Once again, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Department is offering a Free Fishing Weekend June 10-11. Observed in Oregon each June, Free Fishing Weekend invites Oregon residents and visitors to enjoy a full weekend to fish, crab and clam without a license. All fishing and shell harvest regulations continue to apply. The celebration began in 1988 as a way to encourage more people to become involved in angling and the outdoors. ODFW encourages experienced anglers ... [full story]

Controlling your distance from greenside bunkers can initially seem difficult but if you follow some basic guidelines you’ll find that a simplified approach can be very effective.  There is no need to alter your swing or change your club selection.  You can control your distance through your set-up. Basically, the shorter the distance of the shot, the more open your stance and club face should be at address.  The longer the shot, the more square you ... [full story]

LOCAL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Track & Field: May 26 - Mountain View senior Ashton Eaton won the title in the boys long jump (24’ ¼”) at the Class 4A state high school track and field championships held at Hayward Field in Eugene. May 27 - Aaron Campbell of Summit High won two state titles in the 100 and 200-meter dash at the Class 4A state track and field championships. Summit’s Alyssa O’Connor (1500-meters) and Suni Kumar ... [full story]

Copley News Service When warming up on the driving range, many players are too eager to pull out their driver and start beating balls.  In most cases they are not fully warmed up enough to be hitting the driver yet.  The result is often disappointment and frustration with their shots, which then leads to panic when they reach that first tee box. The next time you are warming up on the driving range, try hitting at least ... [full story]

Four San Diego State students recently logged on to a computer and did what thousands of other college students do these days during their spare time. They were having fun on MySpace.com, posting personal party pictures and commentaries about life in college. Some included references to drinking alcoholic beverages and snide remarks about recent soccer practices, according to a student colleague of the four. But because the four students were athletes - in this case women's soccer ... [full story]

Basketball:May 25th, ThursdayThe Central Oregon Hotshots defeated the Portland Chinooks 132-123 in overtime during their last game of the season.  Baseball:May 24th, WednesdayIn the State Baseball Playoffs, Class 4A Redmond beat Sheldon 5•4 and Class 3A Madras won over McLoughlin 9-2. The Bend Lava Bears lost to the West Linn Lions 7-6. Softball:In the State Softball Playoffs of Wednesday, May 24th, Class 3A South Umpqua beat Madras 6-5 and Class 2A-1A Vernonia whipped Culver 5-0. Golf:Ron Hegge got a ... [full story]

The key to a good putting stroke is keeping the wrists solid and still.  But that can be easier said than done.  A friend of mine used to be way too ÒwristyÓ in his putting stroke but now his wrists stay completely solid throughout his entire stroke, making him a much more consistent putter.  He told me the following drill helped him a lot: ·         Set up to your ball as you would for a regular ... [full story]

This is a time of year - with the NBA and NHL playoffs in high gear - when role players and unlikely heroes can make pivotal contributions to championship efforts. With that in mind, we have compiled our list of 10 of the most unlikely sports heroes - athletes who made names for themselves based almost exclusively on putting forth their best efforts on the biggest stages. These are athletes who have come from out ... [full story]

Twenty-two IBL teams will be invited to All-Star Game & Championship Tournament to be held in Elkhart, IN starting on July 13th and ending on July 16th. IBL teams will also enter one participant in both the Three-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest. For ticket and hotel information contact the Elkhart Express at (574) 522-9911. Bend Oregon Central Oregon [full story]

The end of the 2005-06 Mt. Bachelor ski and snowboard season will coincide with the traditional start to summer this year.  Mt. Bachelor announced that the resort will complete winter operations on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29.  On-mountain festivities will celebrate the holiday and wrap up a season that has tallied more than 500 inches of snowfall to date. “We’re pleased that avid enthusiasts can book their May and Memorial Weekend getaways to combine skiing, snowboarding ... [full story]

Central Oregon Hotshots head coach, JJ Anderson announced the signing of two players to the squad today; 6'8" guard/forward AJ Stallworth, a NBA Summer Camp-bound player and current leader of the ANBL's Georgia Grizzlies and 6'9", 265 lb. forward/center, Anthony "Teon" Knox, a former star of the England Basketball League.   Stallworth, a graduate of Life University in Marietta, Georgia, currently competes with the Georgia Grizzlies, in the American National Basketball League after having played with ... [full story]

If you are seeking to get away from the daily grind, then let your hair down and get on a boat. According to a 2005 survey conducted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, boating ranks among the top three stress-relieving activities, along with road trips and exercise. Half of respondents who enjoy or have been boating said the best thing about boating is that it lets them spend time in nature and the outdoors, while 25 percent ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - A new national organization is providing a fun way for former football players to stay active and in the game. American Football Alumni unites former high school, college and professional players and coaches so they can reconnect with old teammates and make new friends. But besides its extensive networking opportunities, the organization offers members information and support on how to use their football disciplines to further themselves personally, professionally and financially. To date, there's been ... [full story]