As we entered the month of December there was just one final game to be played in all of Oregon high school football. The Central Catholic Rams of Portland were playing the Tualatin Timberwolves in the 6A championship game at Hillsboro Stadium. It would be the sixth state championship for the Rams, if they could win it, and it would be a first for Tualatin after losing in their first two appearances in 2007 and 2010. Central Catholic would again be conveniently playing on th

As seems to be the case each Championship Saturday, this Saturday was packed full of more sporting events than anyone could possibly keep track of. But the Arsenal game started at 4:00am, so Gabriel Martinelli scored to secure that win, and assure my fantasy team’s loss, long before the football started. Which gave me time to prepare my breakfast of champions - Grits “All The Way” - and otherwise prepare myself for an afternoon in my chair juggling the onslaught of soccer,

This week was the second round of the playoffs, and we made our way to Canby to watch the Cougars host the defending state champion Thurston Colts in a matchup of the #4 and #5 ranked 5A teams in the state. Highway 99E runs through Canby in western Clackamas County just south of where the Molalla River enters the Willamette, and situated between Oregon City and Wilsonville and Woodburn and Molalla, the town is another one of those communities that are right in the middle of

After last week it was a piece of cake to follow the single remaining game this Saturday afternoon. The #4 Central Catholic Rams of Portland were meeting the #3 and defending champion Lake Oswego Lakers in the 6A championship game at Hillsboro Stadiium. The Rams would be playing for their fifth state championship and the Lakers were playing for their third. Both teams came in with 11-2 records. Hillsboro is Central Catholic’s home field so this would be the tenth game this s

What?? You thought the season was over? Even as I was savoring the late Newcastle goal that cost Manchester City a Premier League win on Saturday morning, there were still 12 teams in Oregon with their dreams of a state championship still intact. But, with the exception of Central Catholic who puzzlingly play their home games in Hillsboro, none of those teams will be playing another game on their home field, so we decided to leave The Bucket in the driveway this holiday wee

Before we arrive at this week’s game I feel it is necessary to address the comments of a few of my more loyal readers and their efforts to cast aspersions regarding my abilities as a cowboy. The record will show that few, if any, newborn calves ever got by me on their way to the chute. And when the day comes when cattle-shooing is finally recognized as the consummate test of cowboy skill that it so clearly is, I may yet end up with a plaque somewhere. To the rest of you, I a