Home of the Oregon Ducks
Home of the Oregon Ducks, Oregon Ducks 2009 College Football Predictions, Picks & Odds: New head coach Chip Kelly has changed the tone from the laid back west coast to the hardnosed east coast attitude that has helped him build one of the PAC-10’s most dynamic spread offenses. Kelly hopes to continue a winning tradition established by Mike Bellotti’s 14 year run culminating in his promotion to Athletic Director. Kelly takes over a team depleted of leadership but has a returning starter at quarterback Jeremiah Masoli who emerged as a dual threat in the second half of 2008. Odds makers at Sportsbook.com have the Ducks at 100-1 odds to win the BSC 2010 National Championship.
The offense should remain solid for 2009 as coach Kelly will continue to call the plays and act as offensive coordinator. Quarterback Masoli needs to continue to show leadership and develop his wide receivers to compliment tight end Ed Dickson a dangerous receiving threat. Jamere Holland, a transfer from USC and disappointment in 2008, has shown up ready to play and a more mature student athlete with great speed should help. LeGarrette Blount returns a punishing rushing style for the Ducks. If some good things happen early I like the college football odds on the Oregon Ducks to go OVER 7.5 wins at Sportsbook.com!
Defensively the Ducks have a strong core in the center with returning line backers Spencer Paysinger and Casey Matthews, so of NFL great Clay Matthews. The secondary is athletic with speed did not play well in 2008, a significant improvement is needs for this season. Anchoring the defensive line, Will Tukuafu is expected to develop into a solid player. College football picks at Sportsbook.com on Oregon are +400 odds to win the PAC-10 Conference.
Oregon special teams will need to mature early as true freshman kicker Mike Bowlin and punter Jackson Rice are contending for starting jobs. However, the Ducks return game should be strong with several speedy athletic players that can break long runs.
Tropical Storm Ana
Tropical Storm Ana, Tropical Storm Ana has formed over the Atlantic and could strengthen as it heads toward the Leeward Islands, forecasters said Saturday.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ana could trigger a tropical storm watch for parts of the Leeward Islands later Saturday. It may pick up speed and approach the islands by Monday, the hurricane center said. It was 1,010 miles east of the islands early Saturday.
Ana, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, could slowly strengthen in the next couple of days as it moves to the west at 16 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Guillermo was swirling in the Pacific as a Category 3 storm. Winds were near 115 mph as the hurricane moved to the west-northwest at 16 mph. It was about 1,450 miles west of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula early Saturday morning.
However, Guillermo was expected to weaken Saturday and become even less powerful Sunday as it moves over cooler waters.
Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race
Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race, On Saturday the Leadville Trail 100 mt. bike race will be available to view via live webcast for $5.95 on the Leadville Trail 100 website. If you are really into mountain biking or ultra marathons it would probably be a good purchase.
The Leadville Trail 100 is an ultramarathon started in 1983 through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. If you have to run for 100 miles, there probably isn’t a better place to do it.
The mountain bike race this year should be interesting as it is Lance’s first race since his loss in the Tour last month. He got second in this race last year and this year he is poised to do better and will try to beat last years winner.
Lynndie England
Lynndie England, Public Face of the Abu Ghraib scandal, Lynndie England’s lecture cancelled at Library of Congress on Friday as staff’s safety was on the stake, after threats. Lynndie England was to discuss her biography as part of Veteran’s Forum on Capitol Hill.
It was David Moor, also a War Veteran (Vietnam) who had organized the event and invited the former Army Reservist Lynndie England. The German Acquisitions Specialist at the Library of Congress David Moor informed the library’s Inspector General as well as police that he received countless threat, violence and protest e-mails against the lecture. It is reported that members of the Library of Congress Professional Association, the employee group was informed by an e-mail from President Angela Kinney that said the lecture was cancelled on account of staff safety concerns. Overall, the decision of cancellation of the lecture was a good decision, most of the members said.
The book under review was by an author namely Gary S. Winkler and it is called “Tortured: Lynndie England, Abu Ghraib and the Photographs That Shocked the World.” There have been various articles and mails all over the web and media, criticizing Lynndie, who served in Iraq under the rank of ‘Specialist’ and was found guilty of inflicting Sexual, Physical and Psychological abuse on helpless Iraqi prisoners.
The abuse included Torture, Rape, Sodomy, Homicide of Prisoners etc. This abuse and horrifying activities just rocked the world when leaked and worst of all the issues was the involvement of 372nd Military Police Company of the US Army. As reinforcement, they had the services of additional US Government Agencies as well at Abu Ghraib (Baghdad Correctional Facility).
Finally she was convicted in 2005 by the Army courts-martial along with 11 other military personnel. Now she is raising a young son in West Virginia.
