Also a tip of the cap today goes out to former Associate AD/Oregon Sports Network Broadcaster Joe Giansante, for his interest in starting the conversation to restart Baseball at Oregon. Sure Kilkenny financed the Ducks revival of Baseball, but Giansante was vital in gaging the interest of the Administration and meeting with the influences in the Donor Base (aside from Pat Kilkenny and Family). I love recognizing the man whom the Ballyard is named after, but Joe Giansante is also a man who should be celebrated today too. WITHOUT HIM, Ducks Baseball isn't making it's second Super Regionals appearance in modern program history. Thank you Joe Giansante.
I second the thought about Joe Giansante - he was the biggest push (maybe next to Kilkenny) to bring Oregon baseball back - I talked to him shortly after one of the first baseball games and thanked him profusely for almost single handedly bringing Oregon baseball back! So please include him in a priority seating at PK Park!
I am very happy for the Ducks success, which continues to validate the high level of baseball play here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Despite multiple national championships by the Oregon State beavers and multiple postseason runs by the Oregon ducks we just don't get the respect we deserve. I mean the SEC getting to host eight regionals this year and Arizona state and possibly USC getting snubbed by the committee is a farce. The SEC east coast bias is bad for the overall health of collegiate baseball.
My uncle played baseball for the Ducks in the late 30's before he spent 4 years in the Pacific as a Marine. He also spend several years as a professor at Oregon. Needless to say, the demise of the baseball program in the 80's was hard on him but he did live long enough to see it return. He would be very proud of this year's Ducks. Thanks PK and Joe G!
Thanks John! Great refresher story. I learned more about Pat this time around. I'm an OSU alum and huge baseball fan. Heck, I still rewatch the 2018 College World Series over and over again and it still gives me goosebumps.
I will be rooting for the Ducks to win it all! I want them to show no mercy and beat the CRAP out of each team they play! SGO DUCKS!!!
I was at the ‘18 Championship and it was truly the experience of a lifetime. It was amazing. Beating those Hogs was glorious and magical. I can’t wait for the Beavs to make another run at it. 🧡🖤🦫
I will never forget walking into the Rose Bowl in 1995, taking my seat (we were 3 rows behind the Ducks)and looking around. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I knew then the University of Oregon had arrived.
“You just gave me goosebumps,” he said. “Like when I walked into the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1995 and saw ‘OREGON’ painted in the end zone. When you’re young those things aren’t going to happen.”
I did the same thing that day and tears welled up in my eyes. One of the greatest times in my life.
great!, great!, great! such a fine tribute and story JC. I am a Beaver guy but I will be rooting for the Ducks this weekend and proudly congratulate them for a stellar season.
I still have a bad taste in my mouth about how the rebirth of baseball happened and who had to take the hit. And why with all the money these people throw around, anyone had to take the hit.
he's talking about the elimination of the wrestling program. Lots of wrestling supporters are still bitter about that. what is sad though is that it took reinstatement of baseball to wake up the wrestling supporters, too little too late. I think their blame is focused in the wrong direction.
I wouldn’t expect PK to credit the Beavers for the duck resurrection of their baseball program, but i gotta believe the Beavs winning back to back “Nattys” (i really don’t like that word) in ‘06 and ‘07, helped PK and his efforts. You are welcome, :). Also, a tip of the cap to loooong ago duck baseballer Dave Roberts, a very good player. Thanks John, good intelligent read.
"“They try to do things they can’t spell,” Kilkenny said." Good line! As someone who watched university Presidents (Ken Keller, Nils Hasselmo, Mark Yudof) continuously undermine a once-great athletic program at the University of Minnesota, I know, as an adopted fan, what it feels like to have academics undercut athletics. I don't think this is a complicated idea. Sports is entertainment with a very large loyalty factor. If academics want money to make their programs first class (bright new buildings, tenured chairs, competitive competition for experts who probably will never teach but will anchor research and help gain grants) they should appreciate the value of competitive sports on campus. OSU got this 20+ years ago with Erickson and Riley, plus hanging on to Casey. U of MN is not as bad athletically now as it was in the 1980s and 90s. But it still does not really "get" competitive sports in the Big 10. Its basketball and baseball programs which once were top notch are now in shambles. I would never put Phil Knight's Oregon Ducks into this category of academic obsession / sports repression.
My wife and I earned our degrees from the U of O in the mid 70’s and put them to good use in building our careers. We had excellent instructors and enjoyed a campus free of oppressive speech codes and ridiculous free spaces, but I will say no more because I believe this comment section should be free of politics.
We also said no more to donations to academics. All of our giving is now to athletics. Win or lose Duck athletics bring us joy as opposed to the heartburn the supposed academics produce.
