We are making a major editorial shift at FishDuck.com for the first time in our four-and-a half-year history, as we are going to allow negative articles to be published on the site. This is a movement that is certainly out of my comfort zone, as my attitude has always been that there are enough good things to write about concerning our …
Johnny Football, Oregon Culture, and an Era Lost
“Whatever is the natural propensity of a person is hard to overcome. If a dog were to be made king, he would still gnaw at his shoelaces.” The Hitopadesha Although he is in the process of doing it incrementally, I certainly hope that Johnny Manziel will not confirm his father’s fear and commit suicide in one fell swoop. New Age folk will, of …
Ducks Offense Continues to Fly Out of the Sun
Surprise, surprise – pitching headlines another preseason for Oregon baseball. Cole Irvin told reporters last week that he is “the healthiest [he’s] been [his] whole career.” Matt Krook is returning, attempting conjure some of the magic he showed as a freshman after shining in Cape Cod this summer. Last, but certainly not least, is David Peterson who should only improve with age, …
Bill Walton: “A Staggering Win”
I cannot believe what I just saw from our beloved Ducks! They beat Arizona by eight (83-75) in Tucson in front of 14,000 screaming Wildcat fans, when the last 49 teams coming to McKale Center could not! I’m shaking my head and mumbling gibberish and would have yelled and exulted at the incredible victory — were I not so stunned. This is …
Cranky Curmudgeon: Ted Miller is WRONG about the Pac-12
The Cranky Curmudgeon, is a new writer at FishDuck.com, and I welcome him as a critic of all, and one who is not reluctant to step into negative writing territory. Reading a few of his first articles submitted required me to step back from the keyboard, lest the flames singe my eyebrows. Jon Joseph is a retired corporate attorney who …
The Pac-12 as Never Before?
All right….you know I cannot stay away from a keyboard too long, as Mr. FishDuck has to share what is rattling around in his head. This break I’ve been taking has been wonderful due to the absence of frustration that comes with managing a website. Yet I never figured when I started FishDuck.com at age 55 — that I would …
A Case for Keeping it Simple
Although Oregon has now been a winning program for more than 25 years (dating to the 1989 Independence Bowl season), and much of that success has been due to the continuity of its coaching staff — with assistants like Don Pellum, Steve Greatwood and John Neal‘s tenures stretching across multiple head coaching regimes — there have always been necessary course …
Christmas, Hernias and Bowl Games
Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out With the changes at FishDuck.com, the Three-and-Out hasn’t gone away. It’s just been laid up with Christmas, a hernia and bowl games. And that’s the subject of this week’s Three-and-Out. 1. Christmas. On my last trip to the bank, the teller innocently asked me how things were going. I told her, “Nothing fatal.” She laughed until the …
FishDuck.com — Fading but Not Leaving
After having written more than 300 articles over the last four years — none were as hard for me as this one. FishDuck.com … after having many false stops and starts in the past is finally downsizing – as we have attempted many times. The more than 50 writers and editors are now gone (at one time we had more than 100 volunteers in six departments), and it will …
Quarterbacks, Defense and Championship Runs
Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out If you had to pick three sore spots from 2015 Oregon football, quarterbacks, defense and the lack of a championship run would have to dominate the list. Those sore spots and what they mean moving ahead are the subjects of this week’s Three-and-Out. 1. Quarterbacks. The Oregon program has been criticized for bringing Vernon Adams in from …
An Army Duck Shares His Passion: Duck Family Day!
Duck Family Day is a new feature article where Oregon fans share their stories of … being Oregon fans! Email charles@fishduck.com to share your experiences, your family stories and what it means to be a Duck fan. Craig Harmon is in the military and a reader of FishDuck.com and is extremely passionate about our beloved Ducks, the same as you and me. Contact …
Ducks Face Tough Test at Boise Saturday
Just looking at their current win-loss records, one would think the No. 24-ranked Oregon Ducks (7-1) should not have too big a problem taking on the unranked Boise State Broncos (6-4) Saturday in Boise (5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network). Taking a closer look, one sees that three of the Broncos’ losses came at the hands of No. 1 Michigan State and …