The I-5 Corridor

Really fun Traffic Report out today.

I spent 40 minutes with UO broadcaster Jerry Allen inside the Hatfield Dowlin-Complex, diving into what this week’s game against Oregon State means, why he initially hated his “Kenny Wheaton is going to score” call and that time he got mad at Mike Jorgensen for hiding under a table.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

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In this week’s episode of The I-5 Corridor’s Traffic Report, Tyson and Shane recap Oregon’s opening weekend against Idaho, take a look ahead to Boise State and wonder what exactly happened to DJU down in Tallahassee.

Then, it’s the Shane Hoffmann exit interview. Tyson grills Shane on his favorite stories, interviews, places to eat and moments in Oregon before his move down to Los Angeles later this week.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

Andrew Greif saw Raygun happen in person.

That should be good enough on its own to carry this week’s podcast, but our longtime friend of the pod stops by to share some of his other favorite moments from covering the last two weeks in Paris.

Greif breaks down Cole Hocker’s win in the 1500m, Noah Lyles’ gold and silver medals and, yes, what exactly happened during that breakdancing competition.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

In this week’s Traffic Report, Shane Hoffmann returns to the podcast desk to talk with Tyson Alger about Cole Hocker’s run to Gold, why he thinks college football’s regular season means more in the 12-team playoff and…his upcoming move to California.

In more important news, Tyson gives his review of Twisters.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

Justin Myers fills in for Shane Hoffmann in this week’s Traffic Report as he and Tyson Alger discuss the opening of football training camps across the state. The two talk about Myers’ time at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis and then reflect on the first week of the Olympics.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

The mic still works.

Shane is back from Canada and the Olympic Peninsula. Tyson has finally recovered from his Africa jet lag. And after a couple of weeks away, the pair met up at The I-5 Corridor’s St. Johns’ office and shared stories of their travels for the masses (dozens) to hear.

They also had plenty of sports to catch up on, like the NBA Finals, N'Faly Dante’s rejection and that Sophia Smith red card.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

PORTLAND(ish) — We have some important news to break here on The I-5 Corridor: According to sources, Andrew Greif is “questionable” for the Media 400 on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic.

For longtime I-5 subscribers, you may remember the time Andrew and I decided to dust off the spikes to dash around Hayward Field at the 2022 Pre-Classic.

Well, I’m out this year because I’m in Africa. And while Andrew did sign up for Saturday’s race, my source tells me there’s some Achilles tightness that could make it a game-time decision.

Thankfully, Andrew’s laptop is healthy and he’ll be there all weekend writing about the real athletes for World Athletics. But first, Andrew stopped by The Traffic Report to preview this weekend’s Prefontaine Classic and tell us a little about what he’s been up to since his time covering the Clippers for the LA Times came to an end earlier this year. Then I ask him if he’s going to lean more Lanning or Dabo when it comes to utilizing the transfer portal when NCAA Football 24 hits shelves next month.

In the second part of this episode, I sit down at Lombard House with owner Brian Koch, who will be hosting Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end Grant Calcaterra at the bar on Saturday for a fundraiser to support the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. It’s a great cause, a great bar and I would highly recommend getting up to St. Johns on Saturday for some great company and drinks.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

As for me, I still have another week here across the world. I’ve been weighing whether I should write some sort of Travel Blog for when I get back, but I also get really bored when other people talk about their vacations, so let me know if that’s a non-starter.

I will make you look at a few pictures, though. And hey, if you want to subscribe to The I-5 Corridor and help out so I don’t have to worry about working during my next once-every-two-years vacation, we’d sure appreciate the support!

Now, just a few photos from this morning’s trek through Hlane Royal National Park in Eswatini.

— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

This week’s Traffic Report has a little bit of something for everyone.

We begin in the parking lot of the Timbers training facility out in Beaverton, where Tyson and Shane braved the elements to learn that Phil Neville is getting tired of the compliments. Then we talk the end of spring football, NBA Playoffs, What We Ate and Fallout before Brian Tovey joins the show to celebrate the end of The I-5 Corridor’s Toll-Free month.

That’s right: The paywall is coming back, baby.

But, one more time for good measure, let’s plug the guy who has helped us reach a wider audience this April than in any years past.

Even without the paywall, this April generated more paid subscriptions than April 2023 and saw our page views jump from 30,000 to 100,000. Heck, I don’t even think I sold out on content too much. Ok, maybe The Masters thing.

Thanks again to Brian, and thanks to everyone who has read and supported The I-5 Corridor over the last two-plus years — it’s your support that allows our state here in Oregon to have a sports section that knows the difference between OU and UO.

Go Water Birds, Go!

— Tyson Alger, TheI-5 Corridor

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

Bill Oram had a take.

The sports columnist of The Oregonian/OregonLive went to Reser Stadium on Saturday for Oregon State’s spring game, wasn’t impressed and wrote about it.

If a spring football game exists only to get players live reps and to give coaches fresh film to obsess over until August, then Oregon State knocked it out of the park on Saturday.

But if there is an opportunity at the end of spring practices to energize your fanbase, build excitement and tell your story, well, it was a whiff.

That column had mixed reviews in Corvallis. Naturally, Oram doubled down, writing on Wednesday that Oregon State needs to start thinking a little bit like Oregon.

My advice to Beavers fans — and, more important, the people calling the shots — is to stop being so proud that you can’t admit something needs to change.

And, well, guys like Bret aren’t handling that one well.

I was at Oregon State’s spring game, too, and had similar thoughts as Oram. We discussed them on this week’s Traffic Report.

Then, Kevin Palmer stops by to let us know what he wrangled out of the Augusta gift shop.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

On Deck: I’ll have a report from Eugene following Oregon’s Saturday spring game.

— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe

We got a two-part Traffic Report this week.

First, Shane Hoffmann and I begin with the Oregon State women’s hoops situation, then we check in after Timbers training before discussing what will undoubtedly be the story of the summer: The Big I-5 Corridor race.

Then, Taylor W. Anderson of Building Salt Lake joins the show to explain why Salt Lake City has left Portland in the dust when it comes to attracting professional sports franchises.

For more, listen to this podcast in the player above or find us over on Apple or Spotify.

— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor

The I-5 Corridor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.i-5corridor.com/subscribe