During a very difficult 2021, it was a very good first year
Sports Kerry Eggers Sports Kerry Eggers

During a very difficult 2021, it was a very good first year

A first full year is in the books for kerryeggers.com after my retirement after 45 years in the newspaper in April 2020.

First, thanks to all of you for being subscribers. I appreciate all the feedback we have received, both as responses to be published on the website and others of a personal nature.

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Kents pair together for historic broadcast: ‘It was a very emotional couple of hours’
Sports Kerry Eggers Sports Kerry Eggers

Kents pair together for historic broadcast: ‘It was a very emotional couple of hours’

Ernie and Jordan Kent made a little history Tuesday at Matt Knight Arena, and had some fun while doing it.

The Kents broadcast Oregon’s season-opening 83-66 win over Texas Southern — Ernie providing analysis, Jordan handling play-by-play duties for the men’s contest carried by Pac-12 Network/Oregon.

Has there ever before been a father-son team work a major-college basketball game on TV together?

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The day I got the best of Barney — and inspired his career game
Sports Bob Robinson Sports Bob Robinson

The day I got the best of Barney — and inspired his career game

By Bob Robinson

(Editor’s note: Robinson, now 87, wrote sports for Oregon newspapers for 42 years, the last 37 at The Oregonian. “Robbie” was the paper’s beat writer for the Trail Blazers when they won the NBA championship in 1977. The Central High and U of O grad was a renowned golf writer at The Oregonian and is the author of four books.)

When Barney Holland died on July 21 at 89, it brought a flood of memories to sports followers in Oregon — including me.

During a long high school basketball coaching career at Lebanon, North Eugene and Aloha, the

former University of Oregon athlete compiled a record of 406-224 (.644) and won three state championships and seven league titles.

Holland earned several individual awards, too, including McDonald’s National Coach of the Year selection in 1977 after his North Eugene team won the second of back-to-back state AAA titles and lost only one of 54 games over two seasons, with All-American Danny Ainge leading the way.

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For Chad Forcier: 25 years in the NBA, and now two rings
Sports Kerry Eggers Sports Kerry Eggers

For Chad Forcier: 25 years in the NBA, and now two rings

Most coaches never get to experience the thrill of an NBA championship.

Chad Forcier has done it twice — once with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, this year with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I was so fortunate to have gone through it once with the Spurs,” says Forcier, a long-ago assistant coach at both Oregon State and the University of Portland. “To have a second shot at it with the Bucks …  I’m not sure that ‘living a dream’ adequately describes it. I’m keenly aware of how many players and coaches never get to taste that. I feel very blessed.”

Forcier was on the bench alongside head coach Mike Budenholzer as Milwaukee took the Phoenix Suns in six games to secure the franchise’s first NBA title in a half-century. The city was agog over the prospects. An estimated 65,000 people jammed into the Deer District surrounding Fiserv Forum to watch Tuesday night’s Game 6 on a big screen outside the arena and then celebrate afterward.

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Loy’s toy is a ’79 Malibu, and he drives it very fast
Sports Kerry Eggers Sports Kerry Eggers

Loy’s toy is a ’79 Malibu, and he drives it very fast

As a basketball player, Loy Petersen was more smooth than fast.

At age 76, though, long after his career gracing the hardcourts had ended, speed is at the essence of Petersen’s latest pursuit.

The former Oregon State standout and NBA player is one of the top drivers on the National Hot Rod Association’s Northwest circuit.

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