2023 Year In Review Part 1: The 10 Most Read Stories

February 15, 2024 Kerry Eggers

To subscribers and readers: a big thank you for helping make 2023 a successful one for kerryeggers.com.

We posted 122 stories in 2023, bringing us to nearly 400 posts since we began operation in May of 2020.

Our stories resulted in nearly 181,000 pageviews, up 52 percent from the number of the previous year. Pageviews have eclipsed the 400,000 mark through 3 1/2 years of existence.

We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors, including Salem/Keizer area sports bars Sammie’s Pub and Lott and Blackjack’s on Commercial, which sponsored our second “Pros vs. Joes Bracket Challenge” in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

We offer a hearty thanks to our sponsors, which offer the financial assistance to allow readers to subscribe to the website for free. A special thanks to Cook Solutions Group, our presenting sponsor. Supporting sponsors are Cutsforth’s Market of Canby; Javier Spyker, attorney at law; Bravuro Cellars Vineyard; Old Spaghetti Factory; Pat Quigg and Incight; Jim Fisher Volvo; Essay Cure; Huber’s Cafe; Ken Eagon; Collection Connection and Jeff Sanders Entertainment.

The following are the 10 most-read articles from 2022. In Part II, I list 10 stories I believe merit a second look.

John Wooden and Mike Cowgill arrive at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house (courtesy Mike Cowgill)

10. April 14.

Wooden to Casey: A legend follows a legend

In 1973, UCLA basketball coach John Wooden accepted an invitation to speak at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Corvallis. Fifty years later, another Hall of Fame-caliber coach — Pat Casey — addressed the men at the Sig Ep house.

Travis Bazzana will be a junior and one of the team leaders next season. Bazzana hit .374 with 11 homers and led the Pac-12 in on-base percentage, walks and stolen bases this past season (courtesy OSU sports communications)

Senior Jaren Hunter will be a key on the mound for the Beavers next season (courtesy Scobel Wiggins/OSU sports communications)

9. June 26.

A quick look back, a long look ahead at Beaver baseball

After Oregon State’s College World Series hopes were dashed at the LSU Regional, we canvas coaches Mitch Canham, Rich Dorman, Darwin Barney and Ryan Gipson for their takes on the immediate past and the future of Beaver baseball.

All-America second baseman Travis Bazzana will return for his junior season in 2024 (courtesy OSU sports communications)

8. December 15.

Beavers loaded with hitters, deeper in pitching for 2024

Beaver Nation loves Beaver baseball, and this story provided a look after Fall Ball how Oregon State stacks up for ’24, with insight provided by coaches Mitch Canham and Rich Dorman.

Adley is entered into the home run derby (Courtesy @orioles Twitter feed)

7. July 9.

The Rutschmans at T-Mobile Park: Living out a fantasy

With the Rutschman family before they invaded Seattle to watch OSU favorite son Adley Rutschman participate in his first major league All-Star Game. One of three stories I did on Rutschman from the All-Star activities at T-Mobile Park.

After 10 years as head men’s basketball coach at Linfield, Shanan Rosenberg has been fired (courtesy Dylan Wilhelm/McMinnville News-Register)

6. March 28.

At Linfield, ‘The Tallest Tree in the Forest’ falls

An in-depth look at the controversial dismissal of Linfield basketball coach Shanan Rosenberg and the turmoil surrounding the Wildcats program.

Travis Bazzana has put together one of the best offensive seasons in Oregon State baseball history in 2023 (courtesy OSU sports communications)

5. May 20.

Bazzana looks to write the ultimate chapter, ending in Omaha

A profile of Oregon State’s sensational sophomore second baseman, All-American Travis Bazzana, before the NCAA Tournament began.

The Jacksons, from left: Kingston, Asia, Steven, Skyler. In front, Journey and Jax (courtesy Steven Jackson)

4. November 9.

Steven Jackson on entering the Beaver Hall of Fame: ‘There is a forever bond’

With former OSU standout running back Steven Jackson as he prepared for entry into the Oregon State Sports Hall of Fame.

Oregon State Beavers football quarterback Ben Gulbranson

3. December 7.

Blow after blow to Oregon State athletics. It’s been a nightmare

A column echoing an Oregon State sports fan’s lament about all that went wrong in 2023.

“Real leaders show up when times are hard,” new Oregon State football coach Trent Bray says (courtesy Karl Maasdam/OSU sports communications)

2. December 1.

Everything You wanted to Know about Beaver football, but were afraid to ask

Jonathan Smith departs for Michigan State, and all hell breaks loose in Corvallis. This article fills in many of the blanks about coaches, players and what is going on with Oregon State football.

Ex-Beaver two-sport athlete Scott Sanders ran the now defunct organization, called the “Giant Killers Collective”

1. October 14, 2022.

The ABCs of NIL, and its effect on college sports today

Yes, that’s right. A story posted in 2022 is our most-read article of 2023. All throughout last year readers were checking out the story I wrote in the fall of 2022 about the complicated, controversial subject of Name, Imagine and Likeness payouts in college athletics.

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Readers: what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them in the comments below. On the comments entry screen, only your name is required, your email address and website are optional, and may be left blank.