I can guess where you would go with this if you wanted. My take: Masters and PhDs in Social Sciences and Education in major and (once) prestigious universities should keep their social theories in their theses and out of society. Since when does a theory become fact without rigorous testing and peer review over many decades? Yet, today theories by a few "nut-job" PhDs end up as standard social practice just a few years later and become de rigueur as applied through primary and secondary education, in"doctri"nating (there is that word again) an entire generation or two of the western world. Do we think this is not without support from certain Eastern nations who want to take over control of the planet? And this is my issue with "academics": there is no accountability as compared to sports
I wonder if the story I heard is true...When the Beavers won back to back NCAA baseball championships in 2006/07 Phil Knight was beside himself that OSU could somehow look better than Oregon in ANY sport and proceeded to plunk down $100M to fund Oregon baseball. Seems about right, even if untrue.
Suddenly, going to the college baseball, World Series is a measure of success for Oregon duck fans who looked down on the OSU beavers multiple national championships.
Thanks for asking. Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday.....Doing great every day I am alive as no time to be negative or whining. Would love to see both Beavs and Ducks be great in all sports as great for the State and the rivalry. My opinion.
Hi Gary, thank you for those comments as I know many duck fans have given credit to the beaver baseball program,l. But let's not kid ourselves. There are many fans who discounted their success. When the ducks didn't have a program or weren't as successful, the beavers were not given credit, but now that the shoe is on the other foot, those same people are suddenly riveted to every pitch in baseball is a major sport! Bottom line we wish the ducks well, and hope to see them in the World Series, which they haven't been to since 1954.
Thank you Chip! Baseball in Eugene came to an end my senior year and it was very disappointing even though the program was not very good. Sorry, I was not a wrestling fan.....And I believe the only way Ducks got baseball back was because of Beavers success in 06/07 and the vision and work and MONEY from Giansante and Kilkenny.
Also a tip of the cap today goes out to former Associate AD/Oregon Sports Network Broadcaster Joe Giansante, for his interest in starting the conversation to restart Baseball at Oregon. Sure Kilkenny financed the Ducks revival of Baseball, but Giansante was vital in gaging the interest of the Administration and meeting with the influences in the Donor Base (aside from Pat Kilkenny and Family). I love recognizing the man whom the Ballyard is named after, but Joe Giansante is also a man who should be celebrated today too. WITHOUT HIM, Ducks Baseball isn't making it's second Super Regionals appearance in modern program history. Thank you Joe Giansante.
I second the thought about Joe Giansante - he was the biggest push (maybe next to Kilkenny) to bring Oregon baseball back - I talked to him shortly after one of the first baseball games and thanked him profusely for almost single handedly bringing Oregon baseball back! So please include him in a priority seating at PK Park!
I am very happy for the Ducks success, which continues to validate the high level of baseball play here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Despite multiple national championships by the Oregon State beavers and multiple postseason runs by the Oregon ducks we just don't get the respect we deserve. I mean the SEC getting to host eight regionals this year and Arizona state and possibly USC getting snubbed by the committee is a farce. The SEC east coast bias is bad for the overall health of collegiate baseball.
Such a great column! My mind goes back to Mel Krause, he was devastated by lack of a baseball at Oregon...... he is smiling now
My uncle played baseball for the Ducks in the late 30's before he spent 4 years in the Pacific as a Marine. He also spend several years as a professor at Oregon. Needless to say, the demise of the baseball program in the 80's was hard on him but he did live long enough to see it return. He would be very proud of this year's Ducks. Thanks PK and Joe G!
Thanks John! Great refresher story. I learned more about Pat this time around. I'm an OSU alum and huge baseball fan. Heck, I still rewatch the 2018 College World Series over and over again and it still gives me goosebumps.
I will be rooting for the Ducks to win it all! I want them to show no mercy and beat the CRAP out of each team they play! SGO DUCKS!!!
I was at the ‘18 Championship and it was truly the experience of a lifetime. It was amazing. Beating those Hogs was glorious and magical. I can’t wait for the Beavs to make another run at it. 🧡🖤🦫
This is a great tribute, John. And even A Beaver fan can appreciate a good Duck man when we see one!
Most of you probably will not care, but I will never forgive Kilkenny for killing the Oregon wrestling program.
I will never forget walking into the Rose Bowl in 1995, taking my seat (we were 3 rows behind the Ducks)and looking around. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I knew then the University of Oregon had arrived.
“You just gave me goosebumps,” he said. “Like when I walked into the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1995 and saw ‘OREGON’ painted in the end zone. When you’re young those things aren’t going to happen.”
I did the same thing that day and tears welled up in my eyes. One of the greatest times in my life.
great!, great!, great! such a fine tribute and story JC. I am a Beaver guy but I will be rooting for the Ducks this weekend and proudly congratulate them for a stellar season.
Reluctant congrats to the Ducks. And go Beavers (next season)!
Appreciate the Congrats Patrick. Will look forward to both Ducks and Beavers going next year!
