Pit crew preps for Appleby

Oregon fans won’t soon let Ryan Appleby forget about the 2006 Pac-10 Tournament.

For those who have forgotten — Oregon’s ‘Pit Crew’ surely not included — Appleby received the business end of an Aaron Brooks forearm shiver to the face.

Or, as Duck fans apparently see it, Appleby rudely smashed his nose into the forearm of an innocent Brooks.

Last season, Appleby was greeted with signs depicting his bloodied face, images of an incident for which Oregon fans have inexplicably labeled Appleby as the instigator and villain.

Brooks offered Appleby an apologetic handshake before the game, which Appleby refused — only fueling the hatred coming from the yellow-laden student section.

Monday’s edition of The Oregonian featured a column speculating that the ‘Pit Crew’ is already preparing for Appleby, apparently readying itself for a repeat of last year’s taunts.

“I don’t even like talking about it; it’s such a thing of the past,” UW coach Lorenzo Romar said. “Ryan did absolutely nothing wrong.”

But if you ask him, Appleby insists he doesn’t mind the harassment. And it’s hard not to believe him. Some of the sharp shooter’s best games have come against the Ducks, including a 21-point game in Eugene last season and a 19-point performance in the Huskies’ win in Seattle earlier this year.

“I can’t worry about what other people are thinking,” Appleby said. “I’m not really thinking about what the crowd’s going to do.”

Oregon students have already received negative national attention this season for their treatment of UCLA’s Kevin Love. Students held up signs questioning his sexuality and yelled obscenities directed at both Love and his family, who were in attendance.

Oregon Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny made phone calls to UCLA and Love’s father to apologize.

Inbounds play ‘heard round the world’

Tim Morris probably didn’t think this would be how his play would be featured on ESPN.

While inbounding the ball late in Sunday’s win over UCLA, Morris threw a pass off Alfred Aboya’s face to avoid a five-second violation. UCLA coach Ben Howland, legendary coach John Wooden and a handful of national media outlets — including Pardon the Interruption (PTI) with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon — have all voiced their displeasure with Morris’ decision, using the word ‘cheap’ and various synonyms to describe the play in question.

But Romar said the play was not “something that was maliciously done.”

“Tim Morris is not a gangster,” Romar said. “He’s not a thug.”

Morris, who lists PTI as one of his favorite shows, was surprised by the backlash.

“I didn’t really expect that,” Morris said. “It was honestly a reaction. … Coach Howland was in the way so I couldn’t throw it deep. It was just reaction [Aboya] was so close. I really didn’t mean to; I tried to shake his hand afterwards and everything.”

Of the PTI bit, Morris said he “saw it all” and that he received about 15 or 20 text messages from friends talking about it.

“I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t mean to hurt him. I hope he’s alright,” he said.

PTI’s ratings won’t take a hit, though. Morris said he still plans on tuning in.

[Reach columnist Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]