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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 23, 2005 Mike Bailey North Medford High School, 1989 By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune The football injuries have healed over time for Mike Bailey. The 1989 North Medford graduate suffered his share of bumps and bruises playing offensive tackle for Washington State University. But the now 34-year-old has nothing but fond memories of his playing days. "My shoulder still clicks a little and my knuckles and fingers are pretty beat up," says Bailey, who had four knee operations and a shoulder separation as a 6-foot-4, 276-pound lineman for the Cougars. "That’s just the breaks. I would suggest to anybody, if they have a chance, be an athlete to experience what it’s like. I’m not real sure everybody’s cut out to play football, though." Bailey works as a sales manager for Premier Mortgage Funding in El Dorado Hills, Calif., which is just northeast of Sacramento. "It’s a lot of fun," says Bailey, a San Francisco native. "You’re always trying to stay on top of the market. Advertisement "Being a sales manager, you tend to believe in the product you’re selling. Good sales people are hard to come by." During his time at North Medford, Bailey’s football teams struggled after Medford High split during his sophomore year in 1986. The Black Tornado finished 3-6 his senior year under first- year coach Rod Rumrey. "Back then, North was the basketball school and South was the football school," says Bailey. "I have memories of going through some hard times in football. It’s been great to see how Rumrey has turned that (football) program around." Bailey played three injury-filled seasons for Washington State, spending one year blocking for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the No. 1 pick in the 1993 NFL draft. After college, Bailey spent three seasons coaching a semi-professional team in Sweden. He implemented the WSU defensive and offensive playbooks, which led to league championships for two of those squads. Upon his return from Europe, Bailey bounced around Los Angeles, spending six months as a VIP security doorman for a trendy night club on the Sunset Strip. But the sporting world would come calling again. While in Los Angeles, Bailey was picked up as a researcher for on-air talent at Fox Sports, where he gathered statistics and informational peculiarities for certain games and players. During his time with FOX, Bailey did work for the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and World Series. He also tracked down information for NFL commentators John Madden, Pat Summerall, Howie Long, James Brown, Terry Bradshaw and Chris Collinsworth. "At that time, Emmitt Smith was breaking records, Jerry Rice was breaking records," Bailey says. "It was pretty exciting. Each week we had to be updated." The money wasn’t as exhilarating, however, so Bailey moved on to a different line of work. He wound up working in his family-owned custom cabinetry and kitchen shop in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he found the necessary tools to be a successful salesman. Bailey, who spends a majority of his time with his girlfriend, Erin, stays pretty active. Just not in football. "I like to golf, I play some intramural hoops and softball, and I like to hunt and fish and do a lot of outdoor activities," he says. "I’m really enjoying my life right now." Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483 or e-mail Mike Bailey ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s