Bill Dellinger I just heard this morning of Bill Dellinger's passing.   He has been such a longtime part of Oregon's running legacy.   My blog partner Roy Mason and I had the honor of visiting Bill at his home in Eugene a few years ago.  We did not just knock on the door and walk in, we came with an acquaintance of Bill.  The home is only a few blocks away from where Pre had his last ride.   Bill had suffered a hemiplaegic stroke yet was still a remarkable host while we were there.  The first indication as we walked through the door that this would be an epic experience was when we saw a beer keg just inside the front door and were encouraged to help ourselves.   Bill who had no idea...

 This story begins well before 1967, the year of the Americas vs. Europe  track and field competition held during the Expo 67 world fair in Montreal, Canada.   In early April of 1963 when I was on the track team at the University of Oklahoma,  we hosted a triangular meet with Missouri and Iowa.  They were probably on their Spring break.   Teams travelled south for warmer climates at the beginning of the outdoor season and to get ready for the big relay carnivals   running through April at Philadelphia, Pa, Austin, Texas, Lawrence, Kansas, and DeMoines, Iowa.  We Sooners had already been on our Spring Break trip out to Tempe and then Tuscon, Arizona for our warmup meets.  Anyway as a sophomore in my first varsity season, (freshman were not eligible for varsity competition in those days),  I was scheduled to run the mile.  I think I ran about 4:19 that day and came in sixth.   Up at the front was a Mizzou seni...

            (Though difficult to read, this press photo is the finish of the 800 meters at the US Olympic Trials             at Stanford University 1960 with Tom Murphy, Manhattan,,  edging Jerry Siebert, Cal Berkeley, at             the line.   Coming on for third is Stanford's Ernie Cunliffe who in turn edged Jim Dupree of                         Southern Illinois for the third position on the US team.) Our colleague Walt Murphy reported yesterday the passing of his cousin  Tom Murphy.   Tom was one of the top half milers in the late 1950's and early 1960's representing his country in international meetings including the dual meet with the U.S.S.R. in Philadelphia in 1959.  He was also a member of the US team that set the world record in the 4x880 along with Jack Yerman, Ernie Cunliffe, a...

  Tuesday, January 12, 2021 V 11 N. 3 "Quicksilver: The Mercurial Emil Zatopek" by Pat Butcher, a Book Review by Paul O'Shea When we come across books to review, we know that there is a particular skill set needed to be fair and honest and at the same time literary.  Our eyes and hearts turn to Paul O'Shea for that task.  Here is Paul's latest review on a superb book about a superb athlete:   The Mercurial Emil Zatopek  by Pat Butcher.        George Brose ed.     Readers,  there is a new address from which you can purchase this book.   I t is now -  https://thepatbutcher. wordpress.com/books/ The Zatopek Bookshelf Is Nearly Full   A Book Review   By Paul O’Shea   The following conversation could have taken place recently.   Tereza had just gotten home to their Prague apartment after her writing group session where writers exchanged memoir drafts and new project ideas. “Tomas,” she tells h...