The University of Oregon announced a truly great Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
All hall of fame classes has greatness. That’s why they’re in the hall of fame.
But when the University of Oregon announced the Class of 2022, they weren’t messing around where it comes to greatness.
This particular class includes perhaps the greatest team in their sport, a coach that put his sport on the national map, a seven-time NCAA champ and 10-time All-American, a golfer that has achieved what no other Duck golfer had before, and the first women’s tennis player ever to be inducted into the UO Athletic Hall of Fame.
Every class is unique, but this group of Hall of Famers are legitimate Oregon legends and they’ll all be remembered as such.
The legend of Sabrina Ionescu is growing in the WNBA. She was celebrated once again on Sunday after making more history as a pro.
The legend of Sabrina Ionescu is starting to grow in the WNBA ranks.
On Sunday afternoon, the Oregon Ducks legend made history by becoming the youngest player in WNBA history to record multiple triple-doubles, and doing so in the shortest amount of time, with the feat accomplished before the third quarter of the New York Liberty’s game against the Chicago Sky came to an end.
Ionescu finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists on 9-for-16 shooting, 3-for-6 from 3FG, and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
This performance comes on the heels of another classic from Ionescu last week where she dropped 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on a historic 10-for-11 shooting. She is the only player in WNBA history to record 25 or more points, eight or more assists, and eight or more rebounds in a game while shooting 90% or better from the field. And again, she reached those numbers during the third quarter.
On Sunday afternoon, the sporting world once again celebrated Ionescu on social media, marveling at her performance. Here are some of the best things we saw on Twitter:
Sabrina Ionescu becomes the fourth and youngest WNBA player to have multiple triple-doubles in their career.
Oregon Ducks women’s basketball fans know quite well how good Sabrina Ionescu can be. They could sense a triple-double coming like Obi-Wan Kenobi can sense the force.
New York Liberty fans are just beginning to get that sense as Ionescu became the youngest and just the fourth WNBA player to achieve multiple triple-doubles in her career.
Although the Liberty lost 88-86 to the Chicago Sky, the former Oregon great did more than her part with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists. She’s also the first player in history to accomplish the feat in three quarters.
New York won four of its last five games before this most recent setback. The Liberty is currently 5-9. As for Ionescu, she is averaging 17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game.
Candace Parker, Sheryl Swoopes, and Courtney Vandersloot are the only three other players to chalk up multiple triple-doubles.
Former Oregon Ducks tackle Haloti Ngata is up for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he deserves recognition.
The Oregon Ducks are historically well represented in the College Football Hall of Fame, with seven inductees across the school’s storied football history.
However, the team’s successes over the past two decades is hardly visible in the Hall at this point, with coach Mike Bellotti (inducted in 2014) as the only representative who wore the green and yellow this century.
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That could change this year, as the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday, with 80 former players and nine former coaches on the list – including a pair of Oregon legends: running back LaMichael James and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
This article will make the case for why Ngata, widely considered one of the greatest Ducks of all-time, should be among those inducted in the Class of 2023.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Joe Robbins-USA TODAY Sports
Haloti Ngata’s Hall of Fame Case
Oregon’s reputation over the past two decades has largely been earned on the offensive side of the ball, thanks to the explosive quarterback and running back play during the end of the Bellotti era and into the coaching tenures of Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich.
When defensive players are discussed they are often members of the secondary; guys like Patrick Chung, Walter Thurmond, and more recently Ugo Amadi and Jevon Holland.
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But perhaps the greatest defensive Duck of all time, and one of the greatest of all time, is Haloti Ngata.
Ngata became Oregon’s first consensus All-American since 1962 when he was honored after his ridiculously excellent 2005 season. He was Oregon’s first-ever Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, and his name is all over the record books for both the school and the conference.
While NFL accomplishments should not play a role in determining a player’s College Hall of Fame candidacy, it is worth noting Ngata made good on his No. 12 overall selection by Baltimore in the 2006 NFL draft, getting named to five Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens and their vaunted defense.
Ngata is one of the pillars of Oregon’s ascent into college football’s hierarchy, and he deserves consideration for the game’s highest honor.
LaMichael James was the most exciting running back in the NCAA under Chip Kelly, and he belongs in the College Football Hall of Fame.
The Oregon Ducks are historically well represented in the College Football Hall of Fame, with seven inductees across the school’s storied football history.
However, the team’s successes over the past two decades is hardly visible in the Hall at this point, with coach Mike Bellotti (inducted in 2014) as the only representative who wore the green and yellow this century.
That could change this year, as the 2023 Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday, with 80 former players and nine former coaches on the list – including a pair of Oregon legends: running back LaMichael James and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
This article will make the case for why James, widely considered one of the greatest Ducks of all time, should be among those inducted into the Class of 2023.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
LaMichael James’ Hall of Fame Case
Simply put, LaMichael James was one of the most exciting, electric, must-watch college football players of his generation during his three years in Eugene under offensive guru Chip Kelly.
The Hall of Fame is not only about statistical accomplishments (of which James has plenty) but it is also about showcasing the college game’s most exciting players – and there is little doubt James qualifies.
In three seasons from 2009 to 2011, James never rushed for less than 1,500 yards, never had less than 14 rushing touchdowns, and never let the fans go take a bathroom break while his team was on offense.
He was twice a top-10 finalist for the Heisman Trophy Award (an extreme rarity for a modern running back) even finishing third in 2010 – the same year he won the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back.
The two-time All-American First Teamer has plenty of statistical accomplishments as well, finishing his three-year career with 5,082 rushing yards (21st all-time and fourth in Pac-12 history) as well as 53 rushing touchdowns (also fourth in Pac-12 history).
Oregon has been a player in the national college football scene for about two decades, but the Chip Kelly era remains the school’s pinnacle of must-watch TV – and James deserves to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame for his contributions.
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu went nuts against Minnesota on Tuesday, and Twitter had plenty of thoughts.
Former Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu had perhaps the best game of her professional career on Tuesday evening for the New York Liberty in their win over the Minnesota Lynx.
The former No. 1 overall pick dropped 26 points with eight rebounds and eight assists, on incredible 10-11 shooting from the field.
She is the only player in WNBA history to record 25 or more points, eight or more assists, and eight or more rebounds in a game while shooting 90% or more from the field – and she reached those numbers during the third quarter.
Ionescu earned her ridiculous field goal percentage, draining a half court shot at the halftime buzzer and hitting a handful of other deep three pointers in an all-around dominant performance that has never been seen before in the WNBA.
Ionescu’s performance caught the attention of seemingly everyone on Twitter during an off-day for the NBA Finals, and once again she is proving to be a catalyst for the rising interest in the WNBA around the country as the face of the team in the biggest media market in the USA.
Here are a few of the best of the best from Twitter during and after Sabrina’s dominant night:
Both Haloti Ngata and LaMichael James have been placed on the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
A pair of the best Oregon Duck football players of all time are starting to get some of the recognition that they deserve.
The ballot for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame was released on Monday, and a pair of Ducks — RB LaMichael James and DL Haloti Ngata — were listed among the greats.
James and Ngata are included among 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, and 96 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Ngata is widely considered as one of the best Ducks of all time, and was Oregon’s first consensus All-American since 1962, earning the honor after his 2005 season. He was also a two-time All-Pac-10 selection and first player in Oregon history to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2005).
In the NFL, Ngata went on to win a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens and be named to five Pro Bowls.
James represents one of the most electric players to ever play in Eugene. As a two-time First Team All-American (unanimous in 2010) and 2010 Doak Walker Award winner, James took the college football world by storm under Chip Kelly as one of the best RBs in the nation. He finished 3rd in the 2010 Heisman voting (nation-leading 1,731 rushing yards) and helped lead the Ducks to two 12-win seasons, three league titles, and a 2011 BCS National Championship appearance.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Oregon and Nike legend Phil Knight is trying to buy the Portland Trail Blazers.
You could argue that there is no man more important in the state of Oregon than Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike. You may even be able to argue that he is among the most important people in the world of sports, for that matter.
It turns out that Knight, one of the most legendary figures in Oregon Ducks history, is making a bid to keep professional sports in the state, with a $2 billion-plus offer to buy the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Knight, alongside Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky, has made a written offer to purchase the Blazers, which are currently owned by the late Paul Allen’s trust.
According to Wojnarowski, Knight’s goal is to keep the Blazers in Portland, rather than have them be sold to another party that could potentially move them outside of Oregon.
The presence of Phil Knight in the proposed ownership group speaks to its desire to keep the Blazers in Portland and move the franchise forward there. Again, talks are ongoing on the possible purchase of the franchise. https://t.co/6rJ0Rk6AFI
Knight is among the most famous alumni of the University of Oregon, and his endless donations to both the Ducks’ athletics and educational departments make him among the most recognized boosters in the nation.
We will see if he can venture into the NBA with a potential purchase of the Blazers, and keep an eye on this development as it continues to progress.
Oregon Ducks women’s basketball legend Sabrina Ionescu reached the 500-point mark in her burgeoning WNBA career.
Everyone is seeing what Sabrina Ionescu can do on the professional level now that she is healthy.
The former Oregon Ducks women’s basketball legend reached 500 career points, albeit in a 79-71 loss to Seattle. Unfortunately, the Liberty have lost six straight after winning their season opener.
But Ionescu is having her best individual season after leading New York to a playoff spot last season. She is averaging 13.6 points, six rebounds and five assists a game.
Ionescu’s best night in 2022 came against Indiana on Friday the 13th. She scored 31 points on 11-of-20 from the field, seven assists, three rebounds, and four steals.
The Liberty will get another crack at the Seattle Storm Sunday, May 29.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench and gave the Celtics 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-6 3FG in a Game 7 blowout win.
The Oregon great is finding greatness at the next level.
Former Duck Payton Pritchard had a huge game for the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon, coming off of the bench and showing out in the 4th quarter to extend the lead over the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics ultimately won 109-81.
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Pritchard finished the day with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 17 minutes. The West Linn native was 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-7 from the field.
With the win, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, where they will face the Miami Heat. Pritchard’s success on Sunday goes along with what we’ve seen as of late for the Oregon great. In 2021-22, his second season in the NBA, Pritchard averaged 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.
He is the lone former Duck left in the NBA playoffs after Dillon Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies were eliminated on Friday night.
