Welcome Freshman

Welcome incoming freshman, welcome to the next four (or seven) years of your life. Allow myself, to introduce—myself. My name is Nick Lilja and as you can tell from the picture above, I’m not only ugly, but I’m also probably single. If you are interested, I like analogies, ‘fowl’ balls, frosted-hair jokes and referencing insanely miniscule facts no one should ever know. Turn-offs include the misinterpretation of the word majority, people who can’t take a joke, soccer fights and the Hagerstown Suns, the only team I know that tried to give away Osama Bin Laden bobble heads at a game.

I’m not your usual journalist. But don’t worry enjoying my articles is as easy as putting a ball in a cup. Although a lot of people think an article like this is a bad idea and against the journalistic code. Jim Murray wrote a similar article back in 1961–on the 12th of February to be exact. And his career worked out okay. Granted it’s not ’61 and I’m no Jim Murray, but you get the picture.

In 1994 Dante Hicks taught me to give credit where credit is due. If people suck, I will say it. On the other hand, if someone is blowing away batters unnoticed, I will tell you that too, just ask Jonah Nickerson.

I’m also a shameless self promoter and I have an award to prove it.

Volleyball is my sport of choice right now and Taras Liskevych my favorite coach at Oregon State. Dude knows volleyball like I know hate mail. He spent 12 years as the head coach of the USA National Team. He helped earn bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics and the 1990 World Championships. His teams also finished seventh at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics and fourth at the 1991 World Cup. Send him an Email or call him, after a ten-minute conversation with this man you will be a fan too. And if you aren’t, there is something wrong with you, seriously.

I love women’s basketball. No joke. Well let me clarify, I love Oregon State women’s basketball. See a game this year, hell, see all of them. Trust me, its exciting. Nothing says that better than five-foot eight Ebony Young breaking player’s ankles all night. She might not have two functional knees, but when she crosses-over, the opposition no longer has ankles, so it’s fair.

And shout out to all of you people who say the women’s game is fundamental shooting and passing with no dunks. I have two words, Steve Nash. People rave about how great Steve Nash plays the game and he isn’t known for in-your-face highlights and fast paced breakaway dunks. But Nash is an assist machine and plays his best in the half court when he can set up players to get a clean shot or a quick give-and-go cut to the basket. And that’s what the women’s game is all about, ball movement to open up shots.

I can’t stand slappers in both baseball and softball. If you do it, fine. But it bugs me, always has always will. If you must know why, just find me in the MU around lunch time. I will be happy to elaborate.

I think Mike Hass should be everyone’s hero. And it’s for the simple reason that he is the underdog of all underdogs. Pac-10, they didn’t want him, then he was hot and they couldn’t stop him. He is the greatest wide receiver I have ever watched live. Watching Mike Hass dominate opponents was like watching Carlos Santana play the guitar or Ansel Adams take a photograph. It will never be recreated, just imitated.

I’m passionate about all beaver sports not just football and basketball. And I believe that every person at Oregon State needs to change the atmosphere of the fans.

Don’t get plastered and go to a football game only to leave at halftime. Don’t show up to a basketball game late and leave with 10 minutes left in the second half. Don’t try and emulate Dodger fans by showing up to a baseball game in the fourth inning only to leave in the seventh–while the team is in the post season. Don’t sell yourselves short, be real fans.

Go to a game in every sport this year and find players you can get behind, cheer for them and support them. Angelo Tsagarakis, Brittany Cahoon, Brandon Hughes, Whitney Goodell, Darwin Barney, Ashley Francis and Ebony Young are all players you can get behind in their respective sports because not only are they great athletes, but they are great people.

Well now that I can get off my soap box maybe I have gotten across to some of you. Maybe not. If all the names in this article sounded foreign, it’s alright you have time to learn. And if you ever feel like saying hi you have my picture and you have my name. Welcome to OSU and don’t be strangers.