For those who don't know, Sports Action (a favorite Sunday pastime of many Oregonians) has been canceled by the Oregon Lottery. This cancellation was in part to appease the NCAA and to help bring the March Madness Tourny to Portland in 2009. While this is great news for me (I rarely play Sports Action but I live for March Madness) some feel they are losing a great friend.

Here is a poem written by recent Northwest transplant from Florida, Erik Morton

'ode to sports action' (a eulogy) 

Oh Sports Action I love to bet,

And hope for winnings that I never get

It's always a sure thing, a "lock" if you will

But at the end of the weekend my wallet needs a fill

I have bet with my mind, my soul, and my heart

But now that your are dying I'm afraid that we must part

Rusty still owes me money and Brian still thinks he's won

And now Sundays just got bad and clearly not as fun

I still can't believe it's over and in a week you will be dead

No more over-under, fumbles lost, completions or the "spread"

No more hopes for one more interception with less than a minute to go

No more sacks—no total points my god it hurts me so

When I think of all the times we spent I feel they were the best

Especially when I was 10 beers in–alone at the Owl's Nest

So here's to you for one more week it fills my heart with sadness

But I guess you had to kill yourself so Jesse could have March Madness

Erik, I am sorry to hear about your loss. Our hearts and prayers will be with you during this difficult time. I know it's hard to imagine skipping church without your close friend by your side, but in time you will find that there are other things to do on a Sunday morning…like breakfast.

-The Morton's