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While our host and I are huge baseball fans, nothing except Duck football, excites me more than Track and Field. It is individual excellence personified. Wow, have we had champions and championships. Thirty two national championships and counting, dozens of Pac championships, I hope we don't have to wait too long for more. We lost a terrific coach to the fuskies and dismissed a proven winner over social issues. Since then we have fallen on almost mediocrity. This is not good treatment for a wonderful track athlete and our great benefactor, Uncle Phil. Anybody know what the issues are? My mind and body were almost in a frenzy as I watched Dyrol Burleson et al cross the finish line in a one two three sweep in the mile at Los Angelas on the way to a swamping of perennial champions, USC. That group along with Olympic throwers and runners were on their way to the first of many NCAA championships. I sat in the stands as I watched our javelin guys headed by Les Tipton throw that spear so it disappeared above the stadium roof only to come down in another one two three finish to the roar of the crowd clinching the national championship. Another one two three finish in the high hurdles led by the great hurdler, Jerry Tarr followed by fellow future NFL football players Mike Gaechter and Mel Renfro perhaps the greatest athlete in the history of Oregon was the pinnacle of excitement. Who can ever forget the gutty controversial Steve Prefontaine who won again and again in every meet at Hayword and elsewhere to the roars of the crowds. Steve was from my sometimes hometown. He actually agreed to sell some of my products after he sold me radio advertising on one of his summer jobs. Where oh where have you gone you runners and jumpers and throwers? Come back soon!