And thanks to the Beavers in 2006 and 2007 for bringing baseball back to Eugene. Watched every inning of those two championships and loved it all.
I still have a bad taste in my mouth about how the rebirth of baseball happened and who had to take the hit. And why with all the money these people throw around, anyone had to take the hit.
No one took the hit. The hit was a home run!
he's talking about the elimination of the wrestling program. Lots of wrestling supporters are still bitter about that. what is sad though is that it took reinstatement of baseball to wake up the wrestling supporters, too little too late. I think their blame is focused in the wrong direction.
Got it. Oregon never had a great wrestling team and like you said, the backers realized it too late.
actually oregon wrestling did have some great teams and wrestlers...but just not enough and not consistently.
I wouldn’t expect PK to credit the Beavers for the duck resurrection of their baseball program, but i gotta believe the Beavs winning back to back “Nattys” (i really don’t like that word) in ‘06 and ‘07, helped PK and his efforts. You are welcome, :). Also, a tip of the cap to loooong ago duck baseballer Dave Roberts, a very good player. Thanks John, good intelligent read.
Sorry but we Huskies are not enamoured with the Ducks money, Nike and such, we're just jealous.
"“They try to do things they can’t spell,” Kilkenny said." Good line! As someone who watched university Presidents (Ken Keller, Nils Hasselmo, Mark Yudof) continuously undermine a once-great athletic program at the University of Minnesota, I know, as an adopted fan, what it feels like to have academics undercut athletics. I don't think this is a complicated idea. Sports is entertainment with a very large loyalty factor. If academics want money to make their programs first class (bright new buildings, tenured chairs, competitive competition for experts who probably will never teach but will anchor research and help gain grants) they should appreciate the value of competitive sports on campus. OSU got this 20+ years ago with Erickson and Riley, plus hanging on to Casey. U of MN is not as bad athletically now as it was in the 1980s and 90s. But it still does not really "get" competitive sports in the Big 10. Its basketball and baseball programs which once were top notch are now in shambles. I would never put Phil Knight's Oregon Ducks into this category of academic obsession / sports repression.
Mr. McMorris,
My wife and I earned our degrees from the U of O in the mid 70’s and put them to good use in building our careers. We had excellent instructors and enjoyed a campus free of oppressive speech codes and ridiculous free spaces, but I will say no more because I believe this comment section should be free of politics.
We also said no more to donations to academics. All of our giving is now to athletics. Win or lose Duck athletics bring us joy as opposed to the heartburn the supposed academics produce.
I can guess where you would go with this if you wanted. My take: Masters and PhDs in Social Sciences and Education in major and (once) prestigious universities should keep their social theories in their theses and out of society. Since when does a theory become fact without rigorous testing and peer review over many decades? Yet, today theories by a few "nut-job" PhDs end up as standard social practice just a few years later and become de rigueur as applied through primary and secondary education, in"doctri"nating (there is that word again) an entire generation or two of the western world. Do we think this is not without support from certain Eastern nations who want to take over control of the planet? And this is my issue with "academics": there is no accountability as compared to sports
I wonder if the story I heard is true...When the Beavers won back to back NCAA baseball championships in 2006/07 Phil Knight was beside himself that OSU could somehow look better than Oregon in ANY sport and proceeded to plunk down $100M to fund Oregon baseball. Seems about right, even if untrue.
Suddenly, going to the college baseball, World Series is a measure of success for Oregon duck fans who looked down on the OSU beavers multiple national championships.
Indeed. Good luck to our Lil’ Bros in Eugene this weekend!
LOL!! Good one!
Mr. Negativity is back....
Mr All Ducks, Only Ducks and All The Time....how are you doing this Friday?
Thanks for asking. Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday.....Doing great every day I am alive as no time to be negative or whining. Would love to see both Beavs and Ducks be great in all sports as great for the State and the rivalry. My opinion.
Never ever looked down on Beavers success in baseball. Loved all 3 championships as big admirer of Coach Casey
Hi Gary, thank you for those comments as I know many duck fans have given credit to the beaver baseball program,l. But let's not kid ourselves. There are many fans who discounted their success. When the ducks didn't have a program or weren't as successful, the beavers were not given credit, but now that the shoe is on the other foot, those same people are suddenly riveted to every pitch in baseball is a major sport! Bottom line we wish the ducks well, and hope to see them in the World Series, which they haven't been to since 1954.
Thank you Chip! Baseball in Eugene came to an end my senior year and it was very disappointing even though the program was not very good. Sorry, I was not a wrestling fan.....And I believe the only way Ducks got baseball back was because of Beavers success in 06/07 and the vision and work and MONEY from Giansante and Kilkenny.
Phil Knight supported OSU Baseball.
We are better together.
Go Ducks!
Go Beavers!
That's kind of how I remember it too.