Here are the most popular posts of the past month:
• Bend Basketball Trick Shots
• 2010 Oregon high school XC preview
• Jesuit girls XC train in Central Oregon
• 2010 Oregon prep volleyball preview

First let me say that my favorite pro sport to watch is the NBA. My favorite sport to play is tennis. But I have to admit that the sport that is by far the best to be a fan of is the NFL… hands down! Here are three reasons why:

Madden Football
Because of the video game sensation “Madden Football” fans not only know the rules and strategies of the game, but they know the very smallest intricacies, terminology and details. The game gets better every year and players of the video game become more knowledgeable of the game of pro football.

One game a week
With just one game a week, you can stay up to date on everything. I love the NBA, but keeping up on an 82-game season can be like a full time job… and don’t even get me started on following baseball, that season takes a lifetime.

Fantasy football
Because of fantasy football, or as some girls I know call it “Fairy Tale Football”, fans not only follow team success but crunch individual numbers and stay up-to-date on more info that one may want to admit.

I had the good pleasure of hearing Bruce Brown (of Proactive Coaching) speak recently at Summit High School in Bend. If you are a coach, you need to know who Bruce Brown is. He is a traveling speaker and author on the subject of coaching sports… and he knows what he is talking about.

A friend of mine played for him and assures me that he is the real deal and what he presents is backed up by his years of coaching and shaping countless young people’s lives. I was really impressed with what I heard him say.

This wasn’t Brown’s first time speaking in Central Oregon, and I’m sure it won’t be his last. You really should catch him next time he does.

Pac-10 blog has a ton links posted.

• Alley Jam to benefit new Bend skatepark
• Bend golf pro at Northwest Open
Kearney finishes second at Northwest Open
• OSAA’s new ScoreCenter will tabulate rankings
New website designed to give coaches, fans, media access to the most up-to-date scores and statewide power rankings – Medford Mailtribune
• McMinnville might have to forfeit season opener – Oregonlive.com
• Oregon football: The Ducks discover another running back – Oregonlive.com

• Tradition golf to Alabama
Tournament moves from Central Oregon to controversial Shoal Creek
• Noted speaker to address area sports coaches at Summit
• Girls on the Run fundraiser this Wednesday
• NFL Local Ties: Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson improves; Tennessee running back LeGarrette Blount in tough competition

• Bend cyclist third in Tour of Utah
Ian Boswell also Best Young Rider at Utah stage race
• Chopping His Way Up: Sisters’ lumberjack David Green swings his big axe at the Timbersports Collegiate Series
• Tradition scoreboard
• Autocross racing at Hoodoo
Car races this weekend at Hoodoo Mountain Resort
• 84-year-old man wins single tag for bighorn ram hunt in eastern Oregon
Football: McMinnville players begin practicing; some players say they took high-protein supplements

Really interesting article on what the realignment means for Southern Oregon high schools.
Leftovers: Ashland, Eagle Point try to swallow raw deal
Being only 5A teams in Southern Oregon makes for winner-take-all ‘league’ – Medford Mailtribune

• Sports Illustrated feature – S.I.

• Bend snowboarder featured in SI
Ben Watts showcased in Sports Illustrated magazine – The Bulletin