Let the postseason begin

The Portland State men's basketball team just began their quarterfinal game of the Big Sky Tournament against Montana State, and there are three ways to catch the postseason action. The game can be followed via live stats, audio or video.

Will PSU make it to the semifinals? Follow the game to find out.

Portland State, BABIP and ISO

by James MacKenzie
Vanguard staff

A quick introduction: I'm James MacKenzie and I write for the sports section in the Vanguard. This is what I hope to be the first in a running series of posts that will analyze the Portland State softball team through sabermetric analysis, a field in which softball is sorely lacking.

Sabermetrics are so absent from softball, that when you type it into Google it asks, "did you mean: football sabermetrics?" Which is a pity, because really, doesn't softball in all of its similarity to baseball, deserve to be picked apart, scrutinized and analyzed with every stupid number one can throw at it in the same way that baseball is? I would answer that it does and that's the aim here. 

I would, however, like to add the caveat that since sabermetrics are absent from softball in most available statistical archives, I have derived most of the statistics used here from my own work provided by the raw statistics available at goviks.com. That being said, I'd like to say that I am an amateur statistician at best and as always when you read things on the internet, take it with a grain a salt.

Through twelve games, it's safe to say that Portland State's offensive production has been nothing short of putrid. The raw slash line of .212/.290/.260 is rough, as is the .550 OPS it amounts too. Portland State ranks second to last in batting average and slugging in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference ahead of only Santa Clara and ranks third to last in on-base percentage. Quite simply, the Vikings aren't hitting.

Vikings football names D-line coach

The Portland State Athletics Department announced today that Legi Suiaunoa will join the PSU football team. Including the addition of Suiaunoa, first-year head coach Nigel Burton has now added 10 assistants to his staff.

A complete breakdown of the coaching roster and the press release in its entirety is included after the jump.

Death reported at Olympic Games

The opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics has not yet taken place, and the BBC reports there has already been a death at the games.

Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21-year old member of the Georgian luge team, died today during a training run at Whistler Sliding Centre in Vancouver, Canada. Apparently he crashed his sled during one of the turns and hit an unpadded steel pole.

The Olympic Games officially begin tonight, and competition in the men's luge is scheduled to begin tomorrow. Whether that schedule will be affected has not been determined.

Riding in style

Feel like taking a quaint bike ride this Saturday? Why not join dozens of others at the Skidmore Fountain at 11 a.m. for the First annual Tweed Ride. The ten mile ride will have a few planned stops, including sipping tea, and ending with a picnic with your fellow riders. Lets just hope for some sun!

–Wendy Shortman

Portland Mercury to co-sponsor benefit concert for Haiti

I think it goes without saying that we are all devasted by the recent event in Haiti. There have been many recent efforts internationally and nationally to bring help to the people of this country (despite some hateful words from some). Locally, there has also been a lot going on in the way of charity. One of my favorite, and recently announced events is being co-sponsored by the Portland Mercury:

"The Mercury is co-sponsoring a just-announced benefit show this Thursday, January 21. The show, co-produced by former Merc arts writer Stephen Marc Beaudoin, aims to raise upward of $25,000 for Mercy Corps' relief efforts in Haiti.

WHEN/WHERE: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 7:30 pm at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Portland.
Call 503-234-9694 for more information. Tickets go on sale 10 am Tuesday, January 19
WHO: Featured artists include pianist Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini), hip-hop artist Cool Nutz, Portland Cello Project, Grammy-nominated pianist Janice Scroggins, Oregon Symphony concertmaster Jun Iwasaki, singer-songwriter Holcombe Waller and the legendary Storm Large, among others.

TICKETS: $30, all seats (general admission). Call 503-234-9694 or go to aladdin-theater.com for more information — tickets go on sale 10 am Tuesday, January 19."

Not only is this line up amazing, but the money is going to a great cause. I would highly suggest sucking it up and forking over $30 for what promises to be a very enjoyable evening with a seriously powerful message.

A serious bummer

2010 has claimed its first celebrity (though this time it's someone I'm actually sad about). As my friend Nick put it in a facebook post: "r.i.p. jay reatard. may you punch people out for unplugging your guitar in heaven." He and his music will be missed.

Here's his video for "It Ain't Gonna Save Me." This may be a somber day, but that's all the more reason to enjoy his awesomely upbeat music: