Eliot and his happy teammates after this season’s last basketball game.

Eliot plays YMCA basketball in Eugene on Saturday, Feb. 4.

It’s just about 2012. About a year ago I called Brian to see if he wanted to go to lunch. We met at the Metropol Bakery down on Willamette St., had a quick visit and a sandwich. As ever, we made jokes about practically nothing and laughed. We had done that, off-and-on for about 37 years. The next time I talked to him, he was in Seattle, getting ready to photograph Bill Russell for Sports Illustrated, the next morning. It was the third to the last time I talked to him. When I look back at 2011, a lot of not-that-great…

Vic and Alice Bender celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this weekend. They were married on May 13, 1951, in Vancouver, Wash.

A kid knew exactly how to kill some time today in the Digital Duck area of the University of Oregon Bookstore in Eugene as his dad yacked on the phone.

A new book on the magic of Hayward Field and Oregon track arrived in bookstores around Eugene this week. The idea — that had been in the back of noted photojournalist Rich Clarkson’s mind for years — came to life after a successful pitch to Nike’s Phil Knight. “Track Town, USA” was photographed Clarkson and Brian Lanker, written by Kenny Moore and included many photographs made by The Register-Guard’s staff photographers during the last 25 years, including Paul Carter, Kevin Clark, Brian Davies, Wayne Eastburn, Andy Nelson, George Millener, Chris Pietsch and Joe Wilkins III. Register-Guard Sports Editor Ron Bellamy wrote…

Eliot’s basketball game at César E. Chávez Elementary School in Eugene.

Neon Leons win in a shootout at the Cal Young Middle School soccer fields.

Will I need to buy yet another iPhone soon?

I was zipping down W. 11th Ave., in Eugene today and saw this out of the corner of my eye. I turned around and went back to get a closer look. I thought it was interesting that nine years after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., I would happen to see the personalized Oregon license plate "UAL 93." United Airlines Flight 93 from the Wikipedia: United Airlines Flight 93 was a United States domestic passenger flight from Newark International Airport in Newark, NJ, to San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, CA, that was hijacked on Sept. 11,…

Went on a 260-mile scooter ride with Bill and Suzy Cole. The scenic route over the Cascades from Eugene to Sisters — and back. The GPS calculated our maximum speed at 108 MPH. If that was true, I wouldn't have any hair. Oops.

Introduced by band mate Edgar Winter as the "English gunslinger of peace and love," former Beatle Ringo Starr performs with his 2010 All Starr Band on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 at the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, Ore. "I'm a little hysterical tonight," Ringo said, "I'm having fun." The All Starr Band included Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Rick Derringer, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Wally Palmar (Romantics) and Gregg Bissonette.

Janet and Sally bid adieu outside of their hangout at Turtles Bar and Grill on Willamette St.

Tyson Gay is consoled by Ryan Bailey after the men’s 200 meters where Walter Dix held off Gay to win in 19.72 seconds at the 2010 Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

The chilled and shoeless Reiners spend time walking along the Pacific Ocean on their vacation journey from Vancouver, B.C. to San Francisco.

Olivia was beside herself with excitement as United 6400 prepared for take off, heading from Eugene to San Francisco. She was way back in row 16, but she had a window seat and a pretty good view.

Princess Olivia was exhausted after nearly a week of not feeling well. She rested Sunday afternoon.

Went on the first Wheelworks scooter club ride (they hope to have them every other Sunday). Bill and Suzy rode a fine red GTS 250. It was a great route to the south of Eugene, winding past a lot of panting bike riders and a few wild turkeys. Everyone smiles when they see a Vespa. I topped the tank off on Monday and recorded an astounding 104.6 mpg. Vespas get great gas mileage. More DavazNet Vespa links | Wheeworks Eugene on Facebook

Stella’s Magnolia stellata tree bloomed at Dartmoor on Saturday.

Christine and Bingham’s wedding reception featured a surprise musical treat.

We buried Stella under a Magnolia stellata tree in the backyard, on the first day of the new year.

Olivia was spectacular Sunday morning swimming at the Sheldon High School pool.

Stella Davaz died today, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. She was 13-and-a-half years old.  

Eliot cheers on his teammates at Spencer Butte Middle School on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2009.

The leaves are starting to turn in Eugene

Father Bingham Powell trades an approving glance with Olivia as she became an acolyte on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Eugene, Ore.

Friends and family celebrated David White’s seventieth birthday.

Went north for a day trip to Portland last week and noticed the interesting juxtaposition of a Smart Car and a motor home in the Premier Resorts RV park east of Coburg. Road the scooter back up on Sunday to make a late afternoon snap. The California license plates on the rigs read “Toe EE” and “Toe ER.” Which one’s which?

Olivia had wrapped up making cookies at Dartmoor, then went home with Elsa and Eliot to finish preparing for the trip to Yellowstone.

Sally Diehl’s birthday was on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, but she had an early party with friends and neighbors on Sunday.

Olivia casts a long shadow at Dartmoor as the sun was getting low.

This was a part of a Saturday bus ride extravaganza.

Eliot enjoys a bialy and an Italian soda at Barry’s Espresso Bakery & Deli at 2805 Oak St. in Eugene on a Saturday morning outing.

Strawberry jam, complete with custom labels, was the order of the day for Eliot, Olivia and Grammy.

Debbie and Paul Moore rarely miss a local meet and always have very good tickets to sit and watch people run fast and throw stuff, particularly at meets like the 2009 USA Track & Field Championships.

We had a fine evening at Brian and Lynda’s to welcome Rich Clarkson and George Olson on a visit to Eugene. We told a lot of great stories from the “old days.”

Connor and Neil Reilly paid a visit to Eugene so Connor could get exposure among other up-and-coming high school quarterbacks from around the country.

As usual, the Prefontaine Classic is the best track meet there is. Everything is fast.

Contact the insurance company to learn that scooters aren’t covered for towing. Call Ray’s Towing to arrange for the $75 tow downtown to get the tire replaced. Learn that it might be wise to get AAA Premier in case it happens again. Go back downtown to pick it up Pay $112.74 for a new tire with installation.

I’ve always wondered what would happen if I got a flat tire on the scooter. Road repair isn’t simple or convenient. Since Wheelworks is closed on Sunday, I had to wait until Monday to arrange to get the Vespa flat fixed.

Vespa has a flat rear tire. Bummed.

Francky and Mike sent Kim a pair of “Super Gloves, Hot Gloves,” from the UK.

Paul gathered us up and made a nice studio photograph of Kim, Olivia, Eliot and Carl.

COTTAGE GROVE - As the door to Fleur De Lis Patisserie & Cafe opens at 7 a.m., the welcoming aroma of baked pastries is almost visible. A mural by Springfield artist Janeile Emery shows a display of pastries with Paris’ cathedral of Notre Dame in the background. A song by Stevie Wonder fades into the voice of a male radio announcer speaking French. How appropriate that a Paris pop music station from the Internet supplies the background music at Fleur De Lis. Baker Eric Jegat has been at work since before night owls go to bed, sliding trays of croissants into…

Elsa, Collin, Olivia and Eliot moved from Dartmoor.

Graduation day at the University of Oregon.

Paul McCartney played dozens of songs during the show, spanning the period from the early days of The Beatles to selections from his latest album at the time, “Chaos And Creation In The Backyard.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney performs at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 18, 2002.