O Heroes

This Monday past the University of Oregon Athletic Department's O Heroes program sent a couple dozen student-athletes to my Special Olympics bowling practice. To bowl with my Special Olympians. My nearly 80 Special Olympians. My gang didn't know about it in advance, and the UO athletes had no idea what was in store for them.

Representatives from baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf and football arrived at the bowling alley and I sent them to bowling lanes. From the beginning it was pandemonium. The best kind of pandemonium.

I couldn't tell who was having more fun. The student-athletes or the Special Olympics athletes. To be safe, I'll just say that it was me who had the most fun. That is not open to debate.

I took a bunch of pictures. Of course I did Dear Reader. Of course I did. I burned the photos onto CDs for both the local Special Olympics program and the O Heroes program. I posted them on Facebook as well. Am I forgetting anything or anybody? Yes. Some of the pictures will be added to the UO Library's digital collection. And then I am going to get paid to catalog them. Talk about win-win-win situations!

On a serious note, the starting tight end from the football team, David Paulson was there. I asked him to please, please, please not injure himself. I wanted no part in jeopardizing the shot the Ducks have of reaching the BCS National Championship Game. I want to go.