
Sports books to consider to help you get through winter …
(To make it easy for you to buy any of these books if you are interested, I made each image linked to buying the book right on amazon.com or bookshop.org. I do get a commission if you use the links in this post.)

Finally, Minott is making beautiful music on the hardcourt
For his first four years of college basketball, Tre-Vaughn Minott mostly warmed the bench.

Beaver pitching: Velo, veterans and va va voom
(Second of two parts)
The favorite pitcher of my youth, Warren Spahn, had a simple theme about his craft.

It’s 1, 2, 3, 4, time to open the door for Beaver baseball in ’25
(First of two parts)
Joey Wong was a three-year starting infielder at Oregon State who spent 11 years in the minor leagues, rising as high as the Triple-A level.

Even Cinderella can’t top Caleb Crooks’ story
It sounds like the plot for a made-for-TV movie, but it is not.

Minor has been a major addition for Beavers
CORVALLIS — Coach Wayne Tinkle regards point guard Damarco Minor as a godsend.

Tom Johnson hits the 700 milestone, but it is not just about the victories
GRESHAM — If there is a more unassuming rock star than Tom Johnson, this member of the Fourth Estate has not yet met him.

Some ‘bumps in the road,’ but Clingan is one of Blazers’ important Young Guns
On a Sunday afternoon when the best in the West came calling, some of the Trail Blazers “Young Guns” rose to the challenge.

Can student section make a difference for Beaver basketball? Dam right
CORVALLIS — Wayne Tinkle’s Oregon State Beavers are clearly a different team at home than on the road.

Once a sportscaster, now calling balls and strikes
(Second in a two-part series detailing the careers and post-career lives on former Portland TV sportscasters)

With Gill filled to the gills, Beavers zap Zags
CORVALLIS — Somehow, Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” popped into my head as I watched the seismic scene on Ralph Miller Court at Gill Coliseum Thursday night after Oregon State’s rousing 97-89 overtime victory over Gonzaga.

With Trent Bray and Kyle Bjornstad, everything you want to know about Beaver football
For the past two months, Trent Bray has been as much change agent as head football coach at Oregon State.

Under Chris Casey, players were ‘better human beings than when they went in’
It’s the end of an era at George Fox.

Colin Cowherd: ‘A small-town kid with big dreams’
TV sportscasters have been an important part of the fabric of Portland for as long as I can remember — and I can remember back quite a ways.

Beavers’ Michael Rataj: ‘He is a fabulous kid to be around’
There is little question that Oregon State basketball is better than it was a year ago.

With Gus driving the bus, Hawks have moved into playoff position
Saturday was anything but a red-letter day for the Winterhawks, who looked drained of energy in a 6-3 Western Hockey League loss to the Wenatchee Wild before a crowd of 6,323 at Memorial Coliseum.

A fight to the finish, but Beavers too tough on The Bluff
Michael Meek had a pretty good idea that the unblemished record his Portland Pilots were carrying wasn’t going to last through an entire season.

There’s a Riley in the coaching box at Wazzu
When Washington State visits The Bluff Saturday for a 5 p.m. game at the University of Portland, the Cougars will be bringing along not only a 10-3 record but one of the youngest Division I head coaches in the country.

My Favorite Blazers: Larry Steele
Through the years, there have been a number of Blazers who have been as important for being members of the community as they were players.

On my Heisman vote, a Dam Nation update, the Blazers’ tanking, Soto’s contract, the CFP and TrackTown USA …
Some final thoughts before a little vacation around the holidays …