Gridiron Glee. Bernie’s Weak End.

[October 31st, 2007]

WINNERS

1 What could top [b]University of Oregon football fans’ euphoria over last Saturday’s 24-17 win over powerhouse University of Southern California? Staying alive this weekend in the national title hunt with a win over the Devil himself, coach Dennis Erickson and undefeated Arizona State University.

2 This one’s for you, lovers of unsolved mysteries: New York magazine last week purported to answer what happened to legendary Northwest skyjacker D.B. Cooper, who disappeared after parachuting out of a 727 with $200,000 in 1971. The short answer? A disgruntled airline employee got his green. The longer answer? Go to wweek.com/wwire/?p=9802.

3 Mayoral wannabe Sam Adams got a turbo PR boost from two KEX radio hosts who bought a couple of Adams-friendly Web domain names, then screamed foul when Sam Adams, the beer brewers, got ticked about it. The flap earned PDX’s Adams international ink as the victim of a big, evil corporation’s overzealous copyright lawyers. Paying attention, candidates? This is how you get free press.

LOSERS

1 Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto’s weak-end tour of disgrace took another turn with the latest revelation of alleged lies he told regarding his knowledge that Neil Goldschmidt had abused a 14-year-old girl and when he knew it. State to Giusto: Liar, liar, badge on fire. (See wweek.com for more.)

p>2 Please step out of the car. Portland Police Officer Matthew Kohnke was found guilty of official misconduct after four women accused him of making sexual advances, including ordering them to lift their clothes. Weird. We don’t remember “underwear inspections” in any community policing memos.

3 Timberrr?Pope&Talbot , a 158-year-old Portland-based wood products firm, sought protection from creditors in a bankruptcy-like filing. The firm—which operates nine mills and employs about 2,400 people, including 280 in Oregon—will continue to operate while it negotiates a deal with lenders.

4Jefferson High School’s boys soccer team had been closing in on the state playoffs, until other coaches last week discovered one Jeff player was a fifth-year senior. All games in which the star player appeared had to be forfeited. Blame it on Jeff’s Democrats nickname: Both the soccer team and the party often lose even when they win.