the National Basketball Association. And under commandant Bob Whitsitt they've tossed fans for having signs that criticize management and replaced upstanding citizens who are good players with good players who are social misfits. But the fans keep paying and watching, and the Blazers keep making money, so don't expect any changes. The Ducks, now that they are a winning team attracting national attention, are learning how to be equally obnoxious, and they appear to be quick studies. In case it's not obvious, UO Athletic Director Bill Moos plays the part of Bob Whitsitt for the Ducks. Both seem to use this operating procedure: Do something stupid, try hard to justify it or deny it, and if there's no way to do that, back out by claiming everyone misunderstood your intent. Moos pulled a major Whitsitt when the university said it was considering limiting the rights of TV stations to show highlights of UO football games. The restriction being considered was 20 seconds. That's hardly enough time to show the highlights of a 3-0 defensive struggle, let alone a 44-41 double-overtime thriller (that score should be familiar, especially to Beaver fans, since OSU beat the Ducks by that score in 1998) After national media groups objected and the likelihood of "legal entanglements" appeared, Moos announced the UO will not limit TV highlights after all. But as goofy as it was, that brouhaha still was better than the Blazers courting a registered sex offender. But the Ducks show a lot of potential. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing